MV1	The World's Greatest Archer!!!
COMICS
#8

"To Tame a Taskmaster!"

Part 2 of Hawkeye's A.I.M.

Scott Chamberlain: Writer and Creator
Chris Luna: Scanner and Purveyor of Images
Van Plexico: Overworked and Overstretched Overlord

"So Hawkster, do ya wanna go one on one with the Taskmaster?"

Hawkeye stared at the grinning visage of the Taskmaster in mute disbelief. He had raided this warehouse in hopes of cornering an impostor masquerading as himself* only to discover the impostor was the villainous Taskmaster.

*See last issue --Scott

Hawkeye watched Task carefully, not flinching. "What's this all about? You really think some lame attempt to go around as me would work? I thought you were brighter than that, Tasky." Hawk, like greased lightining, had drawn and fired an arrow from his quiver at the villain.

The Taskmaster, however, was a step quicker, neatly dodging the arrow. "O-ho Hawknose! you dont know what the plan was, now do ya?" Running to his left, the Taskmaster fired an arrow of his own. "So far, the plan is workin' just fine, if I do say so m'self."

Hawk drew a blunt arrow and fired it at Task's arrow, knocking it out of the air. the arow however, fufilled it's purpose. Thick gray smoke billowed out of it, obscuring vision in the room. Hawkeye lost sight of the Taskmaster.

Clint moved slowly about the smoky warehouse. He turned up the gain on his hearing aids. That act probably saved him. He heard a faint noise from behind him. Spinning on his heels, he caught sight of the Taskmaster dropping from a stack of crates. A replica of Captain America's sheld was held between his hands, aimed for Clint's skull. Hawk managed to jump back just in time. Taskmaster landed, the shield impacting against the floor, chipping the concrete with a reverbating crash.

"Not bad, arrow-chucker." said Tasky "Not bad t'all." He slipped the shield over his left arm and charged.

"Nice shield... not as good as Cap's, i'll wager." Hawkeye fired a concussion arrow. Task blocked it with his shield, but the blast threw the villain back, hard. Hawkeye smirked. "I should have took my own bet." he fired a net arrow, hoping to wrap up the fight.

The Taskmaster wasnt finished yet, however. With uncanny agility, he jumped straight into the air, over the net, and flipped three times, landing on his feet. With each hand, he drew an arrow from his quiver and threw them at Hawkeye.

Hawk drew two arrows, aimed and fired, knocking both of the villains arrows out of the air, but when he looked again, the Taskmaster had pulled another quick-fade.

Hawkeye smiled, feeling confident that he was getting the best of the Taskmaster. "Awwww... you went away Tasky.... Does this mean we aren't friends anymore?" He moved among the stacks of crates and boxes, looking for his silent quarry. "C'mon out with your bow and we'll play some more Cowbo- Er, Indians and Indians. I got dibs on the Apaches!"

A voice came from somewhere out of the gloom. "Yuk it up, Robin Hood. Ya don' know what yer in for, yet."

Hawkeye looked back and forth, trying to decide where the voice was coming from. Suddenly, out of the shadows in front of him, Taskmaster lept with an arm outstretched. "'Ere's a trick my good friend Spider-man showed me once. Hope ya like it!" Thwip! came the sound as a whitish stream shot from the Taskmaster's hand. Hawkeye tried to dodge it, but it caught him on the side, pinning his right arm to his chest in a thick, sticky susbstance.

Now unable to use his bow, Hawkeye backed up in a retreat. He threw a series of arrows at Taskmaster, keeping him running the gauntlet, but without the accuracy and force his bow provided, the villain was able to avoid them all.

Hard pressed by an assortment of the Taskmasters own attacks, Clint decided it was time to resort to some trickery. He feigned a stumble, and quickly slipped an arrowhead from one of his tunic pouches, palming it in his hand carny-style. The Taskmaster leapt at the opportunity to finish the fight. He approached quickly, brandishing his now dented shield. He was almost on top of Hawkeye when the archer toseed the arrowhead in his face. An assortment of fireworks went off right in front of the suprised villain as he staggered back, dazzled. Hawkeye took the opportunity to slip off into the shadows, turning Tasky's own trick against him.

