Black Widow: The Comics Vs. The MCU
The version of Black Widow that appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Natasha Romanoff – originated in the source material as a supporting character within the stories of Iron Man. She was created by Stan Lee, Don Rico and Don Heck, and first appeared in Tales Of Suspense #52 in 1964. She was a Russian spy, and was primarily an antagonist of Iron Man. At least, that’s the function she initially performed.
As time went on, she recruited Hawkeye to work with her, and later defected to the United States after the events of The Avengers #29 in 1966. She began to cross paths with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes more regularly and eventually became that team’s 16th member. Her solo titles have been somewhat intermittent, but Natasha Romanoff has spent considerable time as part of The Amazing Spider-Man series, as well as Daredevil.
Her own origin story has been altered in the comic books – from being a Russian orphan, raised to be a spy by Ivan Petrovich, to being raised by the Black Widow Ops in the U.S.S.R. That upgraded origin tale saw her biologically and psychologically enhanced in the Red Room, where she was also the recipient of false memories. In addition to briefly leading The Champions – a team of super-powered beings that included Ghost Rider, Hercules, Angel and Iceman – Natasha Romanoff has also been romantically involved with Bucky Barnes, Daredevil, the Red Guardian and Hawkeye, among others.
So, with this rich tapestry of intrigue and connection, what can we say about the way in which the character has transitioned from comic books to the Marvel Cinematic Universe? What have we actually seen of her, really? Not much, to be honest. She first appeared in 2010’s Iron Man 2, in which she infiltrated Stark Industries to become the entrepreneur’s personal assistant – using the identity ‘Natalie Rushman.’ In the final act of the film, she reveals herself to be a secret agent working for S.H.I.E.L.D, having been sent to monitor the actions and safety of Iron Man.
In 2012’s Avengers, she appears in her real guise of Natasha Romanoff, known as Black Widow, and is still working for S.H.I.E.L.D. She begins the film by tracking down Bruce Banner – also known as The Incredible Hulk – and being instrumental in bringing the Avengers together for the first time. She’s personally invested in their first big mission, because her old friend Hawkeye has been compromised. While the Big Hitters – Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor – struggle over leadership positions, Black Widow works to discover the true motives of Loki, the villain of the piece.
