The best of the best...

Every once in a while there is a comic so good that I find myself thinking about it in the weeks after it comes out, anticipating the next issue.  Rereading it.  Speculating about the story.

These series, or runs, or stories are rare.  They don't happen every year.  They usually don't last as long as I'd wish - which would be forever.

The best comic of the year is Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja. It's the story of what Clint Barton, the archer Hawkeye in The Avengers, does when he's not doing things with the Avengers. It's about his friendship with Kate Bishop (the other Hawkeye) and his interactions his neighbours.  Because David Aja is the best of the best and genius can't keep to a tight monthly schedule, some issues are drawn by other artists - intrinsically inferior, because they aren't David Aja, but chosen for their abilities to do work comparable to his, and not dissimilar.

And it's about Hawkeye's dog.  Lucky is the dog's name, but everyone thinks of him as Pizza Dog. In similar manner, we think of Clint Barton as Hawkguy, to distinguish him for Kate as Hawkeye; a name given to him by Matt Fraction's four year old.  Who says families don't collaborate?

This month's issue, vol. 4 #11, was called "Pizza Dog in Pizza Is My Business".  It was written from the point of view of Pizza Dog, who became part of Clint's life back in issue #1, when he saved Clint's life - and Clint saved his.  Pizza Dog had belonged to some unsavory types who wanted rid of Hawkeye.

Sounds silly, no?  Like the old stories of the 1960s in which Krypto would save Superboy from Kryptonite, and the Legion of Super-Pets would have word balloons full of words.  And wear capes.

Pizza Dog does not wear a cape, though he has a collar.  He thinks, as dogs would, in terms of images and smells and sounds.  He's very responsible: when Clint tells him to keep an eye on the place while he's out. Pizza Dog does.

Seeing the world through Pizza Dog's eyes, we get insight into what is going on, including things which relate to Pizza Dog's unsavory past, and details of Clint's neighbours' lives.  Besides the charm and intelligence of the story itself, there's the viewpoint that isn't from a dog who thinks like a human, or has human concerns: he's a dog.  A dog ready to do what a dog's gotta do.

I can't claim Pizza Dog isn't cute, with his missing eye and his floppy ears.  But he's more than cute: he's a personality.

But, more... This issue makes clear that things in the previous ten issues which seemed unrelated to each other were all part of a bigger picture.  The story coalesces.  We don't have all the details, but this issue - though happily complete on its own - gives us a few "ahah!" moments.

Loved the scene of the cops coming to ask Clint questions about a murder:

The intelligence and artistry that goes into this comic has me in awe.  If it doesn't win the comics awards this year, it should.  Despite some stiff competition.

How many days till the next issue?

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Rich Johnson posted a good review of this same comic on Bleeding Cool.

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