Ronin (Marvel Comics)

Maya Silverman

Maya Lopez was the first person to don the Ronin identity. A deaf woman with photographic reflexes, Maya became Ronin to investigate the Silver Samurai in Wakanda. She first appeared as Ronin in New Avengers #11 (November 2005), though the character appeared on the covers of several earlier issues.

New Avengers writer Brian Michael Bendis stated that his original intention was to make Matt Murdock as the true identity of Ronin, but could not do so due to a conflict with the plans for the character in the Daredevil comic book title.^[1]

Clint Barton

Clint Barton is the second person to have the Ronin identity, becoming Ronin when he rejoined the New Avengers in the aftermath of Civil War.^[2] He attempted to hand the costume back to Lopez after the latter was rescued from the Hand, but Lopez declined and allowed him to keep it. Barton later resumed his Hawkeye identity during the Heroic Age.

Alexei Shostakov

A third individual who dons the Ronin identity was introduced in the "Widow Maker" crossover between the Hawkeye & Mockingbird and Black Widow titles. This iteration initially starts assassinating spies and eventually targets Mockingbird and Black Widow. He is later revealed as Alexei Shostakov, Black Widow's ex-husband.

Writer Jim McCann revealed "We're going to learn that there is far more to the Ronin identity than anyone knew, pre-dating Hawkeye and Echo before him. Why does Ronin exist? That's a central mystery we will tackle.".^[3][4]

Eric Brooks

A character whose identity is kept from the reader is introduced in the Mighty Avengers and dons a Halloween-type costume, "Spider Hero", during the Infinity storyline.^[5] During the Inhumanity storyline, this character is supplied with the Ronin costume from a "big box of Clint Barton's old stuff".^[6] Before the character's true identity was revealed in canon, a leaked script for the first appearance revealed that this iteration is Eric Brooks.^[7][8]

Ultimate Marvel

Marc Spector as Ronin from a preview image from Ultimate Spider-Man #108.

The Ultimate Marvel version of Ronin is one of the multiple personalities of Marc Spector created to infiltrate service of the Kingpin (Wilson Fisk). The Kingpin tells Ronin to prove himself by retrieving Spider-Man.^[9] Ronin drives a school bus into Midtown High School and starts firing a gun to get Spider-Man to fight. Kitty Pryde confronts him, but is knocked unconscious shortly before Spider-Man arrives. The two engage in a brutal battle that is mirrored in a fight between Moon Knight and Ronin in his mind (as they're two different personalities within the same person); Ronin knocks Spider-Man unconscious in the end (as the Moon Knight personality is also apparently "killed"). Ronin uses Spider-Man's own web-shooters to leave the high school, and takes the youth to the Kingpin to interrogate the hero at the Kingpin's hideout.^[10] The Kingpin then attacks Ronin, revealing that the Kingpin already knew his identity. Ronin is then taken to a river by two of the Kingpin's henchmen and shot in the head. He somehow survives this and goes to the police to provide evidence about Kingpin's attempt to murder him. He has to reveal his secret identity to do this, but it does lead to the Kingpin's arrest and the media referring to him as a hero.^[11]

Television

• Ronin appears in Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers, voiced by Hori Hideyuki. This version is an entirely new character (rather than an existing hero) under the mask: Nozomu Akatsuki, the father of Akira Akatsuki and Hikaru Akatsuki.

Film

• It has been confirmed that Clint Barton will assume the Ronin identity in Avengers 4; set photos show Jeremy Renner wearing a suit that looks like Ronin's in the comics.^[12]

Video games

• Maya Lopez appears using the Ronin identity as a PSP exclusive playable character in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by Marabina Jaimes. She appears masked by default, but has an unmasked alternate costume. A mod available for the game's Wii version unlocks her as a playable character.
• The Ronin suit appears as an alternate costume for Hawkeye (Clint Barton) in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
• The Ronin costume is featured as a chase costume in Marvel Heroes.
• Echo (Maya Lopez) as Ronin can also be found in Lego Marvel's Avengers.
• Ronin is an unlockable costume for Hawkeye (Clint Barton) in Avengers Academy.

Toys

• A Minimate of the character was released in the 12th series of Marvel Minimates, in a 2-pack with new battle damaged "Riot-Attack" variant of Spider-Man.
• Marvel Legends released a 2-pack with a Ronin figure and Elektra. This figure has an alternate unmasked Clint Barton (Hawkeye) head.^[13]
• Marvel Universe released a Ronin figure.