The Measure of a Man!

Upset over the Scarlet Witch’s romance with the Vision, Hawkeye tries to blow some steam in the Avengers training room. This is observed by Thor, who notes Clint’s behavior and hopes that this doesn’t drive the Avengers apart.

Meanwhile, in California, an armored limousine crashes past the security gate at the airport in order to intercept a commercial airliner. The plane cannot stop in time and is on a collision with the limo. That’s when its passenger, a nine-foot-tall man named Champion stops the plane dead in its track.[1] When the authorities arrive, they allow Champion to go without incident since he had a ticket for the flight and, as one of the world’s richest men, owns the airline company.

Back on the east coast, Iron Man is happy to see that the Scarlet Witch and Vision are finally together. When he raises concern about her desire to find her missing brother, Wanda says that her love of Vision does not diminish her devotion to her brother and vows to find him.[2][3] Overhearing this, Hawkeye is even more upset and storms off into his room. There he decides that enough is enough and, putting on his original costume, decides that it is time for him to leave the Avengers.[4] Once outside the mansion, Hawkeye admits to himself that he is really upset over all the times he has been rejected by the Black Widow, which stings now that she is with Daredevil in San Francisco.[5]

On the street, Hawkeye is approached by Champion who explains that he has sought to hire him for archery lessons. At first, he refuses but changes his mind when Champion offers to donate a million dollars to charity.[6] Soon the pair are on a flight back to the west coast and soon arrive at Champion’s private retreat. While Hawkeye has no interest in writing to his former teammates to tell them where he went, Champion forges his handwriting and sends a letter on his behalf. When the Avengers receive “Clint’s” letter, they are relieved that he has apparently gotten over the Scarlet Witch, although Wanda is suspicious of the letter.

Over the next few weeks, Hawkeye begins training Champion until he has taught the giant everything he knows. Boasting that he has now mastered every human skill imaginable, Champion puts on a garish costume and openly tells Hawkeye about his plan to recover some nerve gas that was last at sea back in 1942. However, the sunken vessel is in American waters, and in order to make it international waters, he plans on detonating a bomb along the San Andreas Fault to send the entire state of California into the ocean. When Hawkeye attempts to stop Champion, he is quickly overpowered. When trying to escape, he ends up getting captured by Champion and his hired minions.

Meanwhile, back in New York, the Scarlet Witch suddenly gets out of bed and calls an urgent meeting with her fellow Avengers. She has finally realized what was so off about Clint’s letter to them and it is the fact that he signed it under his code name instead of his real name. Racing to California, the Avengers find Hawkeye tried to a bomb that Champion has set up on the San Andreas Fault line. While the Avengers deal with Champion and his guards, the Vision fees Hawkeye. When Champion prepares to fire an arrow at the bomb, Hawkeye manages to spoil his shot by shooting first. His superior archery skill allows Hawkeye to sever Champion’s bowstring. In the aftermath of the battle, Hawkeye appreciates the save but refuses to rejoin the Avengers having decided to make a name for himself on his own.[7]

Recurring Characters

Avengers (Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, the Vision), Imus Champion

Continuity Notes

1. Champion’s full name is not revealed here. his first name is identified as Imus in Avengers/Squadron Supreme Annual 1998.

2. Pietro went missing during the Avengers battle with the Sentinels in Avengers #104. He was rescued by Crystal of the Inhumans in Fantastic Four #131. The Avengers will learn of his fate in Avengers #110.

3. Also brought up is how the Vision was immune to Loreli’s song in Avengers #105.

4. Hawkeye abandons the ridiculous skirted costume he started wearing in Avengers #98 in favor of his original costume which he wore from Tales of Suspense #57 until Avengers #63 when he became Goliath.

5. Hawkeye and the Black Widow have had an on-again-off-again relationship starting in Tales of Suspense #57. It was always interrupted by some outside influence. First, she was kidnapped by her communist handlers, prompting Hawkeye to join the Avengers in Avengers #16. Later, after being freed from her brainwashing, opted to join SHIELD in Avengers #38. Finally, she left him for good in Avengers #86. More recently, she became partners with Daredevil in Daredevil #81.

6. At first, Hawkeye sarcastically recommends Champion seek out Luke Cage. At the time of this story, Cage had just recently started up his Heros for Hire business. See Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #1.

7. Although Hawkeye quits the Avengers here, it is not for long as he will rejoin the team in Giant-Size Avengers #2.

Topical References

• Dated pop-culture references: Steve Reeves, Flash Gordon (via reference to Doctor Zarkov)

• Champion’s plot is based on an outdated maritime law that states that international waters are roughly 3 miles off the shore of a given country. This was probably based on the laws as they were when first put in place in 1958. These laws have changed in 1982 and are vastly more complicated than the old three-mile rule. One could assume that Champion is either ignorant of the law (which would make sense since I don’t think dumping California into the ocean would negate it anyway) or (more likely) very, very insane.