Hawkeye #4 of 4

Mark Gruenwald
December 1983
***

Hawkeye is Gruenwald’s knowing homage to fun superhero adventure, right down to the villain who spills his plan with his tongue in his cheek. And when he fails to draw H’s bow, he drops an exploding arrow on his foot! For closure, Mockingbird takes the romantic initiative & proposes an elopement.

last issue: Hawkeye #3 of 4

also indexed for Dec. ’83
The Fantastic Four #261
The Mighty Thor #338

Secret War #3 of 5

Brian Michael Bendis // Gabriele Dell’Otto
October 2004
**

If you’re writing a 5-part quarterly, you really need shouldn’t indulge in so much action & so little plot—you kill the momentum. Peter Parker’s unconscious mind begins to recall the cover op that last issue set up. But mostly, it’s Dell’Otto drawing glowy red-eyed tech in an homage to The Matrix.

last issue: Secret War #2 of 5
next issue: Secret War #4 of 5

also indexed for Oct. ’04
Astonishing X-Men #4
Daredevil #63
Fantastic Four #517