The Assassination of Clint Barton was the murder of Clint Barton, carried out by Yellowjacket to disrupt the Avengers Initiative.
Background[]
Following the steps of her mother, Hope van Dyne joined S.H.I.E.L.D., however, she was killed during a mission in Odesa. Blinded by grief and rage, Hank Pym blamed S.H.I.E.L.D. and Nick Fury in van Dyne's death and swore revenge. Using his old S.H.I.E.L.D. clearance, Pym found out that Fury started the Avengers Initiative to put together a group of remarkable individuals. Armed with the Yellowjacket Suit, Pym took it upon himself to ruin everything Fury wanted to build by killing any candidate for the Initiative.
After killing Tony Stark, Pym targeted Thor who broke into the S.H.I.E.L.D. Crater Investigation Site in an attempt to retrieve Mjølnir. Assuming that Fury will try to recruit Thor, Pym decided to kill him as well. As Thor reached to pick up his hammer, Yellowjacket tapped on Hawkeye's arm, causing him to misfire and shoot an arrow at Thor, which resulted in his death. S.H.I.E.L.D. agents apprehended Hawkeye for disobeying Fury's direct order and killing Thor, although he kept insisting that he did not shoot him.[1]
Assassination[]
Nick Fury discovers Clint Barton's body
- "You think he was murdered."
"If I had to guess, my money is on the same someone who killed Stark."
"But Barton was in a locked cell under observation. There was no sign of struggle, no entry wounds." - ―Phil Coulson and Nick Fury[src]
Clint Barton was locked in the cell at the investigation site, while Nick Fury ordered scientists to examine Thor's body, learning that Thor was not a human. Phil Coulson told Fury that Barton insisted that he did not kill Thor and he never misfires, no matter what evidence S.H.I.E.L.D. had against him. While Barton was in the cell, Yellowjacket killed him by flying into his ear and causing a hemorrhage in his brain.[1]
Aftermath[]
S.H.I.E.L.D. examines Clint Barton's body
- "Barton's dead. I know what he meant to you."
"Who do I kill?" - ―Nick Fury and Black Widow[src]
Clint Barton's body was discovered by Phil Coulson and Nick Fury, and Fury dismissed any possibility that it was a suicide, since Barton had a family he cherished. Fury concluded that Tony Stark, Thor, and Barton were killed by the same person, however, during the investigation, S.H.I.E.L.D. failed to find any signs of struggle or entry wounds which made finding the culprit rather difficult. Fury contacted Natasha Romanoff and informed her about Barton's death.[1]