Get To Know a Hero: Natalia “Natasha” Romonova “Romanoff” AKA The Black Widow
Figured it might be fun given the interlude between big Marvel flicks to take a little time to get to know the major players. All information garnered from Marvel.com
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #52 (1964). Origins further explored in Avengers #44 (1967) and Daredevil #88 (1972)
The Basics:
Born: Stalingrad, 1928
Died: by poisoning, resurrected by magic
Abilities: Ages slowly, augmented immune system, durability
Affiliations: The Black Widow Project, SHIELD, The Avengers, The Defenders
Other Careers: Ballet Dancer (spy cover)
Primary Allies: Ivan Petrovitch, Wolverine, Steve Rogers (Captain America), Carol Danvers (Ms. Marvel/Captain Marvel), Nick Fury, Clint Barton (Hawkeye), Matt Murdoch (Daredevil), Warren Worthington III (Angel/Archangel), Bobby Drake (Ice Man), Johnny Blaze (Ghost Rider), Frank Castle (The Punisher)
Primary Romantic Partners: Alexi Shustov, Tony Stark, Clint Barton, Matt Murdoch, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark (again), Hercules, Bruce Banner
Career Summary:
Hold on to your butts.
Natasha was orphaned in the attack on Stalingrad during WWII. Her training by Soviet intelligence began in the late 30s. In 1941, the Hand attempted to brainwash her to serve their purposes, but she was rescued by “Ivan” and Captain America.
After WWII, Natasha entered the Black Widow program (side note: Bucky Barnes AKA The Winter Soldier is said to have been one of her instructors). She was, at that time, also trained as a ballerina, a profession that allowed her to cross the Iron Curtain more freely as a spy. She was married by government order, to a test pilot named Alexi Shustov. The KGB faked his death in a rocket test for reasons not entirely clear to me (anyone? Bueller?), after which Natasha completed her spy training, winning the spot of The Black Widow (I didn’t promise it was going to make sense, did I).
She acted as a Russian agent for an extended period though she did help her old pal Wolverine out on a mission for the Canadian Security Agency. After which the ended up enemies again because comics and Weapon X mind wipes.
Circumstances conspire and Natasha is sent to steal some tech from Tony Stark via the “romancing him” tactic (don’t look at me, that’s what the Marvel website says). Successful at first, she’s after defeated by Iron Man, at which point, she “romances” Clint Barton and convinces him they should go after Iron Man together. He kicks their asses, but apparently, her “romancing” is convincing because Hawkeye goes with her on her next mission. Spider-Man kicks Hawkeye’s ass.
Hawkeye grows some sort of patriotic idealism for some reason, decides the Commies aren’t for him, and convinces Natasha to rebel against her evil overlords. They talk her into not so much rebelling. She and Hawkeye (who has apparently changes his mind again. Maybe more romancing?) go after Iron Man again and, once more, get their asses kicked.
Natasha goes back to Russia, fights against The Avengers, decides there’s something to the avenging thing, changes her mind again, and defects to the US on an extended visa (details, we must have them) facilitated by none other than Nick Fury. She freelances for SHIELD and the Avengers, finds out her dead husband isn’t so dead. He dies again (but not really). Then, Hawkeye proposes and dies (but not really). After which, her old savior “Ivan” pops up and she says, “fuck all ya’ll,” and heads off with him to pursue a solo vigilante career.
Still with me?
Good, because this is where it gets weird. No, seriously.
A time traveling android hooks Natasha up with Matt Murdoch (she saves him), then frames her for murder so he can defend her in court. He gets her off and they “pal” (again, direct quote) around for a while fighting crime and doing… other things. If you’ve read the Frank Miller Daredevil run, you won’t have to use your imagination. They move to California together and eventually break up because drama. She remains there, joins up with one of the myriad subsets of X-Men, blah blah blah, difference of personalities, goes back to SHIELD, takes another spin with The Avengers, and with Daredevil.
Natasha is eventually murdered by The Hand, who tried to make a grab for her all those years ago. Needless to say, she’s resurrected and hooks up with Frank Castle, then once more with Wolverine. After that, she finally becomes a full time Avenger, deputy leader to Cap. She gets brainwashed, breaks her programming, becomes actual leader of The Avengers for a while, though she still freelances with SHIELD and Daredevil.
Even The Black Widow can’t Widow forever and, eventually, Natasha retires.
She comes out of retirement to side with Stark during Civil War.
And there you have it.
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