Black Widow is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Most of these versions exist in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.

Claire Voyant

Main article: Black Widow (Claire Voyant)

Claire Voyant is the first costumed, superpowered female protagonist in comic books. Created by writer George Kapitan and artist Harry Sahle, she first appeared in Mystic Comics #4 (Aug. 1940). She kills evildoers to deliver their souls to Satan, her master. The character is unrelated to the later Marvel Comics superheroines who took on the codename.[1]

Natasha Romanoff

Main articles: Black Widow (Natasha Romanova) and Natasha Romanoff (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Natasha Romanoff[2] is the first character to take on the Black Widow codename in the modern mainstream Marvel Comics. She was created by editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico and artist Don Heck, and first appeared in Tales of Suspense #52 (April 1964). The character has been associated with several superhero teams in the Marvel Universe, including the Avengers, the Defenders, the Champions, S.H.I.E.L.D., and the Thunderbolts. She has appeared in many other forms of media, including the major motion pictures Iron Man 2, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame and Black Widow, wherein she is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson.

Yelena Belova

Main article: Black Widow (Yelena Belova)

Yelena Belova is the second character to take on the Black Widow codename in the modern mainstream comics who debuted briefly in Inhumans #5 (March 1999) and was fully introduced in the 1999 Marvel Knights mini-series Black Widow. A second miniseries, also titled Black Widow and featuring Natasha Romanoff and Daredevil, followed in 2001. The next year, she did a solo turn in her own three-issue miniseries titled Black Widow: Pale Little Spider under the mature-audience Marvel MAX imprint. This June to August 2002 story arc, by writer Greg Rucka and artist Igor Kordey, was a flashback to the story of her being the second modern Black Widow, in events preceding her Inhumans appearance.[3] Florence Pugh portrays Yelena in the MCU film Black Widow[4] and the Disney+ miniseries Hawkeye.

Alternative universe versions

Monica Chang

Main article: Monica Chang

Monica Chang-Fury is the second character to use the Black Widow codename in the Ultimate Marvel continuity, debuting in Ultimate Comics: Avengers #3.[5]

Jessica Drew

Further information: Spider-Woman (Ultimate Marvel character)

The Ultimate version of Jessica Drew is a female Spider-Clone who uses by the Black Widow alias.[6][7]

Black Widow 2099

The futuristic 2099 version of Black Widow is an African-American woman named Tania. She operates as part of the Avengers 2099 at the Alchemax corporation's behest.[8] Like black widow spiders, she literally eats her mates after having sex with them.[9]

In other media

See also

References

  1. ^ Gerber, Jamie (Jun 27, 2018). "20 Weird Things About Black Widow Even Hardcore Fans Might Not Know - 3". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  2. ^ Daniel Way (w), Steve Dillon (a). Wolverine: Origins, vol. 1, no. 16 (October, 2007). Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ De Blieck Jr., Augie (July 16, 2013). "Revisiting Marvel's Beezer & Belova". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  4. ^ Lussier, Germain (July 20, 2019). "Here's What Happened in the Black Widow Footage Marvel Showed at Comic-Con". io9. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  5. ^ Burlingame, Russ (November 2, 2014). "Could the Avengers: Age of Ultron Mystery Woman Be Avengers AI's Monica Chang?". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2017. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  6. ^ Michel Fiffe (w), Amilcar Pinna (a). All-New Ultimates, vol. 1, no. 1 (April 9, 2014). Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Moore, Matt (January 10, 2014). "In Marvel's Ultimate universe, fate looms large". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 10, 2014. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  8. ^ Peter David (w), Will Sliney (a). Secret Wars 2099, vol. #1 (May, 2015). Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Peter David (w), Will Sliney (a). Secret Wars 2099, vol. 1, no. 3 (July, 2015). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Goldman, Eric (January 28, 2015). "Marvel's Agent Carter Exclusive: Showrunners Reveal Who Dottie Works For". IGN. Archived from the original on April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2019.
  11. ^ "Into the Future". Avengers Assemble. Season 3. Episode 13. August 22, 2016. Disney XD.
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