Hawkeye (Clint Barton)

1960s

Hawkeye debuted as a villain in Tales of Suspense #57 (September 1964), written by Stan Lee and illustrated by Don Heck. Heck conceived the character as "almost like a Robin Hood–type character", being a skilled marksman without superhuman powers whose appeal lay in his physical daring rather than any extraordinary ability.^[2] In the issue, Clint Barton creates his costume and trick arrows out of jealousy of Iron Man, and his criminal career stems from his susceptibility to the Black Widow, a Soviet spy who manipulates his affections to recruit him against Tony Stark.^[3] Comics historian Adam Besenyodi has described this origin as establishing Hawkeye's central contradiction: "the staggering amount of egotism required of a non-superpowered superhero to be successful in the world he inhabits is repeatedly contradicted by the overwhelming insecurity resulting from that same set of circumstances."^[3]

Hawkeye appeared twice more as a villain in Tales of Suspense before joining the Avengers. By early 1965, Stan Lee's insistence on maintaining continuity across all Marvel titles had created what Sean Howe describes as an unmanageable choreography problem. Thor, Iron Man, Giant-Man, and the Wasp were each starring in their own ongoing series, making their concurrent membership in The Avengers a scheduling and continuity burden Lee could no longer sustain.^[4] His solution, introduced in The Avengers #16 (May 1965), was to replace the founding members with three reformed former villains: Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch, led by Captain America. No superhero team in American comics had previously undergone such a comprehensive roster overhaul.^[5] Writer Kurt Busiek later suggested that Hawkeye's elevation from disposable antagonist to permanent Avenger was unplanned, and that Lee "saw Hawkeye's potential was too good to waste" only after receiving Don Heck's original art boards.^[6]

The new lineup, quickly dubbed "Cap's Kooky Quartet" by readers and eventually by the characters themselves, proved durable.^[7] Hawkeye's inclusion showed his confrontational relationship with Captain America's authority and his persistent, unrequited romantic pursuit of the Scarlet Witch. Roger Stern, who wrote The Avengers in the early 1980s, later characterized this behavior not as deliberate sexism but as an expression of the character's self-centeredness. Hawkeye was, in Stern's assessment, "not so much a sexist as an all-purpose butt-head."^[3] Writer Roy Thomas, who took over The Avengers from Lee in the late 1960s, tailored his scripts to John Buscema's richly illustrative style, resulting in a succession of mythological and cosmic adventures in which Hawkeye, Quicksilver, and the Scarlet Witch functioned primarily as ensemble members rather than protagonists.^[4] Hawkeye briefly adopted of the Goliath identity in The Avengers #63 (April 1969), when, feeling inadequate alongside his powered teammates, he secretly took Hank Pym's growth formula and snapped his own bow in two to signal the abandonment of his Hawkeye persona. Philosopher Christopher Robichaud later identified this act as telling of Clint's "need to live up to the example of his peers and earn their acceptance as well as his own."^[8]

1980s

The direct-market revolution of the early 1980s created demand for limited series as both collectible commodities and low-risk tests of characters' solo viability. Direct-market sales increased 46 percent in 1982 and a further 32 percent in 1983, and Marvel responded with a wave of four-issue miniseries for characters outside its top tier.^[9] Among those greenlit was a Hawkeye miniseries, published from September through December 1983, written and penciled by Mark Gruenwald with inks by Brett Breeding. The series introduced Mockingbird as Clint's professional partner and romantic interest, and ended with their marriage. This development Gruenwald compressed into the final issue at a pace critics noted as premature. The series also introduced Hawkeye's partial deafness as a permanent character trait. By using one of his own sonic arrows to counter the villain Crossfire's mind-control weapon, Clint was left with significant hearing loss requiring hearing aids in both ears. Wizard Magazine later cited the issue directly: "To override the sonic mind-control device of the villain Crossfire, Hawkeye put the head of one of his sonic arrows in his mouth, drowning out the machine... Unfortunately, it cost the archer part of his hearing."^[10]

