WhenAvengers : Age Of Ultroncame out in 2015 , " Clintasha "   fans were disappointed   when film director Joss Whedon decided to pairBlack Widowwith   a romantic partner   who wasn’tHawkeye . After all ,   the two fictitious character shared a lot of   alchemy on screen when they first interacted in the originalAvengersmovie . Age Of Ultron , however , also introduced Clint Barton ’s married woman Laura , and their child , as the story went on .

In the comics , the   two are on - again - off - again lovers ,   with their romance lasting for over 50 twelvemonth . Throughout   this time , plenty   of effect have occurred to make for the superheroes together . However , some of these occurrences   have   also   pushed them further apart . Their fondness for each other   marked   the first   prison term that they were close   with anyone   in the comics , predating   other relationships that   the two had later in legion run . Both Black Widow and Hawkeye are determine by their pain , and both found consolation in one another during dreaded circumstances . When   their back   are against the wall   and they ’re fighting off swarms of foeman , they know that they can both calculate on one another .

update on   January   19th , 2022 by Amanda Bruce : While Marvel Cinematic Universe fans might not get to see a romantic relationship diddle out between Black Widow and Hawkeye on the big cover , there ’s a mickle more to this pair than simply romance . They ’re frequent delegacy collaborator , Avengers teammates , and even , sometimes , enemies in Marvel comedian . They have a lot of like accomplishment which earmark them to exercise well together , but they also have very different philosophies when it comes to being a poor boy .

Ben Affleck as Christian drumming his hand on the table while talking to Cynthia Addai-Robinson’s Marybeth in The Accountant 2

BLACK WIDOW AND HAWKEYE REGULARLY LEAVE THE AVENGERS BEHIND

Though MCU devotee best know them as S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who became appendage of the Avengers , they do n’t pass all of their metre with either squad . In fact , both characters tend to go rogue on a reasonably regular basis . Sometimes , Hawkeye walks away because he just wants a rift , while other times , he end up mentoring Modern heroes , like members of the Thunderbolts or Kate Bishop .

For her part , Black Widow oftentimes detect herself pulled back into her past tense . She tends to take on missions alone when they involve the Red Room or erstwhile targets . They both sympathize the need for solo assignments , but back each other up when the post calls for it .

THEY HAVE THE SAME MCU S.H.I.E.L.D. CLEARANCE LEVEL

While clearance levels and rankings fluctuate quite a routine in the comics , the same is n’t true of what fans see in the MCU . Clearance levels grade from consultants ( or a nonexistent Level ) for the spy organisation to the director ( layer 10 ) .

Because both Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton frequently mold with Phil Coulson as their field commanding officer , a item revealed in thefirst time of year ofAgents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. , they are both rank at Level 7 , the same as Agent Coulson , before the fall of S.H.I.E.L.D. According to the television series , that would indicate they have a high enough clearance level to know Coulson is brought back to life after the result of theAvengersmovie , but with the movies and TV weapon system of the MCU originally kept separate , that ’s never addressed .

THE MCU INITIALLY INTENDED TO EXPLORE THEIR FRIENDSHIP FURTHER

WhenIron Man 2was in development , hearsay persisted that both Black Widow and Hawkeye were meant to appear in the film , with multipleMarvel seed reaching out to unlike vent . Ultimately , Hawkeye did n’t make the cut , though he did have a cameo inThoras his MCU debut .

rumor also persisted that Hawkeye was do to seem on the run with Black Widow inCaptain America : The Winter Soldier . Instead , it was Falcon who was bring in to the MCU there . If the original rumored architectural plan had go through , the audience would have been capable to see a morsel more of their friendly relationship .

THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS REPLACED IN THE MOVIES

It ’s pretty unusual that director Joss Whedon   resolve to match Bruce Banner and Black Widow together inAvengers : Age of Ultron , particularly considering the other characters that Black Widow has been with in the comedian . What ’s even unusual , however , for long - clock time fans is that   Hulk and Black Widow   never got together in the comic .

