Archive for May, 2011

Today’s spotlighted origin just had his first big screen appearance, and while that was just a cameo, he’ll likely have a more prominent role in the upcoming Avengers movie. That’s very fitting, seeing as this guy is one of the most prolific members in Avengers history. It wasn’t always that way though. Much like Pinocchio, our would-be hero is led astray by misunderstandings and less than scrupulous companions, and he actually starts out as a villain! Yes, I of course speak of one of the only heroes able to pull off a predominantly purple union suit, the Avenging Archer, Hawkeye!

Hawkeye’s story actually begins with one Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. Iron Man is spending his day as usual, pretending to be his own bodyguard and saving his employees from the dangers of working in his own factory, as well as insinuating company time is better spent not lollygagging about. After that Stark-approved PSA, Tony’s chauffeur, Happy Hogan asks for a minute of Shellhead’s time. It seems Happy (who, incidentally, always has a frown on his face) wants Iron Man to get their boss, Tony Stark to help out the ol’ love life by asking Pepper Potts to go out with him. This is a problem, because Stark likes Pepper as well, but refuses to go out with her because the shrapnel in his heart could be an embarrassing ice breaker over dinner at Chez Affluent.

Later, Tony asks Pepper about a date, which she infers means that Tony wants to ask her out. Tony, being of two minds of the subject, just kind of stammers his way into a date, when he obviously could have just said it was a misunderstanding. Instead, in classic Marvel fashion, Tony decides to take Pepper on the most pedestrian, unromantic date he can, so they go to the carnival! Finally, the real story can start. At the carnival, Tony and Pepper happen upon a tent, featuring “Hawkeye, the World’s Greatest Marksman!” This is great for two reasons, the first is that Hawkeye already has a built-in codename, and second, well, let’s have Tony tell you.

"That is, unless Pepper really wanted to see the dancing girls, as well."

Before you can say “plot complication”, one of the carnival’s rides goes all screwy, and Tony makes a lame excuse so he can get knocked around in a portable garbage can. Fortunately for him, this is attaché case-era Iron Man, so he can put the armor on in seconds. He somehow stops the flying pinwheel by giving it a big bear hug. Before you can start to apply logic or physics to the situation, the danger has passed and Iron Man flies off, pre-occupied with explaining to everyone how Iron Man was on the scene so quickly. He settles on “Iron Man is my bodyguard, and he was following us, yeah… That’s the ticket!” As you might expect, everyone is thrilled that Iron man saved the day. Well, almost everyone.

"Even when I do that cool 'Spock eyebrow' thing!"

Well, it seems there is no greater motivator than jealousy, because that night, Hawkeye sets off to make himself a hero. He comes up with a gaudy costume, and whips up some trick arrows. I don’t exactly know how he does this with the obviously limited resources of a carny worker, especially since his DC counterpart Green Arrow uses his vast wealth to do the same thing. Maybe things are just really cheap to manufacture in the Marvel Universe. All the while, he complains about his hurt pride, and how he’s going to make everyone else look like a piker. There’s no way he’s doing this to compensate for anything…

You guys don't really need a caption for this one, do you?

Eventually, he’s all set and bounds off for the rooftops, because that’s what costumed characters do, dammit! He runs across the city a bit, truly exhilarated at his own prowess. Modest this guy is not.

I hate to break it to you, but you're not wearing gloves.

Anyway, Hawkeye shows that he does indeed have the chops to be a hero. he spots a jewel thief, and stops him in jig time. Unfortunately for our bountiful bowslinger, he stops to check out the swag the jewel thief leaves behind. The police arrive on the scene quickly, because this is comics and not real life, and assume Hawkeye is an accomplice. While you can’t fault the officers, given that there is a be-masked vigilante with a bunch of jewels in his hands, you’d think they’d know a hero when they see one. Hawkeye doesn’t even try to explain himself, and he runs off. He probably would have gotten away with it to, if not for those meddling kids a mysterious stranger picking him up.

"Nothing, it's just that your hands aren't at 10 and 2!"

