Hawkeye’s induction into the Avengers is one of the quirkiest origin stories in Marvel Comics. Initially, his journey from villain to hero was full of odd choices that didn’t quite add up.
However, decades later, Marvel addressed the inconsistencies, turning an absurd moment into a tale of redemption and mentorship. Moreover, from a hotheaded rogue to a beloved hero, his story remains one of Marvel’s most intriguing ones.
The Wild Real Story of Hawkeye Joining The Avengers
In ‘Avengers #16 (1965)’, Marvel made a bold decision to shake up the superhero team. The lineup of Iron Man, Thor, Giant-Man, and Wasp was swapped out. This left Captain America to lead three surprising recruits: former villains Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver.
While Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver’s villainous roots came from Magneto’s Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Hawkeye’s backstory stood out as particularly strange. Hawkeye was first introduced in Tales of Suspense as a circus-trained archer inspired to become a hero.
Unfortunately, his naivety led him to ally with Black Widow, a Communist spy at the time. The two repeatedly battled Iron Man, with Hawkeye reluctantly playing the antagonist role. Moreover, by the time ‘Avengers #16’ came around, Stan Lee decided Hawkeye’s reformation was worth spotlighting.
However, his recruitment into the team was anything but ordinary. In his debut as an Avenger, he straight-up broke into Avengers Mansion. Upon arrival, he tied up their butler, Jarvis, and gagged him. He did this to demonstrate his archery skills by cutting Jarvis loose.
Somehow, this bizarre stunt convinced the team to welcome him as a member. Despite his recent villainy and ties to Black Widow, Hawkeye managed to pass government clearance and officially became an Avenger.
While fans loved Hawkeye’s skillset and brash personality, the logic behind his entrance puzzled readers for decades. Fortunately, later writers revisited this moment and turned it into something much more satisfying.
How Marvel Retconned Hawkeye’s Entry
In 2005, Marvel reimagined Hawkeye’s Avengers origins in the miniseries ‘Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’. This retelling preserved the events of ‘Avengers #16’. However, it also added crucial context to explain how they unfolded. This version begins with Hawkeye performing a heroic act: saving Jarvis and his mother from a gang of thugs.
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This interaction sets up a bond between the two, with Jarvis recognizing Hawkeye’s potential. Jarvis takes it upon himself to encourage the archer to leave behind his criminal past and aim for something greater. What follows is a clever retcon of the infamous “break-in” scene.
Jarvis and Hawkeye hatch a plan to stage the incident, with Jarvis willingly playing along to help Hawkeye impress the Avengers. The awkward, unpolished introduction now reads as a calculated scheme. Later, in ‘Hawkeye: Blindspot’, the backstory was condensed but maintained the same emotional beats.
Jarvis once again plays the role of mentor, pushing Hawkeye toward the hero he was destined to become. These revisions transformed Hawkeye’s chaotic origin into a heartfelt redemption arc, while also highlighting Jarvis as more than just the team’s butler.
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