Since his brief appearance in the 2011 MCU film Thor, Hawkeye has become a staple member of the Avengers, featuring in nearly all of the team’s cinematic outings. Over the years, the character has undergone significant development, diverging from his initial portrayal in the MCU. The 2021 Disney+ series, which delved into the aftermath of Endgame, shed light on the toll his role as an Avenger has taken on him, addressing both mental and physical challenges, along with his use of a hearing aid.
While the series depicted his hearing loss due to the frequent explosions he’s encountered as an Avenger, the comics offer a more harrowing and graphic account of how the superhero sustained this injury. With Marvel Studios now exploring R-rated content with projects like Deadpool 3 and Daredevil: Born Again, there’s an opportunity for the studio to pay homage to his legacy as one of the original Avengers.
How Hawkeye Lost His Hearing in Marvel Comics?
In comics, Clint Barton initially faced a hearing loss while battling the supervillain Crossfire. To counter his sonic weapon, Hawkeye uses one of his own sonic arrows, which results in significant hearing loss. However, it is his battle with the villain The Clown, which further contributes to his deafness.
The 2012 Hawkeye comic series by Matt Fraction and David Aja shared the gruesome details surrounding how Clint Barton lost his hearing amid his clashes with the Tracksuit Mafia. The gang’s vendetta against Barton escalates after he intervenes to save his neighbors from eviction, leading to a violent confrontation with ruthless mercenary Kazi Kazimierczak, aka The Clown.
The moment of Hawkeye’s hearing loss in the comics is particularly brutal, as Kaji viciously stabs Barton in the ears with his own arrows, leaving him permanently deaf. This graphic depiction of the character’s trauma serves to deepen Barton’s arc and highlights the challenges he faces in adapting to his new disability.
While it could have significantly affected character development and storytelling in the MCU, Marvel Studios has opted to avoid graphic violence and darker themes. Like many Avengers who have experienced life-changing trauma, Barton grappling with his deafness and the subsequent emotional turmoil could have provided a compelling narrative by exploring themes of resilience and adaptation.
Despite the creative liberties taken in the MCU adaptation of the character, his deafness remains a defining aspect of his identity. While the superhero franchise acknowledges this aspect of his journey, it pales in comparison to the raw emotion and trauma depicted in the original comic storyline.
Jeremy Renner On Reprising His Role as Hawkeye in the MCU
Jeremy Renner addressed his potential return to the MCU in a recent conversation with Entertainment Tonight. The actor sustained several critical injuries along with multiple broken bones in a life-threatening snowplow accident he suffered last year. As he recovers from his injuries, the 53-year-old actor has shared that he is open to reprising his MCU role. He said,
I’m always game. I’m gonna be strong enough, that’s for sure. I’ll be ready. All those guys come to my bedside and they’ve been with me all along through this recovery, so… if they want me, they could have me. It would be something.
With Renner open to reprising his role, and the studio adapting to darker themes with projects like Deadpool & Wolverine and Daredevil, it offers the MCU to provide a welcome change by honoring Hawkeye’s legacy as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in the potential future projects.
Hawkeye is available to stream on Disney+.
