Before I start, I want to take note of something critical: Marvel Earth-616 is a continuity of graphic novels developed by hundreds of writers, running from 1939 to date without a single reboot to add. The character of Hawkeye was first introduced in the 1960s, so he's been under dozens of different writers for close to 60 years now. This is the case both for him and a number of characters that will be mentioned in this thread. Another issue is Hawkeye's interactions with super-powered characters like Quicksilver, Iron Man or Spider-Man; those could either take place on modern age or silver/golden age, with their power levels and the logic behind them varying. And as always, there's plot involved. Each reader can form a personal opinion on his character and abilities by examining him on a holistic level and deciding what is a reasonable and consistent level for him in the ranking system. My job is to present everything for you. And also do keep in mind that I'm not an expert on every character mentioned in this thread, so every comment and/or scan you can add that I might have missed or I'm not aware of is a welcome addition. And with that out of the way...
Clinton "Clint" Francis Barton - Hawkeye [616]
Table Of Contents.
I. Introduction.
II. Training.
III. Physicality.
IV. Equipment.
V. Marksmanship.
VI. Melee Skill.
VII. Resources. Assassination. Stealth. Awareness. Espionage. Tactics. Misc Skills.
VIII. Notable Fights.
IX. Sources.
I. Introduction.
As an opening note, I think Nick Fury's personal file on Hawkeye in regard to the Secret War of Marvel's Earth-616, which highlights parts of his skill and/or power set as much as his character traits and values.
"Hawkeye is not your average soldier. He asks a lot of questions. He hates authority. He takes chances. But at the end of the day, Clint is a hero and someone who realizes, almost more than Captain America does, that in order to get things done you sometimes have to bend the rules and fight dirty. He's also worked undercover for S.H.I.E.L.D. before so I trust him. Barton's a good man.
Now when you approach him with this mission he's going to ask a lot of questions. Particularly, why he wasn't on the first mission. Some of these questions may come out a little obnoxious, but after he finishes, just tell him I was holding him back in case something did go wrong. At that point the jerk will probably smile and say if he was with us the first time, the mission would have gone off without a hitch.
Another thing I need you to hold off on, no matter what you know, is the condition of my first team. If we are off the board and not just captured... if we're all dead... you can't tell Clint that. As much as he disagrees with Cap on a lot of things, the man looks up to Cap. Not that most people don't but... Hawkeye's emotions need to be in check. He is the best marksman in the world, but when his blood gets hot he can be a little off the mark.
Now, I know what you're thinking, Val. He has arrows. And he's just a man. Both of those things are true. But when times are tough, Barton's a leader who can make the tough decisions. And before this horrible mission is over we may need a little humanity to bring us through.
Also, and now that you're in charge you need to know this: We have a small amount of Pym Particles available to him if he wants it. It's sealed in an unmarked bottle of Whiskey on the shelf in my office. (As a matter of fact make sure all of the liquor in my office is sealed up tight. I'll leave a different memo regarding all of the bottles.) He's been Goliath before and by the end of this mission he may need to become Goliath again. Arrows can only keep you alive so long. No matter how great a marksman you are."
Secret War: From The Files of Nick Fury (2005)
And finally, a power grid sourcing from The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: The Avengers, also written back in 2004. For context, this handbook involves only the original roster of the Avengers.
His speed, strength, durability and intelligence seem to be on the average peak human levels, with his fighting skills standing between the average combat trained Avengers such as the Wasp and the higher trained ones such as Black Panther. Since his more profound role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2011), Clint seems to be getting both more respect and a more refined set of abilities and skills by the writers of the 616 graphic novels, and hopefully this is one of the things this thread highlights by the end.
II. Training.
Clint Barton was born and raised in the U.S. At a young age, he lost both his parents in a car accident, with him and his brother ending up in an orphanage. Unable to take this life anymore, Clint ran away alongside his brother, Barney, to join a travelling circus, quickly developing into an impressive gymnast. There, he met and eventually trained with two criminals, Trickshot, a master archer, and the Swordsman, an expert - guess it - swordsman, and knife fighter.
Clint's natural talent impressed Trickshot from the beginning, and so he took on a role of both a father figure and an inspiring tutor. Trickshot was more than that however, he was also a trained killer, and his lessons included the darker side of the art [1] (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #2). It didn't take long for Barton to grow into a master archer, eventually surpassing Buck himself. While in the circus, he caught the eye of the Swordsman, who further advanced his skill set with the use of bladed weapons [2] (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #2). Clint's training did not stop at that however.
After taking his own ways, leaving the circus and eventually joining the Avengers, he met another aspiring person, the most famous soldier of all, Steve Rogers. Captain America changed Clint's life in many ways, and this includes his fighting prowess and style.
After rough training with Rogers, Clint grew into even more of a dangerous opponent, advancing his skill in hand-to-hand combat, tactics and overall battle IQ. When combined with his already-master-level skill in archery, Hawkeye became a very well oiled machine and a unique, but versatile combatant all around.
