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comics - What is Hawkeye's association with the colour purple?


Hawkeye seems to be somewhat unusual in the superhero world in that he doesn't have a primary-coloured uniform, and specifically he's associated with the colour purple. Why did his creators choose purple for him? It seems an odd choice.


His uniform (among several examples):


Hawkeye wearing his predominately purple uniform


The cover of Hawkeye #1:


Cover of Hawkeye #1 showing a lot of purple in an otherwise mainly monochromatic image



Answer




Back in the early days of comics, the usual comic color theory placed heroes along the primary and bright color spectrum and villains were colored with secondary colors.


Superheroic Color Theory


This meant the bright colors; red, bright blues, yellows, and green were more heroic colors and heroes were dressed in them; think Superman, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, the Flash, Captain America.


Villains were dressed in purples, oranges, dark blues, dark reds, and other hues which were far darker. The statement was that villains could have been heroes. If you look at older Spider-Man villains for example you can see how this was used; think Magneto, the Lizard, the original Juggernaut, the Hellfire Club, Dr. Doom.


This was not always true; the Vision started as a villain and became a hero and Batman is dressed in a villain's color set.


This was part of the psychology used by Zemo when he turned villains into heroes in the Thunderbolts. He changed all of their costumes to brighter primary colors. It even had a strong effect on the psychology of the villains, many started to believe they could be heroes.


Thunderbolts costume comparisions, heroic vs villainous costumes


Thunderbolts costume comparisions, heroic vs villainous costumes


Clint Barton, orphan, trained as a circus archer, started his career in the Marvel Universe as a villain and his costume was originally purple-themed. It also resembled the person who taught him how to use his bow, Trick-Shot.


The sinister Trick-Shot, master archer and his protege Hawkeye



The sinister Trick-Shot, master archer and his protege Hawkeye


During his time as a hero, he has tried moving away from the color, especially during the famous first Kree-Skrull War. During the war, Hawkeye thought the team could use more muscle and used the Pym Particles to take on the identity of Goliath.


Clint Bart debuts as Goliath, Avengers #63


Barton as Goliath during the Kree-Skrull War


After returning to using his bow, he had both emotional issues and an occasional temper tantrum, (Hawkeye is the John McEnroe of Avengers) always fighting, complaining, and even occasionally quitting but always seemed to return to the Avengers in one form or another. His costumes also tended to end up in that color range. Ultimate Hawkeye wears red and black and looks more like the Hawkeye in the Avengers movie.


Hawkeye's first appearance, Tales of Suspense #57


Hawkeye's first appearance, Tales of Suspense #57


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