Whedonis on record that he did n’t wish the fact that Hawkeye and Black Widow could n’t have a relationship   without it get romanticist . rather , he paired both Captain America and Hawkeye off with different collaborator , while Black Widow got together with the Hulk . “ We do n’t right away read the comics to the films , ” said directorJoe Russo . “ Why go see the motion picture when you be intimate how it ’s going to end ? ”

NEITHER HAVE REAL SUPERPOWERS

While most Marvel Italian sandwich are fix by their mutant powers or are the results of experiment , Clint Barton maturate biting over the fact that Iron Man is just a normal person assisted by a bunch of gamy - technical school gadgets . Convinced that he can do on the button what Tony Stark can , he tailors a purple costume that would make any Grimace cosplayer covetous and   bring   specially - fitted crown to his weapon .

Black Widow   had some solid education in Russia ’s Red Room programmed , but she is also outfit with an armoury of gamey - technical school   gizmo and wrist - mounted energy chargeman . Her life has been prolonged thanks to experimentation in the comic , but she ’s not a super - soldier on the same level as Captain America or Hulk . Both Hawkeye and Black Widoware effective when it comes to performing soldierlike artistic creation and taking out baddie , but they lack anything that makes them necessarily " super . "

THEY’VE BOTH DATED SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE

Natasha has dated several characters in the comics . Most notably , Natasha has been attached to Winter Soldier ,   Captain America , Daredevil , and Hercules . Hawkeye has also dated his fair share of characters , though some relationship have been harder for him than others .

For lesson , Hawkeye go away the Avengers in a fit of green-eyed monster after Scarlet Witch dumped him for Vision . However , in theUltimatesuniverse , he ’s married to a adult female named Laura and has three children , which is what invigorate his MCU family . During theHawkeyemini - series , he teams up with Mockingbird , and the duo are eventually espouse inHawkeye # 4 . Their relationship is further developed inWest Coast Avengers , leading up to her death   inAvengers # 100 .

THEY WERE ALMOST MARRIED

Natasha was previously wed to Alexei Shostakov before she desert to the U.S. This happened whenthe Red Guardian faked his own passingto become a spy for baleful purposes .   In theUltimatesuniverse , she   allures Tony Stark inThe Ultimates Vol . 2 # 4 .

She also dated Hawkeye for while .   The two   were actually engaged for a time before she   broke up with him to follow a   career   as a vigilance man . The love matter has been an on and off again publication with Marvel fans , though it has never been explore in the MCU .

THEY ARE OKAY WITH BEING PLATONIC

During a personal Old World chat with Mockingbird , Clint   refer his work relationship with Black Widow inSecret Avengers # 3,saying,“Exes or not , we can work together . We ’re professional . ”DuringTales of Suspense # 100 - 104 , formerBlack Widow exes Hawkeye and Winter Soldierteam up with Black Widow to rid the world of a bunch of Natasha clones , create a pal dynamic between the three despite the old wild-eyed tension .

The platonic human relationship is emphasise in the MCU , where Clint has a house and Natasha is smitten with Bruce Banner . In the MCU , Clint and Natasha are super tight friends .

THEY BOTH HAVE LENGTHY CRIMINAL HISTORIES

Natasha used to be a KGB agent and was a soldier for her country , where she committed numerous unforgivable act .   Similar to how Bucky Barnes was forgive inCaptain America : Civil War , Black Widow   has also admitted to being falsify . However , this does n’t stop her from charge more evil deed .   Hawkeye and Black Widow were later on win over by Agent Coulson to conform S.H.I.E.L.D. computer memory implant by using their“lengthy outlaw records”against them inSecret Avengers # 1 .   In theUltimatesuniverse , their paths   get even   darker ; Natasha aid the Liberators in invading   the U.S.   and Clint rotting in prison during the beginning of the series .