III. Physicality.
As it's been done traditionally, I'll break down each physical category and list a number of feats for each one. Keep in mind that Hawkeye is a 6'3" tall male, weighing 230 lbs.
Strength.
- Knocks out 4 grown men with one bow swing. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Throws an arrow one armed with enough force to get it through Barney and pin him onto a wall. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #4)
- High kicks Steve Rogers and sends him flying a few meters away. (Captain America Vol. 1 #179)
- Clint has shown himself capable of knocking Batroc the Leaper out cold with a single punch twice, even while fatigued. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #3), (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- Kicks Spider-Man away, who seems to groan in discomfort. (Hawkeye: Freefall #2)
- Knocks out 3 large thugs with a single hit each, then slam the leader so hard against the wall it cracks. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #1)
- Shoves Barney, who seems to be around Clint's own build, a few feet away from a disadvantageous position. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #4)
- Shatters a stone vase using his nunchucks. (New Avengers Vol. 1 #50)
- Hits Deadpool so hard in the face that he is seemingly dazed afterwards. (Secret Avengers Vol. 3 #9)
- Knocks down Ultron with built momentum and a double kick. (Avengers Vol. 1 #202)
- Cuts off Spider-Man's webline with his sword. (Hawkeye: Freefall #2)
Durability.
- Clint gets thrown an enormous distance by an enraged She-Hulk, slamming onto a tree in the process. He regains consciousness within seconds and according to Bruce Banner, he has a cracked rib. (Avengers Vol. 3 #75)
- Tanks one of his own explosive arrows thrown by Captain America. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Tanks a slam from Steve Rogers. (Captain America Vol. 1 #179)
- Takes a good beating from Captain America. (Captain America Vol. 1 #383)
- Takes a backhand and two punches from Namor. (Defenders Vol. 1 #8)
- Tanks blasts from Iron Man. (Defenders Vol. 1 #9)
- Tanks an explosion and a high fall, crushing onto a car. (Hawkeye: Freefall #2)
- Takes a beating from a holding back Spider-Man. (Hawkeye: Freefall #4)
- Tanks a clean punch from Deadpool without issues. (Hawkeye V Deadpool #0)
- Takes a clean kick from Spider-Man that slams him against the wall, cracking it. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man Vol. 1 #2)
- Tanks an adamantium pole hitting him in the ribs while in Ultron's trap. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #1)
- Takes a small attack from Doctor Doom. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #35)
- Survives a repulsor blast from one of Tony Stark's armors alongside Black Widow at point blank range. (The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #687)
Agility.
- Clint adapts and "rolls in" with an explosive boomerang going off right next to him - this was a surprise attack. (Avengers Spotlight Vol.1 #27)
- Performs a gymnastic routine while training in sharpshooting, hitting a number of bullseyes in the process. (Avengers/Thunderbolts Vol. 1 #2)
- Evades some aggressive vines all around him, quick enough to entangle Captain America's shield. (Captain America and Hawkeye Vol. 1 #631)
- Crosses a thin wire to switch buildings several stories up in the air. (Black Widow Vol. 5 #10)
- Bullrushes two mercenaries using his bow and turns it into a quick somersault, crossing several meters in the process. (Hawkeye Vol. 3 #7)
- Dodges fire from a minigun while preparing his bow to shoot. (Hawkeye Vol. 3 #7)
- Backflips up in the air while his snowmobile is destroyed and lands onto the one behind, knocking behind the pilot in the process. (Widowmaker #1)
- Evades gunshots from Crossfire, who just moments later showcased speed to shoot his arrows out of the air. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #5)
Speed.
- Clint's speed has impressed Daredevil. (Daredevil Vol. 1 #99)
- Outruns 8 armed mercenaries with ARs. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Dodges arrows shot by his brother, trained to become the next Trickshot. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #3)
- With his vision compromised, he relies on sound to catch an arrow shot by his brother in mid-air. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #4)
- Catches Cap's shield during Bucky's training. (Captain America Vol. 5 #37)
- Clint times a bullet at close range, turning around and stabbing the shooter while dodging it. (Hawkeye: Freefall #2)
- Pins down the Wasp's body controlled by a Deathlok. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #24)
- Dodges a thrown knife by Black Widow. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
- Evades Doctor Octopus' claws. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #17)
- Flips up in the air to dodge a flamethrower. (The Avengers Vol. 1 #55)
- Dodges Taskmaster's shield throw. (Avengers Vol. 1 #223)
IV. Equipment.
Clint carries a number of weapons on missions, traditional military ones, custom ones for any range, and most importantly, his quiver of arrows equipped with specialised trick-heads. Most of these trick heads are either designed by him personally or by his fellow Avengers, such as Iron Man - who has aided Clint in creating some of his modern arrows - or Black Panther - who has offered his specialised vibranium arrows for limited use, supporting his loadout with their respective resources.
