Why does everyone rag on Hawkeye?

[Bullgrit]

It has become sort of an Internet meme to poke fun at Hawkeye in the Avengers movie. People call him useless and weak, and just generally not on the same level as the other heroes on the team. Now, sure, he isn't super strong, doesn't fly, etc. but damn he scored some nice goals in the movie.

He nearly took down the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier. He knocked Loki right out of the sky.

I'm not a big fan of Hawkeye, but I can give props to a non-super powered guy who manages to hold his own and score like that beside gods of myth and technology.

People don't even give Black Widow as much crap and she doesn't have any super powers either. But she has the finesse to handle things -- like bringing in Doctor Banner peacefully and interogating Loki -- that the big guys would only turn into a stupid brawl.

So why do so many people belittle Hawkeye?

Bullgrit

 

[Kramodlog]

Black Widow is super hawt! That is a awesome powah!

Hakweye is a bit like Aquaman (who has powers), no one cares about him. Hawkeye lacks some sort of mojo. Something that would make him interesting or special, like Batman. Batman has no super powers, aside from being super rich, but he is interesting. Hawkeye just does what? Shoot arrows? Any original background story? No. Hawkeye = Meh.

 

[billd91]

Hawkeye, in the comics, is a pretty interesting character. He's brash and obnoxious and bucks authority (back in his early days in the Avengers, he bickered with Cap a lot until Cap won his respect) to his own detriment.

In the movie, they've barely addressed him as a distinct character other than a patsy for Loki to control and for a few fancy bow shot effects. He's underdeveloped compared to pretty much every other character in that movie except Maria Hill and the guy playing Galaga on the command deck.

 

[trappedslider]

. the guy playing Galaga on the command deck.

I do believe that there's fan fiction for that guy..giving him a background and such....

 

[jonesy]

I do believe that there's fan fiction for that guy..giving him a background and such....

There's several. Galaga dude got game.

 

[Hand of Evil]

Trust me, Black Widow has super powers...

Always liked Hawkeye, don't get the dislike myself.

 

[tomBitonti]

Well ... Black Widow has a backstory from Iron Man 2, and an interesting although supporting part.

Hawkeye ... who is he? What's his story? Why should we care about this random seeming dude that can shoot very well?

If you don't know the Comics background, you won't know anything about him. He's just dropped in next to established roles.

Also, Black Widow has a more colorful character. Hawkeye, as presented, is quiet and distant. Not much to hang an interest to. Even when dominated, he didn't generate a lot of menace.

I think there needed to be more unexpected nuances to the part: Places where his inhuman accuracy showed up (but not while shooting) that surprised people. More interactions with the other parts to bring the character to life. The personality conflicts (Thor vs Hulk, Iron Man vs Capt America. Nick Fury and Agent Coulson vs the problems of the Avengers as a team. Loki vs. everyone else. Hawkeye doesn't rise to the necessary level to make an impression.

Thx!

TomB

 

[PigKnight]

He's also annoying in Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've never seen anyone mocking him. He's awesome in the Thor movie and his current comic is amazing.

 

[sabrinathecat]

Awesome in Thor? What, when he's deciding between the bow and the sniper riffle, and then told to just stand by. What was awesome about that?

The problem was that he didn't really have any character, any story, or much of anything going for him. Kinda like the Howling Furies in Captain America: they were there, but that's about it.
Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes did a way better job of handing him, and just about everything else.