In Disney+’s Hawkeye series pokes fun at some of the absurd trick arrows Clint has in his quiver, including the plunger arrow and the putty arrow, which Kate Bishop jokingly dubs the "Play-Doh arrow." However, his weirdest trick arrow appears in the pages of Secret Avengers #21.1 by Rick Remender, Patrick Zircher, Andy Troy, and Dave Lanphear.
The Secret Avengers are a black-ops team led by Captain Steve Rogers when he takes over Norman Osborn's position as head of American national security following Civil War. This team includes such as Black Widow, Moon Knight, Sharon Carter, and Ant-Man. One of their major adversaries is Max Fury, a rogue Life-Model Decoy (LMD) of Nick Fury and member of the Shadow Council. Following a covert mission in the nation of Bagalia and a strange yet impressive rescue using a rocket arrow, Steve believes Hawkeye is ready to lead the Secret Avengers.
When Steve is captured by Max Fury and his Masters of Evil in Secret Avengers #21.1, Hawkeye swoops in for a triumphant rescue. Disguised as one of Max’s guards, Clint takes out every member of the Masters of Evil with his arrows, until he has one last arrow, pointed directly at Max’s head. Max taunts Hawkeye and says, “Last arrow. Go ahead. But you won’t get out of here alive.” Clint responds, “Avengers don’t kill” as he fires his final arrow, somehow snapping the enchanted chains restraining Cap. But it doesn’t stop there. The arrow, with a wire attached to his bow, proceeds to fly out the window and launches a miniature rocket that carries both Clint and Steve up above the city and towards the Quinjet.
Grappling arrows are not unusual for Hawkeye’s quick escapes. But a rocket arrow? That’s a whole new level of ridiculous. This arrow can not only fly but has the capacity to withstand the weight of both a full-grown man and a super soldier, propelling them over a hundred feet in the air. Known for being one of the more practical Avengers, it seems unusual that Hawkeye would use such an inefficient means of travel. The rocket arrow never graces the pages of a comic book after this instance, proving that even Marvel comics doesn’t think this arrow is worthy of Hawkeye. It seems that not every Avenger was meant to fly.
The Hawkeye series on Disney+ gives many fans a newfound respect for the character, as he demonstrates his proficiency as an archer, a hero, and a mentor. After facing off against comic-book foes such as the Tracksuit Mafia and Kingpin, fans speculate what other tricks the archer has in his quiver. From revealing the comic-inspired Pym arrows to training Kate Bishop to become a Young Avenger, things are looking up for Hawkeye. However, it’s unlikely that his rocket arrows will fly in the MCU anytime soon.