Now with a bit of breathing space, Hawk tried to pry his arm off of his chest, to no avail as he quietly cursed Spider-man. Though the web-slinger could hardly be blamed, it made Clint feel a bit better anyhow.

"Here Hawky-hawky-hawky...!" Taunted the Taskmaster, as he searched the warehouse. "Th' game's not over yet. Naw, not by a long shot!"

Hawkeye looked around him. Without the use of his arm, he wouldn't last long. My only shot, he reasoned is to slip out of the warehouse, and call the Compound for backup. It would mean swallowing my pride, but heck... it's not like it would be the first time.

Hawkeye slipped out of his hiding spot and moved quietly toward the ladder he came down from the roof through.* He neared the ladder, and was just beginning to think he would make it whn the Taskmaster popped out directly in front of him, an arrow nocked and pointed at him, point blank range. He had Hawk dead to rights.

*Last issue, again --Scott

"Going somewhere, Bow-zo?" said the Taskmaster, letting his fingers start to slip off the bowstring.

Before he had the opportunity to release, the front entrance to the warehouse burst open with a loud crash.

"Avengers Assemble!" shouted the USAgent as he crashed through the door, even though he was the only Avenger doing any assembling. "Photon shields ignite!"

The Taskmaster backpeddaled, seeing that he had now lost his advantage. "Looks ta me like it's time ta beat a hasty retreat." He nodded to Hawkeye as he ran past. "We'll do it again, real soon, ya hear?"

"After him Agent!" shouted Hawkeye, too intent on catching Taskmaster to be grateful for the Agent's timely arrival.

"I'm on it!" Said USAgent. He threw a pair of photon-shields at the fleeing villain. The Taskmaster's photographic reflexes allowed him to dodge easily, however.

Taskmaster reached the back of the warehouse, where he had his own replica Avenger's skycycle was kept. He hopped aboard and flew off toward the front entrance, over the two Avengers' heads.

Hawkeye slipped another arrowhead out from a tunic-pouch. He took careful aim and threw it at the villain. The head impacted harmlessly against his back.

Taskmaster felt the hit and looked back at Hawkeye, his mask doing the grinning for him. "Looks like you came up a dud this time, Arrow-boy! I hear your wife used to say that a lot..." He flew off into the night.

"Wiseguy" muttered Hawkeye under his breath.

The Agent, typically gung-ho, was after him. "C'mon Barton, lets git em!"

"Hold it." said Hawkeye "Hopefully, we wont have to chase him down. Let's get back to the Compound instead."

USAgent blinked "Huh? You dont want to go after that guy?"

Hawkeye smirked crookedly "I've got an idea..."

The familiar shadowed figure sits behind a desk, watching a viewscreen. Onscreen is the face of the Taskmaster. He speaks with the shadowed figure.

"...An' I had him right where I wanted him, until the flag-face showd up an' ruined it all..."

The shadowed figure sat with hands clasped in front of its face, gazing at the sceen intently. "Very well. Return to A.I.M. Island. We will reconnoiter and come up with a new plan, as this one has apparently run into a dead-end." "I could train a new recruit." offered Taskmaster. "Try it again, maybe it'll work out."

"No" said the figure. "Return and we'll come up with a new plan. One which I am sure will still require your services, so fear not. You're not out of work..." the figure paused, leaning closer to the screen and spoke quietly. "Yet..."

Taskmaster understod the implied meaning. "I understand. On my way back Jus' as soon as I get my things t'gether. Taskmaster out."

The figure leaned back into the chair and scowled. "I'll have Hawkeye yet... one way or another.

Tigra sat with three LAPD officers and Oliver Harris, Chief of Police.

"I'm not sure when they'll be back, Chief Harris. They went out on a mission right before you drove up.* They could return at any time though. If you like, I'll have them call you when they return."

*Last issue, yet again --Scott

"I'm afraid that wont be possible, Avenger." said Harris. "We'll just wait right here with you for their return."

Tigra shrugged "Well, suit yourself."

