During the Avengers: Endgame battles, Hawkeye opted for a sword rather than his specialized bow and arrow. This is a nod to his time as Ronin, the warrior who preferred swords over his bow and arrows. The use of the sword also allows Marvel to establish a deeper connection between the film and comic versions of the character. The series’ showrunners have confirmed that the Disney+ Hawkeye will delve into Clint Barton’s past as Ronin, including how he became an expert swordsman in the years between Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
The sword in question is the retractable katana samurai sword used by Ronin in the Marvel Comics storyline of he same name. The weapon was first introduced in New Avengers #11. It is a long, curved blade that can be retracted into the handle. It was later used by the henchman Jack Duquesne, known as Swordsman, to assassinate those members of criminal organizations who survived the Snap. It is not yet clear how the henchman obtained the weapon or whether it was stolen.
The henchman is one of the characters that will be featured in the upcoming Hawkeye series on Disney+, which premieres this Wednesday. The show will explore Clint Barton’s time as Ronin and the repercussions of his actions in the aftermath of the Avengers: Infinity War devastation. Fans have been eagerly anticipating the series since it was first announced.
While the initial trailer for the show only features a brief glimpse of the sword, it is clearly visible in the final scene. The henchman that appears is wearing black and wielding two of the swords in a battle with Kate Bishop.
In addition to revealing the sword, the scene also shows a brief glimpse of the character’s bow. The henchman has a very distinct look that is sure to catch the eye of fans.
It is likely that Marvel’s Hawkeye series will address how Barton became an expert swordsman in the years following Infinity War, but it is unclear how this will relate to Swordsman or Jack Duquesne. If the henchman does play an important role in Hawkeye’s time as Ronin, it may be the perfect way to introduce his character to audiences.
Fans are already excited for the show’s debut and hope that it will provide some insight into the origins of the MCU’s most famous bowman. It is also possible that the show could introduce the MCU’s most under-utilized female superhero, Echo. The deaf Native American heroine was introduced in the second episode of Hawkeye and is reportedly getting her own Disney+ spinoff series. If the show does feature Echo, her ties to Ronin will be even more important to the show’s overall narrative.