Natasha Romanoff was raised as a spy, and she has spent her entire life in that profession - which means that she excels at keeping personal details to herself. [83], Romanoff's final film appearance in the MCU garnered mixed reviews. Several alternate versions of Romanoff appear in the animated series What If?, in which she is voiced by Lake Bell.[2]. [76], During the "Infinity Countdown" storyline, the Black Widow clone traced a dead drop signal left by a revived Wolverine in Madripoor. facility, and offered her the position of field leader of the new Thunderbolts. After she murders Edwin Jarvis and holds Stark hostage in an attempt to extort his fortune, Stark activates the nanites in her bloodstream, freezing her body in place, before knocking her unconscious with a wine bottle. For The Avengers, I've spent so many months training with our stunt team, and fighting all the other actors, it's crazy. "[52] She stated that she had "a bit of a freak-out moment" when she first saw the cat-suit. a universe where her counterpart was killed by Pym, Characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, "The Avengers Secretly Set Up Black Widow's Solo Movie", "Guardians Of The Multiverse Explained: Why Every Team Member Is Chosen", "Lions Gate & Marvel Sign Iron Fist & Black Widow Deal", "David Hayter to Direct The Black Widow! Movies. There, she is biotechnologically and psycho-technologically enhancedwhich provides a rationale for her unusually long and youthful lifespan. [56] 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. [12] 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. The Widow guest-starred in issues of Solo Avengers, Force Works, Iron Man, Marvel Team-Up, and other comics. [119] Natasha later appears a member of Shang-Chi's Red Dragons,[120] and is mentioned as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. Daredevil writer Gerry Conway recounted, "It was my idea to team up Daredevil and the Black Widow, mainly because I was a fan of Natasha, and thought she and Daredevil would have interesting chemistry. She is told to rendezvous with another agent, her classmate Marina, and befriend the family under the guise of a Russian businesswoman. Romanoff was depicted as an expert spy and hand-to-hand combatant, trained in the Red Room from childhood to be a KGB assassin. [15] Johansson then reprised the role in The Avengers (2012),[16][17] Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014),[18] Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015),[19] Captain America: Civil War (2016),[20][21][22][23] Avengers: Infinity War (2018)[24][25] Captain Marvel (in a brief mid-credits appearance),[26] and in a leading role in Avengers: Endgame (2019). However, Natasha's mother became determined to get her daughter back, doing everything she could to reclaim her. Barton sacrifices himself after being overwhelmed by Ultron's sentries, and the upload fails when Zola reveals that Ultron was no longer in their universe. She has hinted to be a descendant of the deposed House of Romanov and a relation to Nicholas II of Russia. These versions include an incarnation of Romanoff who sees her world decimated by an alternate version of Ultron, eventually resulting in her being recruited into the Guardians of the Multiverse by the Watcher. Give them a problem and they'll have different ways of approaching it. The first story arc was written by Marjorie Liu with art by Daniel Acua. Having . [31] For a time, as writer 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. Romanoff fights Barton and knocks him unconscious, breaking Loki's mind control. These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list. When Natasha asks if she should kill the child too, her boss looks horrified that she would be so OK with that and tells her no. [81] The character has also been involved with Matt Murdock in the comics, while the two have never had any interactions during the course of their appearances in the MCU. Zola reveals that ever since S.H.I.E.L.D. Barton visits a memorial to the assembling of the Avengers where he verbalizes aloud that he misses her. [115], In the Age of Ultron story, Black Widow is shown after Ultron's attack with disfiguring scars on the right side of her face from an unknown source, disarming a desperate and panicked man who attempts to threaten her for resources before meeting up with Moon Knight in one of Nick Fury's old bases. [39], In July 2016, Joss Whedon, the director of The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron, stated that he was open to directing a Black Widow film, feeling he could make "a spy thriller. In 2009, Romanoff was sent on a mission to Odessa to protect a scientist, but was confronted by the Winter Soldier. [23] Romanova later meets the criminal archer Hawkeye and sets