Tom Brevoort responds to complaints about Hawkeye’s recent costume change in Avengers:
I’ve made no secret of the fact that I switched Hawkeye’s costume (to one that he was already going to be wearing in AGE OF ULTRON) because it would create some consistency with the way he was going to be depicted in the film. I don’t really see anything wrong with that. By my count, Hawkeye has had at least half-a-dozen costumes over the years (remember the one with the skirt, headband and shirt-open-to-the-navel?) so this is merely another one. And it makes sense, when more people are going to be aware of that character than at any other time in his history to make it easy for those potential readers to draw a connection. This is hardly the first time such a thing has happened, nor will it be the last. So long as Hawkeye is Hawkeye, talks like Hawkeye, acts like Hawkeye, I don’t see where the problem is.
I have to admit, I’ve been somewhat taken aback by the upset over the costume change – or, maybe, I should say, by the idea that changing the character’s costume somehow changes the character; I’ve seen countless message board posts complain that Marvel has “stopped Hawkeye being Hawkeye,” which just seems somewhat insane, especially considering the numerous costumes that the character has had in the past as Brevoort points out. It seems even more of an overreaction when you consider that Hawkeye wasn’t Hawkeye until recently; he was Ronin, in a completely different costume, with a different name, divorced from his bow and arrow gimmick and in so many respects less “Hawkeye” than he is now. Where was the outrage then?
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not the biggest fan of the new look, but if there’s one thing that history has taught us, it’s that the “classic” Hawkeye outfit will be back sooner or later, movie or no movie. If people really need to be upset about Marvel changing characters in order to match their movie versions, then that whole rumored “new Nick Fury” thing coming out of Battle Scars is probably more worthy of attention…
February 15th, 2012 at 11:38 am
I just find it funny when the Big Two make changes to characters so that they more closely resemble their movie versions. Because clearly movies have brought in a ton of readers. We’re in a golden age of comic book sales right now, right?
February 15th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
The people who complain about such costume changes are the same people who moan about what a opportunity was missed if the costume hadn’t been changed.
With that said this costume looks stupid IMO.
February 15th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
The costume change makes a lot of sense to me since his long running purple ensemble with fluttery eye flaps looks pretty fucking ridiculous. Also, now that he’s part of a covert Avengers team, black being the main colour of his costume is a no-brainer (I’m ignoring the 20 foot man in bright red spandex, so maybe my logic is flawed).
I’d like to see more costume changes, actually. Pretty much all the time. I like that Spidey has been making all sorts of costumes for various uses. I’d be happier if he had his FF one for those adventures, his normal blue and reds, and even a unique Avengers costume, as well as various situation-specific costumes. Some might complain that would be overly toyetic, but I would never want to wear the same outfit every single day.
February 15th, 2012 at 6:18 pm
Kyle Garret for the win
February 16th, 2012 at 7:00 am
Kyle Garret for the snark.
At least Marvel’s trying to create some synergy there. That said it’s a fairly generic uniform but at least it doesn’t have a skirt or armor.
February 16th, 2012 at 7:01 am
Oh and I AM more concerned with Hawkeye talking like Hawkeye and acting like Hawkeye under Remender than he did under Bendis.
February 17th, 2012 at 1:13 pm
He looks too much like Roy Harper.