In this section, I'm going to break down each piece of gear Clint carries with him. This will be a composite look at his equipment however, so do not expect him to wield every weapon on this list on every mission of his. At some point, you might as well say his trick arrows can perform any task the writer feels like they should for the plot to move forward, which still is charming in its way.
- Body Suit, including several storage pouches and, likely, a bulletproof vest (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #5)
- Standard Metal Baton (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #3)
- Combat Dagger (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #24)
- Dual Tanto Blades (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #3)
- Standard Grenades (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #2)
- Wristbow (Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #36), equipped with non-lethal tranquilizer darts (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #3)
- Recurve Bow (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #2)
Hawkeye's current recurve bow, which has a draw weight of 250 lbs [1] (Hawkeye Vol. 1 #4), is about 3 feet long, made of material strong enough to deflect standard bladed weapons [2] and equipped with a scope for aided visuals [3] (Hawkeye: Freefall #3).
Hawkeye's quiver has a wide variety of arrows, but even his conventional arrows are worth breaking down. Each of Clint's arrows is sharp enough to penetrate hard surfaces, such as Crimson Dynamo's armor [1] (Widowmaker #2), and Spider-Man's webbing (Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1 #22). When combined with his inhuman upper body strength and specialised bow, it can reach speeds comparable to those of a speeding Quicksilver [2] (Avengers Vol. 1 #20).
Standard Trick Heads
Explosive.
- Blows a hole on a thick steel wall. (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 1 #1)
- Partially incinerates the Hulk's head shooting it inside his mouth. (Avengers Assemble Vol. 2 #4)
- Blows up a van, shooting 3 of them at once. (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #1)
- Blows a hole on concrete. (Avengers Spotlight Vol. 1 #26)
- Using 3 of them, he obliterates a monster that overpowered Captain America. (Captain America and Hawkeye Vol. 1 #629)
- Uses explosive arrows with silent timers that stick on surfaces. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #5)
- Shooting in front of a car, he hurls it up in the air. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
- Blows a hole on an airplane. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
- The arrow has radius powerful enough to take out hordes of people without directly hitting them. (Secret Avengers Vol. 2 #7)
Gas.
- Creates a large smokescreen, causing the surround S.H.I.E.L.D. agents a cough in the process. (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 1 #3)
- Creates a large smokescreen again, causing the opposition a strong cough. (Avengers Vol. 3 #8)
- Uses tear gas on the She-Hulk. (Avengers Vol. 3 #75)
- Uses tear gas on a target. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #4)
- Causes a very large smokescreen. (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #3)
- Snipes a group with a smokescreen. (Hawkeye Vol. 2 #3)
- Shoots a black smoke arrow at Iron Man. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 1 #2)
- Causes a mace. (Captain America Vol. 1 #179)
- The gas overwhelms Daredevil's sensory. (Daredevil Vol. 1 #99)
- Uses sleep gas on Mockingbird. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #2)
- He can use tranquilizer gas arrows. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 1 #4)
- Clint is willing to practically spam these types of arrows, (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #6) as well as use different combination of them simultaneously (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #11).
Cable.
- Uses it as a substitute for a parachute and accurately attacks someone in the process. (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 1 #4)
- Uses it as a descending tool. (Avengers Vol. 3 #1)
- Uses it to cross a path to another building's roof. (Black Widow Vol. 5 #10)
- Uses it as a grappling hook for excellent aerial mobility. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Similarly, he uses it for aerial maneuverability upon thousands of meters in the air. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #21.1)
- Uses it to tie up a crushing van and stop it dead on its tracks. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #1)
- Prevents a car from speeding towards its path, using it as an obstacle. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
Bola.
- Ties up two opponents. (Avengers Spotlight Vol. 1 #28)
- Ties up a mercenary. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Ties up Daredevil and drags him towards himself. (Daredevil Vol. 1 #99)
- Uses it on a shooter, preventing him from using the arm. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
Flare.
- Uses it to blind Shape, forcing him to unbind him. (Avengers Vol. 3 #6)
- Uses it on spilled gasoline to cause an explosion. (Avengers Spotlight Vol. 1 #21)
- Causes a flame barrage on the street. (Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1 #22)
Sonic.
- Momentary dazes the She-Hulk with the arrow spinning around her head. (Avengers Vol. 3 #75)
- Uses it to daze Barney Barton. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #4)
- Using it on Daredevil, he states that it could kill him had he not turned it off. (Daredevil Vol. 1 #99)
- Stuns Batroc and Machete. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- Stuns the Thunderbolts. (Thunderbolts Vol. 1 #24)
- One sonic arrow can produce 95 decibels of sound. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 1 #1)
- He also has access to an ultra-sonic shaft. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #1)
Net.
