Marvel Cinematic Universe: Ranking the 20 greatest superheroes

18. Hawkeye

An original Avenger from the Marvel Cinematic Universe at No. 18? It’s low but deserved, given how poorly Marvel treats Jeremy Renner’s Clint “Hawkeye” Barton.

Hawkeye arrived in The Avengers, seemingly to align with Captain America, Iron Man and the others. Except within the movie’s first 20-30 minutes, Loki mind-controlled him with a scepter. This lasted for most of the film, until Barton reverted to his normal, uncontrolled form and assisted the Avengers.

After this, the most interesting thing Hawkeye did was hover around retirement. This could have been a useful storyline, except Marvel gave it no time to flesh out. He was just a side character for Civil War, too, with the battle between Iron Man and Captain America’s groups of Avengers.

Renner’s Barton will be part of the upcoming Avengers movies. With both potentially crossing two hours, it leaves plenty of time for a character redemption. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to expect this. So, we must see it to believe it.

The upside surrounds Hawkeye’s Ronin alias. Speculation persists that he will use this persona in at least one of the Avengers movies — potentially Avengers 4. It would be this character’s biggest development, and something that makes sense to push forward since Cap freed him from The Raft in Civil War. Fingers crossed?