It’s no secret that certain members of the Justice League have similarities to members of the Avengers, and this leaves a lot of room for debate among fans. Is Flash faster than Quicksilver? Is Bruce Wayne richer than Tony Stark? But two of the most compared characters are Green Arrow and Hawkeye, and JLA/Avengers #3 gives a brutal answer to the question of who is better.
Both Oliver Queen and Clint Barton are heroes who lack superpowers, but still manage to stand toe-to-toe with heavy hitters through a combination of fighting skill, quick wits, and the occasional trick arrow. Green Arrow is a rich kid who developed his skills while marooned on an island, while Hawkeye is a former circus performer and villain who reformed to join the Avengers. In the Justice League of America and Avengers crossover, the universes of Marvel and DC are altered so that the teams have always existed in the same reality.
JLA/Avengers #3, by Kurt Busiek and George Perez, ends the fan debate like a knockout from a boxing glove arrow, as Black Canary – the longstanding love of Oliver Queen’s life – prefers the Avenging Archer over the emerald one. Green Arrow and Black Canary are one of the most iconic couples in any DC continuity, but this comic confirms that in a reality where Clint Barton is in the picture, Dinah Lance’s high-powered hero would prefer him to her usual DC paramour. For fans debating whether Green Arrow or Hawkeye is the superior archer hero, this is a body blow for Oliver Queen.
During the crossover, Hawkeye leaves the Marvel earth to join the Justice League, and quickly surpasses his DC counterpart in both usefulness and in the affections of Black Canary, much to the jealousy of Green Arrow. Clint and Ollie spend all their time together bickering, and the comic takes every opportunity to depict their archery skills as functionally identical, with the two engaging in several low-key contests in the background of the adventure.
However, as the person who loves and respects Green Arrow more than anyone in the world, Black Canary choosing Hawkeye is a recommendation that seems to suggest she thinks of him as the better man. This is perhaps also a nod to the fact that while Ollie has a long history of social activism, he tends to reserve his worst behavior for those who love him, frequently betraying or abandoning them on a personal level.
The Justice League and Avengers crossover event includes a fun reimagining of both the DC and Marvel universes, but with it comes a cruel revelation for fans. Both Green Arrow and Hawkeye may have a quiver of arrows, but only one of them can be the better man. Black Canary’s preference for Clint is as close to a definitive answer as this classic Avengers vs Justice League face-off is ever likely to get.