- Incapacitates two mercenaries. (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #3)
- Incapacitates a number of beasts. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #6)
- Incapacitates an entire motorcycle squad consisting of 7 people. (Avengers Spotlight Vol. 1 #21)
- Incapacitates a mercenary. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Pins down an entire group of opponents. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #11)
- Uses it as a trickshot, ricocheting it directly above an invisible target, incapacitating her. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- It has a function that can electrocute opponents upon netting them. (Hawkeye: Freefall)
- Uses it to prevent the containments of a van from falling out. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #1)
- Pins Mockingbird against the wall. (New Avengers: The Reunion #1)
- Uses a specialised version of the Net tip, equipped with a parachute, to rescue an unconscious Black Widow. (Secret Avengers Vol. 2 #5)
Transmitter.
- Shoots a transmitter that operates on top of a van. (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #3)
- He has traced the path of a hostile car, and is aware of its position within the city. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
- Clint shot Elektra with a tracing arrow, giving him a full x-ray scan of her location and surroundings. (Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #29)
Flash.
- Momentarily blinds Black Widow and causes her a caugh. (Black Widow Vol. 5 #10)
- Momentarily blinds Steve Rogers. (Captain America Vol. 1 #179)
- Stuns a hostile shooter. (Hawkeye Vol. 3 #7)
Taser.
- Electrocutes Captain America and knocks him out for about 10 seconds. (Hawkeye: Blindspot Vol. #2)
- Incapacitates some monsters, demonstrating a wider AoE with the arrows. (Captain America and Hawkeye Vol. 1 #629)
- Uses an efficient combo with Captain America's shield. (Captain America and Hawkeye Vol. 1 #629)
- Traps some monsters in between 3 set-up arrows electrifying them to death. (Captain America and Hawkeye Vol. 1 #632)
- Uses it on a human target. (Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes #5)
- Electrocutes a ninja. (Hawkeye: Freefall)
- Electrocutes a number of A.I.M. soldiers. (Winter Soldier Vol 1 #11)
- Knocks out Deathlok. (New Avengers Vol. 4 #8)
- Takes out Ant-Man's entire swarm. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
Pym Particle.
- Using an arrow on himself, he can grow into a 60 foot tall version of himself. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #3)
- He can fire them and enlarge dozens of arrows to rain fire on the opposition. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #1)
Blast.
- Blasts Iron Man, stopping him mid-flight. (Defenders Vol. 1 #9)
- Uses it to blow a hole on the floor. (Avengers Vol. 1 #30)
- Collapses an entire stone roof using three blast arrows. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #9)
Adhesive.
- Sticks Batroc the Leaper on the floor, incapacitating him. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- He does the same to Batroc's men, incapacitating an entire group of them at once, comparing the function to quick drying cement. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- Sticks a mercenary to the ground, similarly, while using a bola and net arrow at the same time. (Hawkeye Vol. 1 #1)
- Uses them on two shooters' arms to prevent them from using them. (Hawkeye Vol. 3 #7)
- He might also refer to it as a "putty arrow". (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
- Uses it to grab a grenade thrown by Black Widow in mid-air. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
Stink.
- Uses an arrow that produces an unbearable smell to knock out a human target. (Hawkeye: Freefall)
- Uses the stink arrow on a monster relying on its sense of smell. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #17)
Boomerang.
- Uses it on an armed thug, taking him out from behind. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
- Consistently, it's of great use for diversion. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #1)
Acid.
- Shooting it at a car engine, he renders the car useless. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
- Slowly takes down Iron Man's armor. (Tales of Suspence Vol. 1 #47)
- The arrows can melt steel down upon conduct. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #30)
Suction.
- Uses it on the roof of a car to safely travel with it. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
- In combat, Clint uses it to quickly close in on his opponent. (Avengers Vol. 1 #39)
Freeze.
- Clint freezes a target solid in mid-air. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #21.1)
- The arrow is strong enough to freeze down the spinning blades of a helicopter and drop it. (Widowmaker #1)
Specialised Trick Heads.
