Synopsis / Summary / Plot
This issue reverses the pattern of last issue. This time the flashbacks to Clint Barton's youth occupy most of the space on the pages with the present-day action relegated to the bottom of the page. Until again the emphasis shifts on the last page. As usual I'll synopsise the flashback 1st.
Flashback:-
At the Carson Carnival the Swordsman is teaching young Clint to use a bow and arrows out in the woods. He's made good progress in a week for 1 so young. Ie he can draw the bow and often hit the paper target. Jacques DuQuesne thinks he's a natural. Which is more than can be said for the knife-throwing he started out to teach him. Clint asks if he wants the penknife back that he gave him last issue, but Jacques says he can keep it even though it was a gift from his father. He confides in the boy that his father was abusive, and Clint says his was too. Jacques says he can keep the practice bow and arrows too because he needs the practice.
They return with the carnival dog to where Clint's older brother Barney Barton is helping the roustabouts erect the tents at the carnival's new site. Barney is grumpy about Clint getting to slack off. Jacques takes Barney aside to suggest that *he* has other talents that the carnival can put to use. The boss Mrs Carson has agreed that he's old enough to learn that there are other ways the show makes money. Barney learns how to be a pickpocket, and he specialises in using the dog to gain the trust of women. Clint is manning a sideshow when he sees them in action, and also Swordsman's young female assistant stealing from men.
Later Barney finds Clint obsessively shooting at real targets in the main tent where he's not supposed to be. Clint pretends that his childhood deafness causes him not to hear his brother, but eventually tells him he knows about the thieving. And he's upset to hear that his hero Swordsman suggested it. Barney explains that it's all part of how the carnival makes enough to survive, and it's more important then Clint's archery. And the boys have got to play along if they don't want to go back to foster care. In his anger Clint gets his 1st bullseye.
Things continue as they are with Clint's marksmanship improving. Until 1 day the boys enter Mrs Carson's trailer with Barney's take for the day. The boss complains that Clint isn't making any money. Barney suggests that he makes enough for both of them, and Clint claims he's almost good enough with the bow to be part of the show. She's not interested and says Clint better start earning or they'll *both* be left behind.
The boys leave and Barney suggests Clint stop carrying his bow around because it looks stupid. They come across Swordsman's young assistant who Clint has a crush on. She's drinking alcohol and says she just had a fight. Clint leaps to defend her but she says it's just between her and Jacques. Jacques comes out of their trailer to see Clint holding the bottle. He says he's not his dad so he's not going to tell him what not to do, but still takes the booze off him. And Barney hands over a cut of his 'takings' that Mrs Carson doesn't know about.
Jacques says he's taking the girl and Barney on an outside job. Clint tentatively offers to join them but Jacques tells him to stay and practice. Clint tells him what the boss said but his mentor says he can handle her. As the other 2 head for a truck Clint pleads with Barney not to go. Barney admits he doesn't know what he's getting into but tells Clint to stay behind so at least 1 of them will be safe. And he goes with Swordsman.
Present day:-
In #1-2 the Hawkeyes (Clint Barton & Kate Bishop) working for SHIELD rescued 3 kids, codenamed Project Communion, from Hydra. But last issue they learned that the Government wanted SHIELD to continue Hydra's experiment, and with the tacit agreement of Director Maria Hill they rescued the kids again and took them to Clint's brownstone apartment.
Now the children are playing with Lucky the dog and learning video games, joining in a block party and getting bedtime stories from Kate. Then a helicopter noise plus a knock on the door announces the arrival of Hydra troops. The Hawkeyes hold them off and then escape to the roof with the kids. But there are more up there, until the kids emit a mental blast ...