HAWKEYE’S ATTACKS AREN’T FATAL, BUT BLACK WIDOW’S ARE

Hawkeye   was a normal military personnel who was invigorate by superheroes and was disgruntle by capitalist society . When Clint refused to serve S.H.I.E.L.D. duringSecret Avengers # 5 , Nick Fury retorts that he   has already taken out   several enemy soldier . Clint then responded that war fighting   was not the same thing as performing jobs of villainous nature .

“ First thing it enounce on my date visibility - I do n’t [ take the lives of others],”Hawkeye said inSecret Avengers # 5 . This was all changed inThe Ultimates , however , where Hawkeye   hit Black Widow with an arrow between her eyes for betraying the Avengers and taking out   his family . While , for the most part , Clint decline to take the life of others , Black Widow does not   follow the same codification .

DIFFERENT PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN ON THEIR MANTLES

Prior to Black Widow ’s introduction in 1964 , there was another character who used the arachnid statute title . However , this character ’s   real identity was Claire Voyant . Claire had nothing to do with the KGB , though - she was a diabolist with a flare for spiritism . There were also other characters who took up the mantel . After   Natasha joined S.H.I.E.L.D.,Yelena Belova became the second Black Widowin her absence seizure .

One of Hawkeye ’s successors , Kate Bishop , was part of the Young Avengers and   became Hawkeye while   Clint was Ronin . During this time ,   he crusade her to her genial and moral limits . Clint also slip the Goliath serum from Hank Pym and adapt his powers in an effort to deliver Black Widow . He used the moniker untilAvengers # 109 ,   when he return to roots .

THEY SHARE TRAGIC BACKSTORIES

Born in Russia , Black Widow ’s parents perished   when enemy   torched   her home . Natasha was shortly recruited by the KGB as an secret agent . During this time , she civilize as a   undercover agent   and was often utilize   by the group to further   their goals . However , in other tellings , Black Widow has been impersonate   as an orphanwho was rear by   Ivan Petrovich . Ivan brainwash her into becoming a Soviet spy .

Meanwhile , inHawkeye : Blindspot , Clint ’s Church Father is scurrilous . After his parents perished   in an accident , Swordsman take Clint and his comrade on as his proteges . After Swordman proves himself as a ne’er do well , Hawkeye   takes out the criminal with simpleness . Hawkeye , however , is framed . “I never intended to be an outcast or an enemy of society,”Clint pleads inAvengers # 16 .

THEY BOTH HAVE S.H.I.E.L.D. MEMORY IMPLANTS

While meeting with Agent Coulson about doing some free lance oeuvre for S.H.I.E.L.D. , Hawkeye and Black Widow are before long duped into sacrifice their minds for the organization .    Coulson shakes their hands and divulge his later motives , gesticulate to a ring that he ’s wearing inSecret Avengers # 1 .

“ When we excite hands , a watercourse of nanoparticles implant themselves in your skin,”he says .   He later on goes on to say that,“the remote applied science we ’ll employ to master your memory implants is online and ready . ”Later , S.H.I.E.L.D. frontman Nick Fury   believes that numerous mission are too tender and   thus settle to erase them from Black Widow and Hawkeye ’s minds , wipe their consciences clean .   Clint is opposed to his mind being meddled with ( just like in the originalAvengersmovie ) , but Natasha accepts it .

THEY WANTED TO TAKE DOWN IRON MAN IN THE EARLY DAYS

When   Black Widow and Hawkeye first meet , Natasha claimed that“the famous Iron Man is a mortal enemy of mine . Any man who could defeat him would be a man I could learn to love,”inTales of Suspense # 57 . Hawkeye directly bested Iron Man by firing   sucking pointer line with a rusting agentive role at the hero sandwich ,   which caused Tony Stark to throw off his armour .

Iron Man later gets his revenge , though . Hawkeye seek a final shooter with a makeshift turkey pointer ,   but it deflects off of Iron Man ’s armor and injure Black Widow ,   who is nearly obliterated . Later , they assay to get retaliation , kidnap Happy and Pepper Potts   for entice Iron Man into a trap .

