Comicology Face-Off! The Emerald Archer VS The Other Guy in Purple!

Oliver Queen VS Clint Barton! Green Arrow VS Hawkeye! Moustachioed Robin Hood Look-Alike VS Douchebag in Purple with an Inferiority Complex! This is a matchup we see all the time, and why not? These guys are practically perfectly matched… or are they?

Here at Comicology, we’ll examine different facets of their existence to see how they measure up with each other.

Both archers are are the best in their respective universes- unparalleled, unrivalled, unmatched! Both used employ trick arrows, but now are done with that bullshit and have moved on to adding traditional arrows to their already impressive arsenal. This way, they both leave a good ole’ fashioned hole in the body.

They were both trained to the highest degree of combat, have faced great odds, and both have come out of it alive (well, most of the time).

But now, the time for words has long since passed. Now is the time for ASSKICKERY!

Costume

Okay, these two fuckers have the two of the most ridiculous costumes I’ve ever seen in comicdom. One has a feather cap or a hood or something, and the other used to have a skirt. But no matter how bad their costumes got, they were still able to look fucken’ awesome at what they do.

I guess it’s because of those really phallic, long, wooden weapons they carry around.

But yeah, the costumes have gotten more awesome. Clint is now in the Ronin costume and Green Arrow is now… well, okay, his hasn’t improved at all. So, I think Clint wins this one. But wait! Green is less gay than purple! It’s a TIE!

Sidekicks

Clint Barton doesn’t exactly have a sidekick, although he does have a successor of sorts- Kate Bishop. He’s got one. Ollie, on the other hand, has three! Green Arrow ripped Bats’ idea of raising a ward to be the a teenage crimefighter, too, because he doesn’t care of the welfare of kids, apparently. He’s got Speedy (aka Arsenal, Red Arrow, a JLA member now) and the other Green Arrow, Connor Hawke, and that girl whose name escapes me at the moment- Mia, I think- the AIDS girl.

Red Arrow used to be a junkie, but he got over that and he bacame Arsenal (a name I think that suits him better), and is now in the Justice League of America! Now, that’s saying something! Yeah, even though about 85% of their heroes were involved with that team at one point or another, that’s still saying something.

But Kate Bishop is a member of the Young Avengers and is totally hot. But that’s Red Arrow, young Green Arrow and AIDS druggie Mia Arrow vs one Kate Bishop. Green Arrow wins this one.

Hand-to-hand Combat

Neither of them are the greatest fighters, but they aren’t slouches in that department either. Green Arrow has taken on Batman and he lost, but he didn’t do too bad. Hawkeye has taken on Captain America and he lost, too, but didn’t do too bad either.

Hawkeye, however, was trained by Captain America. In the good Captain’s own words- "When I’m done with you, you’ll be known least for your skills with a bow and arrow." And so, they trained. This is how he got his mad hand-to-hand skillz. He’s even going as Ronin now, the awesome ninja. Even Luke Cage and Iron Fist are impressed with his fighting expertise.

Now, I wish I could say that Green Arrow was trained by Batman, but he just wasn’t. Sure, they’ve probably exchanged notes and Ollie’s probably studied the Bat, but he wasn’t given the training Nightwing or Robin received. Greenie even hates Bats just a little.

So, this round goes to Hawkeye.

Resources and Arsenal

They both use tons of arrows and devices. I’m sure those things cost money. What exactly are these toys and where do they get them?

Oliver Queen was born with a silver spoon in his political banter-spewing mouth. This would’ve made him easy to come up with the weaponry he needed. However, he lost his fortune along the line, and slowly regained what he’d lost but definitely not to the same degree. Here’s the thing, though, he used to be a member of the Justice League of America, which is funded by Wayne Industries and the Government (sort of).

Hawkeye wasn’t born rich, or was he ever rich. Hell, the dude was a fucken’ carnie, trained by a dude named Swordsman. He had to make his own arrows by killing trees. It wasn’t easy, of course, until he joined the Avengers, which was funded by Stark Enterprises and the Government (sort of).

Interestingly enough, both Hawkeye and Green Arrow were the token humans with no special powers in their respective teams. It’s like being the black guy with the one liners in every teen movie.

As for tech, neither of them are super geniuses, but they did have a lot of help. Ollie had Batman, Mr. Terrific, and just about every genius who got into the Justice League. Clint had Vision, Iron Man, Pym and just about every genius to get into the Avengers.

Here’s a list of their equipment.

Green Arrow’s got the Boxing Glove arrow, a Buzzsaw arrow, a Fountainpen arrow, a Kryptonite arrow and an Atomic Warhead arrow. Fuck yes.

Hawkeye’s got Adamantium arrows, Blast arrows, Pym Particle arrows, Vibranium arrows, just like Cap’s sheild. 

I’d say this is a TIE!

Women

Ollie and Clint have both been known to be the ultimate playboys.

Green Arrow is married to the current field leader of the Justice League of America, Black Canary- definitely one of the hottest and toughest women in the DC Universe.

And Hawkeye… well, who in the Marvel Universe hasn’t he banged? Let’s list them- Scarlet Witch, most recently, Echo, Moonstone, Black Widow, Mockingbird, etc. etc. etc.

So, we’ve got a case of quality VS quantity here. I say, it’s another TIE! So far, Hawkeye’s got the advantage.

Facial Hair

Hawkeye’s got none, and Green Arrow has one of the most recognizable face beavers this side of the galaxy. Ollie wins one! Okay, that doesn’t count.

So, this is fairly conclusive, isn’t it? It’s a TIE! Both are master archers. Both are great heroes. Hawkeye and Green Arrow are truly assets to their respective universes. Now, if only they’d bring Hawkeye BACK!

Also, I found this Hawkeye/ Green Arrow tribute on youtube, courtesy of cdowg187.