Black Widow (Natalia Alianovna "Natasha" Romanova); Russian: Наталья Альяновна "Наташа" Романова) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck, the character debuted in Tales of Suspense #52 (April 1964). The character was introduced as a Russian 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.
Powers and abilities[]
Black Widow has been enhanced by biotechnology that makes her body resistant to aging and disease and heals above the human rate. The white blood cells in her body are also enhanced by these implants, making them efficient enough to fight off most microbes, foreign bodies and other threats to her body, keeping her healthy and immune to most, if not all infections, diseases and physical disorders.
Romanova has a gifted intellect. 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 (such as threat assessment) and rapidly respond to changing tactical situations, as well as having extensive espionage training.
Black Widow is a world-class athlete, gymnast, acrobat, aerialist capable of numerous complex maneuvers and feats. She can coordinate her body with balance, flexibility, and dexterity easily, and is an accomplished ballerina. She has mastered several martial arts such as jiu jitsu, aikido, boxing, judo, karate, savate, ninjutsu, various styles of kung fu and kenpo, as well as the Russian martial art sambo. She also underwent training on how to masterfully use sidearms, marksman rifles and melee weapons such as batons and combat knives.
She is also a skilled hypnotist. She uses a combination of techniques such as direct eye contact, hypnotic conversational patterns and a soothing demeanor to reporters subjects' mind, influence thoughts, implant dormant post-hypnotic commands, or even affect memories and personality traits.
Equipment[]
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, and 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. She wears a belt of metallic discs; some are disc-charges containing plastic explosives, while others have been shown to be compartments for housing 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. While in disguise as Yelena Belova, when infiltrating the then Osborn-sanctioned Thunderbolts during "Dark Reign", she used a specialized multi-lens goggle/head-carapace that demonstrated various technical abilities enhancing vision and communication. Later, she has used a modified gun based on her Widow's Bite wrist cartridge, during her adventures alongside the new Captain America.
In other media[]
- Black Widow appeared in the Iron Man portion of The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Margaret Griffin.
- Black Widow appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Deadly is the Black Widow's Bite", voiced by Lena Headey.
- Black Widow appeared in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Vanessa Marshall.
- Black Widow appears in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, voiced by Ashleigh Ball.
- Black Widow appears in Avengers Assemble, voiced by Laura Bailey.
- Black Widow appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload, voiced by Laura Bailey.
- Black Widow appears in the television special Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled, voiced again by Laura Bailey.
- Black Widow appears in the Spider-Man episode "Spider-Island" Part 2, voiced again by Laura Bailey.
- Black Widow appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda, voiced again by Laura Bailey.
- Scarlett Johansson portrays Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Johansson made her debut appearance in Iron Man 2, followed by The Avengers (2012), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)