It begins with Hawkeye working as Head of Security for Cross Technological Enterprises, where he's got his own flying motorcycle, then breaks out into a conspiracy thriller centered on a plot to turn Marvel's heroes against each other by way of a brainwashing machine. While it's not necessarily a story in the same tone of more contemporary adventures (we'll get to shoe in a second), Gruenwald was always a reliable source of straightforward superhero adventure, which makes this a great showcase for the kind of diving-in-headlong tone of a lot of Hawkeye stories that follow. The legendary Mark Gruenwald, whose fingerprints were all over Disney+'s The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, both wrote and drew this Marvel miniseries, which marked the first time Clint Barton got a solo title after years of service in the Avengers. So, whether you're a first-time Hawkeye reader or a longtime fan just looking for a refresh, here are five essential Hawkeye stories to dig into while you wait for the streaming series. For decades now, writers and artists have been putting their own spin on the Marvel sharpshooter, and it's given us plenty of great stories to draw from in preparation for the Disney+ premiere. It's an exciting time for the character on the screen, but if you're a comics reader, you know it's far from the first time that Hawkeye has stepped up from team member in other stories to starring role.
DINOSAUR SOLDIER COMIC SERIES
In just a couple of weeks the character will star in Hawkeye, a Disney+ series that sees him teaming up with first-time MCU character Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), Marvel's other Hawkeye, in an adventure that includes a Captain America musical, Christmas in New York City, and Lucky, a one-eyed dog who loves pizza. It's been a long, strange road since then, but this Thanksgiving Barton is finally getting an MCU story to call his own.
Clint Barton, the Marvel Comics sharpshooter known as Hawkeye, has been part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe since the days of the first Thor film, when Jeremy Renner made a cameo appearance as the character ahead of his bigger role in the Avengers franchise.