Hawkeye Fact — November 5, 2026

Today's Fact

Clint Barton wanted to be a hero, got arrested at his own debut, and took career advice from the most beautiful Soviet spy in the room.

HAWKEYE DEBUTED AS A VILLAIN — LOVE-STRUCK, WANTED, AND AIMED AT IRON MAN!

The Featured Fact

Carnival marksman Clint Barton watched Iron Man upstage his archery act, built himself a costume and a quiver of trick arrows, and went out to become a hero — whereupon his very first outing ended with police mistaking him for the thief he had just stopped. Fleeing the arrest, he was rescued by the Black Widow, then a Soviet spy hunting Stark technology, and fell for her on sight. In Tales of Suspense Vol. 1 #57 (1964), by Stan Lee and Don Heck, Hawkeye's debut is as Iron Man's antagonist: acid arrows, an explosive arrow, and a vow to kill the Avenger for a woman whose employers he never asked about.

He very nearly did it. Barton's explosive arrow clipped Iron Man and ricocheted into Natasha herself, and the would-be villain abandoned the kill on the spot to carry her to safety — the first recorded instance of Clint Barton sabotaging Clint Barton for somebody he loved. Two more Widow-led outings followed in Tales of Suspense #60 and #64 before the infatuation burned out.

The redemption was startlingly fast: months later Barton walked into Avengers Mansion, tied up Edwin Jarvis to audition, freed him with three arrows in a single shot, and was voted in on the spot. Avengers #16 (1965) made the ex-villain a founding member of Captain America's replacement roster — nine months after his first appearance had him trying to murder a future teammate.

Why It's Obscure

An origin story with the hero and villain sharing one costume fitting.

The debut

Mistaken at his own premiere — Hawkeye's first public act as a costumed hero got him accused of the robbery he interrupted; the wanted poster came before the reputation.

The recruiter

A spy with a getaway car — Natasha Romanova did not pitch ideology, pay, or country. She offered a ride and a smile, and it outperformed every Soviet handler.

The ricochet

His best shot, his worst result — the explosive arrow that nearly finished Iron Man struck Black Widow instead, and ending her danger instantly outranked ending him.

The audition

Jarvis, tied and impressed — Barton's Avengers application was a home invasion followed by a trick shot; the team counted the second part louder.

Gallery

The Tales of Suspense #57 cover pairing Hawkeye with Iron Man and Black Widow, and the Avengers #16 page where Barton tells the team how the Widow recruited him.

Tales of Suspense issue 57 cover with Hawkeye in purple costume around Iron Man and a Black Widow inset — **The first appearance**The 1964 cover that launched him: Hawkeye ringing Iron Man on every side while the corner box asks what happens when he teams with the Black Widow — the villain billing is printed right on his debut.

Avengers issue 16 comic page with Hawkeye recounting meeting Black Widow and freeing the tied butler Jarvis with three arrows — **The confession and the audition**Barton lays the whole Widow affair before the Avengers, then proves his worth the practical way — three arrows, one bound butler, zero cuts — with Iron Man watching the man who once hunted him join the roster.

Sources

Every fact on this page was checked against at least two independent sources before publication.

Bullpen Bulletins

Wikipedia — Hawkeye (Clint Barton) Debuted as an antagonist of Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #57 (September 1964), manipulated by Black Widow, joined the Avengers in #16.
CBR — Hawkeye Hit the Mark in His Comic Book Debut The robbery misunderstanding, the Widow's recruitment, and the explosive arrow that injured her instead.
EBSCO — Hawkeye (fictional character) Originally a reluctant villain under Black Widow's influence before reforming to join the Avengers.