him against Iron Man,[24] and later helped Hawkeye battle Iron Man. You could explore the Widow program. I feel like I'm going out on a high note with a movie I'm incredibly proud of. [78] She grew up in a false family with Alexei Shostakov and Melina Vostokoff as her 'parents' and Yelena Belova as her younger 'sister'. This includes her exact. [14], She starred in the solo graphic novel Black Widow: The Coldest War (April 1990),[13] and co-starred in three more: Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web (Dec. 1992); Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (July 1993); and Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (June 1995), also co-starring Marvel UK's Night Raven. In Budapest, with Barton's help, Romanoff rigs a bomb in an attempt to kill Dreykov, seemingly killing his daughter Antonia in the process. Romanoff later appears before a U.S. Senate subcommittee to defend her and Rogers' actions. This brought her under S.H.I.E.L.D. Captain America: The Winter Soldier established that Romanoff was born in 1984 and Black Widow's prologue introduced young Natasha (Ever Anderson) in 1995 when she was 11 years old. [volume&issueneeded], The Secret Wars War Zone of 1872 reimagines Natasha in the Wild West in the town of Timely. posing as Stark's new assistant. [86] She has mastered several martial arts such as jiu jitsu, aikido,[87] boxing,[87] judo,[88][87] karate,[88][87] savate,[87] ninjutsu,[89] various styles of kung fu and kenpo, as well as the Russian martial art sambo. They've fought together for a long time in a lot of battles in many different countries. [7], In 2004, Lionsgate acquired the film rights for Black Widow,[8] and in April announced that a Black Widow motion picture, featuring the Natasha Romanova version, was in the script stage by screenwriter-director David Hayter, with Avi Arad producing. [29] While promoting Captain America: Civil War the next April, Feige noted that due to the announced schedule of films, any potential Black Widow film would be four or five years away. Natasha Romanoff is nothing if not a hero of many secrets, so it's no surprise the intimate details of her background, save for a few glimpses, are a mystery. [volume&issueneeded] S.H.I.E.L.D. [102] Comics Buyer's Guide ranked Black Widow 31st in their "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list. Go Inside the Action-Packed World of Natasha Romanoff in Marvel's Black Widow: The Art of the Movie, Copy That: Marvels Wildest Clone Stories. "[47] The film was expected to be released in May 2020, but was delayed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[48] with the new release date being July 9, 2021. [78] Romanova grew up to serve as a femme fatale. [43] Natasha refers to her as "little one" and "rooskaya (meaning "Russian"), and encourages her to discover her individuality rather than live in blind service, asking her "why be Black Widow, when you can be Yelena Belova? [volume&issueneeded] Months later, her pursuit of war criminal Anatoly Krylenko led to a clash with Hawkeye, whose pessimism regarding heroic activities now rivaled her own. The Widow later becomes a recurring ally of the team before officially becoming its 16th member many years later. ", "Writer Nathan Edmondson Talks Black Widow #1", "New look at Eisner-winning team's reboot of Marvel Comics' Black Widow", "The Greatest Black Widow Stories Ever Told! The pair almost succeeded, but when Black Widow was injured, Hawkeye retreated to get her to safety. Natalia Alianovna Romanoff ( ) Alias (es) Natasha Romanoff Natalie Rushman Black Widow ( ) Natalia Alianovna Romanova Laura Matthers Zsuzsanna Maza Rufina Zueva ( ) Nicole Rowley Nat The Notary Master Assassin Tatiana Sokolova Alion Vans Irina Zlataryova Marya Konn One-Woman Catastrophe Old Maid Audrey We have a request This is the last week of Vox's birthday month pledge drive. [60], During the "Ends of the Earth" storyline involving one of Doctor Octopus' schemes, Natasha is one of only three heroes left standing after the defeat of the Avengers by the Sinister Six,[61] 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 rather than for her prowess). as he blames them for the death of his daughter Hope- before being killed by him. As Romanoff unknowingly drives off with the antidote, she is attacked by Taskmaster. Black Widow is definitely one of the team, though. Arriving on a Helicarrier where Fury, Rogers, and Danvers are fighting Loki and his Asgardian army, she seizes Loki's scepter and subdues him before being greeted by Fury. In September 2010, while promoting the home media release of Iron Man 2, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige indicated interest in producing a solo Black Widow film,[30] and stated that discussions with Johansson had already taken