Hawkeye
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Abilities
- β’The greatest marksman in the Marvel Universe β never misses a shot
- β’Master archer β uses a variety of trick arrows including explosive, electric, sonic, net, and grappling
- β’Expert hand-to-hand combatant trained by Captain America and the Swordsman
- β’Former carnival performer and circus acrobat β exceptional agility and reflexes
- β’No superpowers whatsoever β fights alongside gods and super-soldiers with pure skill
- β’Has led the West Coast Avengers and the Thunderbolts as team commander
- β’Partially deaf β uses hearing aids, one of the most prominent disabled heroes in comics
- β’Has operated as Goliath (size-changing) and Ronin (ninja identity)
- β’His stubbornness and refusal to quit are his greatest weapons
Powers & Abilities
Biography
Clint Barton grew up in a circus. Orphaned as a child, he was taken in by the Swordsman and Trick Shot, who trained him to be the greatest marksman alive. When he saw Iron Man in action, Clint decided to become a costumed hero β but was immediately mistaken for a criminal and manipulated by the Black Widow into fighting Iron Man. His career began as a villain by accident, a hero by choice, and an Avenger by stubbornness.
Created by Stan Lee and Don Heck in Tales of Suspense #57 (1964), Hawkeye joined the Avengers in issue #16 as part of βCap's Kooky Quartetβ β the most significant roster change in Avengers history. Clint was loud, brash, and constantly challenged Captain America's authority. He had no superpowers β just a bow, trick arrows, and an ego that could match Thor's. That tension between Clint's insecurity and his talent is the core of every Hawkeye story: a regular guy who fights alongside gods and refuses to feel inferior.
Clint founded the West Coast Avengers, led the Thunderbolts (reforming villains into heroes), married and lost Mockingbird, died during Avengers Disassembled, was resurrected by Scarlet Witch, operated as the ninja Ronin, and eventually reclaimed his identity as Hawkeye. Through every reinvention, the bow always called him back.
Matt Fraction and David Aja's Hawkeye (2012) is the definitive Clint Barton story β an Eisner-winning masterpiece about what Hawkeye does when he's not being an Avenger. He lives in a Brooklyn apartment, fights the Tracksuit Mafia, adopts a dog named Lucky, and is a beautiful disaster of a human being. Kate Bishop β the Young Avenger who took the Hawkeye name β co-stars as his equal and eventual successor. Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld brought both Hawkeyes to the MCU, but in the comics, Clint Barton remains what he has always been: the guy who brings a bow to a god fight and somehow wins.
First Appearances
Tales of Suspense #57
1964First appearance of Hawkeye β Clint Barton, a carnival sharpshooter, sees Iron Man in action and decides to become a costumed hero. He is mistaken for a criminal and falls for the Black Widow, who manipulates him into fighting Iron Man. Stan Lee and Don Heck introduce the greatest archer in comics.
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Tales of Suspense #60
1964Hawkeye returns β still working with Black Widow against Iron Man. His archery skills impress even Tony Stark. Clint is a villain only because he's in love with the wrong woman.
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Tales of Suspense #64
1965Hawkeye and Black Widow β their complicated relationship continues. Clint begins to question whether he's on the right side.
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Avengers #16
1965Hawkeye joins the Avengers β Cap's Kooky Quartet. Clint, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver replace the founding Avengers. The most significant Avengers roster change in history. A landmark Silver Age key.
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Classic Avengers Era
Avengers #19
1965First Swordsman β Clint's former mentor from the circus debuts as a villain. Their complicated master-student relationship becomes a recurring storyline.
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Avengers #29
1966Hawkeye's rivalry with Captain America β Clint constantly challenges Cap's leadership. Their tension is one of the defining dynamics of the Silver Age Avengers.
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Avengers #63
1969Hawkeye becomes Goliath β Clint uses Hank Pym's growth serum to become a size-changer, abandoning his bow temporarily. His first identity crisis.