- Captain America states that Clint has a unique arrow prepared for each Avenger and Thunderbolt, as Clint uses two arrows to incapacitate the Vision and Moonstone respectively. (Avengers/Thunderbolts #6)
- Polymer foam to counter Captain America's shield. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Clint has a razor arrow he can use to spin 180 degrees and gain momentum. (Daredevil Vol. 1 #99)
- Clint also has access to what he calls a "turning fork" arrow, which functions like a boomerang, can smash into asphalt and vibrate with enough force to knock out the surround people. (Daredevil Vol. #99)
- There seems to be similar fork-like arrows, used them on Spider-Man to pin him against a wall. (Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1 #22)
- Bola-like, razor sharp arrow that ties itself around the target, cutting their skin in the process. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #5)
- Clint has access to rocket arrows, shooting them up in the air, they will land back on the ground and deal heavy damage. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #3)
- Clint has - or had - and used a 30-megaton depth arrow. (Avengers: Rage of Ultron)
- Cushion arrow for safe landing. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #21.1)
- He has a sucking arrow, swallowing an item and effectively spitting it out. (Secret Avengers Vol. 3 #14)
- Texas-saw tip arrow to forcefully cut through targets. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #24)
- Clint has an arrow made of adamantium, designed to penetrate Ultron as well as release an extremely powerful electric shock. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #12)
- An arrowhead that deployes itself on the corner of a door, infiltrates the inside and cuts it down. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #43)
- He has a magnetic arrow, using it to attract the firearms out of mercenaries' hands. (Avengers Vol. 1 #24)
- Hawkeye has used a micro-EMP tip arrow, to take out a car engine. (Avengers Vol. 1 #221)
- Clint has access to a special vibranium arrow designed by T'Challa. He used it to destroy Alkhema. (Avengers: The Ultron Imperative)
- He used a particularly powerful arrow multiple times in one of his missions with Captain America. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #21.1)
- For some reason back in the 60s, he had to do this. (Avengers Vol. 1 #18)
V. Marksmanship.
As the "earth's mightiest marksman", Hawkeye is, expectedly so, mainly known for his talents as a marksman - mostly an archer, but still exceptionally skilled in all things related. In this section, I will cover both his versatility and accuracy, as well as the supporting aspects of his archey: draw speed, volume, firing rate and combat tactics - tactics are a crucial aspect of every good marksman's arsenal, misdirection, diversion and so on, used to pin down targets too fast to normally hit.
It is worth noting that Hawkeye does not use firearms much, because he does not enjoy killing - that is, outside of when he indulges his alter ego, Ronin. It doesn't mean he cannot use them, though. Most of the time, even while using throwing knives and shurikens, he merely incapacitates opponents non-lethally. Finally, keep in mind that some feats below might double as accuracy and speed feats regardless of the category I chose to list them under.
Accuracy.
- Shoots 3 arrows in such a way that he simply knocks the targets out with the blunt end instead of the front. (Avengers Assemble Vol. 2 #1)
- He does the same on two thugs. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Pins a man on the wall, shooting his clothing. (Avengers Vol. 1 #19)
- Pins Steve Rogers on a wall shooting his jacket. (Captain America Vol. 1 #179)
- Pins 3 criminals on the wall the same way simultaneously. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 1 #13)
- Lands two eyeshots on the Hulk. Unfortunately, the arrows break in conduct with the Hulk. (Avengers Vol. 3 #75)
- Disarms a man. (Avengers Spotlight Vol. 1 #28)
- Shoots baseballs out of the air for fun. (Black Widow Vol. 5 #18)
- Shoots through two clowns' balls, splitting them in half and non-lethally pinning them against a pole in the same shot. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #1)
- Shoots the money out of someone's hand. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Backflips from the backs of two targets and takes three of them out while upside down in mid-air. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Non-lethally pins Barney to a wall. Two things worth noting here: he did this with his vision compromised, using only his sense of hearing to pinpoint his brother's positioning, and he threw the arrow hard enough to go right through his body and into the wall. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #4)
- Disarms 4 ninja firing at him and non-lethally pins them against the wall. (Avengers Vol. 1 #234)
- Shoots Captain America's shield out of the air. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Disarms the Valkyrie. (Defenders Vol. 1 #7)
- Ricochets a net arrow from a pipe and towards an invisible opponent. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- Shoots a man's neck with his wristbow. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #3)
- Shoots 4 arrows and has another one nocked while performing an aerial somersault. (Captain America and Hawkeye Vol. 1 #629)
- Shoots inside a laser guided robot gun shooting 30 rounds a second to destroy it. (Hawkeye Vol. 2 #3)
- In training with Trickshot, he shoots arrow on arrow, splitting them in half, on a bullseye. (Hawkeye Vol. 3 #2)
- He does the same with one more arrow. (Secret Avengers Vol. 3 #5)
- With his hand paralysed, he teams up with Black Widow, she throws her explosive gauntlet up in the air and Clint, nocking the arrow with his mouth, shoots it upwards landing a headshot on their target. (Hawkeye Vol. 3 #8)
- Takes out 5 assassins simultaneously. (Widowmaker #4)
- Throws a deck card fracturing someone's neck. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #1)
- Shoots 3 arrows on a shooting range, one on the central point of the target, one headshot and one crotchshot. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #2)
- Ricochets an arrow off the wall and onto a target's back of the neck, taking him out. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #2)
- With Mockingbird's assisstance, he takes a pinpoint shot inside Ultron's adamantium trap to shut it down using his vibranium arrow. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #1)
- Shoots a man's wrist to disarm him while dodging his shots. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #15)
- Training in gymnastics while hitting several bullseyes at once. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #9)
- Pulls a ludicrous trickshot, ricocheting his arrow off of multiple surfaces with varying structures and densities to pinpoint a machinery's button. (Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1 #22)
- Snipes Deathlok from a great distance while standing on top of a Quinjet thousands of feet up in the air. (New Avengers Vol. 4 #8)
- Hits Black Widow's thrown grenade out of the air using a trick arrow, while he himself is jumping out of an airplane's hole. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
- Shoots 3 arrows, hitting two missiles out of the air and pulling a lever simultaneously. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #2)
- Unties Captain America's hands while he's spinning in a vortex up in the air. (Avengers Vol. 1 #20)
- Pins down Archangel. (Thunderbolts Vol. 1 #27)
- With broken ribs and a swollen wrist, Clint takes a non-lethal shot using a lethal arrow in a non-lethal way, merely grazing Bruce Banner's shoulder to rescue him from a distance. (Thunderbolts Vol. 1 #34)
- Kills a monster without looking. (Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #28)
- Stalemates an 'android' Hawkeye with the exact same set of skills and experience as his, in a ranged battle. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #27)
- Clint makes archery gear out of every-day living room objects on the spot and helps his fellow Avengers take out a room of opponents. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #34)
- Uses shurikens, throwing stars and a blowgun to non-lethally incapacitate some trained ninja that he could not fight in close quarters. (Widowmaker #3)
Speed.
