Hawkeye unintentionally impels a man to suicide. This is the dark and dirty side of being a superhero-where following your conscience often means forcing foes into making tragic decisions. In "The High, Hard Shaft: Part 3-Rat-A-Tat-Tat," by Fabian Nicieza and Stefano Raffaele, Hawkeye continues to investigate a mysterious group of Viet Nam veterans and experiences the clash between blind loyalty and doing the right thing.

This spirited issue opens with a flashback of Hawkeye suffering the vengeance of his corrupt mentor (the Swordsman), and then swiftly progresses to a spicy series of events that includes sex, violence, interrogation, and death. The only flaw here is an excessive emphasis on Hawkeye's brash nature. Yet, the character remains charmingly chatty, surprisingly chivalrous, and stunning with his archery.

Raffaele's artistic feel for the character is strengthening, evidenced by the fact that Hawkeye is looking more appropriately aged and robust, particularly when donning archery gear. Also, the mood of the book continues to be strongly flavored in the film-noir style. This adds to the dark tension of the story, while still maintaining a fanciful comic book feel, most notably through Hawkeye's archery and mannerisms.

Overall: A-