SHE DEFECTED FROM THE USSR FOR HIM

After break to get free of   Iron Man for the USSR , Black Widow is take behind the Iron Curtain to be punish for her failures . She attempt to defect , but her parent are used as purchase . Similar to Winter Soldier get his head teacher scrambled , Black Widow is also brainwash into battling the Avengers .

However , after spotting Clint , she   is able-bodied to use her worked up connection to Hawkeye to prevent the   mind control . She then joins the Avengers and defects   to the   U.S.

BLACK WIDOW IS MORE PRAGMATIC

After hear that they both have S.H.I.E.L.D. retentiveness chips plant in their heads   inSecret Avengers # 5 , Hawkeye asks Black Widow why she would go along with it . She replies,“I harbour no magic trick for who I do things for . They ’ve never hesitated to ask for our body , our minds . What kind of fool would I be to believe they ’d be have-to doe with for my mind ? ”

Hawkeye does n’t wish this answer , and Black Widow waves him away , claiming that the next day he ’ll forget everything anyway . This is a cold and callous solution from someone   who stand out at detach her tactual sensation from assignments . During this time , the   two are triggered by a specific codeword to block everything that they do . This brainwash them into thinking that they are occupying themselves with body process during their missions . Hawkeye eventually relinquish the squad , and the memory devices are presently destroy . However , after this ,   Clint inevitably yield .

THEY WERE BOTH ORIGINALLY VILLAINS

Before his career as a superhero , Hawkeye works at Coney Island , showing off his marksmanship . At one point , a pinwheel attraction   travel   haywire and Iron Man arrives on the scene , saving   the rider . This make Clint super jealous . envious of Iron Man ’s esthetic , Hawkeye   decide to make   a purple costume . He also fits his arrows with specialty tip , claim that,“Hawkeye is about to make them all calculate sick , ” inTales of Suspense # 57 .

After Black Widow in the beginning come out as someone who wedge Clint to do her bidding , she returns in a confutable costume inTales Of Suspense # 64- her masquerade resembles Hawkeye ’s violet one as a emblematic style of professing love to the marksman .

THEY ARE BOTH EXPERT MARKSMEN

Clint , like DC ’s Green Arrow , is introduced as a man   who has remarkable truth . To prove his Charles Frederick Worth inAvengers # 16 , he at the same time triggers three arrows and frees Jarvis from his restrictive bondage . He does this to turn up that he could be a useful member of the group .

In the MCU , Clint often gas about   his inability to miss a shot .   While he seems to make good on   this claim , Loki end up seizing   one of Hawkeye ’s   arrows that is aimed at his   head inAvengers . When Hawkeye is search for Black Widow inTales of Suspense # 100,he is fired at and claims that Black Widow would never miss . Because of her espionage training , she often hits her objective as well . The MCU edition of her is shown in Red Room target practice as a adolescent , always hitting her target .

THEY WERE INTRODUCED IN THE SAME SERIES

Black Widow made her debut inTales Of Suspense # 52 , where she served as a spy . Writers portray her as a counterpart to the anti - USSR storylines of Iron Man , counterpoint his capitalist aspect . Hawkeye was a circus entertainer inTales of Suspense # 57 . Down on his luck , Black Widow   meets Hawkeye   and shows   off   her machine , immediately capturing his meat .

In fact , Clint describes Natasha as“one of the most beautiful women in the world … the daring , dazzling , severe Black Widow!”Their affair lasted for seven more exit of the serial publication before Hawkeye became an on - again - off - again member of the Avengers in#16 .

THEY HAVE A HABIT OF SAVING EACH OTHER

Despite the fact that they ’re typically able to rescue one another in the movies   ( Clint ’s deprogramming from the mental influence of villain Loki , for instance ) , the two have had their bonny share of tightlipped calls in the comic Word .   In particular , Natasha helped Clint at the first ofSecret Avengers , tearing off the tendrils of a squid that was invading the Sagittarius .

Throughout theAvengers Assembledcartoon serial , Black Widow is usually the one who save Hawkeye while they are   take in duet - quarrels .   Sometimes   Hawkeye attempts to return the favor , but   in most cases , Black Widow usually rescue herself . In Hawkeye ’s first run withTales of Suspense , he carries Black Widow to guard after she gets catch by pieces of a demolition warhead pointer that Clint force out while fighting Iron Man .

