Hawkeye (Kate Bishop)
Hawkeye is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung, Bishop first appeared in Young Avengers #1. She is the third character and first female to take the Hawkeye name, after Clint Barton of the Avengers and Wyatt McDonald of the Squadron Supreme. Her costume appearance is patterned on the first Hawkeye and Mockingbird. After forming the third iteration of the West Coast Avengers with Gwen Poole, Kate and Gwen adopt a land-shark named Jeff, who they raise in his solo series It's Jeff!.
Hailee Steinfeld portrays Kate Bishop in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Publication history
Hawkeye first appeared in Young Avengers #1, created by writer Allan Heinberg and artist Jim Cheung. She is first introduced as Kate Bishop and in issue #12, she takes up the Hawkeye mantle as the original Hawkeye was dead at the time after being killed in Avengers #502.Alongside Clint Barton, Kate co-starred in Matt Fraction and David Aja's series Hawkeye. Hawkeye then appeared in the Young Avengers series by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie. Kate co-starred with Clint in the All-New Hawkeye series by Jeff Lemire and Ramon Perez, redesigned by Leonardo Romero.
Kate starred in her own Hawkeye book, written by Kelly Thompson, starting in the fall 2016 as part of the Marvel Now! relaunch. The book was cancelled with its 16th issue in early 2018. Thompson would then create the 2018 incarnation of the West Coast Avengers, which featured Kate as the team leader. Kate forms this team with Gwen Poole and the series features them adopting Jeff the Land Shark.
Starting September 2021, Kate and Gwen would feature in Jeff's solo series, titled It's Jeff! and again written by Thompson with artists Gurihiru, initially released digitally on Marvel Unlimited before being published physically.
In November 2021, the five-issue limited series Hawkeye: Kate Bishop, by Marieke Nijkamp and Enid Balám, set after West Coast Avengers was released. This corresponded with Kate's Marvel Cinematic Universe introduction in the Disney+ series Hawkeye.
As part of the 2024 Venom War event, Kate, Gwen, and Jeff was featured in the one-shot Venom War: It's Jeff #1, again written by Thompson and illustrated by Gurihiru. Kate, Gwen, and Jeff return in the limited series Gwenpool, by writer Cavan Scott and artist Stefano Nesi, which focuses on Gwen and Kate as they team up with Peter Parker in confronting the resurrected X-31.
Fictional character biography
Kate Bishop is the daughter of wealthy Manhattan socialites Derek Bishop and Eleanor Bishop and the sister of Susan Bishop. Eleanor was later apparently killed in Boulder, Colorado, leaving Derek to raise Kate and Susan.''Young Avengers Special''
Young Avengers Special reveals that some time prior to joining the team, Kate Bishop was sexually assaulted in Central Park. At first, the incident left Kate traumatized, but then it spurred her to engage in intense combat training. So far the rest of the Young Avengers are unaware of this incident, as Kate has only told her therapist and Jessica Jones. Kate's actual rape is not illustrated — only the initial ambush is shown on-panel.''Young Avengers''
A "normal" civilian forcibly introduced to the Young Avengers in an early rescue attempt made by the team, Kate has demonstrated skill and level-headedness in high-pressure situations. Independent, tough-minded, and blunt, she is also an excellent archer. Her encounter with the young team led her to investigate them on her own, following them to Avengers headquarters and donning the gear of Mockingbird and Hawkeye, as well as what may be Swordsman's sword and Black Widow's belt. When Kate first appears wearing Mockingbird's mask, Patriot jokingly refers to her as "Hawkingbird." She invites herself to join the team after freeing them and helps them in their battle against Kang the Conqueror. She was subsequently confirmed as a member of the team.After the team's first adventure stopping Kang the Conqueror, Captain America and Iron Man ordered the team to break up and refused to train the team without their parents' consent. However, Kate Bishop still wanted to be a Young Avenger. Believing the worst Captain America and Iron Man could do was inform their parents, Kate took the team to an abandoned warehouse previously owned by one of her father's companies, Bishop Publishing, which became the team's lair. She also had new uniforms made for them, since Cap told them to "never wear those uniforms again."
