The Disney+ series Hawkeye is bringing significant attention toward the title character. Having starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for a decade as part of the Avengers, Jeremy Renner will be reprising Hawkeye in a leading role as the title character along with Hailee Steinfeld’s Kate Bishop.
With the series set to begin in November 2021, it’s worth knowing everything there is to the character. Fans have had long-running questions in regards to both the MCU version and the Hawkeye from the comics, and the answers to the most pressing queries about Clint Barton should be looked up before the TV series potentially adapts them.
Who Created The Character?
As it goes with most of the characters in Marvel, Hawkeye is the creation of writer Stan Lee, although Lee is not the only one to credit. The artist Don Heck has an equal role in bringing Hawkeye to life, making Stan Lee and Heck co-creators of the character.
As was the case in the MCU, Clinton Francis Barton was quickly integrated into the Avengers in the comics as well. However, he wasn't a founding member and only joined the faction in May 1965’s Avengers #16.
When Did He Make His First Appearance?
This is a fact that comic book fans will know of Hawkeye: he debuted in 1964’s Tales of Suspense #57, playing the role of a villain. The story had Iron Man in the main role, with Hawkeye and Black Widow going after him as the former was in love with her and followed Black Widow in her pursuit of Iron Man.
The pair sought to steal Tony Stark’s technology, for which they ambushed Stark and attempted to commit thievery by force. By the end of the story arc, Black Widow had abandoned Hawkeye, who vowed to turn over a new leaf.
Who Is His Archenemy?
Unlike most superheroes, Hawkeye doesn’t have an established nemesis, as he’s mainly been involved in team-up stories. Still, the closest contender to this status would be the villain Crossfire, who is responsible for Hawkeye’s initial loss of hearing.
This happened in Hawkeye #4 as a result of using a sonic arrow to counter Crossfire’s attacks. Hawkeye certainly qualifies as his main rival from the villain’s point of view, as Crossfire has frequently popped up out of a personal grudge against the hero. This includes the killing of Mockingbird’s mother that led to the dissolution of her relationship with Clint in Hawkeye & Mockingbird #2.
Which Teams Has He Been Part Of?
As a hero mainly known for appearing alongside teams, Hawkeye is among the characters to have the highest affiliations with factions. In addition to the MCU version’s inclusion in the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., comic book Hawkeye has several more teams under his belt.
These include the Defenders, the West Coast Avengers, the Wild Pack, Avengers Academy, Great Lakes Avengers, Secret Avengers, World Counter-terrorism Agency, New Avengers, and the Thunderbolts. He has also had partnerships with characters like Black Widow, Kate Bishop, and Mockingbird.
What Makes Him A Unique Superhero?
In Hawkeye Vol. 1 #4, Clint lost the majority of his hearing ability while fighting Crossfire. However, this didn’t cement his place as a deaf superhero, although he was noted to be one. It's known so far about the Hawkeye series that this aspect will be adapted into the MCU as well.
It was in Hawkeye Vol. 4 that Clint Barton embraced being who he is, with the reason for his deafness changed to a mercenary having shoved arrows into Clint’s ears and permanently damaging them. The use of aids has assisted Hawkeye in retaining some level of hearing, although he also uses sign language to communicate.
What Aliases Has He Used?
In the MCU, Clint Barton has gone by two monikers, including his most famous one of Hawkeye and his vigilante persona known as Ronin. These two titles were present in the comics as well, with Tales of Suspense #57 debuting him as Hawkeye while Ronin first showed up in New Avengers #27.
In addition to these two identities, Clint has had two others known as Goliath and Golden Archer. He first showed up as Goliath in Avengers #63 and took on the Golden Archer moniker in Captain America #179.
What Skills & Abilities Does He Possess?
When using the Goliath moniker, Barton made use of Pym particles to change shape and size as Hank Pym usually does. This is the only time he’s had super abilities, apart from which Hawkeye has relied on trick arrows, marksmanship, and fighting skills.
The MCU version is exceptionally trained in hand-to-hand combat, melee combat, and fencing. Comic book Hawkeye was trained by Captain America in martial arts and has incredible acrobatic technique owing to his time in the carnival. He’s also in peak human condition and is known to turn just about any object into a weapon.
What Alternate Versions Of The Characters Are There?
The MCU version of Hawkeye is technically an alternate incarnation, as he belongs to the universe known as Earth-199999. The prime Hawkeye from the comics is the Earth-616 version, and there have been certain other notable ones as well.
These include the Earth-13584 iteration who was part of Spider-Man’s gang, the Warped World version known as Cat’s Eye, the Marvel Zombies Hawkeye who was zombified by Sentry, the Earth-18119 incarnation who was the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D. Perhaps the most popular alternate Clint Barton is the one from Old Man Logan, who was old and blind and set up the events of the story to begin.
Who Are His Love Interests?
In striking contrast to the MCU version, who only had one love interest in his wife, Laura, the comic book Hawkeye has had a number of relationships. Comic book fans know of Natasha Romanoff, with Black Widow as the first romance Barton was shown to have had.
Later on, he’s had relationships with his Thunderbolts teammate Moonstone, flings with the Wasp, Echo, Scarlet Witch, and was married to Bobbi Morse, also known as Mockingbird.
What Is His Family Background?
Clint’s mother was referred to in Avengers: Endgame as Edith Barton, which is true in the comics as well. His father was Harold Barton, an alcoholic who died in a car crash along with Edith. This left Clint and his elder brother, Barney, as orphans and the two eventually joined a carnival.
Barney later grew disillusioned by life at the carnival and asked Clint to leave with him but the latter was too late to arrive, leaving Barney thinking that Clint had chosen to let him go. Eventually, Barney was brainwashed by Baron Zemo, took on the moniker of Trickshot, and was a supervillain for some time until reconciling with Clint.