Take Aim at Marvel’s Best Marksmen, from Better to Best

X marks the spot! No, we’re not talking about Marvel’s merry band of mutants. This list aims to sort through the best marksmen of Marvel Comics. Super-powered individuals often boast a pretty long resume of special abilities. But the single-minded dedication to master such a specific skill is in a league all its own.

There are many factors to consider when it comes to who is the best marksman in Marvel Comics. By necessity, Cyclops must have pretty good aim so he doesn’t blast his fellow X-Men. Similarly, wildcards like Gambit and Deadpool have developed impressive skills when it comes to taking down an enemy. Even heroes like Captain America and Spider-Man must be recognized for their spatial awareness when throwing shields and shooting webs. But none of these heroes are true marksmen.

Without further ado, these are the top 5 Marvel figures who never miss a target — unless they mean to.

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Black Widow

Due to her extensive and grueling Red Room training, Natasha Romanoff is a force to be reckoned with. As Black Widow, she has infiltrated countless secret organizations. She has amassed dossiers of classified information and traded more insider intel than HYDRA itself. But hand her a pistol, and it’s game over.

There are other special forces operatives, like Winter Soldier and The Punisher, who are formidable in their own right. Yet somehow the Black Widow is a legend among spies. Like a relic of years past, a reminder of just how cold any war can be, she and the other Widows are the definition of deadly. While other Widows like Natasha’s sister Yelena have also risen among the ranks of heroes, Black Widow will always be a name that strikes fear. She never has to bite twice.

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Taskmaster

Any fighter worth their salt knows you must adapt to your enemy, otherwise you risk letting them get the upper hand. But few fighters understand this rule quite as well as Anthony “Tony” Masters, AKA Taskmaster. For Tony, he knew at an early age he was different from his peers. Because of his superior mnemonic ability, he could imitate almost any physical action he observed.

Like many important figures have noted, with great power comes great responsibility. And not everyone chooses to wield their power responsibly. Tony decided to use his talent for selfish, and later criminal, purposes. His photographic reflexes let him immediately understand athletic feats, combat moves, and even language. Eventually, Tony adopted the name Taskmaster, which fits him quite well. Aside from mimicking superhuman strength or the use of a superpower like energy beams, there’s virtually nothing Taskmaster can’t imitate. He has even matched Iron Man, Captain America, and the other Avengers in physical combat. So it stands to reason that target practice would be a walk in the park for Taskmaster.

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Domino

Good old-fashioned practice definitely can make perfect. Or, if that fails, photographic reflexes like Taskmaster or Echo are pretty helpful. But pure dumb luck? Now that’s hard to come by. And a little luck goes a long way — just ask Domino.

Neena Thurman began her career as a bodyguard, later becoming involved with Cable’s X-Force team. She is a mutant with the power to tap into the laws of probability. By altering these laws, she can tip the scales of happenstance in her favor. Essentially, whatever Domino sets out to do, she somehow achieves even when the odds are stacked against her. On her own, she is an experienced mercenary but with the power of luck on her side, there’s no telling the amount of tricky shots and moving targets that Domino can overpower. That’s just the luck of Domino’s draw.

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Bullseye

On the other hand, luck and training pale in comparison to innate talent. For Bullseye, an eternal enemy of Daredevil, throwing weapons and hitting targets is second nature. Amid all the lies he has told about his past and all the lies he uses to obscure his motives, the only thing for certain about Bullseye is that his name could not be more accurate.

Nobody really knows who Bullseye is, and that’s just how he likes it. Often, he’s a mercenary for hire under the employ of Kingpin. That puts him at odds with Matt Murdock more than any other hero. Though Bullseye’s aim never falters, his grasp on reality is shaky at best. Plus, his obsessive-compulsive demeanor led him to assassinate Elektra when she replaced him in Kingpin’s good graces. The mere fact that Bullseye holds his own against Daredevil and Elektra time and time again, two unbeatable heroes, shows that he is a top assassin with the target score to prove it. The scariest part is Bullseye isn’t picky about his weapons — anything he throws transforms into an object of death.

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Hawkeye (Clint & Kate)

The number one spot for Marvel marskman goes to Hawkeye, a title that is held by both Clint Barton and Kate Bishop. Clint is the original Hawkeye, a troubled hero who joined the Avengers alongside Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. As a kid, Clint worked in the circus and that background led him to a life of professional archery. He sometimes has a quick temper, but over the years he’s managed to mellow out and even take younger heroes like Kate under his wing.

When Clint and Kate first met, they did not see eye to eye. If anything, this was due to their many similarities, including being very stubborn. Eventually, the veteran Avenger and the Young Avenger met in the middle and learned to work together. Now, their endless arsenal of trick arrows have managed to save the world on countless occasions. Clint has even used himself as a projectile with spectacular effect against an alien invasion and Kate, in her early days, still managed to take down a young Kang. Besides, neither Hawkeye ever forgets the power of a boomerang arrow, bro.

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Who are your favorite archers and sharpshooters? Have we missed the mark and left somebody out from our countdown?

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