Hawkeye‘s personal lore in Marvel Comics is deceptively rich in terms of the sheer number of interesting characters who are tied directly to Clint Barton. Many fans might just see Hawkeye as the ‘arrow guy’ in the Avengers, but he’s proven time and again that he’s so much more than that. Not just by achieving incredible feats against worthy foes, but by the stories in which Hawkeye is a central character, as those stories also shine a light on the other fascinating characters around him.
Interesting heroes and villains alike are constantly being featured in Hawkeye’s storylines. Unfortunately, many of them haven’t gotten the praise or recognition they deserve from the comic books or the comic book community as a whole, despite more than earning it. That’s why it’s important to take a quick dive into these characters and their stories, and explore exactly why they are so interesting and what their true power levels are. Here are 10 of the most powerful characters in Hawkeye history, ranked.
10
Jeff the Land Shark
While Jeff the Land Shark is a beloved character due to his overwhelming cuteness, it’s time to face some cold, hard facts. Jeff the Land Shark is not that powerful. Indeed, he’s a tiny shark with legs, gills, and lungs, meaning he can freely live on land and in the sea. Plus, Jeff is far more intelligent than an average animal, which does make him useful. This is especially true for Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye, as Jeff was her ‘pet’ for a time.
That being said, Jeff the Land Shark doesn’t quite compare to some of the other characters in Hawkeye lore in terms of power level/fighting skills alone. However, as previously stated, Jeff the Land Shark is insanely cute, and that’s more than enough of a reason for fans to love him.
9
Kazimierz Kazimierczak aka Clown
Kazimierz Kazimierczak aka Clown first appeared in Matt Fraction’s Hawkeye Vol. 4, which is a comic book run held up by many as Hawkeye’s most iconic to date (and was a major source of inspiration for Disney+’s Hawkeye series). The prestige surrounding Clown’s introduction into the Marvel Universe is enough to make him a standout character, and his proven deadliness only makes Clown that much more notable.
However, at the end of the day, Clown was little more than a hired gun with a creepy aesthetic. Sure, Clown was an absolute menace during his time as a Hawkeye villain, but there are certainly more powerful Hawkeye characters than him.
8
Aggregate
Greg aka Aggregate is a villain of Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye, and he certainly packs an explosive punch. Aggregate has the power to absorb the negative energy/hatred of those around him and use it to increase his strength and size. Not only that, but Aggregate can spread hatred to others just by being in their vicinity, which he can then re-absorb to become even stronger.
Aggregate was a pretty strong Hawkeye villain, but his time in Marvel Comics was cut short due to a flaw in his power. As Kate Bishop witnessed, Aggregate can only absorb so much hatred before he explodes, making his greatest strength his ultimate weakness.
7
Jason Roland aka Hangman
Jason Roland aka Hangman has strong ties to the supernatural in ways that few Hawkeye villains do. Jason began his Marvel Comics career as an actor who would do anything to be famous, including making a deal with a demon. Unfortunately, Jason’s plan backfired, as he was transformed into Hangman and was forced to operate as a supervillain before eventually getting roped into reaping souls on behalf of hell.
Hangman faced off against Hawkeye when he challenged the West Coast Avengers. But, more than anything else, Hangman was more or less a slave to demons throughout his Marvel Comics career. Sure, his ties to the supernatural are impressive and made him fairly powerful, but Hangman barely got to reap the rewards.
6
William Cross aka Crossfire
William Cross aka Crossfire has a long history in Marvel Comics that’s tied not just to Hawkeye, but also to the likes of Moon Knight and the Masters of Evil. Cross was a highly skilled CIA agent who worked with Marc Spector before ultimately becoming an incredibly deadly mercenary without a conscience.
Crossfire is the reason Clint Barton has a hearing impairment, as he damaged Hawkeye’s ears with an ultrasound weapon.
In many ways, Crossfire is a lot like Bullseye, as he’s incredibly good at killing and doesn’t care who the target is. That’s why Crossfire has been in league with villainous groups like the Masters of Evil and the Hood’s Gang, and why he’s tangled with heroes like Hawkeye and Moon Knight.
5
Barbara Morse aka Mockingbird
Barbara Morse aka Mockingbird is second only to Black Widow in terms of being an international super-spy. While famously Clint Barton’s primary love interest in Marvel Comics, Mockingbird stands out more for being one of Hawkeye’s most powerful allies. Mockingbird was injected with a version of the super-soldier serum, enhancing her physical strength, durability, and agility. But more than that, the serum gave her telepathic powers, a healing factor, and effectively made her immortal by stunting her aging process.
Mockingbird’s proven genius and physical abilities make her a true force to be reckoned with, and her many adventures with and without Hawkeye by her side further confirm how powerful she really is.
4
Jacques DuQuesne aka The Swordsman
Jacques DuQuesne aka The Swordsman is the man who made Clint Barton the hero he is today, though in a way that was less than conventional. DuQuesne is a master swordsman (hence the name) who recruited Barton from a traveling circus. Swordsman taught Clint everything he knew, and he planned to turn Barton into a hardened criminal.
However, Barton chose to turn away from the life of crime that Swordsman brought him into to become an Avenger. While that led to an epic conflict between Hawkeye and his former mentor (one that nearly cost Captain America his life), Barton still has the Swordsman to thank for the role he played in his superhero career.
3
Charles Barton aka Trickshot
Charles Barton aka Trickshot originally had no interest in Clint’s life as a criminal archer. After being trained by Swordsman, Clint began a life of crime that he wouldn’t turn away from for many years. During that time, Charles focused on his studies and eventually joined the military before being recruited by the FBI. It wouldn’t be until Charles started doing undercover work that he’d run into Hawkeye again, as well as the criminal underbelly of the Marvel Universe.
Eventually, Charles’ jealousy of his brother and the seduction of Marvel’s most despicable criminals corrupted Charles, at which point he became Trickshot. While he’d go back and forth between villain and hero, Trickshot was never quite as skilled as his brother, though he could certainly hold his own against him.
2
Kate Bishop aka Hawkeye
Kate Bishop aka Hawkeye was trained by Clint Barton himself and has proven herself worthy of carrying on the “Hawkeye” superhero moniker. In fact, Kate has not only proven that she’s worthy of carrying on the Hawkeye name, but she has also shown that she’s one of the best new-age superheroes there is. After becoming a central figure in the Young Avengers, Kate has risen to the leadership role on numerous occasions.
In many ways, Kate Bishop has surpassed Clint Barton’s Hawkeye, since she’s a leader on an Avengers team, whereas Clint has never really held that title for any significant period. Kate Bishop is a great Hawkeye, and an even better Avenger, making her a true contender for the most powerful Hawkeye character.
1
Clint Barton aka Hawkeye
While Kate Bishop is a top contender, no one can beat the original. Clint Barton aka Hawkeye isn’t just the most powerful Hawkeye character because he’s literally Hawkeye, but because of all the things he’s done throughout his Marvel Comics career. Hawkeye has saved the life of Spider-Man in an Ultron-induced apocalypse, he survived the wasteland with Old Man Logan even after losing his sight, and he’s taken on no shortage of extraterrestrial and interdimensional threats alongside the Avengers, and has always come out on top.
Clint Barton pushes the limits of what a mortal human can achieve in the Marvel Universe, which is why the original Hawkeye himself is the most powerful Hawkeye character in Marvel Comics.
