fictional
Fiction is any creative work, chiefly any narrative work, portraying individuals, events, or places
Place may refer to:
Geography
* Place (United States Census Bureau), defined as any concentration of population
** Census-designated place, ...
characters appearing in
American comic book
An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of ''Action Comics'' ...
s published by
Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...
. Most of these versions exist in Marvel's main
shared universe
A shared universe or shared world is a fictional universe from a set of creative works where more than one writer (or other artist) independently contributes a work that can stand alone but fits into the joint development of the storyline, chara ...
, known as the
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Super-teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardians of ...
.
Claire Voyant
Claire Voyant is the first costumed, superpowered female protagonist in comic books. Created by writer
Harry Sahle
Harry Frank Sahle (April 18, 1912 – September 22, 1950) was an American comic book artist who drew for such publishers as Archie Comics—helping create the defined look of Archie Comics' breakout character, Archie Andrews—Quality Comics and th ...
, she first appeared in ''
Mystic Comics
''Mystic Comics'' is the name of three comic book series published by the company that eventually became Marvel Comics. The first two series were superhero anthologies published by Marvel's 1930-1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, during what fans an ...
'' #4 (Aug. 1940). She kills evildoers to deliver their souls to
Satan
Satan,, ; grc, ὁ σατανᾶς or , ; ar, شيطانالخَنَّاس , also known as Devil in Christianity, the Devil, and sometimes also called Lucifer in Christianity, is an non-physical entity, entity in the Abrahamic religions ...
, her master. The character is unrelated to the later Marvel Comics superheroines who took on the codename.
Natasha Romanoff
Natasha Romanoff 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
Stan Lee (born Stanley Martin Lieber ; December 28, 1922 – November 12, 2018) was an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Publications which ...
, scripter
Don Rico
Donato Francisco Rico II (September 26, 1912 – March 27, 1985) was an American paperback novelist, screenwriter, wood engraver and comic book writer-artist, who co-created the Marvel Comics characters the Black Widow (Natasha Romanova) with plot ...
and artist
Don Heck
Donald L. HeckDonald L. Heck at the Social Security Death Index. Retrieved on Septembe ...
, and first appeared in ''
Tales of Suspense
''Tales of Suspense'' is the name of an American comic book anthology series and two one-shot comics published by Marvel Comics. The first, which ran from 1959 to 1968, began as a science-fiction anthology that served as a showcase for such arti ...
'' #52 (April 1964). The character has been associated with several superhero teams in the Marvel Universe, including the
Avengers
Avenger, Avengers, The Avenger, or The Avengers may refer to:
Arts and entertainment In the Marvel Comics universe
* Avengers (comics), a team of superheroes
**Avengers (Marvel Cinematic Universe), a central team of protagonist superheroes of ...
, the
Defenders
Defender(s) or The Defender(s) may refer to:
*Defense (military)
*Defense (sports)
**Defender (association football)
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''The Defender'' (1989 film), a Canadian documentary
* ''The Defender'' (1994 f ...
, the
Champions
A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the Victory, victor in a challenge, Competition, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and w ...
,
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage, special law enforcement, and counter-terrorism agency appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in ''Strange Tales'' #135 (August 1965), it often dea ...
, and the Thunderbolts. She has appeared in many other forms of media, including the major motion pictures ''
Iron Man 2
''Iron Man 2'' is a 2010 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Iron Man. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures, it is the sequel to ''Iron Man (2008 film), Iron Man'' (2008) and List of Marve ...
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Ingrid Johansson (; born November 22, 1984) is an American actress. The world's highest-paid actress in 2018 and 2019, she has featured multiple times on the ''Forbes'' Celebrity 100 list. ''Time'' magazine named her one of the 100 ...
.
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
The Inhumans are a fictional superhuman race of superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The comic book series has usually focused more specifically on the adventures of the Inhuman Royal Family, and many peop ...
'' #5 (March 1999) and was fully introduced in the 1999
Marvel Knights
Marvel Knights is an imprint of Marvel Comics that contained standalone material taking place inside the Marvel Universe (Earth-616). The imprint originated in 1998 when Marvel outsourced four titles (''Black Panther'', ''Punisher'', '' Daredevil ...
