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Black Widow (Natasha Romanova)

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For other Marvel Comics characters of the same name, see Black Widow (Marvel Comics).

Black Widow
File:Black Widow 1.jpg
Cover of Black Widow No. 1 (April 2010) by Daniel Acuna.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceTales of Suspense # 52 (April 1964)
Created byStan Lee
Don Rico
Don Heck
In-story information
Alter egoNatalia (Natasha) Alianovna Romanova
Team affiliationsS.H.I.E.L.D.
Avengers
Champions
KGB
Red Room
Marvel Knights
Mighty Avengers
Lady Liberators
Thunderbolts
Secret Avengers
Heroes for Hire
PartnershipsDaredevil
Hawkeye
Boris Turgenov
Bucky Barnes
Notable aliasesNatalie Rushman, Laura Matthers, Natasha Romanoff, Oktober, Yelena Belova
AbilitiesSlowed aging
Enhanced immune system
Abnormally superior athletic condition
Extensive military, hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, and espionage training
Hypnosis
Enhanced psychological defenses

Black Widow (Чёрная вдова, "Chernaya Vdova") (Natalia "Natasha" Alianovna Romanova,[1] also known as Natasha Romanoff) is a fictional character, appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck, the character first appeared in Tales of Suspense No. 52 (April 1964). The character was first introduced as a Soviet spy, an antagonist of the superhero Iron Man. She later defected to the United States, becoming an agent of the fictional spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D., and a member of the superhero team the Avengers. Commonly depicted as a femme fatale, the Black Widow was ranked as the 31st sexiest woman in comics by the Comics Buyer's Guide.

Scarlett Johansson portrayed the character in the films Iron Man 2 (2010) and Marvel's The Avengers (2012).

Publication history

Cover of Tales of Suspense No. 52 (April 1964) by Jack Kirby.

The Black Widow's first appearances were as a recurring, non-costumed, Soviet-spy antagonist in the feature "Iron Man", beginning in Tales of Suspense No. 52 (April 1964). Five issues later, she recruited the besotted costumed archer and later superhero Hawkeye to her cause. Her government later supplied her with her first Black Widow costume and high-tech weaponry, but she eventually defected to the United States after appearing, temporarily brainwashed against the U.S., in the superhero-team series The Avengers No. 29 (July 1966). The Widow later became a recurring ally of the team before officially becoming its sixteenth member.

The Black Widow appeared for the first time in her trademark skintight black costume in The Amazing Spider-Man No. 86 (July 1970). In short order, she starred in her own series in Amazing Adventures #1–8 (Aug. 1970–Sept. 1971), sharing that split book with the feature Inhumans. Immediately after her initial solo feature ended, the Black Widow co-starred in Daredevil #81–124 (Nov. 1971–Aug. 1975) and then in the super-team series The Champions, which ran 17 issues (Oct. 1975–Jan. 1978).

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Black Widow appeared frequently as both an Avengers member and a freelance agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. She starred in a serialized feature within the omnibus comic-book series Marvel Fanfare #10–13 (Aug. 1983–March 1984), written by George Pérez and Ralph Macchio, with art by penciller Perez. These stories were collected in the one-shot Black Widow: Web of Intrigue No. 1 (June 1999).

The Widow guest-starred in issues of Solo Avengers, Force Works, Iron Man, Marvel Team-Up, and other comics. She appeared in several mid-1980s issues of Daredevil, as well as a four-issue arc in issues #368–371 (Oct. 1997–Jan. 1998) and as a recurring guest in Daredevil vol. 2 (1998–present). She co-starred in two graphic novels—Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty with Nick Fury, Marvel UK's Night Raven and Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web with the Punisher—as well as a three-issue arc, "The Fire Next Time", by writer Scott Lobdell and penciller Randy Green, in Journey into Mystery #517–519 (Feb.–April 1998).

A new ongoing Black Widow comic title debuted in April 2010. The first story arc was written by Marjorie Liu with art by Daniel Acuna.[2] Beginning with issue No. 6 (Sept. 2010), the title began being written by Duane Swierczynski, with artwork by Manuel Garcia and Lorenzo Ruggiero.

Limited series and specials

Aside from the arcs in Marvel Fanfare and Journey into Mystery, the Black Widow has starred in four limited series and four graphic novels.

