Hailee Steinfeld will be playing Hawkeye in the MCU, but as accurate as her portrayal looks, there are some things only comic fans know about Kate Bishop. Instead of being left out, fans would be better off picking up some Marvel comics to learn more about Kate’s history.
While there’s no doubt the show will give Kate a great introduction, hardcore fans will want to know what truly led Kate to become the next Hawkeye. There also might be some confusion as to how and why there will be two Hawkeyes in the MCU. From Kate’s origins with the Young Avengers to her solo adventures as a private investigator – there’s a lot of history to dive into.
10 “Young Avengers Vol. 1: Sidekicks” by Allan Heinberg
Kate Bishop’s first-ever comic book appearance was in the first volume of Young Avengers. Sidekicks takes place after the Avengers have seemingly broken up, and a group of teens that were formerly sidekicks or the children of major heroes get together and form their own heroic team.
This comic is essential for fans wanting to read Kate’s first introduction to the Marvel Universe. Not only that but knowing about the formation of Young Avengers might be necessary since many members of the Young Avengers are now in the MCU. Considering Kang the Conquerer is the villain of this story, and his presence has now been made in the MCU, fans might see this comic play out on screen.
9 “Young Avengers Presents #6” By Matt Fraction
Young Avengers Presents has one issue that gives the backstory to each member of the team and issue #6 is all about Kate Bishop. In this comic, Kate meets Clint Barton for the first time and needs to earn her right to use the name Hawkeye.
This issue is short and sweet, but it’s nice to see how Kate and Clint officially become acquainted in the comics. At first, the two weren’t the closest friends as Clint wasn’t fond of her using his hero name, but from this comic on they formed a bond.
8 “Avengers: The Children’s Crusade” By Allan Heinberg
The Children’s Crusade primarily follows Wiccan, the son of Scarlet Witch as he goes on a mission to finally meet his mother and understand his powers. During his journey, he and the Young Avengers have to rescue her from Doctor Doom’s manipulation.
While Scarlet Witch and her children are the major focus of this comic, the Young Avengers as a whole play an integral part in the story. While Kate Bishop isn’t the most powerful Young Avenger, her friendship with the rest of the team is very present in this story and through the events. They all learn a lot more about each other and grow as a team.
7 “Style > Substance” By Kieron Gillen
Style > Substance introduced plenty of new members to the Young Avengers, but of course, Kate Bishop was one of the first members of Young Avengers. In this new addition to the Young Avengers, fans got to see Kid Loki and America Chavez’s introduction to the team as they battle new villains.
America’s introduction to the Young Avengers is important, especially because of the friendship she forms with Kate. Considering Miss America is set to appear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, it’s likely the two will also become good friends on screen as well.
6 “My Life As A Weapon” By Matt Fraction
Matt Fraction’s run on Hawkeye follows both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop as the two rent an apartment in NYC and go on a mission to uncover a secret code for S.H.I.E.L.D. This comic follows Kate after she left the Young Avengers and decides to work side by side with Clint to learn more about being a hero.
This comic is a must-read for fans eager to watch the Hawkeye series because this is the comic series that the show will be based on. It’s no secret that the Hawkeye trailer has many references to this comic, including Lucky the Pizza Dog, the Christmas spirit, and the gritty New York City setting. There are four volumes in Fraction’s run, and they’re all worth the read.
5 “Hawkeye: L.A Woman” By Matt Fraction
L.A. Woman centers all around Kate Bishop as she ditches Clint, leaves New York with Lucky, and goes on a mission of her own in L.A to help a Brian Wilson-esque reclusive pop genius find his lost masterpiece. She finds herself yet again battling Madam Masque in addition to an apathetic police system that doesn’t seem to care about the citizens its sword to protect.
This comic follows Kate as she finds her footing as a lonesome superhero. It chronicles her on her first adventures all by herself without the aid of Clint or the Young Avengers. This issue marked a crucial turning point for Kate as after she successfully solves the mystery and defeats Masque, she decides to become a private investigator similar to Jessica Jones in Alias and help out ordinary civilians.
4 “Anchor Point” By Kelly Thompson
In Anchor Point, Kate has fully opened up her private investigator office. In this comic, she makes new friends in L.A. and begins developing into a unique hero who isn’t just a copy or sidekick to another Avenger. Instead, she possesses her own unique skills and traits, which her allies need to use and her enemies need to neutralize.
In other comics, Kate’s storyline was heavily influenced by Clint Barton, the Avengers, or Young Avengers. In Kelly Thompson’s run, she’s completely independent and has her new friends that are completely new to the Marvel Universe. Of course, there are some cameos from her former friends, such as America Chavez, but this series largely leaves Kate to stand on her own as a hero.
3 “All-New Hawkeye” By Jeff Lemire
All-New Hawkeye gives fans a reunion between Kate Bishop and Clint Barton, as the two join forces again to rescue superpowered kids from Hydra. There are also some flashbacks to Clint Barton’s past as both a child and a young criminal.
This comic picks up after Clint and Kate have been separated as a duo, so it’s nice to see the two working together once again. It’s full of the classic Kate/Clint banter, which is the reason why many fans love them together. In addition, Pizza Dog makes an appearance as the third part in their unique superhero triangle.
2 “West Coast Avengers” By Kelly Thompson
In West Coast Avengers, Kate Bishop joins yet another superhero team in which she’s reunited with some of her closest friends. Kate finally reunites with Clint Barton, America Chavez, and other heroes as they battle Tigra and land sharks.
Kate has really developed a lot as a hero here, considering she’s the one who formed this new team of West Coast Avengers. It really shows her independence as a hero and ability to put a team together. considering Thompson wrote plenty of Kate’s solo stories, there are also references to her past and this story almost feels like a continuation to her previous adventures. Who knows, maybe Kate will form the West Coast Avengers in the MCU as well.
1 “Hawkeyes” By Jeff Lemire
Hawkeyes follows up after All-New Hawkeye, except this graphic novel has a twist. It goes back and forth from the future to the present time. In the future, readers get to see what happens to Kate and Clint in the future and how their friendship holds up.
This story really explores the friendship between these two and how much trust they have in each other. It’s also vital for fans wanting to know more about Kate’s origins, as this comic gives readers an insight into her childhood and shows what her relationship with her family was like before she became a hero.
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