When we think of Marvel Universe best archer, there’s only one person that strikes our mind and that is of course Clint Barton as Hawk Eye! Hawkeye, the least popular Avenger, could once find solace in the fact that he was the world’s finest archery master. Few characters in the MCU are brave enough to fight Gods with a bow and arrow, but Hawkeye’s trick shots and creative arrows have cemented his place as the most precise MCU hero.
Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 that a Hawkeye series starring Oscar candidate Hailee Steinfeld will premiere on Disney+ in the autumn of 2021. Then he set the internet on fire by revealing that Kate Bishop will make her on-screen debut in the series.
Bishop’s coming has been long anticipated by comic book enthusiasts, and it’s a terrific opportunity for everyone else to find out who Kate Bishop is. Kate Bishop has been a regular of the Marvel Comics superhero scene since her debut appearance in Young Avengers #1 in 2005. In fact, she’s become so well-known that she still goes by the Hawkeye title, despite Clint Barton’s return to action. That simply goes to show that there’s a place in Marvel fans’ hearts for more than one vengeful archer.
Who Is Kate Bishop?
Clint Barton, the original Hawkeye, had a difficult upbringing. He and his brother Barney were reared in a circus after fleeing a troubled home. Katherine Elizabeth Bishop, who hails from a wealthy and important family, has a quite distinct set of circumstances. Her early years, however, were not without adversity.
Kate is raised by her father, a publishing billionaire who is estranged from both Kate and her sister Susan when her mother dies in an accident. When Kate observes her father’s heinous behaviour one night and finds his publishing profession is merely a front for an organised criminal organisation, the reasons for this become evident.
Kate Bishop gets motivated to unearth all of her father’s secrets after learning about his criminal activities. Kate shows off her private eye abilities by accompanying her father to a late-night meeting with El Matador, only to be kidnapped and held for ransom by the bull fighter-themed supervillain. Bishop manages to elude capture once more, just as a whistling arrow heralds the approach of her saviours, Hawkeye and the rest of the Avengers. Kate is encouraged as she witnesses Clint Barton and his friends defeat El Matador and his henchmen. Barton is simply an average individual with exceptional abilities, she realises.
Kate Bishop is an expert at making the world a better place by the time she reaches adulthood, but there is still gloom in her New York City household. Bishop gets accosted by a stranger while going through Central Park one night.
Kate promises to never feel helpless again after undergoing treatment to heal her PTSD, and she draws motivation from Clint Barton’s profession. She practises martial arts and sword fighting, among other types of conflict and self-defence. Of course, she devotes most of her attention to archery, and she swiftly establishes herself as one of the world’s top archers.
Two Hawkeyes?
Yes, there are two Hawkeyes in the Marvel Universe, and they exist at the same time — similar to the two Spider-Mans we’ve already seen in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. Except Kate Bishop didn’t appear in Marvel comics because of a multiverse. Clint Barton’s death was all it needed.
Clint died in 2004 but was brought back to life in 2007. (The specifics of what transpired aren’t crucial for our purposes; just take my word for it.) The world went on without him, and a Young Avenger called Kate Bishop dressed up in a purple outfit and utilised trick arrows to celebrate his memory. Hawkeye was her nickname.
If you’re not familiar with the Marvel Comics universe, you might be astonished to learn that another Hawkeye has appeared. Kate is preparing to take over the mantle from Clint. Clint will continue to play Ronin in the Disney+ programme, which picks up after Avengers: Endgame. But, because he’s adopting a new character, it’s only natural for Kate to take control.
When comparing Kate Bishop’s Hawkeye moments to Clint Barton’s MCU credits, it’s evident he’s the better marksman. With that in mind, there’s plenty in Kate Bishop’s initial appearance to suggest she may one day eclipse her favourite Avenger. Clint and Kate’s biggest difference right now isn’t necessarily skilled, since both produce really remarkable shots that few other archers could match, but experience and maturity. Hawkeye has a greater grasp of the mechanics of archery and fires nearly instinctively – both talents that take time to master. Kate Bishop will get the finesse she presently lacks with more MCU shooting practice under her utility belt, and when she does, she may have finally overcome Hawkeye to earn the title of world’s finest archer.
Kate Bishop As Marvel’s New Hawkeye
There are only four episodes of Hawkeye left after the double-dip debut before Marvel moves on to whatever’s next. But, in the grand scheme of things, how vital is Kate and a new generation of youthful heroes to the MCU?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has been shaped by Marvel Studios and showrunner Jonathan Igla. Kate is a disruptor who appears at a critical juncture in the universe’s evolution. Kate is chatty and lots of questions, which is one of the reasons we may say Clint finds it a touch too much at first and may come across as bothersome. But it’s precise because she speaks her thoughts that she’s so fascinating. And she has no qualms about doing so. As a result, we occasionally use her voice as a guidepost to bring forth the questions we want the younger voices to ask.
Kate is Hawkeye in the comics. Kate is her name in Hawkeye. But at the conclusion, everything feels imaginable, which, given her history, appears to be exactly what the character is designed to bring to any story. Kate seemed to be the most obvious choice. The character has garnered a sizable fan base. When fans do a little Kate Bishop research, it’s easy to see why so many people have been waiting to see this figure on the big screen for a long time.
Sources: Marvel Entertainment, Ranker, Screen Rant, Polygon, Elle, Variety, Cosmopolitan