Kate is close with her friend and teammate Stature, and has a certain degree of chemistry with teammate Patriot, although their relationship is punctuated by near-constant bickering and one-upmanship; when Stature observed that "no matter what happens" Wiccan and Hulkling "have each other" and Kate has Patriot, Kate immediately objected, saying "all we do is fight". The team's newest member, Speed, immediately referred to Patriot as "your boyfriend," prompting another denial by Kate. Upon meeting Speed for the first time, she was not her usual composed self. Still, she is the driving member of the team, pushing everyone to stay together and operates as the team's unofficial deputy-leader when Patriot's not around, even giving him occasional orders.
After Patriot is injured, Captain America informs the Young Avengers that he hopes that they start normal lives. Kate tells him if he had trained them, Patriot might not have been injured and it was best for him to help the Young Avengers by accepting them. Jessica Jones returns to give Kate the original Hawkeye's bow and arrows with a note from Captain America addressed to Hawkeye. Jessica told Kate that the only other person to stand up to Captain America the way Kate did was Hawkeye, and that Captain America wanted her to take Clint's codename. Kate did and became the third "Hawkeye."
''Civil War''
Kate has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book Avengers: The Initiative #1. However, she and Patriot make a brief appearance in Doctor Strange's home, the hideout of the New Avengers in the second issue of Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America, casting some doubt into their allegiances. However, in the same issue of Fallen Son, Iron Fist remarks that "It's been a tough week" leading to the assumption that series takes place in the week following Cap's death, and the Young Avengers may have registered after that. In the same series, however, Kate and Patriot confront Clint Barton, who had temporarily taken on the costume and shield of Captain America, who is attempting to capture them for being unregistered heroes, leaving more confusion.Unaware of who he truly is, Kate berates Clint, saying that she took Hawkeye's name to honor him but did not copy his costume as that would be shameful; she further states that "if Hawkeye were alive, I'd call myself something else." Her words convince Clint to return the shield and costume to Tony Stark, condemn Stark for his role in the Civil War, and go his own path.
''Young Avengers Presents''
In the Young Avengers Presents limited series, Kate assists Patriot in tracking down Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, aiding him in taking down a cell of A.I.M. cyborgs in the process.In the last issue of the series, Kate goes on an awkward date with Eli, ultimately turning him down, to his embarrassment. She is then attacked by Ronin, who tests her abilities. He invites her to the Secret Avengers hideout and reveals himself to be Clint Barton. The two discuss determination to lead and "always taking the shot." Kate bets him that he cannot split an arrow, and wagers his original bow. He wins using a far inferior bow, reiterating that no matter how impossible, when the lives of their teammates depend on it, one should always take the shot. Humiliated, Kate surrenders the bow and her codename, and is rebuffed by Patriot. Speed takes Kate out on a date to ease her tension and the two infiltrate the Secret Avengers base and reclaim the bow. Meanwhile, Clint attempts to advocate for the Young Avengers to the other Secret Avengers, wishing to serve as mentors to them. He notices Kate's presence and visits her later, granting her permission to use his name and bow, acknowledging that her infiltration demonstrated the determination necessary to lead her team. He offers her the Secret Avengers' support, giving her an old photo of himself, Captain America, the Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver in their early days as Avengers. Reaffirmed, Kate approaches Eli and kisses him, asking him to be patient with her and give her time.
''Secret Invasion''
Kate participates in the battle against the Skrull invasion with her teammates, but is defeated, despite the aid of the Initiative. She and the Young Avengers later show up to join in the final fight. When she is knocked unconscious, her bow and arrows are used by Clint Barton, the original Hawkeye to continue the fight.''Siege''
Kate joins the Young Avengers, New Avengers, and Secret Warriors in stopping Norman Osborn's siege of Asgard. Unfortunately, when the Sentry levels Asgard, Kate and Patriot are trapped beneath rubble. During a doubtful moment Patriot passionately kisses Kate, which prompts her to push him away after a startled moment. Not long after, they are rescued by their friends and rejoin their group, but not before Kate tells Patriot that was a 'Hell of a kiss' with a shared smile, hinting at the start of a relationship.''Avengers: The Children's Crusade''
After the events of Siege, Kate is seen amongst the heroes celebrating at Avengers Tower. Clint Barton later encourages her to keep the name "Hawkeye" despite returning to the mantle himself, saying that the world is big enough for two "Hawkeyes" for now.Kate appears alongside the other Young Avengers in Avengers: Children's Crusade.
Kate also appears alongside the other Young Avengers in Avengers: The Children's Crusade Young Avengers, a one-shot in which the Young Avengers are grown up and are now the Avengers. It is an alternate timeline altered by Iron Lad continuing to alter the timestream to defeat Kang the Conqueror.