Comic Frontline: SDCC (and Emerald Comic Con): Hawkeye #19 Using Sign Language

Saturday, July 26, 2014

SDCC (and Emerald Comic Con): Hawkeye #19 Using Sign Language

By: Nicole D'Andria

The fan-favorite series Hawkeye is back after being gone since May. Issue 19 will be released next week and is making headlines recently. It was announced at Emerald Comic Con and was brought back to the media's attention thanks to the San Diego Comic Con. The comic will feature a defeaned Clint Barton (a.k.a. Hawkeye). All the dialogue bubbles will be blank and there will be sign language.

Writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja's series has become very popular. This is not the first time they are breaking the traditional comic book formula in this comic book series. Hawkeye #11 had no dialogue and starred Hawkeye's dog Lucky, who was trying to solve a murder - he could give Scooby-Doo a run for his money.

This 19th issue takes place after Clint's hearing is damaged during a battle. This is not the first time Hawkeye has lost his hearing. In the 1983 mini-series West Coast Avengers Hawkeye and the rest of his team had to fight a villain known as Crossfire, who was using an ultrasonic weapon to brainwash them. So, to avoid brainwashing and save his team, Hawkeye burst his own eardrum using a supersonic arrow. Now that's dedication to your team!

When Hawkeye lost his hearing the first time, he refused to wear a hearing aid.

According to Matt Fraction, he wanted this issue to happen because, as he told the New York Times, “If nothing else, it’s an opportunity for hearing people to get a taste of what it might be like to be deaf.” Sign language is an important element for Fraction, who also mentioned that he used sign language to help his kids. "When my wife [Kelly Sue DeConnick] and I had children, we taught them to sign... It cut down on their frustration immensely because they can tell you want they’re thinking."

Hawkeye #19 will be released on July 30th. Three preview pages of the issue were revealed and you can check them out below. There is also a page with the writer's script attached showing the process of going from the written word to visuals.