Hawkeye: Kate’s stepdad Jack Duquesne aka Swordsman is a big Marvel thing

Two episodes from the initial two seasons of Hawkeye are here, and they’re full of cheery Christmas charm. New characters are added to the Disney Plus debut, which is more than festive lights and bells. Not only do viewers get to know the MCU’s Kate Bishop (Hailee Steinfeld) but the opening of the series also brings some of the pair’s most famous foes to light.

And one of them, Jack Duquesne (Tony Dalton) aka Swordsman, has a surprising new role as Kate’s would be stepfather. His comics background is less family-oriented.

[Ed. note: This piece contains spoilers for the first two episodes of Hawkeye.]

Kate Bishop fires an arrow while in a moving car in Hawkeye

It’s clear from the very first episode of Hawkeye that Kate and her mother Eleanor (Vera Farmiga) have a prickly relationship at best. We see Kate’s father in the flashback before the Battle of New York. So, when Kate returns from college after destroying a clock tower, she’s less than happy to see that her mother has a new beau living in their massive New York City apartment. With his smarmy attitude and outdated introduction — delivering Kate a rose from his lips — it quickly becomes clear that “Jack” is the classic silver age Hawkeye antagonist Jacques Duquesne A.K.A. Swordsman.

Jack Duquesne: Who are you?

Melding the superhero stories that were popular at the time with the classic fantasy adventures that had once held audiences in rapture, Duquesne first appeared in 1965’s The Avengers #19. Stan Lee, Don Heck, Dick Ayers and Dick Ayers created his debut. In a story called “The Coming of the Swordsman,” readers were introduced to the swashbuckler later revealed to be Jacques Duquesne. Swordsman, who is appearing at Avengers Mansion has a clever plan.

He will have a much more rewarding criminal career if he is accepted into the Avengers. Alas, he ends up tangling with Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Captain America, who discover he’s a career criminal known around Europe for his scandalous scheming ways.

While we introduce the Avengers villain HawkeyeAlthough it makes some sense, Swordsman’s true motivation is discovered in this Silver Age issue. Hawkeye tells Cap about his complicated past with the Swordsman. Clint, a young orphan, used to visit carnivals and circuses for entertainment. Duquesne became something of a mentor for Clint. Clint was caught stealing and they had to fight, but Duquesne eventually left Clint for good.

Jack Duquesne draws is sword, in a blue tunic, tights and boots getup, with a mask that makes sure to show his swashbuckling moustache, on the cover of The Avengers #19 (1965).

While it seems unlikely that the makers of the Disney Plus series will draw from Clint’s comic book penchant for circus performers, the Avenger has already been LARPing, and Jack is clearly a showman. It is possible that the show will draw some historical connections between them. Maybe Clint was familiar with Duquesne from his time as an assassin. We’ve already seen the man’s talent with deadly bladed weapons, when he embarked on an unexpected fencing match with Kate in episode two.

Like many Marvel characters, Swordsman is both a villain and a hero throughout his career. He reunited with Clint after his fight with the Avengers and went on to be a regular antagonist. Sometimes he worked for major Marvel villains such as the Mandarin. Seeing as it was the ’60s, there was some fun teleportation hijinx and even a fake Tony Stark. He was not committed to his crime life. Swordsman often swung between an ally or antagonist to protect the Avengers. And, in 1972, he finally joined the team officially after falling head over heels for Mantis — you would know her from the MCU’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Introducing Duquesne in Hawkeye makes sense, but it’s also very interesting timing. He was often in direct confrontation with Kang, the Conqueror during his time as an Avengers member. While there were low stakes in the Avengers, HawkeyeThey seem to be light years from sci-fi. Loki, it’s still intriguing considering everything that’s played out in the MCU this year. And while we might not see him take down Jonathan Majors, don’t be surprised if this Swordsman ends up being an unexpected ally to Kate and Clint when they most need it.

Two episodes from the initial two seasons of HawkeyeDisney Plus offers these features now.