Two-Gun Kid

Matt Hawk, born Matthew Leibowitz, began his journey as a Harvard-educated lawyer seeking to bring civil justice to the wild frontier of Tombstone, Texas, in the years following the Civil War. Quickly realizing that legal statutes held little sway over the violent gangs that ruled the territory, he sought the tutelage of the retired legendary gunfighter Ben Dancer. Matt proved to be a prodigy, surpassing his mentor in marksmanship, horsemanship, and the use of the lasso, but he chose to conceal these lethal talents behind a mask to protect his reputation as a man of the law. Adopting the guise of the Two-Gun Kid, he lived a dangerous double life, dismantling the Clem Carter gang and defending the innocent by night while prosecuting criminals in the courtroom by day, a duality that complicated his relationship with the schoolteacher Nancy Carter, who despised the vigilante but admired the lawyer.

His crusade eventually moved to Tombstone, Arizona, where his reputation grew to legendary status as he fought alongside peers like the Rawhide Kid, Kid Colt, and the Phantom Rider against threats ranging from common rustlers to costumed villains like the Hurricane. His destiny shifted radically when he assisted the Avengers in their battle against the time-traveling conqueror Kang. Intrigued by the future, Matt traveled to the 20th century, becoming a reserve Avenger and exploring the modern world with Hawkeye as his guide. Although homesickness initially drove him back to the 19th century to battle tyrants and rescue allies like Mockingbird, the nature of his heroism eventually led to his permanent extraction from the past to prevent further disruptions to the timeline.

Stranded in the modern era, Matt realized that the complexities of current legal codes made his return to law impossible, so he adapted his frontier skills to become a licensed bounty hunter. He found employment working alongside She-Hulk and even roomed with the reformed Awesome Android, trading his horse for a twin-engine jet cycle named "Lightning" gifted to him by Hawkeye. His service to his country continued as he took command of the Desert Stars, Arizona's team within the 50-State Initiative. Despite suffering injuries from a Skrull infiltrator within his own ranks, Matt recovered to lead his team against major threats like the electrical monster Zzzax, proving that the justice of the Two-Gun Kid remains effective regardless of the century.

Appearance: Two-Gun Kid has fair skin. A black domino mask covers the upper portion of his face. He wears a black cowboy hat with a wide, stiff brim that curves upward at the sides. A red bandana is tied loosely around his neck, with long, tattered ends trailing behind his left shoulder. He wears a long-sleeved blue shirt with a folded collar. Over the shirt, he dons a sleeveless vest made of tan material featuring a pattern of dark brown, irregular splotches resembling cowhide. A thin black cord hangs down the center of his chest. His waist is encircled by a brown leather belt secured with a rectangular silver buckle, featuring a row of brass cartridges looped tightly along the strap. His legs are clad in dark blue trousers that tuck into tall, brown leather boots.

Personality: Matt Hawk is defined by a unique duality: he is a refined, Harvard-educated intellectual who possesses the rugged heart of a frontier warrior. He prizes the rule of law and prefers to settle disputes in the courtroom, but he is pragmatic enough to understand that some evils require a more direct, lethal solution. This balance makes him a gentleman vigilante; he is articulate, polite, and strategic, yet capable of terrifying ruthlessness when he dons his mask. He does not fight for glory, but out of a deep-seated compulsion to protect the innocent, a trait so overpowering that it prevents him from standing idly by even when doing so would preserve the timeline.

Despite being a man out of time, he retains an air of Old West chivalry and grit that distinguishes him from modern heroes. He is loyal and adaptable, managing to transition from a 19th-century lawyer to a 21st-century bounty hunter with surprising ease, though he often harbors a quiet melancholy for the simpler times of the frontier. Whether riding a horse or a jet cycle, he remains grounded in his code of honor, viewing his abilities not as superpowers, but as necessary tools to uphold justice in a chaotic world.

The Two-Gun Kid is widely regarded as one of the fastest and most proficient gunfighters to ever walk the frontier, possessing a speed and accuracy that rivals only the most legendary outlaws. Beyond his mastery of firearms, he is an expert hand-to-hand combatant who relies on a blend of agility and raw strength to overcome his enemies in close quarters. His tactical versatility extends to archery as well, making him a significant threat even when he is not wielding his signature revolvers. He is also noted for being an exceptionally strong swimmer, a physical skill that has assisted him in various survival situations across different eras and terrains.

Matthew Hawkins complements his martial prowess with a sharp intellect and a deep understanding of the law, having once served as a highly skilled trial lawyer. This academic background is paired with rugged frontier expertise, as he is both a master of the lasso and a superb horseback rider who trains his own mounts with great care. His ability to navigate the world is further enhanced by his talents as a tracker, allowing him to follow his quarry through both the unforgiving wilderness of the Old West and the complex, concrete landscapes of modern urban environments.

In terms of equipment, he typically carries two pistols and a lariat, though his arsenal expanded significantly during his time with the Sunset Riders when he utilized modern weaponry like automatic firearms, rocket launchers, and plastic explosives. As a bounty hunter in the current era, he even employs specialized tools such as homing darts to keep tabs on his targets. While he originally rode horses named Thunder and Nancy in the past, he now traverses the world on a twin engine jet cycle named Lightning, which was a gift from the hero Hawkeye.