Recommended Reading 

Comic canons are often long and complicated. This isn’t a complete list of all of Hawkeye’s appearances, but it contains most of his headlining roles and a list of arcs and series I recommend for his character. Everything is listed with the most current titles first.

( hawkeye solo )

➸ starting points, introductory arcs, and solo adventures.

➹ HAWKEYE VOLUME 4 #1-

Matt Fraction and David Aja lay Clint Barton bare as they explore what he does when he isn’t being an Avenger. Currently ongoing, this is what you should ask for when you go to a comic shop.

➹ AVENGERS: SOLO #1-5 (amazon)

Jen Van Meter and Roger Robinson take Hawkeye to the streets to solve a conspiracy and display how he views himself as an Avenger.

➹ HAWKEYE: BLINDSPOT #1-4 (amazon)

Jim McCann retells Hawkeye’s history while pitting him against several shadows from his past and forcing him to face his worst fears.

➹ HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD #1-6 (amazon)

The direct sequel to The Reunion, this series takes Clint and Bobbi into the Heroic Age as Clint reclaims the Hawkeye identity and the two try to balance Avenging, spy work, and their relationship.

➹ NEW AVENGERS: THE REUNION #1-4 (amazon)

Jim McCann and David López rebuild Clint—as Ronin—and Mockingbird’s relationship following the events of Secret Invasion.

( further reading )

➸ team-ups and classics.

➹ CAPTAIN AMERICA & HAWKEYE #628-632 (amazon)

Cullen Bunn’s take on Steve and Clint’s relationship, which has the duo fighting dinosaurs in the American Southwest. A little heavy-handed with characterization, but fun for what it’s worth.

➹ HAWKEYE & MOCKINGBIRD/BLACK WIDOW: WIDOWMAKER #1-4 (amazon)

Hawkeye & Mockingbird crosses over with Duane Swierczynski’s Black Widow, as the three heroes plus Dominic Fortune venture across the globe to solve a mystery concerning the death of several spies.

➹ HAWKEYE VOLUME 3 #1-8 (uncollected)

Fabian Nicieza’s 2004 attempt at a Hawkeye ongoing takes Clint across country on motorcycle, getting into trouble and offering help both in and out of costume. Issues 7 and 8 feature the Black Widow.

➹ HAWKEYE VOLUME 2 #1-4 (amazon)

Chuck Dixon and Tom Defalco rev up the 90s with a miniseries about manly wilderness retreats and mutated wolf sidekicks. Falls prey to most of the clichés of its era, but the trade also includes the one-shot Hawkeye: Earth’s Mightiest Marksman.

➹ HAWKEYE VOLUME 1 #1-4 (amazon)

Hawkeye’s first ever solo series, by Mark Gruenwald. Four issues of teaming up with ex-SHIELD agent Mockingbird which culminate in the couple’s elopement. The collected edition includes Hawkeye’s first appearances, Tales of Suspense #57.

( the teams )

➸ “avengers, defenders, thunderbolts: i make any team better.”

➹ SECRET AVENGERS #21.1, 22-25 (amazon)

Rick Remender sets up Clint as the new leader of the Secret Avengers. His Hawkeye is harsh and a little extreme, but the series is a big part of Clint’s current context.

➹ AVENGERS VOLUME 4 #13-17 (amazon)

Fear Itself wasn’t a vital event for Hawkeye, but the Avengers tie-in issues contain the beginning of his romance with Spider-woman. Clint’s been a member of the main Avengers team since the beginning of the Heroic Age.

➹ NEW AVENGERS VOLUME 1 #61-64, FINALE, ANNUAL #3 (amazon)

Clint joins the New Avengers as Ronin around Issue #31. The climax and finale of the first volume include his attempt on Norman Osborn’s life and subsequent capture. Bendis’ Clint is extreme to the point of parody, but the events are contextually important.

➹ AVENGERS VOLUME 1 #500-503, FINALE (amazon)

The destruction of the Avengers in the “Disassembled” arc contains Hawkeye’s death at the hands of a Kree Warship—or the Scarlet Witch.

➹ AVENGERS VOLUME 3 #71-76 (amazon)

“The Search for She-hulk!” Bruce Banner and Clint Barton begrudgingly team up to help a Hulked-out Jen Walters—Banner’s cousin and one of Clint’s best friends.

➹ AVENGERS/THUNDERBOLTS #1-6 (amazon)

Hawkeye stands between the team that redeemed him and the team he tried to redeem as the Avengers and Thunderbolts clash over the fate of the world. Clint’s entire run with the ‘Bolts is worth reading.

➹ AVENGERS VOLUME 3 #1-11 (amazon)

Kurt Busiek’s look at the oft-asked question: “who will be an Avenger?” and Clint’s place on the team. The arc reestablishes his importance but ends with him leaving the Avengers in order to lead the Thunderbolts.

➹ WEST COAST AVENGERS #1-4 (amazon)

Hawkeye and Mockingbird move to California and form a second Avengers team. The original miniseries leads into 100 issues of the West Coast team.

➹ AVENGERS VOLUME 1 #59-68 (amazon)

The classic Avengers era that included fights against Ultron and various other villains. It’s an important read for Clint because it showcases his transition from Hawkeye to Goliath.

➹ AVENGERS VOLUME 1 #31-40 (amazon)

More classic Avengers stories, this arc is significant for appearances by Black Widow and her impact on Hawkeye’s relationship with the team.

➹ AVENGERS VOLUME 1 #11-20 (amazon)

Hawkeye joins the team in the Avengers’ first line-up shift in Issue #16. The next few issues team him with Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch under Captain America’s leadership—the group is famously known as Cap’s Kooky Quartet.