Daredevil & Kingpin’s connection is going to be quite an interesting one. Hawkeye, the final MCU series to be released on Disney+ in 2021, has finally arrived, bringing Clint Barton back into the spotlight of Marvel Studios. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld plays Kate Bishop in Hawkeye’s first two episodes that take place two years after the events of Avengers: Endgame.

Episodes of The Avengers, as with most MCU projects, were heavily influenced by previous Marvel films. A flashback to the Battle of New York threw Kate’s story into high gear and revealed her connection to Clint Barton. ‘Rogers: The Musical’ referenced the emergence of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes again. This time with a more lighthearted and glossy version of the Chitauri invasion. The final moments of Episode 2 may have linked to another Marvel property, one that may be incorporated into the MCU appropriately sooner than expected.

Violence’s echoes are everywhere.

Some spring riders and ugly affairs ensue after Clint and Kate’s confrontation with the Tracksuit Mafia go wrong. They’re told, “Bro, you’re in trouble now,” and the camera then cuts to the situation that awaits them.

Cox’s Echo, surrounded by speakers in a red-drenched room, greets the audience. Thugs enter to inform the Echo that “we have them both” before Cox’s character gestures him away. In this setting, it appears that Echo will assume the role of head honcho of the Tracksuit Mafia, which is a role the character doesn’t really retain in the comics.

Maya Lopez, aka Echo in comics, is a deaf superheroic acrobat and hand-to-hand combatant. She frequently appears as a sidekick to Daredevil in the Marvel Universe. In addition to Makkari, Marvel Studios is working hard to include a diverse range of people in their upcoming projects. Hawkeye provides a glimpse of Echo’s disability, as she can feel the speakers’ vibrations and silently command her henchmen.

Considering that Clint’s son Nate signs “I love you” to him earlier in the episode, it’s likely that this will be further explored in subsequent episodes. It’s possible that Hawkeye’s ability to sign is how he first connects with Echo in order to persuade her to get them out or to distract her long enough for him and the others to escape.

Taking over Hawkeye’s Ronin Mantle

As a running theme in both premiere episodes, Ronin’s identity is linked to Echo’s comic book version. Maya Lopez was the first person to wear Ronin’s mantle before her real identity was discovered. Ronin was originally created by Echo. Because of this, there is a possibility that she could eventually assume the role of Ronin herself.

In the comics, Echo is a villain. However, she eventually becomes a hero, which could be the arc that leads to the character’s solo Disney+ series. It’s possible that Echo could assume the mantle of Ronin and reclaim her reputation as a heroic character in the MCU. Instead, Lopez could continue down a perilous path. She could then use the Ronin identity to inflict even more havoc on New York City. That is if Echo gets to the Ronin costume first.

Kingpin and Daredevil on their way?

As a character, Echo’s connection to Daredevil and Kingpin stands out most. Wilson Fisk adopts Echo after killing her biological father, Crazy Horse, in the comics. Despite Kingpin’s orders, Echo refuses to kill Daredevil when he discovers that Matt Murdock is under the mask. When Fisk had betrayed her, Echo went to do some soul-searching and come to terms with what she had done.

Daredevil’s Netflix series has a strong influence on Echo’s MCU introduction; the red lighting is likely a nod to that show… According to rumors, Daredevil’s cast will return to the MCU in the near future, but it’s not yet clear whether Kingpin and Co. will join them.

In Spider-Man: No Way Home, Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock is rumored to be teaming up with Peter Parker, finally allowing Spider-Man the opportunity to team up with the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen on the big screen for the first time. Kingpin may be joining her adopted daughter for Hawkeye, with rumblings indicating that Vincent D’Onofrio will be returning as Wilson Fisk. The release of Hawkeye at the right time and the show’s place in the MCU timeline could support this happening.

It’s possible that Daredevil is in No Way Home. This means that Hawkeye has two opportunities to reintroduce Kingpin in an episode before or after No Way Home hits theaters on December 17, 2021. A Kingpin reveal in Episode 5 of Hawkeye could hint at Matt Murdock’s return. Similarly, Marvel could also use a Daredevil appearance in NWH to set up Wilson Fisk’s return in Clint Barton’s finale as a tease.

Maya Lopez deserves a solo Disney+ series

No Way Home appears to have taken place sometime after the events of Avengers: Endgame. Meanwhile, Hawkeye occurs two years after that. Around eight months after the fourth Avengers film comes Spider-third Man’s solo outing. This takes place shortly after Spider-Man: Far From Home. This gives enough time for any Multiversal effects to ripple out, allowing the Daredevil cast to return to their roles.

If Kingpin appears in Hawkeye, the show may be setting up Echo as a key figure in Fisk’s criminal organization. If Clint and Kate cross paths with Kingpin, it could lead to a split in Fisk and Lopez’s relationship at the end of Hawkeye. This would further lay the groundwork for Echo to disassemble her adoptive father’s criminal empire on her own show.

Since most of the Daredevil cast is expected to appear in Disney+’s Echo series. Here, Lopez could play the Devil of Hell’s Kitchen instead. This will be done while following in the footsteps of her comic book counterpart. Echo’s series would be able to establish itself in the MCU. However, this can only happen if Marvel Studios were able to bring back Daredevil characters without overshadowing Alaqua Cox’s character.

As a result, not only is the arrival of Echo exciting but also because of what she helps bring to the MCU in aspects of her diverse background and exceptional personality traits. Hopefully, Hawkeye’s next few episodes will show why Maya Lopez deserves a Disney+ series of her own.