C’mon folks, you’re all veteran comic readers. You know the rules.
Rule #1: Can’t find a body? They’re not dead.
Rule #2: Are they marketable? They’re not dead. (Hawkeye (and Vision) are the two most popular Avengers (outside of the guys with solo books like Thor).
Rule #3: Did they die as part of a big “Let’s make a splash and shake things up!” storyline? They’re not dead.
Rule #4: Are they Barry Allen, Bucky, Ferro Lad or Uncle Ben? If not, they’re not dead…
…Rule #4a: …unless they’re a character that no-one cares about or a character that was created simply to die (aka “The Thunderbird clause”)
Thus, once A) the marketing boys realize that Hawkeye’s gone and/or B) Bendis leaves, most of the characters will be back. Jack of Hearts is probably toast (since most people didn’t care–Rule 4A)), Scott Lang? Maaaaaybe toast. I hope not. I like the “To Catch A Thief” aspect to him. But Hawkeye and Vision? Either Bendis or Bendis’s successor within say…6 issues…will bring them both back.
Fenris, cynical and not thrilled with this storyline despite loving Bendis’s work elsewhere
I tell ya, I figured Bendis would have swatted Yellowjacket or the Wasp instead. Crikey.
Oh, and while I fully believe that Marvel will bring Hawkeye back someday, I don’t think it’ll be all that quick. Even with these big event things, it’ll take at least a year or so before things settle back into the status quo.
Haven’t I read Kurt Busiek say that if anyone ever killed Hawkeye, he’d bring him back? I’m guessing both Hawkeye and Vision will be back within a year, when the wonky “New Avengers” lineup is likely replaced by the classic team again.
Would it be too shallow of me to hope that if and/or when they bring Hawkeye and Vision back, they at least give them a change of costumes?
I mean—I’m sorry, but those two are a couple of the gaudiest-looking superheroes I’ve ever seen. I’m sure they’ve got great character, personality, and powers/abilities…but they’re harder on the eyes than Halle Berry’s catsuit.