place regarding a Black Widow standalone film, but that Marvel's focus was on 2012's The Avengers. She comforts Rogers after Peggy Carter's funeral and is present in Vienna where the accords were to be ratified and survives the bombing that kills Wakandan King T'Chaka, T'Challa's father. Natasha Romanoff was born in the Soviet Union as Natalia Alianovna Romanova ( ). [54], Osborn orders Yelena to lead the current Thunderbolts to kill former Thunderbolt, Songbird. [4], Immediately after her initial solo feature ended, the Black Widow co-starred in Daredevil #81124 (Nov. 1971Aug. In The Avengers, the character's close friendship with Clint Barton is indicated, about which Johansson said, "Our characters have a long history. After Thanos erases half of all life, Romanoff lead the Avengers for five years until she sacrificed herself, successfully helping the Avengers restore trillions of lives across the universe. director Nick Fury is presumed killed,[volume&issueneeded] and deputy director Maria Hill incapacitated,[volume&issueneeded] so Natasha assumes temporary command of S.H.I.E.L.D. [volume&issueneeded] 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. 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. and a member of the superhero team the Avengers. The team discuss Vision and the Mind Stone, before deciding to travel to Wakanda in hopes the Stone can be removed safely. Using data in the flash drive, they discover a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. Romanoff then joins in the battle against the Outriders. Natasha and Turgenov infiltrated Stark Industries as part of the plan. [127] It is later revealed that one of the Ultrons calling himself Yellowjacket had leaked the tape. Natasha will have to eliminate her. I feel like my work with Natasha is complete, if that is such a thing. We all have our various skills and it feels equal".[54]. Finding a file on Arnim Zola, they go to the Hydra Siberian Facility and attempt to upload Zola's copied consciousness into Ultron's hive mind and eliminate him. It would have to be the best version that movie could possibly be. From the West Coast to Wakanda, these Super Heroes set the example for what it means to be a leader! Announces Avengers 4 Return", "Black Widow Heads to Japan in Avengers 4 Set Photos", "BLACK WIDOW Movie: Scarlett Johansson and Kevin Feige Have Discussed a Series of Films", "Feige: Black Widow's Past to be Explored in Avengers 2 and Possible Solo Film", "Screenwriter Nicole Perlman gives us the scoop on Guardians, Marvel, and more! Flipping back to the present, Black Widow is back saving people from the incursion as the reason that triggered Natasha's flashback is revealed a man she saved is holding his cat. Her friends usually call her "Natasha", the informal version of "Natalia". She had made frequent guest appearances in Daredevil since the late 1970s. An emotional Belova spares Barton's life and leaves. [volume&issueneeded] After killing 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. [130], Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Scarlett Johansson. She convinces him to return to the team. [volume&issueneeded], Natasha Romanova appeared in the Earth X miniseries much the same as her 616 counterpart. ", "The Comics Creators Thanked In Black Widow And Who They Missed", "John Romita, Sr. Interview - Comic Book Artist #6 - TwoMorrows Publishing", "Marvel Comics Solicitations for April 2010", "NYCC: Spencer's "Secret Avengers" are the Newest Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In 2012, Romanoff is being interrogated by Russian criminals when Agent Phil Coulson contacts her to inform her that Barton has been compromised. These stories were later collected in the oversized one-shot Black Widow: Web of Intrigue #1 (June 1999). [32], She investigates a plot by Egghead, the Puppet Master and the Mad Thinker to blackmail the US government using a laser-firing satellite. Me neither", "Why Isn't Lena Headey Playing Catwoman? Ryan is unboxing new Spider-Man: No Way Home POP!s and more. Later after meeting with one of the Russian officers from the Red Room to report her progress, she detonated a car bomb outside their home when the first attempt did not make them "nearly desperate enough". [82] Vanity Fair notes that her entrance in that film "famously chose to focus on her desirability rather than her staggering combat skills". The first issue debuted in Jan. Soon after, Romanoff recovers a Hydra file on the Winter Soldier (who is revealed to be Bucky Barnes) and gives it to Rogers and Wilson before leaving. "[37] In April 2015, Johansson spoke more on the possibility of a solo Black Widow film, seeing the potential to explore the different "layers" of her depicted in the different films so far, but also stating that "right now I