Ronin Marvel’s New Wildcard Slot?
First, there was Ronin, a shadowy member of Bendis’ original New Avengers line-up, tasked with keeping watch over Japan’s criminal underworld.
Despite all masculine appearances, however, Ronin was really Echo, the deaf assassin introduced in the pages of Daredevil.
Immediately after Civil War, however, Echo was killed - by Daredevil’s own ex-girlfriend Elecktra, now leader of the Hand. Echo was resurrected and intended for brainwashing by the Hand, only to be promptly rescued by the new New Avengers - among them another Ronin!
Well, the cat’s out of the bag - this new Ronin is none other than Clint Barton aka Hawkeye. Killed in Avengers Disassembled, brought back in House of M and re-focused after the death of 
Captain America, Clint’s return as Ronin as one of ‘em we should have seen coming.
But I can’t see Clint Barton staying in the role of ninja warrior long - it just doesn’t seem like Hawkeye. Granted, there are more practical reasons for this identity - namely, Kate Bishop took over the name Hawkeye in Young Avengers. The two met during an issue of Fallen Son, leaving Clint cut between two secret identities - there’s already a Hawkeye and he refuses to take up the mantle of Captain America.
For some reason, Marvel stumbles in places DC has absolutely no trouble. Why can’t there be two Hawkeyes? No one is going to confuse teenage girl Kate for probably pushing forty Clint. I am all but certain Clint Barton will end up back in the archer costume, one way or the other, and I am all but certain we’ll see yet another mystery Ronin within a year or two.
November 23rd, 2009 at 8:55 am
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.