The three-issue Black Widow (June - Aug. 1999), under the Marvel Knights imprint, starred Romanova and fully introduced her appointed successor, Captain Yelena Belova, who had briefly appeared in an issue of the 1999 series Inhumans. The writer for the story arc, "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" was Devin K. Grayson while J. G. Jones was the artist. The next three-issue, Marvel Knights mini-series, also titled Black Widow (Jan. - March 2001) featured both Black Widows in the story arc "Breakdown", by writers Devin Grayson and Greg Rucka with painted art by Scott Hampton.

Romanova next starred in another solo miniseries titled Black Widow (Nov. 2004 - April 2005), also under the Marvel Knights imprint and written by science fiction novelist Richard K. Morgan, with art initially by Bill Sienkiewicz and later by Sienkiewicz over Goran Parlov layouts. A six-issue sequel, Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her (Nov. 2005–April 2006; officially Black Widow 2: The Things They Say About Her in the series' postal indicia), by writer Morgan, penciller Sean Phillips, and inker Sienkiewicz, picks up immediately where the previous miniseries left off, continuing the story using many of the same characters.[citation needed]

She starred in the solo graphic novel Black Widow: The Coldest War (April 1990), and co-starred in three more: Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web (Dec. 1992); Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (July 1993); and Nick Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (June 1995), also co-starring Marvel UK's Night Raven.[citation needed]

Black Widow is also featured in the short story Love Is Blindness in I Heart Marvel: Marvel Ai (2006) #1 (April 2006), where she instigates a humorous fight with Elektra over Daredevil's affections. The comic is stylized to look like Japanese animation and uses images, not words, inside the speech and thought bubbles to convey what the characters are saying/thinking.

In 2010, the year in which the character, called only Natasha Romanoff, made her film debut in Iron Man 2, the Black Widow received two separate miniseries. Black Widow and the Marvel Girls was an all-ages, four-issue series that chronicled her adventures with various women of the Marvel Universe, including Storm, She-Hulk, the Enchantress, and Spider-Woman. It was written by Paul Tobin, with art by Salvador Espin and Takeshi Miyazawa. The second four-issue miniseries, Black Widow: Deadly Origin, was written by Paul Cornell, and featured art by Tom Raney and John Paul Leon.[citation needed]

Fictional character biography

Early life

First costume (and bouffant hairdo). From The Avengers #36 (Jan. 1967), art by Don Heck.

Natasha was born in Stalingrad (now Volgograd), Russia. The first and best-known Black Widow is a Soviet agent trained as a spy, martial artist, and sniper, and outfitted with an arsenal of high-tech weaponry, including a pair of wrist-mounted energy weapons dubbed her "Widow's Bite". She wears no costume during her first few appearances but simply evening wear and a veil. Romanova eventually defects to the U.S. for reasons that include her love for the reluctant-criminal turned superhero archer, Hawkeye.

Romanova's parents were killed in a fire when Romanova was a child. She was saved from death herself by Ivan Petrovitch, who raised her as a surrogate father. He first appears in Marvel continuity in the Widow's 1970s Amazing Adventures feature, in which he is introduced as her chauffeur and confidant, without this back-story revealed. Romanova as a child appears in a flashback[3] to 1941, in which Petrovitch, the superhero Captain America, and the mutant Logan who would become the superhero Wolverine, rescue her from Nazis on the fictional island principality of Madripoor.

A revised, retconned origin[4] establishes her as being raised from very early childhood by the U.S.S.R.'s "Black Widow Ops" program, rather than solely by Ivan Petrovitch. Petrovitch had taken her to Department X, with other young female orphans, where she was brainwashed, and trained in combat and espionage at the covert "Red Room" facility. There, she is biotechnologically and psycho-technologically enhanced—an accounting that provides a rationale for her unusually long and youthful lifespan. During that time she had some training under Winter Soldier, and the pair even had a short romance.[5] Each Black Widow is deployed with false memories to help ensure her loyalty. Romanova eventually discovers this, including the fact that she had never, as she had believed, been a ballerina. She further discovers that the Red Room is still active as "2R".

Natasha was arranged by the KGB to marry the renowned Soviet test pilot Alexei Shostakov. However, when the Soviet government decided to make Alexei into their new operative, the Red Guardian, he is told that he can have no further contact with his wife. Natasha is told that he had died and is trained as a secret agent separately.

