Synopsis / Summary / Plot
At the abandoned Avengers Mansion, a shadowy figure scales the wall and fires an arrow with a signal device into the air. Iron Man comes and the trespasser is revealed to be Clint Barton, the former Hawkeye, who was presumed dead. He wants answers on the death of Captain America. Iron Man responds by knocking him cold. Clint awakens on the SHIELD Helicarrier, his identity confirmed by the most sophisticated testing. Tony shows him Cap’s shield and lets him throw it. Clint’s control enables the shield to return right to his hand without incident; Tony reveals that of 77 SHIELD agent who tried throwing Cap’s shield, 73 are in the hospital and the other four hit Iron Man. Tony offers Clint the opportunity to be the new Captain America. Clint refuses but Tony reminds him he once claimed he could do a better job as Cap than Steve, perhaps he just needed the right identity. Later that night, Patriot and the new Hawkeye defeat the villain Firebrand and Iron Man jets down, placing them under arrest for violating the Superhuman Registration Act. Hawkeye fires an EMP arrow that shuts down Iron Man’s armor so they can make their getaway. They are halted in a nearby alley by Clint, in full Captain America gear. Patriot is offended that someone would claim to be Cap; Clint says it’s no different from becoming “Hawkeye.” She responds that she took the name as a tribute to a fallen hero and she was given Hawkeye’s original bow by Captain America. Patriot argues that they were inspired by their heroes, not pretending to be them. And his shield has to be a copy, “because if it’s not, that’s just…wrong.” When Iron Man shows up, Clint stops him from arresting the two young heroes and accuses him of trying to deal with his grief and guilt over Cap’s death by bargaining it away. Clint returns the shield and promises to mail the costume back. Iron Man threatens to track down Clint if he joins the Secret Avengers, but his words just vanish into the dark….