The first two episodes of Marvel Studios' Hawkeye are now available to stream on Disney+, marking the start of the MCU's fifth and final streaming series on the streaming platform for 2021. Already highlighting the MCU's newest stars like Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, Marvel looks to have yet another enthralling project that serves as the most grounded streaming story in the franchise to date.
Although the focus is obviously on Marvel Studios' two premier archers teaming up with one another, this show is acting as both a look back to the MCU's past and a set-up for future outings. This already happened with a flashback to Jeremy Renner's hero moment in The Avengers, which also commemorated the start of Kate Bishop's journey to becoming a superhero in her own right.
As is the case with every MCU TV show and movie, Hawkeye was able to sneak in interesting Easter Eggs that may or may not turn into something more in the future; one of these was a tease for the West Coast Avengers in the names listed on Kate Bishop's apartment complex. Recently, one of the show's writers explained some of what went into that particular Easter Egg.
Hawkeye Writer Explains West Coast Avengers Nod
Hawkeye writer Tanner Bean took to Twitter to give more depth to the West Coast Avengers nod that came in Episode 2 at Kate Bishop's aunt's apartment building. This started with a direct mention of Moira Brandon, who Bean described as an "honorary Avenger:"
"Anyone notice the name on the posters in Kate’s aunt’s apartment?? That’s right, it’s the former movie star and honorary Avenger...Moira Brandon! Talk about a comics deeeeeep cut."
Bean continued to look at how the West Coast Avengers actually "purchased Moira (Brandon's) mansion" in the comics and used it as the Avengers Compound in Los Angeles. It came full circle in Hawkeye as well as Moira's home served to help another Avenger in need too:
"In the comics: the WestCoastAvengers - led by Hawkeye - purchased Moira’s mansion and turned it into the Avengers Compound in LA. So, in our show, when Clint and Kate needed a temporary headquarters, it seemed only fitting that Moira’s home could house an Avenger in the MCU too."
Bean then praised the MCU for its use of Easter Eggs over the years, particularly as a big fan of Marvel Comics:
"I’ve always loved the Easter eggs in all of the MCU movies and shows, so as one of the bigger Marvel Comics fans in the writers’ room, I had a blast digging into the IP every chance I got."
West Coast Avengers in MCU's Hawkeye
In numerous Marvel Comics runs, Moira Brandon is a former Hollywood actress that lives in Los Angeles, Calfornia, and her estate is purchased by the West Coast Avengers to use as their base of operations. At one time, she also saved the lives of both Hawkeye and his former wife Bobbie Morse, aka Mockingbird, and was named as an honorary Avenger.
This show will play an important role in setting up another team known as the Young Avenger thanks to Kate Bishop playing a major role in the series. She also joins other potential Young Avengers like the Maximoff twins from WandaVision, Eli Bradley from The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and even Kid Loki from Loki.
Whether the West Coast Avengers becomes a full reality in the future is still a mystery, but this comes as yet another deep nod to Marvel Comics' history just as the MCU has done for years.
From a potential X-Men character in Black Widow to Thanos' homeworld being teased in Loki, Phase 4 continues to give fans the opportunity to find intriguing Easter Eggs in every new release. With this fun nod to the comics only adding to the Phase 4 cache, fans will be on the lookout for more similar teases in the next few weeks.
Episode 3 of Hawkeye will debut on Disney+ on Wednesday, December 1.
