With the release of the new Hunger Games Sequel Mockingjay Part 2, Archery is more popular than ever, we have listed 8 of the greatest archers from both TV and Film – who is your favourite?
1.Katniss Everdeen from District 12 (The Hunger Games) 16 year old Katniss Everdeen is from one of the poorest coal districts (District 12) of Panem, where each District must provide two teenage ‘tributes’ to fight others to the death in the annual Hunger Games. Katniss volunteers after her younger sister Primrose is chosen at random.
2.Legolas, son of Thranduil, of Mirkwood (The Lord of The Rings) There are few characters in Tolkien’s world (let alone Elves) that allow for a brief history but here we go - his father was King of the Woodland Realm of Northern Mirkwood and Legolas was first introduced at the Council of Elrond in Rivendell and thus became a member of The Fellowship of the Ring. Played by Orlando Bloom, Legolas provided plenty of entertainment in Peter Jackson’s Rings trilogy, which showcased a great deal more of his skills than Tolkien’s books.
3.Robin of Loxley (Robin of Sherwood) Of course Robin Hood’s a top archer, that’s a given, but Robin of Sherwood is the only incarnation which really has the magic to grab attention. The show ran from ’84-’86 and was the first to pit the Hooded Man against the forces of sorcery and demons. Orphaned in a failed rebellion against the oppressive Norman rule, Robin (Michael Praed) trains to be a master archer, guided by the shamanic Herne the Hunter to take on the corrupt Guy of Gisbourne and the Sheriff of Nottingham.
4.Neytiri te Tskaha Mo’at’ite (Avatar) Neytiri is the princess of the Omaticaya Tribe on Pandora (the world of the Na’vi). When human Jake Sully is put into an avatar she believes he is an intruder and almost kills him – however, after being persuaded of his good intentions she saves him from a viperwolf attack in the forest. The two fall in love, and fight to save the Tree of Souls from the attentions of humans hoping to mine the fuel Unobtanium.
5.Susan Pevensie (The Chronicles of Narnia) Susan and her three siblings enter the wardrobe in the house they have been evacuated to, and from there discover the magical land of Narnia where the four are destined to be kings and queens. Susan is given a bow and arrows when they meet Father Christmas in Narnia and returns time and again with her siblings to defend their kingdom.
6.Abigail Whistler (Blade: Trinity) In 2004’s Blade: Trinity we are introduced to Abigail, the illegitimate daughter of Blade’s mentor and tech man Whistler. Together with Hannibal King and friends, she forms the vampire-hunting Nightstalkers. They rescue Blade and collaborate to take on the vampires’ new (or rather extremely old) leader, Drake.
7.Princess Merida of Clan DunBroch (Brave) Pixar’s flame-haired heroine Merida is a Scottish princess whose father gives her a bow for her birthday. Naturally she becomes a talented archer. Her parents hold the Highland Games to decide which first born son from another clan will win her hand but Merida enters herself, as her family’s first born, and shows off her bowmanship skills, to the fury of her mother. Merida ends up having to reverse a spell cast on her mum (fair enough, considering it was her fault in the first place).
8.Hawkeye AKA Clint Barton (Marvel Comics) Unlike his DC predecessor Green Arrow, Hawkeye actually started out as a villain of humble beginnings. He was introduced in Tales of Suspense #57 in 1964. After losing his parents, he and his brother joined a travelling circus where he became a master archer. Though Whedon’s Avengers Assemble suggests Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) was sent by SHIELD to assassinate Black Widow, in the comics both were still villains but parted ways and Hawkeye joined the Avengers.