- His speed impresses Captain America, who admits Clint is as good as he claims to be. (Avengers Vol. 1 #17)
- While falling from an approximately 60 ft. height, he shot 10 arrows in close proximity to one another before landing. (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 1 #1)
- Shoots dozens of arrows on a bullseye with such speed and force, the thick target breaks down. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #6)
- Fires 5 simultaneous explosive arrows in an exact 5-edge-star formation to blow up a being with this set of eyes. (New Avengers Vol. 4 #14)
- Mockingbird dodges his arrow but she cannot stop it from disarming her. (New Avengers: Reunion #2)
- Disarms Taskmaster, although it's worth noting that Tony claims he was initially caught off guard. (Avengers Vol. 1 #223)
- A bloodlusted Hawkeye shoots an arrow in mid-range that hits Black Widow a quarter-inch from her spine. (Secret Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
- Grabs a bow, draws and shoot 3 arrows out of the air all in the time it takes for them to reach his position. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #5)
- Manages to tag a cocky Quicksilver's clothing the moment he stopped speeding around. (Avengers Vol. 1 #26)
- Shoots his own arrow out of the air. (Avengers Vol. 1 #45)
- Shoots a charging Elektra in the shoulder. It's questionable if she even cared to dodge given her mindset and the fact that she did not seem fazed, but it turned out it was a trick head - tracer - so Clint achieved his goal regardless. (Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #28)
Combat Tactics.
- Clint uses the environmnet to his advantage, shooting above the Red Ghost's position to throw a stone vase at his head. (Defenders Vol. 1 #8)
- In a similar fashion, he brings down a roof on some monsters. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #9)
- Shoots an explosive arrow for Georges Batroc to dodge, alongside an adhesive arrow on his estimated landing position to incapacitate him. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- Throws his sword at a nearby explosive to get out of having a prolonged fight with Spider-Man. Also worth noting that the speed with which he throws the blade impressed Peter. (Hawkeye: Freefal #2)
- Hits Mockingbird with a sleep gas arrow after using a few bad shots to misdirect her. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #3)
- Uses Trickshot's 'broken arrow' technique to hit a shooter that briefly had him pinned down. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #4)
- Combines two arrow heads, using the head of a bola arrow and the shaft of a rocket arrow, to pin down a being surrounded by a tornado. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #18)
VI. Melee Skill.
While Barton is primarily known for his strong eyesight, his effectiveness in hand to hand combat and close range weapons is not to go unnoticed. While no Kun Lun, his training with Captain America, in particular, has granted him enough skill to hold his own against expert martial artists, metahumans and if nothing else compliment his ranged game.
Hawkeye is well trained both in unarmed and armed combat. This particularly shows while he's undergoing the identity of Ronin, who relies more on his blade than arrows and remains a feared assassin. However, even in his regular loadout as Hawkeye, Clint can utilise his bow - as a staff -, his acrobatic capcacity and smaller blades to an impressive degree. We have not seen too much of him fighting hand to hand yet, unfortunately, but once again, I hope it shows that he's gradually been getting more of an upgrade on that regard too.
Unarmed Combat.
- Rather casually takes down hordes of armed A.I.M. soldiers using his bow and fists. (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 1 #1-2)
- Takes down his brother, Barney going by the codename Trickshot, seemingly using echolocation. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #4)
- Afterwards, he easily disarms and puts Baron Zemo on his arse in no time. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #4)
- Has a brief struggle with Spider-Man. While he is armed with sword, he doesn't use it. Impressively, he manages to outgrapple Peter and throw him off of himself, after staggering him with a kick. (Hawkeye: Freefall)
- Escapes a handful of Ninja attempting to kill him while tied down to a chair. (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #4-5)
- Takes on a S.H.I.E.L.D. tactical team consisting of 15 well armed agents. It is implied he lost off panel, but at least he held them off. (New Avengers Vol. 4 #10)
- Takes down 2 federal agents while handcuffed. (Tales of Suspence #1)
Armed Melee.
