Black Widow is the name of two superheroes who have appeared in various titles published by Marvel Comics: Natasha Romanova and Yelena Belova. Natasha Romanova first appeared as a villain for Iron Man in Tales of Suspense #52 (1964).[1] Over several appearances in The Avengers, she reformed and became a superhero.[2]:54 She then underwent a redesign to her modern incarnation in The Amazing Spider-Man #86 (1970).[2]:57 Yelena Belova first appeared in Inhumans #5 before her formal introduction as a rival for Natasha in the first Black Widow series.[1]
Titles feature Natasha as a main character unless otherwise noted. Series that feature both Natasha and Yelena as main characters are denoted by an asterisk (*), and series that only feature Yelena as a main character are denoted by a dagger (†). Team books such as The Avengers and The Champions are not included.
Amazing Adventures portrays Natasha as a jet setter who fought street crime and protected disaffected teenagers.[2]:61 This was the first series of solo stories for a female Marvel character. Stories about the Inhumans were published in the same issues.[2]:59
Natasha became a supporting character in Daredevil #81 (1971). Following criticism of her depiction as sexist, she was promoted to headlining character. Natasha was reverted to supporting character in Daredevil #108 (1974) and left the series in issue #124 (1975), occasionally returning for further periods as a supporting character of Daredevil.[2]:62–64
Marvel Fanfare featured Natasha in a four-issue story arc titled "Web of Intrigue" in which she looks for her chauffeur Ivan after he goes missing.[3]:24
Natasha works with Night Raven to investigate a criminal organization in Death Duty. Nick Fury does not play a major role in the story despite being a titular character.[3]:26
The Marvel Knights limited series, titled "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", has Natasha question her claim to the role of Black Widow when she is challenged by the younger spy Yelena as both track down a biotoxin. Grayson and Jones first introduced Yelena in Inhumans #5 to use her in this series.[1]
The third volume of Black Widow encompasses the "Homecoming" story arc. Natasha returns to Russia while tracking enemy spies, and she learns that her past is a false memory. Morgan portrays Natasha as more violent and more willing to kill than other writers have.[4]
The "Homecoming" story was followed by a direct sequel. In this series, Natasha goes into hiding as Nick Fury and Daredevil hunt her on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.[4] Yelena appears as a supporting character in some issues.
Deadly Origin tells Natasha's history through flashbacks, using the framing device of revisiting people from her past because she had spread nanites to them.[2]:38
The fourth volume of Black Widow features two story arcs. The first five issues by Liu and Acuña were titled "Name of the Rose". This continued the espionage-focused storytelling following the release of Iron Man 2.[1] The latter three issues by Swierczynski and Garcia were titled "Kiss and Kill".
A continuation of both Black Widow and Hawkeye & Mockingbird, this series follows the three heroes as they search for a spy-killer using Hawkeye's old alias "Ronin".[5]
A one-shot was published as part of the Fear Itself event, featuring Natasha as she works with Peregrine on a mission in France. Besides this issue, Natasha does not play a significant role in the event overall.[6]
Between Captain America #620 and #640, the series featured various heroes alongside Captain America and the title changed whenever a new character joined him. Captain America and Black Widow featured Captain America and Natasha as they encountered alternate universes.
The fifth volume of Black Widow was published as part of the Marvel Now! branding. This series shifts away from the direct action back toward the character focus developed by Grayson in 1999.[1]
The eighth volume of Black Widow consists of three major story arcs. "The Ties That Bind" in issues #1–5 has Natasha brainwashed into thinking she is an architect with a fiancé and son while her allies try to rescue her. "I Am the Black Widow" in issues #7–10 has her working alongside Yelena (as the White Widow), Anya Corazon, and Lucy Nguyen. "Die By the Blade" in #12–15 has the same team work with Hawkeye and the Winter Soldier to fight the Living Blade.
Black Widow: Widow's Sting
#1
December 2020
Ralph Macchio
Simone Buonfantino
The Widow's Sting one-shot features Natasha in a story with more traditional espionage tropes.[8] It follows her as she fights against Silvermane.
Five one-shot comics were published as an adaptation of the Marvel's Wastelanders podcast set in the post-apocalypse world of Old Man Logan. Wastelanders: Black Widow features an older version of Yelena.[9]
White Widow †
#1–4
January 2024 – April 2024
Sarah Gailey
Alessandro Miracolo
A four part limited series featuring Yelena
Black Widow & Hawkeye
#1–4
May 2024 – August 2024
Stephanie Phillips
Paolo Villanelli
The "Broken Arrow" story arc features Natasha bonded with a symbiote alongside Hawkeye as they fight Damon Dran.
Marvel Two-In-One (1974) 10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) 57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 53, 70, 93
208
March 24, 2020
978-1302922788
1
Black Widow Epic Collection: Beware the Black Widow
Tales Of Suspense (1959) 52-53, 57, 60, 64; Avengers (1963) 29-30, 36-37, 43-44; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 86; Amazing Adventures (1970) 1-8; Daredevil (1964) 81; and material from Avengers (1963) 16, 32-33, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47, 57, 63-64, 76
408
February 25, 2020
978-1302921262
2
Black Widow Epic Collection: The Coldest War
Black Widow: The Coldest War (1990), Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web (1992), Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993), Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) and Journey Into Mystery (1996) 517-519 and material from Bizarre Adventures (1981) 25, Marvel Fanfare (1982) 10-13, Solo Avengers (1987) 7, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 135 & Daredevil Annual (1967) 10
480
October 20, 2020
978-1302921309
3
Black Widow Modern Era Epic Collection: Chaos
All-New Marvel NOW! Point One #1; Black Widow Vol. 5 (2014) #1-20; Punisher (2004) #9
March 2024
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus
Tales of Suspense (1959) 52-53, 57, 60, 64; Avengers (1963) 29-30, 36-37, 43-44; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) 86; Amazing Adventures (1970) 1-8; Daredevil (1964) 81; Bizarre Adventures (1981) 25; Marvel Fanfare (1982) 10-13; Solo Avengers (1987) 7; Black Widow: Coldest War (1990); Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday's Web (1992); Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993); Marvel Comics Presents (1988) 135; Daredevil Annual (1967) 10; Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995); Journey into Mystery (1951) 517-519; material from Avengers (1963) 16, 32- 33, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47, 57, 63-64, 76
896
September 15, 2020
978-1302921279
Volume 1 & 2
Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider
Black Widow vol. 1, #1–3; Black Widow vol. 2, #1–3
Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) 1-4, Black Widow (2010) 1-8, Widowmaker (2010) 1-4, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) 1, Black Widow Saga (2010) 1; and material from Enter The Heroic Age (2010) 1, Iron Man: Kiss And Kill (2010) 1
464
February 11, 2020
978-1302921446
Volume 5
1
The Finely Woven Thread
Black Widow Vol. 5 #1-6, All-New Marvel Now! Point One
12Weiner, Robert G. (2008). Marvel Graphic Novels and Related Publications: An Annotated Guide to Comics, Prose Novels, Children's Books, Articles, Criticism and Reference Works, 1965–2005. McFarland. ISBN978-0-7864-5115-9.
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