The Gruenwald miniseries was commercially successful enough to prompt further solo publication. In September 1984, Hawkeye and Mockingbird were tasked with establishing a West Coast branch of the Avengers in a four-issue limited series; the series "proved so popular that it became a regular monthly book that ran for 102 issues." The ongoing West Coast Avengers (retitled Avengers West Coast from issue #46 in August 1989) ran until 1994, with Hawkeye serving throughout as founder and team leader. Writer Roy Thomas, who worked on the title during the late 1980s, noted that the West Coast location created constant motivational problems for bringing in guest characters from the broader Marvel Universe, though it also allowed him to develop characters with fewer obligations to other ongoing series.^[11]

Hawkeye's solo publication continued with Solo Avengers in December 1987, a split book that gave the character an eleven-page feature while using the second half of each issue to showcase supporting Avengers characters.^[12] The title provided Hawkeye with a regular narrative venue while functioning as an incubator for new creative talent and untested characters. The book ran for 40 issues (retitled Avengers Spotlight from issue #21 in August 1989) before concluding in January 1991.

1990s

The 1990s saw Hawkeye's solo publication stall. A second volume of Hawkeye ran for four issues in 1994, written by Chuck Dixon and set during Clint's period of isolation in the Canadian wilderness following Mockingbird's death; it failed to generate an ongoing series. Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman #1 appeared in 1998 as a standalone one-shot. A third volume, launched in December 2003, lasted only eight issues before cancellation.

Hawkeye's most significant 1990s development came in Thunderbolts, where writer Kurt Busiek cast him as the leader of a team of former supervillains attempting rehabilitation. Clint, himself a former criminal whose redemption had been sponsored by Iron Man, was now replicating Captain America's mentorship relationship for a new generation of reformed antagonists. Busiek's successor on the title, Fabian Nicieza, identified the creative risk of the casting openly: "Hawkeye — much as I love the character — has been too perfect. He's been batting 1,000, but he'll strike out with the bases loaded and shake the team's confidence in him as a leader."^[13] Nicieza's stated intention was to introduce moral and leadership failures that would test rather than simply affirm Clint's competence.^[13]

The character died in The Avengers #502 (2004), during the "Avengers Disassembled" event, sacrificing himself by flying into the engines of a Kree warship conjured by the mentally destabilized Scarlet Witch.

2000s

Hawkeye was resurrected during the "House of M" storyline and returned to publication in Brian Michael Bendis's New Avengers, initially operating under the alias Ronin rather than resuming his previous name. The Ronin persona allowed Clint to participate in the team's covert operations without the associations attached to his established costumed identity. Writer Jim McCann, who later worked extensively with the character, described this period as one of genuine psychological instability for Clint: "He went through a lot during that time... He acknowledged as much in that same issue [of New Avengers]. That, and having Bobbi and Cap back, are the things that have led him back to being Hawkeye. Now he is more grounded, sure of himself, and his place in the world."^[14]

McCann's New Avengers: The Reunion (2009), a four-issue limited series co-starring Mockingbird, who had been revealed to have survived the Mephisto confrontation that apparently killed her, was the result of McCann's active editorial advocacy. McCann later described pushing aggressively for Mockingbird to be the character returned at the end of Secret Invasion, pitching the series as "the Mr. and Mrs. Smith of the Marvel Universe."^[15] Its critical and commercial success led directly to the Hawkeye & Mockingbird ongoing series in 2010, the first sustained solo publication for either character in over a decade. McCann noted that the series converted from a planned miniseries to an ongoing specifically because of fan and retailer response: "it was the fans' and retailers' support of The Reunion that made this possible."^[15] The ongoing was cancelled after six issues.

2010s

He's the Avenger that's Just A Dude, under it all. No healing powers, no flight, no rays, no serums, not invulnerable, not magical, not gamma-irradiated or anything else. And yet he stands with Earth's Mightiest Heroes... so who is he in-between? When the mask comes off?