- Clint can effectively use his arrows, including trick heads, in close quarters. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #11)
- Using his bow in close quarters, he briefly outmaneuvers Batroc the Leaper, Zaran and Machete. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- He replicates the above, only this time it is Batroc and Zaran alone coming in close. (Solo Avengers Vol. 1 #3)
- Takes down several A.I.M. soldiers using his Nun-Chucks. (New Avengers: Reunion #1)
- Using his dual blades, he takes on a small horde of mecha-tanks, leaping on top of them to redirect their fire and slicing them upart. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol.1 #3)
- As Ronin, he takes out hordes of Hand Ninja alongside fellow teammates, who were later impressed by his fighting skill. (New Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
- As Ronin, he seemingly gained an upper hand on Bullseye off-panel. (Siege #3)
- As Ronin, he takes on a holding back version of himself*, Falcon and the Winter Soldier using his blade to swiftly knock them all down, but without the will to hurt any of his partners. He manages to escape. (Hawkeye: Freefall #1)
- It is implied he's skilled in the use of a Bo Staff - however, not enough to put up much of a fight against Mockingbird. (New Avengers: Reunion #2)
*Clint explains that he can be in two places at once using some questionable time-travel-ish technology. This is how he could fight himself - keep in mind that both Hawkeyes have full knowledge of this.
VII. Resources. Assassination. Stealth. Awareness. Espionage. Tactics. Misc Skills.
By nature, Clint packs more of a punch when he comes prepared than not. He's a soldier, but he's also a trained operative and an experienced assassin who has worked under both the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. for years before, granting him powerful connections and a platform for his work in the shadows, as well.
Resources.
- Kate explains S.H.I.E.L.D.'s "stealth umbrella" that the agency has covered team Hawkeye with during their mission. (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 2 #1)
- Using his 'Avengers clearance', he gains access to secret S.H.I.E.L.D. files at any time. In this instance, it assissts him in tracking down the Punisher. (Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #28)
Stealth. Awareness.
- Clint ghosts two federal agents, appearing out of nowhere in front of their SUV in a momen't notice, disappearing immediately after and reappearing to kill one of them and retrieve the package after the crush. (Hawkeye: Freefall #1)
- Clint watches Spider-Man swinging in the city from a distance and manages to catch him off guard with an arrow cutting through his webbing. (Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1 #22)
- Successfully nfiltrates a U.S. government secure base to gather intel. (Hawkeye: Freefall #3)
- While undercover, he catches Mockingbird, deemed the second best spy in the world after the Black Widow, off guard. (New Avengers: Reunion #1)
- Clint's cowl updated by Tony Stark - who has also created hearing aids for him - after his blinding offers U.V., infared vision and radar-like motion detectors [1], practically scanning the environment like this [2]. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #1)
- Detects Black Widow watching him from behind while fighting ninja. (Hawkeye: Freefall #3)
- Detects Taskmaster attempting to ambush him from the top of a tree. (Generation: Hawkeye and Hawkeye)
- Figured he was being watched by Deadpool and the Punisher from a massive distance, while fighting a horde of monsters. (Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #27-28)
- Detects Henry Pym hiding above him by feeling minimal heat activity. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #36)
Tactics.
- With Maria Hill and himself forced to take in a group of metahuman children for "Project Communion", Clint faked accidently killing them in action so they can escape with Kate Bishop while he is giving Hill the opening required to officially close the operation and not bother with the children anymore. (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 2 #5)
- Outsmarts and incapacitates an invisible opponent. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- Counters the Phantom Rider. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #8)
- Outsmarts the Taskmaster and takes him down. (Generations: Hawkeye and Hawkeye)
- Combines his trick arrow heads to build a shelter. (Hawkeye and Mockingbird Vol. 1 #4)
- He is skilled in setting up and executing traps. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #38)
- Sets a trap for Black Widow, slowing her and her escortee, getting rid of her vehicle in the process. (Black Widow Vol. 5 #10)
- He set up the advanced security system for the West Coast Avengers HQ, alongside Bobbi, which Captain America did not beat. (Captain America Vol. 1 #308)
Miscellaneous Skills.
- Clint is an expert pilot. Aside from the average vehicle (Avengers Vol. 3 #75), he has taken command of:
- S.H.I.E.L.D.'s flying cars (All-New Hawkeye Vol. 1 #3)
- S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Quinjets (New Avengers Vol. 4 #8)
- the Avengers' Quinjet (Avengers Vol. 1 #31)
- custom snowmobiles (Widowmaker #1) and boats (Hawkeye Vol. 4 #2)
- his Skycycle, highily maneuverable (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #1) and carrying high caliber firepower (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #4), he can summon it at any time (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2).