Just then, the high-pitched whine of a pair of skycycles could be heard. Hawkeye and the Agent landed just out side the front door and quickly entered. Hawkeye came to a stop as he saw the policemen in the room.

"Oh... hello officers."

Chief Harris rose. "I'm sorry, Hawkeye, but I'm afraid you're under arrest for armed robbery of the Standard Savings Bank."

Hawkeye held up his hands. "Wait a minute Chief. Its all a big mix up. It wasnt me. The Taskmaster was inpersonating me. The Agent and I cornered him in what warehouse."

Harris looked at the two and blinked. "So, where is he then?"

Clint sighed "He got away, but we're on his trail as we speak. If you'll let me, I can get back to figuring where he's gone to."

"I'm sorry, but until this all gets figured out, we're gonna have to take you in." Harris indicated to one of his officers, who moved orward with handcuffs ready. Harris looked to Hawkeye. "Now, I know you're the Avengers, and could probably stop us from arresting you if you wanted, but if you know what's best, you'll let due-process take it's course and come quietly."

Hawkeye fumed and gritted his teeth. The Agent moved toward him. "We dont have to put up with this Barton..."

"No, Hawk put a hand up, cutting off the Agent's advance. "The Cheif is right. I'll go along for now." He scowled "Just get down to the station and bail me out soon as possible!"

So, the police took Hawkeye into custody and off to jail.

"I cant believe this" said Hawkeye, gesturing wildly as he walked to the elevator to the sub-basements "We let a super-criminal get away while I go downtown to get fingerprinted!"

The Agent sympathized "A bunch of bull... frag em all."

They rode the elevator down to the main computer. "Ah well," said Hawkeye. "Let's see if we can salvage anything out of this."

"You said earlier that you had an idea?" asked the Agent.

Hawk nodded "Yup. Lets see what we can learn from the computer."

Tigra was already at the computer when they arrived. "Hello boys. Nice time at the cop's?" She grinned.

"Very funny" Hawk frowned "Power up the computer's tracking devices, Tigra. Set it to pre-programmed frequency number 8."

Tigra set the computer as specified. The Agent leaned in close, curious. "So... what's up?"

Hawk wiggled his eyebrows. "New arrowhead I came up with... Tracker head. I hit Tasky with it when he was flying out. The one he thought was a dud." He grinned.

The Agent grinned back "Which means, if he doent figure it out, we got em. Awwright!"

Tigra cleared her throat. "Looks like I've got a fix here..."

Hawk and the Agent turned to the screen. "Hmmmmm..." Said Hawk. "Tasky has been on the move. According to this, he's somewhere in the South Pacific."

"Yup." chimed the Agent. "Looks like one of those dinky little islands they got all over down there."

Hawk stroked his chin, thinking. "Tigra, see if you can use or Avengers priority clearance to get a surveillance satellite to do a fly-over of the island."

"I'm on it." Tigra typed and mouse-clicked away for a few minutes. "I've got one." she declared finally. "We can get a fly-over in about 20 minutes."

A half hour later.

"Okay," said Tigra "We got images coming back from the fly over..."

Hawk and the Agent studied the images on the screen with Tigra.

"Looks like quite a bit of activity going on down there." said the Agent.

Hawk nodded "Yup. And if the Taskmaster is there, you can bet they're up to no good."

"Right" said the Agent. "Taskmaster has been known to work for the Red Skull.... Could be an ULTIMATUM base."

"Tigra, zoom in on that group of buildings."

"Way ahead of you, Leader." said Tigra, who was already doing so.

Closer scrutiny revealed tell-tale yellow uniforms.

"A.I.M." said Hawkeye. "The Taskmaster is working for A.I.M., which means the real brain behind this whole smear campaign is running A.I.M." Hawk set his jaw "And whoever that is, might be on that island. I'm going to take them down."

NEXT ISSUE: Hawkeye goes it alone up against oe of the biggest terrorist organizations on the planet. Be here for, "Assault on A.I.M. Islad!!! (I sure wont miss it!)

