Source: marvel.com

Chapter 8: Death and Return

This incarnation of the Thunderbolts eventually disbanded, and Hawkeye returned to the Avengers as a mainstay.

Around this time, Scarlet Witch had a breakdown, and began to set events in motion that damaged or killed multiple Avengers. One of those was Hawkeye, who died taking down a Kree war ship. Then the Witch went even more insane, and rewrote all of reality to put her father, Magneto, in charge of the world. During this House of M period, Hawkeye was reincarnated, and he survived into the real world after reality returned to normal.

Going under the codename Ronin, he joined the New Avengers. For a brief moment, Tony Stark tried to push him into becoming Captain America, but Clint refused. After Norman Osborn was ousted from public office, Clint returned to the Hawkeye identity and an active role with the Avengers.

But of course, Hawkeye still needed reinvention. He hadn't had a major character change since the Thunderbolts, and was due for a new leg in his career.