The Avengers

Romanova grows up to serve as a femme fatale. She was assigned to assist Boris Turgenov in the assassination of Professor Anton Vanko for defecting from the Soviet Union, which served as her first mission in the United States. Natasha and Turgenov infiltrated Stark Industries as part of the plan.[6] She attempted to manipulate information from American defense contractor Tony Stark, and inevitably confronted his superhero alter ego, Iron Man. The pair then battled Iron Man, and Turgenev steals and wears the Crimson Dynamo suit. Vanko sacrificed himself to save Iron Man, killing Turgenev in the process, using an unstable experimental laser light pistol.[7] Romanova later meets the criminal archer Hawkeye and sets him against Iron Man,[8] and later helped Hawkeye battle Iron Man.[9]

Natasha once more attempted to get Hawkeye to help her destroy Iron Man. The pair almost succeeded, but when Black Widow was injured, Hawkeye retreated to get her to safety.[10] During this period, Romanova was attempting to defect from the Soviet Union and began falling in love with Hawkeye, weakening her loyalty to her country. When her employers learned the truth, the KGB had her gunned down, sending her to a hospital, convincing Hawkeye to go straight and seek membership in the Avengers.[11] [12]

The Red Room kidnaps and brainwashes her again, and with the Swordsman and the first Power Man, she battles the Avengers.[13] She eventually breaks free from her psychological conditioning (with the help of Hawkeye), and does successfully defect, having further adventures with Spider-Man, with Hawkeye and with Daredevil.[volume & issue needed] She ultimately joins the Avengers as a costumed heroine herself.[14]

S.H.I.E.L.D. and Daredevil

File:BlackWidow2005No1.jpg
Promotional art for Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her #1 (Nov. 2005), by Bill Sienkiewicz.

Later still, she begins freelancing as an agent of the international espionage group S.H.I.E.L.D. She is sent on a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. mission to China by Nick Fury. There, with the Avengers, she battles Col. Ling, Gen. Brushov, and her ex-husband the Red Guardian.[15] For a time, as historian Les Daniels noted in a contemporaneous study in 1971,

...her left-wing upbringing was put to better use, and she has lately taken to fighting realistic oppressor-of-the-people types. She helps young Puerto Ricans clean up police corruption and saves young hippies from organized crime. [...] [The splash page of Amazing Adventures No. 3 (Nov. 1970)] reflects the recent trend toward involving fantastic characters in contemporary social problems, a move which has gained widespread publicity for Marvel and its competitor, DC.[16]

During her romantic involvement with Matt Murdock in San Francisco, she operates as an independent superhero alongside Murdock's alter ego, Daredevil.[17] There she tries unsuccessfully to find a new career for herself as a fashion designer. Eventually, her relationship with Murdock stagnates, and after briefly working with Avengers finally breaks up with Murdock.[18] During a HYDRA attempt to take over S.H.I.E.L.D., she is tortured to such an extent that she regresses back to an old cover identity of schoolteacher Nancy Rushman, but she is recovered by Spider-Man in time to help Nick Fury and Shang-Chi work out what had happened and restore her memory, with "Nancy" developing an attraction to Spider-Man before her memory is restored during the final fight against Madam Viper, Boomerang and the Silver Samurai.[19] She later returns to Matt Murdock's life just as he begins dating another woman, Heather Glenn,[20] prompting her to leave New York.[21]

After being poisoned by members of the Hand, Natasha refused medical aid and fought her way past S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in a bid to seek out Matt. Her body briefly succumbed to the poison, but she was revived by Stone, a pupil of Matt's mentor Stick. Natasha found that Matt had been going through personal hardships in light of his one true love, Elektra's reappearance, apparent betrayal, surprising redemption, and recent murder. She also reconciled with Foggy, and learned from him that Matt's relationship with his fiance Heather had degenerated into a bitter, almost misogynistic power struggle stemming from Matt's depression over Elektra's death. Natasha and Foggy arranged for the two to break up, sending forged farewell letters to both parties.[22]

Despite helping Matt to overcome the Hand and revive Elektra, Natasha realized that Matt still only thought of her in platonic terms, despite how much they loved the other, and elected to restrain herself from any advances.[23]

The Champions

After their breakup, the Widow moves to Los Angeles and becomes leader of the newly created and short-lived super team known as The Champions, consisting of her, Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze), Hercules (with whom she has a brief romance), and former X-Men Angel and Iceman.[24]

Her friends often call her "Natasha", the informal version of "Natalia". She has sometimes chosen the last-name alias "Romanoff"—evidently as a private joke on those who are not aware that Russian family names use different endings for males and females. She has been hinted to be a descendant of the destroyed Romanov royal family and a relation to Nicholas II of Russia.