The character received a creative shift with the launch of Hawkeye volume four in August 2012 by writer Matt Fraction and artist David Aja. The series was a deliberate departure from the event-driven storytelling that dominated Marvel's publishing line. Fraction's pitch, stated at the C2E2 convention in Chicago, was that the series would explore what Hawkeye does when he is not an Avenger.^[16] The creative process was collaborative: Aja described a working method in which Fraction would develop a rough plot, Aja would sketch visual ideas and produce full-issue thumbnails, and Fraction would then write dialogue responsive to those images.^[17] "I love Matt," Aja said in a 2012 interview. "We've been working very closely since the very beginning, so much so that there's been a point where I don't know where some of our ideas come from first — him or I." Fraction had initially declined the assignment before finding his conceptual entry point in the first page of a planned second issue.^[16]

Avengers

Hawkeye later rescues Edwin Jarvis and his mother from a mugger. In gratitude, Jarvis invites Hawkeye to Avengers Mansion and stages a confrontation to allow the archer to clear his name and gain the trust of the Avengers.^[24] Hawkeye is then sponsored by his former enemy Iron Man, who sees that he is serious about becoming a hero. Led by Captain America, Hawkeye joins the team along with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch to form the second incarnation of the Avengers.^[25] Almost straight away, Hawkeye clashes with his fellow Avengers. His romantic intentions towards the Scarlet Witch are met with hostility from her brother, Quicksilver. Hawkeye rebels against Captain America's leadership (due to his past problems with authority figures), but over time comes to respect him as a mentor and a friend.^[26] When the Swordsman attempted to join the Avengers, Hawkeye warned them of his previous history with the villain.^[27]

Hawkeye enjoys many adventures with the Avengers and proves himself a hero on numerous occasions. However, when his bow breaks during a crucial moment in a battle, Clint decides to adopt the Goliath costume and identity, succeeding Hank Pym.^[28] Barton (as Goliath) was later approached by his brother Barney Barton who was now a big-time racketeer. Barney had learned of Egghead's plans to construct an orbiting laser death-ray to extort money from the United States and came to the Avengers for help. The Avengers confronted Egghead's allies, the Mad Thinker and the Puppet Master. Tragically, Barney died in the ensuing battle;^[29] It was later revealed that Barney Barton was actually an undercover FBI agent.^[30] Soon after this encounter, Egghead hires the Swordsman to capture Goliath (thinking him to be Pym instead of Clint). Clint defeats and captures both criminals, finding justice for his brother at last. At the conclusion of the Kree-Skrull War Clint resumes the identity of Hawkeye with a new costume. After several adventures, Hawkeye quits the Avengers after a bitter rift with the Vision over the affections of the Scarlet Witch. Barton returns to his original Hawkeye costume and strikes out on his own.^[31]

Hawkeye returns to the Avengers when the current members of the team begin to mysteriously disappear.^[32] The remaining Avengers discover it to be the work of the Collector of the Elders of the Universe. After his teammates were all defeated, Hawkeye single-handedly defeats the Collector,^[33] and joins the team for the final battle against Korvac.^[34] Afterwards, Hawkeye's victory is dashed when the Avengers' new government liaison Henry Peter Gyrich limits the roster and replaces him with the Falcon, in an attempt to make the team more "politically acceptable". After initially failing to find work in his civilian identity, Hawkeye gains employment with Cross Technological Enterprises as the Head of Security.

Marriage to Mockingbird

Returning to Cross Technological Enterprises, Hawkeye meets the former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Barbara "Bobbi" Morse, also known as the hero Mockingbird. Together, they discover that Crossfire, cousin of the company's original owner Darren Cross, was hatching a plot to destroy the superhero community via an aggression-inducing sonic weapon. Hawkeye and Mockingbird manage to defeat him (although Hawkeye is rendered 80% deaf when he uses a sonic arrow to counter Crossfire's weapon) and the two heroes get married shortly afterwards.^[35] At the direction of then-Avengers chair the Vision, Hawkeye (now using a hearing aid) and Mockingbird travel to Los Angeles to establish a west coast branch of the Avengers, known as the West Coast Avengers.^[36] While searching for a base of operations, Hawkeye and Mockingbird battle a vengeful Crossfire, who had recently broken out of prison. They manage to defeat the supervillain, aided by former actress Moira Brandon, who later allows her mansion to become the new Avengers Compound.^[37] On one of the West Coast Avengers adventures, when the team was lost in time, Mockingbird was kidnapped by an Old Western hero called Lincoln Slade, the Phantom Rider. The Phantom Rider drugs Mockingbird, convinces her that they are in love, and forces her to engage in a sexual relationship. Mockingbird soon regains her senses. In the resulting battle between the two, Mockingbird allows the Phantom Rider to fall to his death.^[38] Afterwards, when Mockingbird confesses what she did, Hawkeye is stunned that his wife would allow a man to die instead of facing justice. Their relationship becomes frayed as Mockingbird leaves the West Coast Avengers and separates from Hawkeye.^[39]

