Hawkeye and Kate Bishop’s Alter Egos

Throughout decades of Marvel Comics history, it has often been the case that a character’s adventures are marked by different alter egos. Whether the change is the result of personal loss or simply a desire to operate in a more ambiguous moral space, heroes have found ways to distance themselves from their old identities while keeping the core of what made them who they are.

The archer known as Hawkeye, played by Jeremy Renner in Disney+’s new series of the same name, is one such example. As the show begins, Hawkeye is sucked back into New York City’s criminal underworld after crossing paths with the plucky Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld), an aspiring archer. The show’s opening episodes reveal that while Hawkeye and Kate are the same person, she will be taking on his alter ego Ronin, and this isn’t the first time the character has embraced this alias.

Created by Stan Lee and Don Heck, Hawkeye made his debut in Tales of Suspense in September 1964. He joined the Avengers a few years later, and would spend decades as part of the team. He would fight alongside his fellow heroes through various tumultuous times, including Civil War, the Kree-Skrull War, the Secret Invasion, and Norman Osborn’s Dark Reign, before finally leaving for a stint as Ronin after Wanda Maximoff altered timelines in House of M. His tenure as Ronin lasted through several more events, including the Siege of Asgard and Dark Reign, before Hawkeye returned to his bow and arrows in the Heroic Age.

Hawkeye’s time as Ronin has been marked by a desire to work in a more amoral moral space, operating without the restraints of the team and instead acting as a vigilante who took matters into his own hands. It has also been a time of significant personal loss for the hero, who was left to fend for himself after losing the love of his life.

While the Disney+ show’s plot hasn’t yet revealed how many of the series’ upcoming arcs will deal with his time as Ronin, it’s clear that the hero is taking on this identity in order to confront some very dangerous foes. Regardless of the outcome, it’s a bold move that will no doubt see Hawkeye smack down villains and his own personal demons.

Those watching the new series of Hawkeye will be able to see for themselves just how this story plays out in the next few weeks, as the first two episodes hit the streaming service on Wednesday, Nov. 24. Until then, you can catch up on the show’s official website here. To get ready for what’s to come, check out INSIDER’s roundup of the best Hawkeye toys and action figures in stores now.