The mysterious lady turns out to be the Black Widow, who is still a communist spy at this point of her career. All you need to know about her at this point is that Hawkeye is a lovesick puppy for her, and that she and Iron Man have clashed in the past. BW proposes a partnership with Hawkeye that’ll be mutually beneficial. She shares her resources with him, and in return she only asks for one small thing, a pittance, really.

"I swear on my quiver, If anyone's gonna date Tony Stark, it'll be me!"

Hawkeye wastes no time breaking into Stark’s munitions factory. He uses a new explosive arrow to get inside, which brings him to the attention of Iron Man, just like he planned it. Hawkeye is a pretty awesome strategist though, even at this early point in his career. He sticks to the shadows firing off trick shot after trick shot. He finally pelts Shellhead with a trio of errors that cause Iron Man’s suit to rapidly rust. Since Iron Man doesn’t have any WD-40 on him, he only has one course of action…

"This time, I'll surprise him! Let's see how he fights a man in his underwear!"

Because he was a Boy Scout, Tony is prepared and just happens to have spare armor pieces lying around his factory. While he scrambles to get some fresh armor on, Hawkeye takes the opportunity to steal the discarded pieces of armor, but also has ample time to get away. You may wonder why this is. It turns out that Tony doesn’t want to go into battle with only one boot. No, seriously. Tony Stark, freaking Iron Man lets the criminal get away because he’s missing a bootie.  He does finally find it, but by that point Hawkeye has a pretty good head start…

Similarly, he let the Mandarin get away last time because he broke a nail.

Hawkeye, now reunited with the Widow, are speed towards LaGuardia airport. Iron Man has had enough though, and just hits their car with a power ray. Well, he says it’s a power ray, but it certainly looks like a death ray to me, especially considering it totals the vehicle.  Hawkeye and Iron Man continue their battle, neither having a clear headway. Hawkeye fires a shot, Iron Man repulses it away. You’d think Iron Man would have the advantage in speed and maneuverability, what with the ability to be airborne and all, but Hawkeye is Just. That. Good.

The unstoppable cocky force meets the immovable brash object.

Iron Man has about had it and gains the upper hand when Hawkeye tries to ensnare him with a nylon rope arrow. Calling this a misstep is a bigger understatement than saying “clowns are damned creepy”. Iron Man lands himself on the pier where Hawkeye is standing with so much force that the wood splinters and Hawkeye is cling on to a remaining post for dear life. Iron Man then proceeds to knock Hawkeye out cold, or so it would seem. Anyone familiar with Hawkeye will tell you that his skull is thicker than the mantle of the Earth, so when it’s revealed that this was a feint, it’s no surprise. As Iron Man turns his back, Hawkeye prepares his most potent arrow, the Demolition Blast! Sadly, all it does is ricochet off of Iron Man’s metal hide and ends up seriously harming the Black Widow.

Scroll up a few lines, Hawk. I just explained it.

Apparently the blast was enough to stun Iron Man, so Hawkeye beats feet to help his lady friend. It’s obvious she needs a hospital. Hawkeye shows genuine concern and frantically decides what to do. Conveniently, the Widow had a boat already ready in the harbor, and the twosome flee the scene post-haste. Iron Man flies off to pursue, but gives up when he realizes that he’s in LaGuardia’s airspace. So our story ends with no clear victor, but an obvious loser.

After this tale, Hawkeye and the Widow continued their team, and their love also grew. Eventually, Hawkeye saw the error of his ways and applied for member ship in the Avengers. His audition kind of leaves me scratching my head, however.

Kidnapping and bondage: The perfect way to show you're a good guy!

Astoundingly the Avengers accept him (it’s later revealed that Jarvis was saved by Hawkeye earlier and they set up this display to impress the others), and Hawkeye has been one of the most stalwart members of the Avengers ever (except for the time when he was Goliath, but man, that’s another story entirely)!

This story originally appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 September 1964, It was reprinted in Marvel Masterworks: Iron Man Volume 3 among others. The final image is from Avengers #16 May, 1965.