Is Hawkeye Really The Worst Avenger? MCU Insult Finally Debunked

Clint Barton has an undeserved reputation as the “worst Avenger” but the MCU has gradually debunked this insult, finalizing its refutation with 2021’s Hawkeye. Clint Barton, despite being a founding member of The Avengers, is easily the team’s most underappreciated member. Having debuted in a Thor cameo in 2011 and featured prominently in the game-changing 2012 film, Barton isn’t the only founding Avenger who lacks superpowers, but while Tony Stark has numerous solo films and Black Widow has a compellingly tragic backstory that was finally depicted in Phase 4, Hawkeye is given comparatively little attention. The MCU finally rectifies this in Hawkeye, which not only directly addresses Barton’s status as the most underappreciated Avenger, but also disproves it yet again.

Clint Barton debuted in the Tales of Suspense comics as a sympathetic adversary of Iron Man. Having once been a circus performer, trained by Jacques Duquesne (The Swordsman), Barton eventually cleared his name and joined The Avengers, helping form the team’s second lineup (affectionately referred to as “Cap’s Kooky Quartet”). Despite his lack of superpowers, Hawkeye is a master martial artist who’s in peak physical condition and is one of the Marvel universe’s greatest marksmen. Hawkeye uses a vast arsenal of trick arrows with various gadgetry for almost any occasion. Moreover, Hawkeye is a superb tactician whose quick thinking was praised by Captain America.

The MCU hasn’t delved into Clint Barton’s origin, though it blends his classic comic iteration with the alternate universe “Ultimate Marvel” version. Here, Barton is introduced as a SHIELD agent with a specialty in bow and arrow use. Despite his incredible skills, the MCU makes meta-commentary on Barton’s underrated status, especially in Hawkeye. The Steve Rogers musical highlights The Avengers heroes, but one song’s lyrics include “Hawkeye seems cool, like a really nice guy." Later, a child in New York City passes by the real Hawkeye to see performers dressed up as Avengers heroes. Despite Hawkeye poking fun at Barton’s tendency to be forgotten or underestimated, it reenforces his MCU history and proves that he’s as worthy of being an Avenger as any other founding member.

Hawkeye Emphasizes Clint Barton's Humanity

Hawkeye Family in Avengers Age of Ultron

Of all the founding members of The Avengers, Clint Barton had the least amount of screen time in Phase 1. Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor, and Captain America all had solo films, and Black Widow was given a significantly large supporting role in Iron Man 2. Barton, meanwhile, had only a brief cameo in Thor. Black Widow’s backstory and motivation are explored in The Avengers, partially making up for her lack of a solo film, while Hawkeye spends a hefty portion of the film’s runtime under Loki’s mind control. Barton’s characterization is, unfortunately, little more than him being a top SHIELD agent and close friend of Romanoff’s who wants payback for Loki controlling his mind once he’s freed.

This changed in Avengers: Age of Ultron, in which Barton is revealed to be a husband and father, whose family is safely off the grid due to status as both a SHIELD agent and an Avenger. Though Hawkeye’s family is an addition not seen in either comic iteration, their introduction made Barton far more grounded and relatable. Age of Ultron, Avengers: Endgame, and Hawkeye all spend time focusing on his family, showing Barton’s more typical life that a SHIELD and Avengers occupation could easily overshadow. Barton’s grief over the loss of his family when Thanos wiped out half of all life in the universe motivated him to become Ronin, but Hawkeye begins with him enjoying Christmas vacation with his children after grieving for them for five years.

Hawkeye Is Superlatively Skilled

Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton Hawkeye in The Avengers

The first demonstration of how formidable that Clint Barton is was when he nearly took out a SHIELD Helicarrier while under Loki’s mind control. Barton matched Black Widow nearly blow for blow in melee combat before he regained control. As Ronin, Barton waged a one-man war against crime organizations across the world in his grief over losing his family. Despite his lack of superpowers, Barton faced off against Black Panther, whose physical abilities match those of Captain America, in Captain America: Civil War, holding his own against the Wakandan King for a time, which is a feat in and of itself.

Hawkeye emphasizes Barton’s superlative skills several times in its first two episodes. During the Battle of New York, a young Kate Bishop witnesses Hawkeye take out Chitauri invaders, saving her life at one point. Later in the pilot episode, Bishop, who spent years mastering martial arts and archery skills, is overrun by a gang of Tracksuit Mafia members. When Barton enters the fray, however, he dispatches the mobsters with casual ease. Clint Barton may lack superpowers, but his skills and experience make him far more formidable than even people like Kate Bishop, who devote their lives to mastering similar skills.

The People Of New York View Him As A Hero

Clint Barton’s inner goodness often goes unappreciated, especially when compared to his teammates. Tony Stark seeks to correct his past mistakes, Bruce Banner turns his condition into something benevolent, Black Widow wants to redeem herself, Thor rediscovers his inner goodness and Steve Rogers finds an outlet for his. Meanwhile, Clint Barton was willing to sacrifice himself in Age of Ultron and on Vormir in Endgame, and he notably pulled his punches when fighting his friend-turned-opponents in Civil War. But while audiences seem to easily overlook his kindness and heroism, ordinary people in the MCU often don’t, as shown in Hawkeye.

Although Barton is undersold in the Steve Rogers musical, he is included among the heroes who saved New York, and a child in the audience recognizes Barton. Later, while enjoying dinner with his children, Barton is told by a waiter that his meal is free as a token of gratitude for saving the city in 2012. Perhaps the greatest example of Barton’s impact as a hero is the fact that he inspired Kate Bishop to follow his example and train herself to become a superhero. Bishop will likely share the Hawkeye mantle with Barton or succeed him by the end of Hawkeye, hardly something she’d do if he was truly the “worst Avenger.”

Next: Hawkeye Reverses Phase 4's Avengers Money Problem