Hawkeye is challenged to a duel to the death by his former mentor Trick Shot. Hawkeye reluctantly accepts the challenge and wins. Trick Shot reveals that he is dying of cancer and wants to die honorably in battle. Hawkeye, instead of granting his former mentor's wish, promises to fund his medical care.^[40] Later, when Crossfire places a bounty on Hawkeye's right arm, Trick Shot (whose cancer had gone into remission) returns to aid his former pupil. Along with Mockingbird, the two archers defeat an army of supervillains looking to lay claim to the bounty.^[41] After this altercation with Crossfire, Hawkeye tells Mockingbird that he was wrong to blame her for what happened with the Phantom Rider. The pair soon reconcile.^[42]

The West Coast Avengers are then caught in the middle of a supernatural battle between Mephisto and Satannish. The team are able to defeat the two demons and force them back to their own realms. However, Mephisto retaliates by firing energy blasts at the escaping West Coast Avengers. Mockingbird sacrifices herself to save Hawkeye and dies in her husband's arms.^[43] Embittered by Mockingbird's death, Hawkeye leaves the team, which is disbanded almost immediately afterwards.^[44] Hawkeye isolates himself in the Canadian Rockies to separate himself from the world. He is soon forced to battle the Secret Empire. He manages to defeat Viper, the leader of the Secret Empire, and her hired supervillains, Javelynn and his old mentor Trick Shot.^[45]

Hawkeye returns to the Avengers just prior to the battle with the entity Onslaught, in which the Avengers (including Hawkeye) are apparently killed.^[46][47] Franklin Richards, however, transported them all to a pocket universe where the heroes led altered lives.^[48] The heroes eventually learned the truth and they were returned to their own universe. Hawkeye's hearing was fully restored because, when Franklin Richards recreated the heroes in the new universe, he based them on how he remembered them.^[49]

Thunderbolts

When the Avengers returned, they were abducted by Morgan le Fay^[50] and later they fought the Squadron Supreme.^[51] Then Hawkeye aids Avenger trainees Justice and Firestar to defeat the Taskmaster and Albino.^[52] but he later resigns the team to assume leadership of the first generation of the Thunderbolts, who had broken away from the influence of Helmut Zemo.^[53] Disguised as Dreadknight,^[54] he contacted the team and later he trained them in the fashion of former teammate Captain America, to try to shaped them into a cohesive fighting unit. Hawkeye begins a romantic relationship with fellow Thunderbolts member Moonstone who Hawkeye is proving to be a good influence on.^[55] Later, Hawkeye and the Thunderbolts travel to Hell to save the soul of Mockingbird. They defeat the demonic Mephisto, but Hawkeye is unable to find his wife.^[56] To ensure that his Thunderbolts are given full pardons, Hawkeye allows himself to be arrested in their place. The Thunderbolts' past crimes are erased on the condition that they retire from costumed heroics. The team reluctantly agrees.^[57] Later, when Hawkeye had gotten out of prison, the team comes back together to defeat Graviton once again. Convinced that they are ready to be heroes in their own right, Hawkeye hands leadership of the Thunderbolts to Citizen V (whose mind was actually under the control of Baron Zemo) and leaves the team.^[58]

