With all the build up for Avengers: Endgame, I've elected to cover the MC2 incarnations of the films main cast. For this entry, we'll be taking a look at Marvel's greatest archer and Avengers mainstay, Clint Barton aka Hawkeye.
Making his first appearance in the MC2 in the A-Next #7 in a flashback to the last days of the original Avengers team, we learn that not only did Clint join the team on their final mission, he was among the few to return alive. However, Hawkeye did not make it out unscathed, returning without his sight.
While Clint makes his first present day appearance in A-Next #10, I'm going to jump around a bit to cover the years after the Avengers final mission. Despite the loss of his eye sight, Clint open's up Barton's Dojo and began teaching martial arts. It's in American Dream #3-#4 that we glimpse Barton's group of special students: later known as the Dream Team consisting of American Dream, Freebooter, Crimson Curse and Bluestreak.
We first learned of the young heroes mentor via mentions and allusions in the A-Next series, including my personal favourite mention in A-Next #9.
When the new Avengers team venture to the alternate world, Clint Barton visits Avengers Compound seeking his former students, but instead encounters Edwin Jarvis and the long-absent Tony Stark, leading to Clint and Tony arguing about how their last mission ended (A-Next #10).
When the Avengers return, they are immediately captured by the Red Queen and her Revengers and join the already-captured Jarvis, Stark and Barton as captives. However, thanks to a ploy by Stark, the group are freed by Mainframe's reinforcements. Clint's remaining former students inform him of the apparent death of Crimson Curse (A-Next #12).
We don't see Clint again until the events of Last Hero Standing, wherein Barton is kidnapped by Loki in a scheme to turn all the heroes against each other by filling his captives with malice. Notably, Clint returns to his Hawkeye identity here for the first time. It's also worth pointing out that Hawkeye doesn't appear to be vision impaired while under Loki's dark spell, though this may be simply my interpretation. Perhaps it's a side benefit of Asgardian magic? After the spell is broken, Clint returns to his usual self, asking about Captain America's condition as the latter lays dying (Last Hero Standing #2-#5).
With so many members of with injuries or otherwise absent, Stark takes it upon himself to recruits some 'experienced pros' to fill out the Avengers roster. The Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man and Hawkeye are joined by Stark's 'personal bodyguard' (actually Jim Rhodes) on a mission to investigate and apprehend Normie Osborn. Things go awry when Rhodes (now more machine than man) is inadvertently hit by a hex bolt from the Scarlet Witch, triggering a violent rampage. Equipped with special goggles that allow him to see, Hawkeye assists the rest of the team in stopping Rhodes. Ultimately, Hawkeye and the other older heroes decide they can serve better as mentors and advisers to the new generation of heroes (Spider-Girl #93-#95).
Presumably still making use of Stark's fancy goggles, Hawkeye meets with his former students, Freebooter and American Dream for a spar and a pep talk before joining the assembled heroes in combating the threat of Galactus. During the conflict, Hawkeye convinces the Revenger known as Sabreclaw to join in the effort, an act which ultimately leads to the former villain joining the Avengers shortly after (Last Planet Standing #1-5).
While we don't see Hawkeye in the flesh after this point outside of the aforementioned American Dream flashbacks, we do see a magical energy duplicate created when Sylene attempts to recreate Asgard on Earth in Avengers Next #4-#5.
While he may be blind and less powerful than most of the other older heroes in the MC2, I believe Hawkeye has had the most impact on the next generation of heroes. Not only did he train Freebooter, American Dream, Crimson Curse and Bluestreak, his influence also inspired the villainous Sabreclaw to reform and apply for membership on the Avengers. While Tony Stark went into isolation and Captain America was believed dead, Clint Barton kept the spirit of the Avengers alive.
Until I learn how to pull of a trick shot or two or even just loose and arrow with accuracy, I remain
frogoat
While Clint makes his first present day appearance in A-Next #10, I'm going to jump around a bit to cover the years after the Avengers final mission. Despite the loss of his eye sight, Clint open's up Barton's Dojo and began teaching martial arts. It's in American Dream #3-#4 that we glimpse Barton's group of special students: later known as the Dream Team consisting of American Dream, Freebooter, Crimson Curse and Bluestreak.
We first learned of the young heroes mentor via mentions and allusions in the A-Next series, including my personal favourite mention in A-Next #9.
When the new Avengers team venture to the alternate world, Clint Barton visits Avengers Compound seeking his former students, but instead encounters Edwin Jarvis and the long-absent Tony Stark, leading to Clint and Tony arguing about how their last mission ended (A-Next #10).
When the Avengers return, they are immediately captured by the Red Queen and her Revengers and join the already-captured Jarvis, Stark and Barton as captives. However, thanks to a ploy by Stark, the group are freed by Mainframe's reinforcements. Clint's remaining former students inform him of the apparent death of Crimson Curse (A-Next #12).
We don't see Clint again until the events of Last Hero Standing, wherein Barton is kidnapped by Loki in a scheme to turn all the heroes against each other by filling his captives with malice. Notably, Clint returns to his Hawkeye identity here for the first time. It's also worth pointing out that Hawkeye doesn't appear to be vision impaired while under Loki's dark spell, though this may be simply my interpretation. Perhaps it's a side benefit of Asgardian magic? After the spell is broken, Clint returns to his usual self, asking about Captain America's condition as the latter lays dying (Last Hero Standing #2-#5).
With so many members of with injuries or otherwise absent, Stark takes it upon himself to recruits some 'experienced pros' to fill out the Avengers roster. The Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man and Hawkeye are joined by Stark's 'personal bodyguard' (actually Jim Rhodes) on a mission to investigate and apprehend Normie Osborn. Things go awry when Rhodes (now more machine than man) is inadvertently hit by a hex bolt from the Scarlet Witch, triggering a violent rampage. Equipped with special goggles that allow him to see, Hawkeye assists the rest of the team in stopping Rhodes. Ultimately, Hawkeye and the other older heroes decide they can serve better as mentors and advisers to the new generation of heroes (Spider-Girl #93-#95).
Presumably still making use of Stark's fancy goggles, Hawkeye meets with his former students, Freebooter and American Dream for a spar and a pep talk before joining the assembled heroes in combating the threat of Galactus. During the conflict, Hawkeye convinces the Revenger known as Sabreclaw to join in the effort, an act which ultimately leads to the former villain joining the Avengers shortly after (Last Planet Standing #1-5).
While we don't see Hawkeye in the flesh after this point outside of the aforementioned American Dream flashbacks, we do see a magical energy duplicate created when Sylene attempts to recreate Asgard on Earth in Avengers Next #4-#5.
While he may be blind and less powerful than most of the other older heroes in the MC2, I believe Hawkeye has had the most impact on the next generation of heroes. Not only did he train Freebooter, American Dream, Crimson Curse and Bluestreak, his influence also inspired the villainous Sabreclaw to reform and apply for membership on the Avengers. While Tony Stark went into isolation and Captain America was believed dead, Clint Barton kept the spirit of the Avengers alive.
Until I learn how to pull of a trick shot or two or even just loose and arrow with accuracy, I remain
frogoat
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