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Avengers #65
1969Goliath-Hawkeye in action β Clint as a giant. He eventually returns to being Hawkeye, realizing the bow is who he really is.
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Avengers #109
1973Hawkeye leaves the Avengers β Clint quits the team after a disagreement. His hot-headedness costs him his place among Earth's Mightiest Heroes.
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Hawkeye & Black Widow
Tales of Suspense #57
1964The beginning β Clint falls for Natasha Romanoff, who manipulates him into fighting Iron Man. Love makes him a villain before heroism makes him an Avenger.
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Avengers #29-30
1966Hawkeye and Black Widow reconnect β their romantic history follows them into the Avengers. Natasha's defection to the West mirrors Clint's redemption.
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Hawkeye & Mockingbird #1
2010Hawkeye's romantic life beyond Natasha β his relationship with Mockingbird becomes significant. Jim McCann writes their partnership.
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Tales of Suspense #100
2018Hawkeye and Black Widow reunite β Matthew Rosenberg sends the former lovers on an espionage mission. Their chemistry across decades remains electric.
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West Coast Avengers
West Coast Avengers #1 (Mini)
1984Hawkeye founds the West Coast Avengers β Clint is given the chance to lead his own team. Roger Stern writes. He moves to California and builds a roster from scratch.
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West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #1
1985West Coast Avengers ongoing begins β Steve Englehart and Al Milgrom launch the series. Hawkeye leads Mockingbird, Wonder Man, Tigra, and Iron Man.
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West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #17
1987Hawkeye as leader β Clint proves himself as a commander. His hot-headed approach is different from Cap's but effective in its own way.
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West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #37
1988Hawkeye and Mockingbird's marriage tested β their relationship is strained by the stresses of leading a superhero team and personal tragedy.
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West Coast Avengers #1 (2018)
2018Kelly Thompson relaunches West Coast Avengers β Clint and Kate Bishop lead a new team together. Two Hawkeyes, one coast. Stefano Caselli art.
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Hawkeye & Mockingbird
Avengers #239
1984Hawkeye meets Mockingbird β Clint and Bobbi Morse's relationship begins. Their partnership becomes one of the most significant in Avengers history.
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Hawkeye #1 (1983 Mini)
1983First Hawkeye solo miniseries β Mark Gruenwald writes Clint's first solo adventure. He and Mockingbird get married at the end. A landmark Bronze Age key.
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Hawkeye #4 (1983)
1983Hawkeye and Mockingbird marry β Clint and Bobbi get married in the final issue of his first miniseries. Their marriage leads directly to the West Coast Avengers.
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Avengers West Coast #100
1993Mockingbird dies β Bobbi is killed saving Hawkeye. One of the most devastating losses in Avengers history. Clint is shattered.
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Thunderbolts & Ronin
Thunderbolts #1
1997First Thunderbolts β Baron Zemo's Masters of Evil disguised as heroes. Hawkeye later joins to reform the villains. Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.
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Thunderbolts #21
1999Hawkeye takes over the Thunderbolts β Clint becomes the team leader, determined to reform the villains into real heroes. His greatest leadership challenge.
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Thunderbolts #75
2003Hawkeye's Thunderbolts sacrifice β Clint appears to die saving the team. He goes out the way he lived β fighting impossible odds.
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New Avengers #27
2007Hawkeye becomes Ronin β after being resurrected by Scarlet Witch, Clint adopts the ninja identity of Ronin. He abandons the bow temporarily. Bendis writes his return.
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New Avengers #33
2007Ronin revealed as Hawkeye β Clint's identity under the Ronin mask is confirmed. His resurrection and identity crisis drive his New Avengers arc.
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Death & Resurrection
Avengers #502
2004Hawkeye dies β during Avengers Disassembled, Clint sacrifices himself by flying a Kree ship into the enemy to save the team. His death is one of the most emotional moments in Avengers history.