Death

Hawkeye joins the Avengers once more, and begins a brief romantic relationship with team member Wasp.^[59] He also embarks on some solo adventures where he uncovers a plot to steal an ancient artifact in Laos,^[60] and investigates the murder of a former Soviet colonel.^[22] The Scarlet Witch, driven mad by her powers, causes a Kree warship to appear over the skies of New York. The Avengers, surprised by the appearance of the spacecraft, spring into battle. During the battle, Hawkeye's quiver of arrows is set on fire. Knowing that the explosive arrows were going to blow up faster than he could remove them, Hawkeye flies into the engines of the Kree warship, destroying the spacecraft and sacrificing himself to save his teammates.^[61] A past version of Hawkeye is also plucked from time by the Time Variance Authority to serve as a juror in a case involving former Avengers teammate She-Hulk. She-Hulk tries unsuccessfully to warn Hawkeye as to his future.^[62]

Revival

When the Scarlet Witch inadvertently alters reality, Hawkeye is resurrected with no memory of previous events.^[63] When young mutant Layla Miller gives several heroes (including Hawkeye) the ability to remember, he is horrified at the Scarlet Witch's actions. Hawkeye shoots Wanda in the back with an arrow. In retaliation, one of her recreated children wipes Hawkeye from existence, killing him once more. When the Scarlet Witch's reality is eventually undone, Hawkeye is still presumed dead. However, the recently formed New Avengers find his bow and arrows on the site of the old Avengers Mansion, pinning up an article about his death.^[64]

Return and New Avengers

Unknown to the New Avengers, Hawkeye is resurrected once reality was restored. He seeks out Doctor Strange who offers Hawkeye shelter while he comes to terms with his new life. Against the advice of Dr. Strange, Hawkeye eventually travels to Mount Wundagore and finds the Scarlet Witch living a normal life with no memory of her past and apparently without mutant abilities. The two become intimate and Hawkeye then leaves Wanda to her normal life.^[65] Returning to the United States, Hawkeye learns about the assassination of Captain America. He confronts Tony Stark, who then offers Hawkeye the Captain America shield and costume to continue the legacy. Hawkeye is later inspired by the words of Kate Bishop, whom he met while hiding his identity, and rejects Stark's offer.^[66]

Hawkeye returns to see Dr. Strange and meets the New Avengers. The team invites Hawkeye to join the team. Hawkeye accepts, and accompanies the team on a mission to Japan to rescue Echo. However, leaving behind his Hawkeye identity, Clint Barton takes on the disguise of Ronin.^[67] Echo, the original Ronin, later gives Barton her blessing to adopt her old identity.^[68] Clint later meets Kate Bishop again, but this time reveals his true identity, much to Kate's surprise. Impressed with Kate's skill with a bow, and the fact she reminds him of himself at her age, Clint blesses Kate to continue using the Hawkeye codename.^[69]

Clint (as Ronin) was part of the New Avengers team that head to the Savage Land after a tip from Spider-Woman that a Skrull ship had crash landed there. Emerging from the crashed ship was a selection of heroes claiming to have been abducted, one of which was Mockingbird. Clint believes that she is the real Mockingbird until Mister Fantastic's invention proves that the heroes from the Skrull ship were all imposters. Later, after the war for Earth was won, Clint is reunited with the real Mockingbird, who was revealed to have been held captive by the Skrulls for years.^[70]

Dark Reign and Siege

Clint attempts to help Mockingbird as she tries to adapt to life back on Earth. He accompanies her to Zaragoza, Spain, to battle Monica Rappaccini and the hordes of A.I.M. in an effort to deactivate a "dirty bomb" designed by the evil scientific group. Despite their years apart, Clint and Mockingbird battle with comfort and understanding. They manage to defeat A.I.M. and foil their evil plot.^[71]

At the conclusion of the Skrull war, S.H.I.E.L.D. is dissolved and Norman Osborn is placed in power of national security.^[72] Osborn creates his own team of villainous Avengers by stealing the costumed identities of previous Avengers. The supervillain assassin Bullseye joins the team and takes on the Hawkeye mantle.^[73] Watching the Avengers news coverage on television with the rest of the New Avengers, Clint is stunned to see the events taking place. Clint unmasked himself on network television and publicly denounces Osborn's regime.^[74] He is later elected as the leader of the New Avengers and makes toppling Osborn and the Hood from power his number one priority.^[75] Clint argues that the only way to beat Osborn is to kill him, although the rest of the team disagrees. Clint attempts to storm Avengers Tower single-handedly to achieve his goal. He defeats the Dark Avengers, but is captured and arrested when, after failing to kill Osborn, he is attacked from behind by Ares.^[76] Clint was imprisoned and tortured at the hands of Mentallo. He was later freed by his teammates and apologized for his actions.^[77]