think this character is used well in this part of the universe". [75][76], Alternate versions of Romanoff are voiced by Lake Bell in What If? . "[100] Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly ranked Black Widow 14th in their "Let's Rank Every Avenger Ever" list. Her sacrifice is not in vain however, as Banner successfully undoes the Blip, restoring half of all life in the universe. [128] During the Brotherhood's 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. as the highest-ranking agent present. Before letting Natasha go, the officer announces she has one additional task before her mission is over: Marina has become too much enamored with her civilian guise, and is now a security risk. [66] She also said that Romanoff is at a point in her life where she can make choices herself, without having others have a hand in the decision process. Original Carnage host Cletus Kasady is back and more powerful and bloodthirsty than ever before! She departs to free the detained Avengers from the Raft. Natalia Alianovna "Natasha" Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, was a former high-ranking agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. David Rooney, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, called Black Widow "a stellar vehicle" for Johansson. In the films, her relationship with Barton is a close but platonic friendship. She's trying to move forward, she's trying to pick up the pieces of her life". Leander Deeny Movie. And I think just the prep, you just have to put in the hours. [48] She later plays an important role in the capture of Hercules. When Belova confronts Barton, they fight, but Barton successfully explains that Romanoff sacrificed herself to save the world and explains his close relationship with her. Romanoff was introduced in Iron Man 2 (2010), and became a central MCU character, appearing in nine films, including her final live-action appearance in Black Widow (2021). (Updated with Photos)", "Ultron Spoils the Party in New "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Avengers Reassembled!" [12] A six-issue sequel, Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her (Nov. 2005April 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. They reunite in Budapest, but are then attacked by various Black Widows. [84] 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. [45][46] Cate Shortland had the backing of Johansson, a fan of the director's previous female-starring film Lore (2012), and was hired in July to direct Black Widow. The rest of the Widows arrive as Belova, Vostokoff, and Shostakov say goodbye to Romanoff and she gives Belova the last antidote vial and the portable drive, telling her to find and free the other Widows. ", "21 Crazy Things Only True Fans Know About Black Widow And Daredevil's Relationship", "Comics Spotlight on Black Widow: Deadly Origin", "10 Marvel Characters You Wouldn't Think Are Stronger Than Azazel (But Actually Are)", "Looking For A Role Model? Vanko sacrificed himself to save Iron Man, killing Turgenov in the process, using an unstable experimental laser light pistol. [volume&issueneeded] 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. [volume&issueneeded], 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. Romanoff succeeds in securing it, but Maximoff mistakenly kills Wakandan humanitarian workers while protecting Rogers from Rumlow's suicide bomb, triggering the passage of the Sokovia Accords, giving the United Nations command of the Avengers. She is a founding member of the Avengers . After Fury reactivates the "Avengers Initiative", she goes to Kolkata and recruits Bruce Banner to use his expertise to track the gamma signature of the Tesseract. She is later seen talking privately through a comm-link to Nick Fury. Natalia Alianovna "Natasha" Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, was one of the most talented spies and assassins in the entire world and a founding member of the Avengers. "[64] Johansson added that Romanoff is "looking to strategize her position, putting herself in a place where she is able to let the powers that be fight it out" in order for her to "have a better perspective of what's really going on". Barton suffers flashbacks of Romanoff's death. [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. (2021).[2]. Romanoff also discovers that she cannot harm Dreykov due to a pheromone lock he installed in every Widow, and that he has been controlling Widows all around the world via his control desk. [20] 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. In 2016, she joins Rogers, Wilson, and Maximoff on a mission in Lagos to stop the mercenary Brock Rumlow from obtaining a bioweapon. Five issues later, she recruits the besotted costumed archer and later superhero Hawkeye to her cause.