- Clint is also an expert diver (Avengers Vol. 3 #7), even unassisted (Avengers Solo Vol. 1 #5).
VIII. Notable Fights.
I do feel like Hawkeye's track record is underrated. He's taken on some of the most well trained and capable street levellers in Marvel Earth-616 in various scenarios and has actually come out on top against many of them.
- Clint engages in a quick spar with Mockingbird while discussing who is more fitting for the next recruit of the Avengers. Bobbi manages to counter his trick arrows at close range, with Clint himself putting up an impressive struggle up close until he ends up on top of her, which could imply he had an upper hand in this match. (West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 #8)
- Takes down 17 hired guns spread opposite to his location with their arms fixed on him, using a mix of archery and hand to hand combat, without killing a single one of them. This is clearing quite the impossible situation. (Secret Avengers Vol. 3 #14)
- Takes on the team of highily paid mercenaries: Batroc the Leaper, Zaran and Machette. They ambush him, but utilising his evasion, bow in melee and making clever use of his trick arrows and the surroundings, he swiftly defeats all of them at once. (Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman)
- Takes on Captain America in mid to close range. Cap is fighting with the objective to bring Hawkeye in, Clint is fighting to incapacitate Rogers and escape. Once he disables his shield using a specialised arrow, it quickly ends up close, where Clint outmaneuvers Cap and uses a taser arrow to knock him out. (Hawkeye: Blindspot #2)
- Takes on the combined efforts of the Thunderbolts, with the objective to remain standing against them after 5 minutes of battle. To say it plainly, Clint schools them - or rather tutors them - within this time, showcasing impressive skill, agility, battlefield awareness and an excellent collection of trick arrows while casually commenting on the varying fighting styles of so many different opponents. (Thunderbolts Vol. 1 #21)
- Takes on the Black Widow in a long range battle with the objective to assassinate Natasha's client. They are going back and forth for a while on opposite ends of a city, until she shoots his bowstring, but not before he manages to take a shot at her escortee, which only misses him by a inch. (Black Widow Vol. 5 #10)
- It is almost unquestionable that Hawkeye defeated Deadpool and Kate Bishop in a fight based on Wade's attitude. Unfortunately, it occured off panel. (Hawkeye V Deadpool #4)
- Takes on the U.S. Agent, armed with his upgraded shield attempting to take Clint in. He swiftly defeats him upon John throwing his shield at him, leaving himself open to getting shot in the face with an explosive arrow. (Thunderbolts Vol. 1 #23)
IX. Sources.
So, we've reached the end. In alphabetical order, this is the list of the canonical volumes and/or storylines used to craft this respect thread just so everyone can look at it holistically. I will not be listing the issues individually, though:
- All-New Hawkeye Vol. 1 (2015)
- All-New Hawkeye Vol. 2 (2016)
- Avengers Assemble Vol. 2 (2012)
- Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2004)
- Avengers Vol. 1 (1963)
- Avengers Vol. 3 (1999)
- Avengers: Rage of Ultron (2015)
- Avengers Solo (2011)
- Avengers Spotlight Vol. 1 (1989)
- Avengers / Thunderbolts (1997)
- Avengers: The Ultron Imperative (2001)
- Black Widow Vol. 5 (2014)
- Captain America Vol. 1 (1954)
- Captain America and Hawkeye (2012)
- Daredevil Vol. 1 (1964)
- Defenders Vol. 1 (1972)
- Generations: Hawkeye and Hawkeye (2017)
- Hawkeye Vol. 1 (1983)
- Hawkeye Vol. 2 (1994)
- Hawkeye Vol. 3 (2003)
- Hawkeye Vol. 4 (2012)
- Hawkeye and Mockingbird (2010)
- Hawkeye: Blindspot (2011)
- Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman (1989)
- Hawkeye: Freefall (2020)
- Hawkeye V Deadpool (2015)
- Marvel Knights: Spider-Man Vol. 1 (2004)
- Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1 (1972)
- New Avengers Vol. 1 (2005)
- New Avengers Vol. 4 (2015)
- New Avengers: Reunion (2009)
- Secret Avengers Vol. 1 (2010)
- Secret Avengers Vol. 2 (2013)
- Secret Avengers Vol. 3 (2014)
- Secret War from the Files of Nick Fury (2005)
- Siege (2010)
- Solo Avengers (1987)
- Tales of Suspence (1963)
- The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 (1963)
- The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: The Avengers (2004)
- Thunderbolts Vol. 1 (1997)
- Thunderbolts Vol. 2 (2013)
- West Coast Avengers Vol. 1 (1984)
- West Coast Avengers Vol. 2 (1985)
- Widowmaker (2010)
- Winter Soldier Vol. 1 (2012)
So, this is it. This was not easy to make, my first comic book respect thread. So have some heart and respect the man;
the Earth's Mightiest Archer!
Log in to comment