Kate Bishop, the Young Avengers' Hawkeye, has a dark origin story that the MCU will likely stay away from. Kate will be portrayed by Hailee Steinfeld in the upcoming Disney+ Hawkeye series. So many comic book fans have been anticipating her arrival to the Marvel Cinematic Universe; she most definitely has the potential to stand out in this new phase of the MCU. Kate is known for her sarcasm, humor, and witty banter with the original Hawkeye—Clint Barton. She could potentially be one of the funniest of Marvel's characters in this new phase, especially if it steers clear from one particular story.
Kate's most memorable comic book appearances include Hawkeye by Matt Fraction and David Aja and Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen, Jaime McKelvie, and Mike Norton. These stories put the young Hawkeye beside the characters she interacts with best. One story from Fraction's Hawkeye run perfectly the sort of whimsical and youthful tone that would fit right in with the MCU, especially with Hailee Steinfeld. Issue #14 features a standalone story of Kate Bishop as a hero for hire. The story has Kate Bishop shot at, hit by a car, and covered in bandages. Even in her seriously injured state, Kate is still cracking jokes throughout the whole issue. Lucky the Hawkeye "Pizza Dog" is by Kate's side in issue #14 too, just as he was in the Hawkeye trailer.
However, Kate's story in the 2006 Young Avengers Special, by Allan Heinberg and Bill Sienkiewicz, introduces an origin to Kate Bishop that most fans don't know exists. She flashes back to before she acquired her martial arts skills, and readers see her walking alone in the park when a man comes out of the shadows behind her and grabs her. It isn't elaborated upon if this is sexual assault; it was only a montage of what motivated Kate to begin her life as a vigilante. However, the panel after the assault shows Kate traumatized and curled up in bed. She is then seen speaking to a therapist, and ruminating on how this event inspired her to train. "Bad things happen. Things you can't control," she says in narration. "And they will destroy you if you let them. Or you can try to learn from them so that next time, you'll be prepared."
The show will probably skip this unknown Kate Bishop origin for several reasons. It has become somewhat of a trope in Marvel Comics for female superheroes to fight crime solely because of their experience with assault. It decentralizes Kate's agency in this case, so it might be easier to skip this risky origin. Kate Bishop has also never brought this encounter up in her best-written stories; she isn't known at all for this neglected experience. It could be difficult for Marvel Studios to introduce a funny, lighthearted, and witty comic book character amidst a forgotten and tragic backstory.
Of course, the MCU could also potentially dive deeper into Kate's assault than the comics did, tying themes supporting victims of sexual assault into the story. The MCU has strayed from the comics and turned minor details into massive plot points. For example, Thanos never needs to snap in the comics when he uses the Infinity Gauntlet. There is absolutely no toll when it comes to the Gauntlet in the comics aside from it not working in different universes. The MCU changed this, so Thanos has to snap or make a fist to use the power of the Gauntlet. Writers probably thought he would be too overpowered.
Maybe if the show adapts Kate's assault story with more depth, it can create a new, emotional backstory for her. But the possibility of this is low, especially with a Disney+ show that will end up being TV-14. Whatever the case, the MCU seldom fails critically or financially. More analytical audiences state that the MCU is "formulaic," but if a formula usually works, they can't blame Marvel Studios for keeping it. Despite the overall divisiveness, Hawkeye looks like it's going to be a fun show and has several Young Avengers fans excited for the live-action debut of Kate Bishop.
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September 26, 2021 at 01:31AM