Haranguing with Hawkeye

Send all letters to beezer@webtv.net. Be sure to include "Harangue" in the subject line.

From: CptMarvell (CptMarvell@aol.com)

Hey Scott, I just read your whole Hawkeye run while I sat here on a cold and cloudy Sunday afternoon. Good stuff! I enjoyed it very much. What's the deal with those two globes? We ever going to know? Originally it looked like you were going to make this a mini series, but now it seems to be an ongoing, which is definitely a good idea. Good work! I look forward to the next issue.

Ralph

Thanks for all the praise, Ralph. As for those "globes", only time will tell, but I'll get to them eventually. And rest assured, this is in fact, an ongoing series. Continue to enjoy to your hearts content!

From: Alessandro Maggi (AlexM@mclink.it)

Hi Scott I wanted to share with you some comments about Hawkeye 1-5 (I still have to read #6, but they say it is really good, too).

I really like to talk about MV1 stuff and I DID enjoy your series so far! I think you really have a great grasp on Clint and you write him VERY well. Your choice of starting with a story so controversial as Bobbi's quest in Mephisto's realm was brave. I can say how I liked the whole accomplishment! One thing for all: you mentioned Clint's hearing aids! That is a touch of style and shows your love for the character and your deep knowledge of him! How many Marvel writers simply forgot about that?

Good choice on the supporting cast, too! USAgent was a choice that doubled my idea of your courage in dealing with this character. Very good chemistry about this too ... and the slight reminising that I always thought that Jake had a real crush on Mockingbird way back in AWC. Good good good!

Swordsman II is another character I think should get more attention at least here in the MV1, but don't forget Magdalene too! And if you plan for Phillips to join the reformed AWC (that much transpired in the list even if I didn't read the issue) Magdalene should be there too. I love that couple!

Then you brought along my n.1 Marvel character of all times: Dr. Strange! (One I'm eager to write in my Defenders title, and don't worry I already have planned forward to take into account him accompanying Hawk and missing from the Defenders for an issue or two ... or at least aknowledging it!) And you wrote him well too.

Then Mephisto and Satannish ... what can I say? Good tie-in in AWC continuity!

Now if I may ask ... a question:
Wasn't Mephisto supposed to be dead in the MU and so in the MV1 as well? Even Blackheart is now dead at the point of divergence between the two universes (killed in Ghost Rider vol. 2 #93). Well, I think that between Avengers #403 (the start of MV1) and Hawkeye # 1 (about Avengers #420 I think) something happened on the way to ... hell that brought things back to normal. Matter of fact I think I'm going to explain that in my run of the Defenders around #165-170 that are parallel to Avengers #415-420 so that should take care of all ... if you don't have other plans about Mephisto, of course! I'm really waiting to read Hawkeye #6 and AWC #103 as well :))

You're doing really good! I'm so enjoying the MV1 universe that I'm almost forgetting to read my 'real' Marvel stuff :))

Keep up the good work!

Bye ALEX

Whew! Alex, you sure have a lot to say, and I'll try to deal with all of your comments. first of all, thanks for the praise. I do have further plans for The Swordsman and Magdalene, but that doesnt really have anything to do with THIS book. :)

As for AWC continuity, heck nobody loved the whackos more than me, so I wanted to make sure the Mockingbird Saga had some of that old AWC flavor I loved so much. Glad you noticed it too!

Now, I could come up with an excuse as to why Mephisto is alive, but heck... since you already are taking care of that for me, I'm happy to let you do it. (heh... got out of that...)

From: "Matt Turnage" (mturnage@cblink.com)

I meant to write you after I read Hawkeye #5 but never got around to it. That was a bold decision, not bringing Mockingbird back.

Although I think she died a stupid death, I'm glad you didn't succumb to the temptation to just restore her to life. I personally would rather see her stay dead. Keep up the good work!

Cheers,

Matt

I agree with you wholeheartdly Matt. Mockingbird's death was one of Marvels all-time stupidest things. However, I'm not sure that bringing her back is neccesarily the right thing to do either.... Having said that, don't be suprised if this isn't all I have to say on the Mockingbird subject...