ACTOR JEREMY RENNER HAS A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH BLACK WIDOW

fit in to theLA Times , Hawkeye actor Jeremy Renner   has put forward that   a cardinal view of his reference is his human relationship with Black Widow , who is present by Scarlett Johansson . “ The stuffy matter I could really link up to was Scarlett ’s persona , Black Widow because they have a history , ” Renner said .

alas , Renner has also   diss the character ’s sleeping around onConan , which have a tidy sum of controversy . He by and by announced a public apology , claiming ,   “ I am sorry that this tasteless trick about a fictional persona offended anyone . ” Renner also say in a argument toEWthat , “ It was not meant to be serious in any way of life . [ I was ] just poking fun during an wearing and irksome press tour . ”

SCARLETT JOHANSSON PICKED OUT NATASHA’S ARROW NECKLACE AS A NOD TO HAWKEYE

It ’s pretty obvious that the pointer necklace that Black Widow wears in the MCU is an homage to her crime - fighting partner . Scarlett Johansson sustain as much during a TV audience withRotten Tomatoes . “I recall that may have been my small nod to Mr. Jeremy Renner ’s Hawkeye . I gauge you could interpret it in different ways but we thought it would be nice to have something that was a slight bit personal for the Widow , " Johansson stated .

" You kind of draw a blank , because she ’s such a bada * * , you kind of blank out that she ’s still a woman and that she has her interpersonal relationship in aliveness outside of study , ” she said . The character first wear the necklace inCaptain America : The Winter Soldier , but is find out wearing it again inAvengers : EndgameandBlack Widow .

THEY’RE ONLY TEAMMATES

In theUltimatesuniverse , the   two are often twin in S.H.I.E.L.D. ’s Black Ops part . Similar to the MCU magnetic declination of the characters , they are n’t romantic . alternatively , the two   are strictly platonic . During this clip , Black Widow has a dalliance with Iron Man and Hawkeye maintain a normal relationship with a civilian .

After Hawkeye participate in a projection that strip a rogue nation of its nuclear capabilities , a traitor within the group retaliate by wiping out his family at their home . When he chance out that the attacker is Natasha , he fires an pointer into her without remorse while she ’s at the hospital , efficaciously erasing his “ no dying ” insurance policy .

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A split image depicts Black Widow in the MCU, Hawkeye holding a lifeless Black Widow in Marvel comics, and Hawkeye in the MCU

Black Widow and Hawkeye attend a gala in Marvel Comics

Maria Hill and Phil Coulson on the Helicarrier in The Avengers

Black Widow fighting in Iron Man 2.

Black Widow touches Hulk’s hand in Age of Ultron

Thor, Black Widow, Hawkeye, and Hulk line up for a fight in the animated Avengers series

Clint and Laura Barton in Avengers Age of Ultron MCU

A closeup of Black Widow and Hawkeye face to face in the animated Avengers series

Hawkeye and Black Widow look at each other in Avengers

Hawkeye and Black Widow assemble in Marvel Comics.

Jeremy Renner Hawkeye

Yelena Belova and Kate Bishop stand in an elevator together in the Disney Plus Hawkeye series

Clint cradles a lifeless Natasha in a red wasteland in Marvel comics

Nick Fury and Black Widow talking to Iron Man.

Tony Stark in damaged Iron Man armor

Bucky and Black Widow stand back to back with guns in their hands

Black Widow on the ceiling in Iron Man 2

Black Widow returns to Hawkeye in her black and blue ensemble in Marvel comics

A young Natasha Romanoff takes aim in a Red Room training session flashback in Avengers Age Of Ultron

Black Widow and Hawkeye first meet in Tales of Suspense

Hawkeye and Black Widow fight over the Soul Stone on Vormir in Avengers Endgame

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Natasha wears her arrow necklace in Avengers: Endgame

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