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Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Publisher: Amalgam Comics
Cover Date: June 1997
Cover Price: $1.95
Writer: Ty Templeton
Artist: Templeton with Rick Burchett

When the DC and Marvel Universes merged in Marvel vs DC, a new one was created: the Amalgam Universe. This one-shot combined Wolverine with Batman.

After two years, Lady Talia (mix of Talia and Lady Deathstrike) has come face to face with the man who killer her father (Ra’s-A-Pocalypse). Interestingly enough, the man who killer her father is Dark Claw, her former lover. And, similarly, he has dreamed of coming face to face with the man who killed his father, as well. Now that she has him at her mercy, Talia must decide if getting revenge will be worth becoming a murderer.

The art style perfectly mimics the critically-acclaimed 1990s Batman cartoon series and the story delivers an interesting twist, considering both main characters are trying to come to terms with the same problem: what would happen if they met their father’s killer? This added importance of characterization puts this one-shot well above the previous Dark Claw comic from the year before.

On Ebay: Amalgam | Ty Templeton
On AtomicAvenue: Amalgam Comics

Because publishers want you to buy their product every month, comics are typically serial in nature. However, occasionally (and more often nowadays than ever before) publishers launch a comic title that is only meant to last for one issue. While ongoing series often have multiple chances to hook in new readers, the comics highlighted in this ongoing investigations only had One-Shot At Greatness!

Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Date: October 1998
Cover Price: $2.99
Writer: Tom DeFalco
Artist: Jeff Johnson, Dave Ross, Mark Bagley

Augusta Seger comes to Avengers Mansion for help and recruits Hawkeye to stop a destructive computer virus from falling into the wrong hands. However, once they get back to her office, Hawkeye discovers that it was all a ruse and is attacked by Batroc the Leaper, Machete and Zaran. He makes short work of the trio and returns to the Mansion.

With the help of Junior Avengers, Justice and Firestar, Hawkeye tries to find Seger. Their first stop is the jail that Batroc is being kept in. But, this is just another set up. This time, the trio comes under attack by Oddball and other thugs. But, they’re certainly no match for our heroes.

Finally, Firestar discovers that Seger is a renowned biologist that has fallen out of favor with the scientific community. She now goes by the “colorful” name, Albino … and she wants to set up a meeting. Once our heroes get to the meeting spot, they’re attacked by the mastermind behind all of these events, the Taskmaster! Unsatisfied with his ability to mimic the movements of anyone he observes, the Albino has now given him the power to mimic any super power he has seen. But, even still, he’s not powerful enough to defeat three Avengers.

As a Hawkeye fan, I welcome any solo title Marvel is willing to give him but, I’ve rarely been overly impressed with any of them. Unfortunately, this issue doesn’t differ from the trend. Sure, there’s plenty of action to be had … but where’s the characterization? And, Hawkeye doesn’t even deliver the final victory – it’s Justice that gets that claim. And Oddball? The master juggler super-villain? Really?!

Note: This issue takes place just before Avengers vol. III #7

On Ebay: Hawkeye | Tom DeFalco
On AtomicAvenue: Hawkeye