21st century

Natasha crosses Daredevil's (Matt Murdock) path again when he attempts to slay an infant he believes to be the Anti-Christ. After Daredevil's one-time love, Karen Page, dies protecting the child, Natasha reconciles with Murdock, revealing she still loves him, but noting that he is too full of anger to commit to a relationship with her.[25]

Natasha later becomes aware of Yelena Belova, a young woman who is the second Black Widow, who had also been trained at the Red Room.[volume & issue needed] On a government assignment in Rhapastan, she confronted a far different legacy of her past: Yelena Belova, a young woman desperate to prove herself Natasha’s better as the new Black Widow. Loath to see another manipulated as she had been for so long, Natasha arranged for her successor and herself to temporarily swap identities so that Yelena, as Natasha, could hear how her superiors considered her an expendable pawn.[volume & issue needed] After bringing the Avengers and the Thunderbolts together to overcome Count Nefaria, Natasha supported Daredevil's short-lived efforts to form a new super-team to capture the Punisher, originally believed to be Nick Fury's murderer.[volume & issue needed] Despite recruitment endeavors, however, this vigilante group folded shortly after she and her teammate Dagger fought an army of renegade S.H.I.E.L.D. androids; ironically, she soon afterward worked with both Daredevil and Punisher against the European crime syndicate managed by the Brothers Grace.[volume & issue needed] Months later, her pursuit of war criminal Anatoly Krylenko led to a clash with Hawkeye, whose pessimism regarding heroic activities now rivaled her own.[volume & issue needed]

Shortly after the Scarlet Witch’s insanity seemingly killed Hawkeye, and again disbanded the Avengers, Natasha, weary of espionage and adventure, travelled to Arizona but was targeted. Natasha discovers that other women had been trained in the Black Widow Program, and all are now being hunted down and killed[volume & issue needed] by the North Institute on behalf of the corporation Gynacon.[volume & issue needed] Natasha’s investigations led her back to Russia, where she was appalled to learn the previously unimagined extent of her past manipulation, and she discovered the Widows were being hunted because Gynacon, having purchased Russian biotechnology from Red Room’s successor agency 2R, wanted all prior users of the technology dead. Natasha finds and kills the mastermind of the Black Widow murders: an aging CEO who intended to use part of their genetic structure to create a new chemical weapon.[volume & issue needed] After killing Gynacon CEO Ian McMasters, she clashed with operatives of multiple governments to help Sally Anne Carter, a girl Natasha had befriended in her investigations, whom she rescued with help from Daredevil and Yelena Belova.[volume & issue needed] She soon returned the favor for Daredevil by reluctantly working with Elektra Natchios to protect his new wife, Milla Donovan, from the FBI and others, although Yelena proved beyond help when she agreed to be transformed into the new Super-Adaptoid by A.I.M. and HYDRA.[volume & issue needed]

Civil War/Initiative

During the Superhero Civil War, Natasha becomes a supporter of the Superhuman Registration Act and a member of the taskforce led by Iron Man.[26] Afterward, the registered Natasha joins the reconstituted Avengers. When S.H.I.E.L.D. director Tony Stark is presumed killed and deputy director Maria Hill incapacitated, Natasha assumes temporary command of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the highest-ranking agent present.

Later, Tony Stark assigns Natasha to convey the late Captain America's shield to a secure location, but is intercepted by her former lover, Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, who steals the shield. Natasha and the Falcon then rescue Barnes from the Red Skull's minions, and bring him to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, where Stark convinces Bucky to become the new Captain America. Afterward, Natasha accompanies Bucky as his partner for a brief time until she is called back by S.H.I.E.L.D.[27] She later rejoins him and Falcon for the final confrontation with the Red Skull, helping to rescue Sharon Carter. She and Bucky have restarted their relationship.[28] She later plays an important role in the capture of Hercules. However due to her respect of the Greek god, she let him go.[29] Soon Natasha, along with the rest of the Avengers, gets involved in the current Skrull invasion.[30] Afterwards, she stayed as Bucky's partner.[31] She also assists former director Maria Hill in delivering a special form of data to Bucky.[32]

Thunderbolts

Norman Osborn discovered Yelena Belova breaking into an abandoned S.H.I.E.L.D. facility, and offered her the position of field leader of the new Thunderbolts. On her first mission, she and Ant-Man take control of Air Force One with the Goblin, Doc Samson, and the new President aboard.[33] It was suggested she faked her apparent death (as the Adaptoid) but it is never explained how.