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House of M #1
2005Hawkeye in House of M β Wanda's reality rewrite resurrects Clint. When the world reverts, he is alive again but confused about what happened.
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New Avengers #26
2007Hawkeye is alive β Clint confronts Wanda after his resurrection. He's angry, confused, and searching for purpose. Bendis writes his return to the living.
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Matt Fraction's Hawkeye
Hawkeye #1
2012Matt Fraction's Hawkeye β the most acclaimed Hawkeye run ever. David Aja draws. The series follows what Clint does when he's not being an Avenger β living in a Brooklyn apartment building, fighting the Tracksuit Mafia, and being a beautiful disaster. An Eisner-winning masterpiece.
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Hawkeye #2
2012Fraction continues β the "bro" Tracksuit Mafia becomes one of the most quotable villain groups in comics. Aja's minimalist, design-forward art redefines what a superhero comic can look like.
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Hawkeye #6
2013The holiday issue β Fraction and Aja deliver a Christmas story about Clint helping his neighbors. Warm, funny, and human. The best single issue of the run.
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Hawkeye #11
2013Pizza Dog β the entire issue is told from the perspective of Lucky, Clint's adopted dog. Aja draws a masterclass in visual storytelling with no traditional dialogue. Won the Eisner Award.
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Hawkeye #22
2015Fraction's finale β the run concludes after delays. Clint and Kate Bishop face the Tracksuit Mafia one last time. The perfect ending to the perfect run.
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Kate Bishop β The Other Hawkeye
Young Avengers #1
2005First appearance of Kate Bishop β the teenage archer who takes the Hawkeye name. Allan Heinberg and Jim Cheung introduce the character who becomes Clint's equal and successor. A major modern Marvel key.
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Young Avengers #12
2006Kate officially becomes Hawkeye β Cap gives her Clint's bow and the name. The passing of the mantle is official.
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Hawkeye #1 (2012)
2012Kate in Fraction's Hawkeye β she co-stars alongside Clint. Their mentor-student, big brother-little sister dynamic is the heart of the series.
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Hawkeye #14 (2014)
2014Kate goes solo in LA β Annie Wu draws Kate's Los Angeles adventures. She proves she can carry a story without Clint. Her independence is the run's secondary thesis.
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Hawkeye: Kate Bishop #1
2021Kate Bishop solo series β Marieke Nijkamp writes Kate's own title. Timed to her MCU debut in the Hawkeye Disney+ show.
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Modern Hawkeye
Avengers vol. 8 #1
2018Hawkeye in Jason Aaron's Avengers β Clint serves on the modern team lineup. His archery skills remain essential even in a cosmic-level roster.
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Hawkeye: Freefall #1
2020Matthew Rosenberg's Hawkeye β Clint goes undercover as Ronin in the criminal underworld. His dual identity as hero and vigilante is explored.
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West Coast Avengers #1 (2018)
2018Two Hawkeyes lead β Kelly Thompson writes Clint and Kate co-leading the new West Coast Avengers. Their partnership is the team's foundation.
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Collector Highlights
Tales of Suspense #57
1964The holy grail β first appearance of Hawkeye. A major Silver Age key connecting Clint to Iron Man and Black Widow from day one.
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Avengers #16
1965Hawkeye joins the Avengers β Cap's Kooky Quartet. One of the most important Avengers roster keys in history.
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Hawkeye #1 (1983)
1983First Hawkeye solo β Gruenwald's miniseries. Clint marries Mockingbird. A Bronze Age key.
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West Coast Avengers #1 (1984)
1984Hawkeye founds the WCA β his first leadership role. A significant 80s Avengers key.
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Hawkeye #1 (2012)
2012Fraction and Aja's masterpiece β the most acclaimed Hawkeye run ever. Eisner-winning. Essential modern Marvel.
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Young Avengers #1
2005First Kate Bishop β the other Hawkeye. A major modern key elevated by the MCU Disney+ show.
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