Black Widow (Marvel Comics)

Black Widow (Natasha Romanova) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, created by writer Stan Lee, editor Don Rico, and artist Don Heck, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #52 (April 1964).

Character

Introduced as a Soviet spy and adversary of Iron Man, Natasha Romanova was reworked over subsequent decades into a reformed intelligence operative and master spy who became a founding member of the Avengers. The character is typically portrayed as a highly trained martial artist and espionage agent without inherent superpowers, relying instead on technology, tactics, and extensive training.

Publication history

Black Widow's role expanded considerably from the 1970s onward, moving from a recurring antagonist and supporting character to a lead across multiple solo series and as a core member of the Avengers lineup in the comics.

In other media

The character became widely known to mainstream audiences through Scarlett Johansson's portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning in 2010, including a 2021 solo feature film.

See also

• Stan Lee
• Don Rico
• Don Heck
• Marvel Comics