A conversation with the Ghost implies that Yelena is working as a mole for someone else and that she may even be someone else disguised as Yelena. She is later seen talking privately through a comm-link to Nick Fury.[34]

Osborn orders Yelena to lead the current Thunderbolts to kill former Thunderbolt, Songbird. Fury orders "Yelena" to rescue and retrieve Songbird, for the information she might possess about Osborn and his operations. Yelena finds Songbird, and reveals to her that she was really Natasha Romanova in disguise.[35] She tries delivering Songbird to Fury, but the Thunderbolts have also followed them.[36] The trio are captured as Osborn reveals he had been impersonating Fury in messages all along to set Natasha up in order to strengthen the Thunderbolts and lead him to Fury. She and Songbird are brought to be executed but manage to escape when Ant-Man, Headsmen and Paladin turn on the rest of the Thunderbolts and let them go.[37]

Heroic Age

At the start of the Heroic Age, Natasha is recruited by Steve Rogers into a new black-ops wing of the Avengers, dubbed the Secret Avengers. She travels to Dubai with her new teammate, Valkyrie, where they steal a dangerous artifact which the Beast then studies, noting that it seems like a distant cousin of the Serpent Crown.[38] In the story "Coppelia", she encounters a teenage clone of herself, code named "Tiny Dancer", whom she rescued from an arms dealer.[39]

During the "Ends of the Earth" storyline involving one of Doctor Octopus's schemes, Natasha is one of only three heroes left standing after the Sinister Six defeat the Avengers,[40] joining Silver Sable and Spider-Man to track the Six (albeit because she was closest to Sable's cloaked ship after the Avengers were defeated).[41] She is later contacted by the Titanium Man to warn her and her allies about Doctor Octopus's attempt to rally other villains against Spider-Man.[42] She is knocked out along with Hawkeye by Iron Man during a battle against the Avengers when they were temporarily under Octavius's remote control.[43]

Powers and abilities

The Black Widow is a world class athlete, gymnast, acrobat, aerialist capable of numerous complex maneuvers and feats, expert martial artist (including karate, judo, ninjutsu, aikido, savate, various styles of kung fu, and boxing), marksman, and weapons specialist as well as having extensive espionage training.[44] She is also an accomplished ballerina.

Natasha has received the Red Room's variant of the Super-Soldier Serum. As a result, her physical and mental abilities had been enhanced slightly beyond human limits.[45]

The Black Widow has been enhanced by biotechnology that makes her body resistant to aging and disease and heals at an above human rate;[46] as well as psychological conditioning that suppresses her memory of true events as opposed to implanted ones of the past without the aid of specially designed system suppressant drugs, attempts to do so result in extreme biological reactions, indicated as vomiting and black-outs.[volume & issue needed] The Soviet experimentation has rendered her body infertile.[volume & issue needed]

Due to the Super-Soldier Serum, the white blood cells in her body are efficient enough to fight off any microbe, foreign body and others from her body, keeping her healthy and immune to most, if not all infections, diseases and disorders. Also, it takes quite a bit for Natasha to become intoxicated.[volume & issue needed]

Her agility is greater than that of an Olympic gold medalist. She can coordinate her body with balance, flexibility, and dexterity easily.[47]

Her bodily tissues have been augmented to superhuman development. She possesses exceptional durability, strength, endurance, and stamina.[44]

Natasha's reaction time is similarly enhanced and functions with the peak of human efficiency and capability, bordering on superhuman level. It is possible for Natasha to dodge a bullet even at point blank range.[44]

Natasha has a gifted intellect.[48] She displays an uncanny affinity for psychological manipulation and can mask her real emotions perfectly. Like Steve Rogers, she possesses the ability to quickly process multiple information streams (e.g., threat assessment) and rapidly respond to changing tactical situations.[48]

Natasha is an expert tactician. She is a very effective strategist, tactician, and field commander. She has led the Avengers and even S.H.I.E.L.D. on one occasion.[48]

