Who Killed Echo’s Father: The MCU and Marvel Comics Version Explained

The MCU series Echo features the titular character’s journey after she discovers the motive behind her father’s death. The series is significantly different from the Marvel Comics version and offers a fresh take on Echo’s storyline.

Echo first appeared in the MCU series Hawkeye, where she played a supporting role as compared to the comics. She is portrayed as a warrior on a mission to avenge her father’s death, and she finally finds out the truth behind the murder in the finale.

The MCU version of Echo and its comic counterpart have a lot in common, but there are some important differences, especially regarding the nature of her father’s death. The MCU series is set to explore more about William’s death.

1. Who killed Echo’s father in the MCU?

Echo’s father, William, is murdered by Clint Barton under the guise of a vigilante called Ronin in the MCU. Barton killed Echo’s father as per the plans of Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin. Kingpin was the main perpetrator of Echo’s father’s death.

In Hawkeye, Echo is originally introduced as a villain. She is the leader of the Tracksuit Mafia, a division under Fisk’s criminal empire. In the series, Echo’s father worked for the Tracksuit Mafia and raised her as a child.

However, after her father’s mysterious and sudden death, Echo is raised by Kingpin, who serves as a surrogate uncle to her. Echo is determined to find the truth behind her father’s death.

Echo chases Barton with Hawkeye’s help when she sees Kate Bishop wearing Ronin’s uniform. She mistakes her as her father’s murderer. However, things take an interesting turn when Barton reveals that he found out William’s location from someone working from Kingpin.

Echo also questions another member of the Tracksuit Mafia, Kazi Kazimierczak, who was not present at a meeting on the night of William’s death. Finally, Echo realizes that Kingpin is the mastermind behind her father’s murder. He revealed William’s location to Ronin so he could be killed.

In the Hawkeye finale, Echo confronts Fisk and shoots him in the face. However, the finale never confirms Kingpin’s death. As of writing this piece, it is confirmed that Kingpin did not die in the Hawkeye finale and is back in the MCU series Echo.

2. Who killed Echo’s father in the Marvel comics?

Kingpin kills Echo’s father, William, in the Marvel comics. However, Kingpin tells Echo that Daredevil killed her father and turns her against him.

Kingpin is behind William’s assassination in both the MCU and the Marvel comics. However, the MCU does not include the part where Kingpin lies to Echo about Daredevil killing her father.

Echo is introduced in the comics in 1999 as the daughter of William, one of Kingpin’s henchmen. Kingpin kills Echo’s father in the comics and adopts her, just like in the MCU. However, Fisk brainwashes Echo into believing that Daredevil murdered her father and she should take revenge on him.

Echo works hard to become a martial artist and confronts Daredevil in the comics. However, Daredevil exposes Kingpin by telling Echo the truth about her father’s death.

Once Echo discovers the truth, she changes sides and turns against Fisk. Daredevil becomes a powerful ally to Echo in the comics. Maya Lopez, aka Echo, begins her journey as a naïve, manipulated young girl but eventually becomes a strong, resilient woman.

Moreover, in the comics, Lopez does not call herself Echo and creates the personality of Ronin, which Clint Barton later uses.

3. About Echo

Echo is an upcoming American television miniseries created by Marion Dayre for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name.

It is intended to be the tenth television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise and a spin-off of the series Hawkeye (2021).

It sees Maya Lopez return to her hometown, where she must come to terms with her past, reconnect with her Native American roots, and embrace her family and community. Dayre and Amy Rardin serve as head writers, and Sydney Freeland leads the directing team.