Pre-Avengers #16 Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver Appearances

Prior to their debut as members of the Avengers in Avengers #16, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver all appeared as antagonists or morally ambiguous characters in other Marvel titles.

Hawkeye Appearances Before Avengers #16

Comic Issue	Year	Hawkeye’s Role	Antagonists / Allies He Worked With	Opponent / Protagonist
Tales of Suspense #57	1964	First appearance; misunderstood antagonist	Briefly manipulated by Black Widow	Iron Man
Tales of Suspense #60	1964	Wanted fugitive / antagonist	Black Widow and Communist spies	Iron Man
Tales of Suspense #64	1965	Reluctant criminal ally of Black Widow	Black Widow	Iron Man

Notes on Hawkeye

Hawkeye’s early appearances portrayed Clint Barton as impulsive and easily manipulated, especially by Black Widow. Although not truly evil, he repeatedly found himself opposing Iron Man because authorities and the public viewed him as a criminal. These stories laid the groundwork for his redemption arc in Avengers #16.

 

 

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver Appearances Before Avengers #16

 

Comic Issue	Year	Role	Antagonists / Allies They Worked With	Opponent / Protagonist
X-Men #4	1964	First appearance	Magneto, Toad, Mastermind, Brotherhood of Evil Mutants	X-Men
X-Men #5	1964	Members of Brotherhood	Magneto, Toad, Mastermind	X-Men
X-Men #6	1964	Members of Brotherhood	Magneto and Namor alliance	X-Men
X-Men #7	1964	Members of Brotherhood	Magneto, Blob, Brotherhood	X-Men
Strange Tales #128	1965	Seek to join the Fantastic Four	None	Human Torch and the Thing
X-Men #11	1965	Final Brotherhood appearance before Avengers #16	Magneto, Stranger (cosmic being appears)	X-Men

 

Unlike Magneto or Mastermind, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were portrayed sympathetically almost from the beginning. In their first appearance, it was explained that Magneto had rescued them from an angry mob in Europe, leaving the twins feeling indebted to him despite their discomfort with his methods. Quicksilver frequently argued with Magneto, while Scarlet Witch often appeared frightened by the Brotherhood’s brutality.

Even before X-Men #11, when they left the Brotherhood, the twins were openly disillusioned with Magneto. In Strange Tales #128, they tried contacting the Fantastic Four with the idea of leaving Magneto.  However, they ended up fighting the Human Torch and the Thing. Frustrated, they returned to the Brotherhood.  When Magneto was defeated and apparently lost in space by the Stranger, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver finally left the Brotherhood. That departure directly set up their recruitment into the Avengers by Captain America in Avengers #16.

Complete Pre-Avengers #16 Appearance Totals

Hawkeye

• • Tales of Suspense #57
  • Tales of Suspense #60
  • Tales of Suspense #64

Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver

• • X-Men #4
  • X-Men #5
  • X-Men #6
  • X-Men #7
  • Strange Tales #128
  • X-Men #11

Together, these appearances created one of Marvel’s earliest and strongest redemption narratives: three former antagonists earning a second chance as heroes under Captain America’s leadership when they joined the Avengers.

 

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