Within 2010's Black Widow: Deadly Origin miniseries, another level to the Biotechnology is that Natasha has been subjected to wear "nanites", designed to be passed from her body with even the slightest touch.[volume & issue needed] These nanites were a part of something called the "Icepick Protocol" and when activated could incite someone to homicidal rage. A counter form of these were also introduced to her body so as she could neutralize the activated nanites in another.[volume & issue needed]

Equipment

The Black Widow uses a variety of equipment invented by Soviet scientists and technicians, with later improvements by S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists and technicians. She usually wears distinctively shaped bracelets which fire the Widow's Bite electro-static energy blasts that can deliver charges up to 30,000 volts, as well as "Widow's Line" grappling hooks, tear gas pellets, along with a new element introduced during her ongoing series during the "Kiss or Kill" arc called the "Widow's Kiss"; an aerosol instant knock-out gas she has modified.[48] She wears a belt of metallic discs, some with disc-charges containing plastic explosives, others have been shown to be compartments to house other equipment. Her costume consists of synthetic stretch fabric equipped with micro-suction cups on fingers and feet, enabling her to adhere to walls and ceilings. In the 2006 "Homecoming" mini-series, she was seen using knives, unarmed combat, and various firearms, but she has since begun using her bracelets again.[48] While in disguise as Yelena Bolova when infiltrating the then Osborn-sanctioned Thunderbolts during "Dark Reign" she used a specialed multi-lense goggle/head-carapace that demonstrated various technical abilities enhancing vision and communication.[volume & issue needed] Later, she has used a modified gun based on her Widow's Bite wrist cartridge, during her adventures alongside the new Captain America.[44]

Other versions

1602

In Marvel 1602, a world where superheroes have started to appear several hundred years early, Natasha is a freelance spy and "the most dangerous woman in Europe." Initially allied with Matthew Murdoch (Daredevil's 1602 counterpart), she later betrays him to Count Otto Von Doom.

Natasha is still working with Count von Doom during Marvel 1602: Fantastick Four, when she is captain of his flying ship. However, when she questions his plan to take the ship to the edge of the world, he pushes her over the side and appoints the Wizard captain.

The Avengers: United They Stand

Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow appeared in the comic-book series based on the animated television series The Avengers: United They Stand.

House of M

Natasha is seen as a member of the Soviet Super Soldiers.[49] Natasha later appears a member of Shang-Chi's Red Dragons,[50] and is mentioned as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D.[51]

Marvel Mangaverse

She appears in the New Dawn arc where The Executioner and she are hired by Mordo to kidnap Bruce Banner. They manage to succeed in doing so, with her escaping with Bruce while Tigra is dealing with The Executioner intent on keeping the reward for the job herself. However during her escape, Bruce turns into The Hulk and destroys the submarine they were in, presumably killing her.[volume & issue needed]

Marvel Zombies

Black Widow is among the Avengers who are infected by the Sentry in Marvel Zombies vs. the Army of Darkness. She is seen consuming a yorkie puppy.[volume & issue needed] Later, in the original Marvel Zombies series, she is among the zombies who attack the Silver Surfer, and is presumably destroyed.[volume & issue needed]

Ultimate Marvel

Under the Ultimate Marvel imprint Natasha Romanova is a member of the Ultimates, this universe's analogue of the Avengers. She debuted in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up No. 14 (June 2002) in a story written by Brian Michael Bendis and drawn by Terry Moore, before becoming one of the major characters in writer Mark Millar and penciller Bryan Hitch's The Ultimates, debuting there in No. 7 (Sept. 2002).

Romanova is a former KGB spy and assassin, code-named the Black Widow, known for killing her ex husbands, notably Alexi Shostakov.[52] She was originally part of the Ultimates' covert operations ("black ops") team, but with the emergence of the Chitauri threat was subsequently moved to public status after a publicly acceptable background was written for her.[53] The Widow has genetic or cybernetic enhancements making her far better in combat than the average human. After accepting a marriage proposal from Tony Stark, she receives a black suit of Iron Man armor as an engagement present, along with a set of nanites to control the armor.[54]

Romanova is later revealed as a traitor, responsible for killing Hawkeye's wife and children, revealing Bruce Banner's connection to the Hulk to the public, and collaborating with the Liberators in their invasion of the United States. After she holds Stark hostage in an attempt to extort his fortune and murder Edwin Jarvis, Stark activates the nanites in her bloodstream, freezing her body in place, before knocking her unconscious with a wine bottle.[55] She appears later in an emergency clinic, having cut open her wrists to bleed out the disabling nanites.[56] Hawkeye kills her in revenge for her part in the murder of his family.[57]

