Somehow, Cyclops vs Hawkeye Marks Clint Barton's Best (and Worst) Moment All at Once

Hawkeye is honestly one of - if not the - most impressive Avengers in the team’s history, as he’s fighting side-by-side with super-soldiers, cosmic powerhouses, and even literal gods, and all he brings to the table is a bow and arrow. That shouldn’t suggest that he’s undeserving of his Avengers title - far from it. If anything, Hawkeye deserves to be a member of the Avengers more than anyone, as he can tangle with the best of them, including Cyclops. In fact, their battle stands as Hawkeye’s best and worst moment, and highlights why he’s such an impressive Avenger.

In Avengers vs X-Men #11 by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel, Cyclops has become the most powerful he’s ever been or ever would be, as he’s fully consumed by the power of the Phoenix Force. The Avengers went to war with the X-Men trying to prevent the Phoenix from returning to Earth and using Hope Summers as its vessel. But now, Cyclops has become the Phoenix’s host, so the Avengers - and the X-Men - are at war with him, and him alone.

When Professor X and Doctor Strange use their combined might of telepathic powers and god-tier magic to lock Cyclops in his own mind while simultaneously freezing his body in place, Scott Summers gets surrounded by the Avengers and the X-Men alike. And, who is right on the front line, mere feet away from arguably the most powerful being in the universe? That’s right, Hawkeye.

Hawkeye is Both Very Brave & Very Stupid for Challenging a Phoenix-Powered Cyclops

Hawkeye Does More than Just Challenge Cyclops, He Actually Tries to Kill Him

One of the world’s most powerful telepaths - along with the added help of the Sorcerer Supreme himself, Doctor Strange - could only hold Cyclops for about twenty seconds before he used his immense Phoenix power to free himself. Yet Hawkeye decides to position himself right in front, somehow thinking that it would be a good idea to take aim at this god-tier foe up close and personal. There’s probably a less than one percent chance he’d actually take down the Phoenix-powered Cyclops, but that’s good enough for Clint.

Haweye even doubles-down on this weird mixture of bravery and stupidity, as a few pages later, he actually fires an arrow at Cyclops. It’s one thing to posture in the front row, taking aim without actually considering using a literal arrow against a cosmic god as if it could do anything. Maybe then something like the Phoenix wouldn’t obliterate that person with a thought, since they were never a threat to begin with. But, Hawkeye actually lets his arrow fly, and just as he should have assumed, it has no effect. Brave? Yes. Stupid? Definitely.

Hawkeye’s ‘Battle’ Against Cyclops is Indicative of His Entire Avengers Career

Hawkeye Never Hesitates to Charge Into Battle, No Matter How Hopeless

Hawkeye bringing a stick to a 'god fight' may seem dumb (to be clear, it was dumb), but that’s just who Hawkeye is. Clint Barton always just shows up with his bow and arrows to fight alongside super-soldiers and gods, taking on any threat that the Avengers might be facing. If he didn’t face every foe the way he faced Cyclops in Avengers vs X-Men, then he might as well retire from the Avengers, as his ‘battle’ against Cyclops is, indeed, indicative of his entire Avengers career.

Hawkeye is a member of the Avengers, whether they’re fighting the Swordsman or the Phoenix, so he’s going to show up either way - and when he’s there, he’s there to fight. Was it stupid of him to stand mere feet away from a being stronger than most cosmic gods with nothing more than a bow and arrow? Absolutely. But, it was also brave, as it proved that Hawkeye will always fight alongside the Avengers no matter who they're facing - Phoenix-powered Cyclops or otherwise (but, maybe next time he should shoot at the cosmic god from a distance, just in case).