Heroic Age

During the "Heroic Age", Steve Rogers puts together a new team of Avengers. Clint joins the team and returns to his Hawkeye identity^[78] Although he encourages Kate Bishop to keep the Hawkeye identity as well.^[79] He and Mockingbird are also members of the New Avengers,^[80] Although Hawkeye later leaves the New Avengers when he receives an Avengers priority call from the main team, claiming that he was only there to spend time with his wife.^[81]

Hawkeye aids Mockingbird and her anti-terrorist organization, the World Counter-terrorism Agency. Together, they thwart Crossfire's illegal arms operation, and encounter Lincoln Slade's descendant, Jaime Slade, who later goes onto become the new Phantom Rider.^[82] Crossfire and the new Phantom Rider team-up to battle the heroes. This feud has its casualties with Mockingbird's mother being severely wounded^[83] and the death of Hamilton Slade,^[84] both at the hands of Crossfire. Hawkeye leaves the W.C.A. after it becomes clear that his relationship with Mockingbird has become too strained. However, he quickly rejoins after being informed by Steve Rogers that a kill list of international spies includes Mockingbird.^[85]

Hawkeye and Mockingbird team up with Black Widow to take on the mysterious new Ronin and the Dark Ocean Society.^[86] The new Ronin is later revealed to be Alexei Shostakov, the former Red Guardian and ex-husband of Black Widow.^[87] During the final battle with the new Ronin, Hawkeye receives a strong blow to the head. When the battle is won, he assures Mockingbird and Black Widow that he suffered no ill effects from the blow.^[88] The blow to the head that Hawkeye received proves to be more serious than first thought. While battling the Lethal Legion with the Avengers, Hawkeye's aim is shown to be faltering. After the battle, Tony Stark, Donald Blake and Steve Rogers examine Hawkeye to discover what is causing it. Their diagnosis is that Hawkeye is steadily losing his sight and will soon go blind. Barney Barton, who has since taken up the Trick Shot mantle, agrees to a bone marrow transplant to save his brother's sight, but only so he could battle Hawkeye again in the future.^[89]

Shattered Heroes

Following the "Fear Itself" storyline, the Avengers Academy is reopened in Palos Verdes at the former West Coast Avengers headquarters, where Barton accepts an offer to become a teacher.^[90] The character receives a new costume in Avengers vol. 4 #18.^[91] Cullen Bunn, writer of Captain America & Hawkeye, stated the costume was influenced slightly by The Avengers film.^[92] In 2012, Hawkeye becomes the leader of the Secret Avengers.^[93] The 2012 critically acclaimed Hawkeye vol. 4 solo series^[94] focuses on Hawkeye defending an apartment building from the Tracksuit Mafia with the assistance of Kate and his brother Barney.^[95] This series also reintroduces Hawkeye as a deaf character after a mercenary known as Kazi the Clown jammed two of Hawkeye's arrows into his ears.

Hawkeye became a member of the New Avengers led by Sunspot at the request of S.H.I.E.L.D., who are suspicious of Sunspot's activities and want Clint to spy on them. However, during a conflict, Hawkeye is fired from S.H.I.E.L.D. due to deciding to side with the New Avengers against them and following Songbird's betrayal of the team as a S.H.I.E.L.D. double agent.^{[citation needed]}

Civil War II

During the Civil War II storyline, Hawkeye shoots Bruce Banner in the head with an arrow in light of Ulysses Cain's vision of a rampaging Hulk standing over the corpses of the dead superheroes. During the Avengers-presided trial, Hawkeye stated that Banner approached him and asked for Hawkeye to kill him if he ever became Hulk again.^[96] He is acquitted of all charges and his actions heavily divided the superhero community in the Ulysses conflict.^[97][98]