By Ultimates 3 No. 1, in an alternate universe, a sex tape between Natasha and Tony Stark has been leaked to the public. According to Janet Pym, the tape is of unknown origin and seems to have been professionally done with "close ups". Stark is shown to be in a state of depression over Natasha's betrayal and subsequent death.[58] It is later revealed that one of the Ultrons, calling himself Yellowjacket had leaked the tape.[59] During the Brotherhood attack on the Stark Mansion, Mystique shapeshifts into Natasha to get close to Tony in an attempt to kill him but is knocked unconscious by Wasp.[60]

In other media

Television

Film

Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2
  • The Ultimate version of Black Widow appears in the Ultimate Avengers direct-to-video movie and its sequel, Ultimate Avengers 2, voiced by Olivia d'Abo.
  • In 2004, Lions Gate Entertainment announced that a Black Widow motion picture featuring the Natasha Romanova version, was in the script stage by screenwriter-director David Hayter.[64] Lions Gate subsequently dropped the project.[65]
  • In March 2009 Scarlett Johansson signed on to play Natasha Romanoff/The Black Widow in the film Iron Man 2.[66] In the film she is an undercover spy for S.H.I.E.L.D. posing as Stark's assistant.[67] Johansson was cast after a scheduling conflict forced Emily Blunt to drop out of the part.[68] On July 16, 2009, Entertainment Weekly released the first publicity images of Johansson as the character.[69] According to Marvel Studios' president Kevin Feige, the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on Black Widow's uniform had to be edited out of the teaser material for the film in order to avoid revealing that plot twist.[70]
  • Johansson reprises the role in The Avengers. Shortly after Iron Man 2's release, she had expressed a desire to reprise her role in the film. In the same interview, Johansson claimed that Marvel Studios was "really behind" including Black Widow in the movie.[71] At San Diego Comic-Con International 2010, it was confirmed by director Joss Whedon that Johansson would be playing Black Widow in the film.[72]
  • In September 2010 during a press conference for the Iron Man 2 Blu-ray and DVD release, Kevin Feige stated "We've already started discussions with Scarlett about the idea of a solo movie and have begun putting together concepts. But The Avengers comes first."[73]

Motion comics

Video games

Toys

Reception

The Black Widow was ranked as the 176th greatest comic book character in Wizard magazine.[76] IGN also ranked her as the 74th greatest comic book character stating that wherever conspiracy and treachery are afoot, you can expect the Black Widow to appear to save the day.[77] She was ranked 31st in Comics Buyer's Guide's "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.[78]

Bibliography

Eponymous series

In addition to appearances in other Marvel comics, the Black Widow has headlined the following self-titled series:

  • Black Widow vol. 1, #1–3 (Marvel Comics / Marvel Knights, 1999)
  • Black Widow vol. 2, #1–3 (Marvel Comics / Marvel Knights, 2001)
  • Black Widow vol. 3, #1–6 (Marvel Comics / Marvel Knights, 2004–2005)
    • Black Widow 2 #1–6 (Marvel Comics / Marvel Knights, 2005–2006, covers subtitled with The Things They Say About Her but internal indicia reads simply Black Widow 2, indicating it is a sequel to the 2004 mini-series by the same writer)
  • Black Widow vol. 4, #1–8 (Marvel Comics, 2010–2011)

Additional series

The Black Widow has also starred in the following one-shots, mini-series, and specials:

  • Black Widow: Web of Intrigue one-shot (Marvel Comics, 1999, reprinting early appearances)
  • Marvel Milestones featuring Ghost Rider, Black Widow, and Iceman one-shot (Marvel Comics, 2005, reprint issue)
  • Black Widow and the Marvel Girls #1–4 (Marvel Comics, 2010)
  • Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1–4 (Marvel Comics, 2010)
  • Fear Itself: Black Widow one-shot (Marvel Comics, 2011)
  • Widowmaker #1–4 (Marvel Comics, 2011, continuation of Black Widow vol. 4)

Original graphic novels

The Black Widow has been the focus of several original graphic novels and prestige format one-shots:

