The long-anticipated release of Marvel Studios' Hawkeye on Disney+ is right around the corner. Fans are chomping at the bit to see what can easily be described as one of the most sought-after projects in the MCU. The escapades of Clint Barton and Kate Bishop, portrayed by Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld respectively, are set to drop on Disney+ November 24th. Until then, fans have plenty of Hawkeye-related comics to consume in anticipation.
While waiting for the new TV series, there are plenty of comics to read that will provide context for the characters of the new show, including the source material the show may draw from and some extra information surrounding Marvel's dynamic duo of Arching Avengers.
9 Matt Fraction's Hawkeye For The Best Source Material
Before Hawkeye drops on Disney+, the first comic fans should dive into is Matt Fraction's Hawkeye run from 2012, which serves as the most extensive source material for the TV series. The Eisner award-winning series perfectly sums up Clint Barton as a power-less Avenger. It focuses on Matt trying to navigate his day-to-day life while dealing with trauma, relationships, mentoring Kate Bishop, and an attempt by the Tracksuit Mafia to seize control of his apartment building by any means necessary.
The TV series seems to be pulling largely from this comic. Everything from Lucky the Pizza Dog, the Tracksuit Mafia, and many more direct references to the series can be seen in the trailers released for the show. Whether or not the TV series will be able to match the comedic and simple, yet dark and contemplative themes of the original comic remains to be seen.
8 Hawkeye: Freefall – For The Most Recent Hawkeye Content
Hawkeye: Freefall by Matthew Rosenberg is one of the most recent solo stories starring the Arching Avenger, showing Clint Barton's struggle to legitimately bring down Parker Robbins – the crime lord known as The Hood. Things get even worse when Ronin starts killing off criminals associated with the Hood and Clint becomes the prime suspect, which ultimately ruins his professional and personal relationships.
With the Hawkeye TV series drawing on the time in-between Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame (when Clint Barton went rogue), there is a question around what kind of demons Clint has in his closet and how he intends to resolve them in the present day. As a result, audiences might see a darker side of Hawkeye in this series.
7 Hawkeye: Blind Spot – For Context on Hawkeye's Brother, Barney
Hawkeye: Blind Spot pits Hawkeye against his own brother, Charles "Barney" Barton, as the two are manipulated by Baron Zemo. Things get even worse when readers discover Hawkeye is suffering from a previous injury – one that's causing him to slowly go blind. As this disrupts his aim, he'll soon be completely useless as an archer.
While many fans of the MCU might not be familiar with Clint Barton's origins, Hawkeye: Blind Spot gives the Avenging Archer more context and history before his first solo project in the MCU. Whether or not his brother Barney is set to appear in the TV series is yet to be confirmed.
6 Young Avengers – For Kate Barton Context
The Young Avengers are a team of teenage superheroes formed in the wake of The Avengers' disbanding in the pages of Avengers: Disassembled. With Earth's Mightiest Heroes stepping down after the Scarlet Witch's breakdown, the Young Avengers stepped up to carry on their work. One of those heroes is Kate Bishop, the next Hawkeye, who joins their ranks.
The Disney+ TV series marks the debut of Kate Bishop in the MCU, and while her history will likely be changed and tweaked to fit the MCU storyline, the first few issues of the Young Avengers comics give a clear sense of Kate's character. And while fans are eagerly waiting to see Hailee Steinfeld's interpretation of the beloved character in the TV series, there's no better time to brush up on her comic book character by reading the Young Avengers.
5 New Avengers – For Jessica/Clint Context
In the wake of Marvel's Heroic Age, the new roster of Avengers included Hawkeye (a mainstay on the team) and Spider-Woman, who was back on Earth with something to prove after being abducted by the Skrulls. The two were quickly drawn to each other, and it didn't take long for them to start a pseudo-relationship.
While Spider-Woman is yet to be confirmed in the MCU, the Hawkeye in Marvel Comics is known for his many dysfunctional romantic relationships. In the MCU, Clint Barton is a married family man. However, the TV series seems to be bringing up ghosts and demons from Clint Barton's past, which potentially suggests the appearance of an ex-girlfriend (or two).
4 All-New Hawkeye – For Kate and Clinton's Bond
The dynamic duo of Barton and Bishop is brought back in All-New Hawkeye, with Jeff Lemire's book featuring artwork from a collection of fantastic illustrators. It also puts the Hawkeye mantle under the lens by analyzing Clint and Kate's respective pasts. The book jumps between the past and present as the Hawkeyes try to deal with a disturbing Hydra experiment called Project: Communion.
All-New Hawkeye serves to build on the relationship between Kate and Clint by taking a deeper look at what the two mean to each other: past, present, and future. Whether or not the MCU intends to give Renner and Steinfeld more screen time is yet to be seen, but this comic book gives readers an understanding of what a highly anticipated and deeply admired partnership Clint and Kate have.
3 Hawkeye – Kate Bishop's Solo Book
Kelly Thompson's 2016 Hawkeye series focused solely on Kate Bishop after she returned to the West Coast to start a private investigating service. Unknown in California and seemingly out of her depth, Kate bands together with an unlikely group of new friends – plus some old ones – to tackle various cases such as the disappearance of her mother.
If there's one thing readers need to know about Kate Bishop, it's her overwhelming sense of confidence. This comic book perfectly encapsulates the bravado and determination that Bishop constantly wields like a sword – a character trait that has carried over into the MCU. Fans of Hailee Steinfeld are sure to appreciate this book and gain a larger understanding of the Hawkeye lore in anticipation of the new TV series.
2 DareDevil Vol 2 – For Maya Lopez Context
Daredevil Vol 2 by David Mack marks the first introduction of Maya Lopez, the deaf vigilante known as Echo. In the comics, Lopez's father was an enforcer for the Kingpin of Crime and was murdered under the Kingpin's orders. However, Maya was taken under the Kingpin's wing and trained to become one of his many personal assassins. Believing Daredevil was the one who murdered her father, Maya eventually learned the error of her ways and formed a strong connection with Daredevil, even going on to join the Avengers for a time.
It's been confirmed that Maya Lopez is appearing in the Disney+ show, though in what capacity remains to be seen. In the comics, Maya Lopez and Clint Barton both shared the Ronin mantle for a time. They were even lovers for a brief period, which leads to plenty of speculation about what capacity she's going to appear in during the TV series.
1 New Avengers – For Hawkeye/Ronin Storylines
During the aftermath of the Civil War, the New Avengers were forced underground as fugitives on the run from the law. Still mourning the loss of Captain America while trying to fight the good fight, their ranks were boosted by the emergence of Clint Barton, who was thought to be dead. Clint abandoned the Hawkeye mantle in order to become Ronin, the masterless samurai.
The Hawkeye show looks like it's going to touch on the reappearance of the Ronin mantle Clint Barton adopted in the years following Avengers: Infinity War. And while audiences are still unsure of the damage Clint really did while operating as Ronin, it will be interesting to see how Barton atones for his sins now he's returned to proper vigilantism – especially as he tries to show Kate Bishop the best way to conduct herself as a hero.