Occupy Avengers

In the pages of "Occupy Avengers", Clint starts traveling the country and focuses his efforts towards helping the underprivileged with community based problems in an effort to redeem his actions from the event, beginning with the water supply in Santa Rosa. He eventually gains the aid of the Red Wolf of Earth-51920 to help him fight for those who cannot defend themselves.^[99]

Secret Empire

In the "Secret Empire" storyline, Captain America leads Hydra's takeover of the United States. Hawkeye becomes the leader of the few free heroes left in the country (the others are either trapped outside Earth's atmosphere, trapped in New York behind a Darkforce shield, or working with Hydra).^[100] After Rick Jones is able to send information to the heroes revealing that Captain America has been "brainwashed" by the Cosmic Cube Kobik to believe that he has been a Hydra agent since childhood, Hawkeye is one of the heroes favoring the idea that they can recover the fragmented cube and use it to restore Rogers to normal, in opposition to Black Widow's plan to just kill Rogers and stop him.^[101] Despite their opposing viewpoints, Hawkeye falls back in love with Black Widow and is devastated by her supposed death at the hands of the evil Steve Rogers.^[102]

Fresh Start

Shortly after Natasha's supposed death, a number of her enemies have been killed off. Hawkeye and Winter Soldier start investigating the trail of bodies left behind to uncover the mysterious assassin and determine if Black Widow is still alive.^[103] They eventually discover that she was cloned by the Black Widow Ops Program following her death. When Winter Soldier and Hawkeye arrive at the Red Room, the Black Widow clone drops her cover and begins killing her superiors, liberating the recruits, and destroying all the clones and Epsilon Red. When authorities arrive, Black Widow leaves the Red Room, leaving a note for Hawkeye to stop following her and for Winter Soldier to join her in ending the Red Room.^[104]

During the "Fresh Start" relaunch, Clint and Kate decided to revive the West Coast Avengers following an attack by land sharks in Santa Monica. For that, they recruited America Chavez and Kate's boyfriend Johnny "Fuse" Watts, who helped in the mission, and were eventually joined by Gwenpool and Kid Omega. Given their lack of funds, the newly formed team tried to get financiers by starring in a reality show following their exploits.^[105]

Freefall

After successfully arresting Hood, Clint is outraged to learn that the court let Hood go free while sending his underlings to jail. During this time, he is also dating Linda Carter. Shortly afterwards, someone dressed as Ronin begins attacking and robbing the Hood's facilities around New York.^[106] As Hood hunts down Ronin, Clint struggles to maintain his relationship with Linda and continue to lie to the other heroes. This comes to a head when Hood hires Bullseye, who steals Clint's Ronin costume to frame him for murder. Clint confronts Hood and defeats him by removing his powers with Count Nefaria's help.^[107]

Thunderbolts (Revival)

Following the events of "Freefall", Luke Cage, now mayor of New York City, asks Clint to lead a new Thunderbolts team that would operate as the only legally sanctioned super-hero team in the city, to which Clint accepts. The team consists of America Chavez, Power Man (Víctor Álvarez), Guston Glory, Eegro the Unbreakable, Persuasion and Spectrum.^[108] At a press meeting, Clint hallucinates Black Widow and Mockingbird berating him for his past. His hallucination is cut short when the city is attacked by Nightmare. Nightmare reveals that most of the events are a product of Nightmare's manipulations, including Clint rekindling his relationship with Mockingbird. Nightmare wants to use America Chavez's powers to dimension-hop to absorb the nightmares of the multiverse. Nightmare causes the team to hear voices that prey on their insecurities. Nightmare mocks Clint, commenting on his leadership skills and selfishness, going as far as to urge Clint to die. The team ultimately prevails and is put on a probation due to their property damage. Clint agrees to keep leading the team. Clint contacts Mockingbird, asking her to get coffee with him, to which she agrees.^[109]