  • Black Widow: The Coldest War softcover original graphic novel (Marvel Comics, 1990, 64 pages, ISBN 978-0-87135-643-7)
  • Punisher / Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web softcover original graphic novel (Marvel Comics, 1992, ISBN 978-0-87135-736-6)
  • Daredevil / Black Widow: Abbatoir original graphic novel (Marvel Comics, 1993, ISBN 978-0-87135-783-0)
  • Fury / Black Widow: Death Duty prestige format one-shot (Marvel Comics, 1995, 64 pages, ISBN 978-0-7851-0156-7)

Collected editions

Title Material Collected ISBN Publication Date
Black Widow vol. 1: Homecoming Black Widow vol. 3, #1–6 0785114939 May 11, 2005
Black Widow vol. 2: The Things They Say About Her Black Widow 2 #1–6 0785117687 June 7, 2006
Black Widow: The Sting of the Widow Tales of Suspense No. 52, The Amazing Spider-Man No. 86, Amazing Adventures vol. 2 #1–8, and Daredevil No. 81 0785137947 September 2, 2009
Black Widow: Deadly Origin Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1–4 0785143017 March 17, 2010
Black Widow: Web of Intrigue Marvel Fanfare #10–13, Bizarre Adventures No. 25, and Black Widow: The Coldest War 0785144749 April 7, 2010
Black Widow: The Name of the Rose Black Widow vol. 4, #1–5 and material from Enter the Heroic Age one-shot 0785143548 January 5, 2011
Black Widow: Kiss or Kill Black Widow vol. 4, #6–8 and material from Iron Man: Kiss and Kill one-shot 0785147012 August 10, 2011
Hawkeye & Mockingbird / Black Widow: Widowmaker Solo Avengers #16–18, Widowmaker #1–4 0785152059 April 20, 2011
Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider Black Widow vol. 1, #1–3; Black Widow vol. 2, #1–3 0785158278 November 16, 2011

See also

References

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  4. ^ Black Widow #1–6 (Nov. 2004–April 2005)
  5. ^ Captain America vol. 5 No. 27 (Aug. 2007)
  6. ^ Tales of Suspense Vol 1 #52
  7. ^ Tales of Suspense #52–53 (Apr. 1964–May 1964)
  8. ^ Tales of Suspense #57 (Sept. 1964)
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  36. ^ Secret Warriors #7 (Oct. 2009)
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  38. ^ Secret Avengers #1
  39. ^ Enter the Heroic Age #3
  40. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #683
  41. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #684
  42. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #685
  43. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #687
  44. ^ a b c d Black Widow: Deadly Origin #2 (Feb. 2010)
  45. ^ Black Widow No. 6 (Feb. 2005)
  46. ^ Black Widow: Breakdown No. 2 (Feb. 2001)
  47. ^ Black Widow No. 6 (Feb. 2005)
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  54. ^ The Ultimates 2 #2
  55. ^ Ultimates 2 #8
  56. ^ Ultimates 2 #13
  57. ^ The Ultimates 2 #12 (Aug. 2006)
  58. ^ Ultimates 3 #1
  59. ^ Ultimates 3 #4
  60. ^ The Ultimates 3 #2
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  66. ^ Nikki Finke (March 11, 2009). "Another Iron Man 2 Deal". Nikki Finke's Deadline Hollywood Daily. Retrieved March 12, 2009.
  67. ^ Alex Billington (June 7, 2009). "Profile on Marvel Studios with Big Updates from Kevin Feige". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved June 12, 2009.
  68. ^ Nicole Sperling (February 13, 2009). "'Iron Man 2': Scarlett Johansson to replace Emily Blunt as Black Widow?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
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  71. ^ Manelis, Michele (May 3, 2010). "Interview: Scarlett Johansson". Nine To Five. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  72. ^ "SDCC '10: Avengers, Captain America and Thor Movie Panel". Cosmic Book News. July 24, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
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  74. ^ "Industry Pro: Actress/Voiceover Artist Catherine Campion". Your Industry Insider. October 5, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2012.
  75. ^ "Black Widow joins Marvel Heroes". Marvel Heroes. May 22, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  76. ^ "Wizard's top 200 characters. External link consists of a forum site summing up the top 200 characters of Wizard Magazine since the real site that contains the list is broken". Wizard magazine. Retrieved May 7, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  77. ^ "Black Widow is number 74". IGN. Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  78. ^ Frankenhoff, Brent (2011). Comics Buyer's Guide Presents: 100 Sexiest Women in Comics. Krause Publications. p. 27. ISBN 1-4402-2988-0.
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