Note:
Beside William Downing, there are two other people known as Gunhawk;
The first was an Atlas era cowboy whom had his own series for a few issues and first appeared in The Gunhawk Issue 12.
The second, and more well known Gunhawk is Lee Barnett, whom made his first appearance in Western Gunfighters Issue 1.
Origin
Gunhawk is a member of a mercenary group called the Mongrels that are employed by a powerful organization called the Red Right Hand that has a personal vendetta against Wolverine. The Mongrels are hired to eliminate certain targets, particularly Wolverine’s friends and loved ones. Gunhawk and the rest of the Mongrels which include Fire Knives, Saw Fist, Cannon Foot and Shadow Stalker come after Wolverine’s girlfriend, Melita Garner at her work in the San Francisco Post building. Killer Knives kills one security guard with a heated blade into the forehead while Cannon Foot catches Melita’s scent. Cannon Foot finds Melita but he gets shot from a Skrull sonic disruptor that Logan gave his girlfriend. Cannon Foot is temporarily down and Melita escapes from the Mongrels with Mystique‘s help. Gunhawk informs the Red Right Hand that they lost Melita because of Mystique’s interference. The Red Right Hand tells Gunhawk and the Mongrels to proceed to their next target in Madripoor.
Gunhawk and the Mongrels enter the Princess Bar in Madripoor and massacre the bouncers inside. Gunhawk is confronted by Tyger Tiger when he wants to get through a particular door. Gunhawk tells Tyger Tiger that Logan is in hell and burns down a room filled with photos, trinkets, mementos and other important possessions that Wolverine has collected in his lifetime. Gunhawk tells Tyger Tiger that Wolverine made his life a living hell and that he’ll be waiting for him.
Creation
Gunhawk was created by Jason Aaron and Renato Guedes in 2010 and first appeared in Wolverine # 1.
Powers & Abilities
Gunhawk is a trained mercenary equipped with two pistols that have blades attached to them.