Television

• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Chris Wiggins.^[120]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Iron Man, voiced by John Reilly.^[121] This version is a member of Force Works.
• Clint Barton / Goliath makes a cameo appearance in the Fantastic Four episode "To Battle the Living Planet".^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in The Avengers: United They Stand, voiced by Tony Daniels.^{[citation needed]} This version is a member of the Avengers.
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in The Super Hero Squad Show, voiced by Adrian Pasdar.^[121]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Chris Cox.^[122] This version is initially a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. before joining the Avengers.
• A teenage Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, voiced by Andrew Francis.^[121] This version is initially a freelancer before joining S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Troy Baker.^[123][121] This version is a member of the Avengers.
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Avengers Assemble, voiced again by Troy Baker.^[124][121] This version is a member of the Avengers. Additionally, he temporarily becomes Goliath following an accident in the episode "One Little Thing".^[125]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers, voiced by Eiji Takemoto in the Japanese version and by Christopher Corey Smith in the English dub.^[121]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced again by Troy Baker.^[121] This version is a member of the Avengers.
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Marvel Future Avengers, voiced by Kiyoshi Katsunuma in the Japanese version and voiced again by Christopher Corey Smith in the English dub.^[121]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Iron Man and His Awesome Friends, voiced by Nick A. Fisher.^[126]

Film

• Clint Barton / Hawkeye and his son Francis Barton both appear in Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow.
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Iron Man: Rise of Technovore,^[127] voiced by Troy Baker.^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher,^[128] voiced by an uncredited Matthew Mercer.^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, voiced again by Troy Baker.^[121]

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Jeremy Renner portrays Clint Barton as Hawkeye and Ronin in the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe films Thor, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, and Avengers: Endgame, as well as the live-action Disney+ series Hawkeye.^[129] Additionally, Renner voices alternate timeline versions of the character in the animated Disney+ series What If...?.^[130] Renner will reprise the role in the film Avengers: Doomsday.^[131]

Video games

• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Spider-Man: The Video Game.^[132]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Captain America and the Avengers.^[132]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as an assist character in Venom/Spider-Man: Separation Anxiety.^[133]
• Evil clones of Clint Barton / Hawkeye appear in Marvel Super Heroes in War of the Gems.^[134]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in the PSP version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance,^[135] voiced by Nolan North.^[121][136] He also appears in the downloadable "Heroes and Villains" version for the Xbox 360.
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, voiced by Chris Cox.^[137] Additionally, his Ronin identity appears as an alternate costume.^[138]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, voiced by Sam Riegel.^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Alliance.^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth, voiced by Troy Baker.^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in LittleBigPlanet as part of the "Marvel Costume Kit 6" DLC.^[139]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Heroes, voiced again by Chris Cox.^{[121][140][141]} Additionally, his Ronin identity appears as an alternate costume.
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes,^[142] voiced again by Troy Baker.^[121]
• Clint Barton, as Hawkeye and Ronin, appears as a playable character in Marvel: Contest of Champions.^[143]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Avengers Alliance Tactics.^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Disney Infinity 2.0, voiced again by Troy Baker.^[121]
• Clint Barton, as Hawkeye and Ronin, appears as a playable character in Marvel: Future Fight.^[143]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel's Avengers, voiced by Jeremy Renner.^{[citation needed]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Disney Infinity 3.0, voiced again by Troy Baker.^[121]
• A teenage version of Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Marvel Avengers Academy, voiced by Gus Sorola.^[144]
• Five incarnations of Clint Barton / Hawkeye appear as playable characters in Marvel Puzzle Quest.^[145]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite, voiced again by Chris Cox.^{[121][146][147]}
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Powers United VR, voiced again by Chris Cox.^[121]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, voiced by Dar Dash.^[121]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, voiced again by Chris Cox.^[121]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable DLC character in Marvel's Avengers,^[148] voiced by Giacomo Gionniotti.^[149]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a cosmetic outfit in Fortnite.^[150]
• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears as a playable character in Marvel Rivals, voiced by Andrew Kishino.^[151] Additionally, his Ronin and Hawkeye: Freefall outfits are available as alternate costumes.^[152]

Miscellaneous

• Clint Barton / Hawkeye appears in Marvel Universe Live! as a member of the Avengers.^[153]
• Old Man Hawkeye appears in Marvel's Wastelanders: Old Man Hawkeye, voiced by Stephen Lang.^[154]

Marvel Epic Collections

Modern Era Epic Collections

Main collections