Hawkeye (vol. 2) #2
Master of the Game
Having traveled to Northern Canada to mourn the loss of his wife,[1] Hawkeye has stumbled upon a Secret Empire operation in the middle of the wilderness. Rescuing an injured humanoid wolf creature — which he has come to call Rover — he heads into the town of Dunroman, Alberta, to get medical help for his newfound ally.
He arrives at the office of Doctor Avery, the only medic in town. After examining the creature she determines that she’ll also need help from Ben, the local veterinarian. Ben is unsurprised to see the creature as some of the locals have reported seeing humanoid beasts roaming the area, thinking the were the legendary Wendigo. However, as they treat Rover, they discover a barcode has been tattooed on one of its hind legs, suggesting that it was created using science. Hawkeye tells them all about the Secret Empire and how they are operating in the area. He asks them to do whatever they can for Rover while he goes back out and lures the terrorists away from town after he has some rest.
Hawkeye is woken up a few hours later and told that Rover is going to pull through. Meanwhile, Ben has gone outside and notices that there are unmarked helicopters circling the area. Heading back inside, they are surprised to see Rover back up on its feet and trying to communicate with them through crude drawings done in crayon. From these, Clint and the others learn that Rover is part of a pack of similar animals that the Secret Empire has been experimenting upon. With the possibility that Rover’s pack is still alive, Hawkeye decides to head back into the wilderness and shut down the Secret Empire and end their cruel experiments.
When the pair arrive outside the Secret Empire compound they discover a lot of activity going on outside. The pair sneak past and slip into the ventilation system to search for Rover’s pack. Along the way, all Clint can hear and smell is the torture of animals and this makes him angrier than ever. They happen upon a vent that overlooks a meeting between Viper, Trick Shot, Javelin, and the Secret Empire’s Number Nine. Number Nine is furious that Hawkeye managed to get away with one of their creations and demands to know what Viper is going to do about it.[2] Viper is fed up of dealing with a Council and shoots Number Nine, killing him. Trick Shot thinks Viper has gone insane, but Javelin reminds him that they are being paid to follow her. Viper tells the pair that there is much they need to do before they leave the area.
Clint and Rover continue down the vents and eventually find the pens where Rover’s pack is being held. Unfortunately, they arrive just as some Secret Empire mercs enter the room and slaughter the creatures. Filled with rage, Rover then leaps out of the vents and slaughters the two soldiers with his bare hands. Rover is given a moment to mourn his pack when an armored vehicle comes smashing through a garage door. It’s Viper and her cohorts and she orders Trick Shot and Javelin to eliminate both Hawkeye and Rover. Viper gets distracted by calls from the rest of the Council of Ten demanding to know what she is doing. It angers her to the point where she smashes the radio announcing that the Council will be dissolved. At the same time, Hawkeye gives Rover cover so the pair of them can retreat back through the ventilation system.
Doubling back the way they came, the pair return to Dunroman and are horrified to discover that the Secret Empire wiped out the entire town in order to keep their secrets. Angered by this senseless slaughter, Hawkeye vows to put an end to the Secret Empire.
Recurring Characters
Hawkeye, Rover, Secret Empire (Viper, Trick Shot, Javelynn)
Continuity Notes
Mockingbird seemingly died in Avengers West Coast #100. However, it is later revealed that this was actually a Skrull spy who took her place. Bobbi will turn up alive again in Secret Invasion #8 and the truth explained in New Avengers: The Reunion #2.
Here it is mentioned that Trick Shot taught Hawkeye everything he knows. See Solo Avengers #2.
Topical References
Ben, the vet in Dunroman, is depicted smoking a cigar in the doctor’s office. This should be considered a topical reference as indoor smoking was banned in the province of Alberta in 2008.