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
MAX Comics is an imprint of Marvel Comics specializing in comic book media aimed at adult-only readers. It was launched in 2001 after Marvel broke with the Comics Code Authority and established its own rating system.
The MAX Comics imprint is ...
imprint. This June to August 2002 story arc, by writer
Greg Rucka
Gregory Rucka (born November 29, 1969) is an American writer known for the series of novels starring his character Atticus Kodiak, the creator-owned comic book series '' Whiteout'', ''Queen & Country'', '' Stumptown'' and '' Lazarus'', as well a ...
and artist
Igor Kordey
Igor Kordej (referred to as Igor Kordey in American and French publications; born 23 June 1957) is a croats, Croatian comic book artist, illustrator, graphic designer and scenographer of international reputation.
Early life
Igor Kordej graduated ...
, was a flashback to the story of her being the second modern Black Widow, in events preceding her ''Inhumans'' appearance.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh ( ; born 3 January 1996) is an English actress. She made her acting debut in 2014 in the drama film '' The Falling''. Pugh gained recognition in 2016 for her leading role as a young bride in the independent drama ''Lady Macbeth' ...
portrays Yelena in the MCU film ''Black Widow'' and the
Disney+
The Walt Disney Company, commonly known as Disney (), is an American multinational mass media and entertainment
Entertainment is a form of activity that holds the attention and interest of an audience or gives pleasure and deligh ...
Marvel Knights Grayson & Rucka Era Black Widow Volume 1 (Marvel Knights; June - August 1999) Legacy #1-3 Black Widow Volume 2 (Marvel Knights; "Breakdown Parts 1-3"; January - March 2001) #1-3 egacy #4-6br>Black Widow: Pale Little Spider Volume 1 (MAX Comics; June - August 2002) #1-3
# Collected in Marvel Knights Black Widow by Grayson & Rucka (October 2018)
Marvel Knights "Homecoming" & "The Things They Say About Her" Story-line Black Widow Volume 3 "Homecoming" (Marvel Knights, By Morgan & Sienkiewicz; November 2004 - April 2005) #1-6 egacy #8-12br>Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her Volume 1 (Marvel Knights; November 2005 - April 2006) #1-6 egacy #13-18# Collected in Black Widow: Welcome to the Game (January 2020)
Black Widow: Deadly Origin & Marvel Legacy -Canon Series Black Widow: Deadly Origin Volume 1 (Miniseries; January - April 2010) #1-4 Black Widow Volume 4 (June 2010 - January 2011) egacy #1-8Widowmaker Volume 1 (By Jim McCann and David Lopez; Miniseries; February - April 2011) #1-4
# Collected i Black Widow: Widowmaker (January 2020)
# Fear Itself: Black Widow #1 (August 2011)
# Black Widow Saga #1 (March 2010)
## Material from Enter the Heroic Age #1
## Material from Iron Man: Kiss and Kill # Black Widow Volume 5 (March 2014 - September 2015) #1-20 egacy #9-28#Collections include- Black Widow Vol. 1: The Finely Woven Thread (July 2014)
#Black Widow Vol. 2: The Tightly Tangled Web (January 2015)
#Black Widow Vol. 3: Last Days (Sept. 2015 Black Widow Volume 6 (May 2016 - May 2017) #1-12 egacy #29-40# Black Widow by Waid & Samnee: The Complete Collection (March 2020 Black Widow Volume 7 "No Restraints Play" (Miniseries; March 2019 - July 2019) #1-5
#Black Widow: No Restraints Play (July 2019 Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1 (November 2020) Black Widow Volume 8 (November 2020 - June 2022) #1-15 egacy #41-55# Black Widow by Kelly Thompson: The Ties That Bind (April 2021)
# Black Widow by Kelly Thompson: I Am the Black Widow (October 2021)
# Black Widow by Kelly Thompson: Die by the Blade (May 2022)
Alternative universe versions
Monica Chang
Monica Chang-Fury is the second character to use the Black Widow codename in the
Ultimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel, later known as Ultimate Comics, was an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring re-imagined and modernized versions of the company's superhero characters from the Ultimate Marvel Universe. Those characters in ...
Ultimate
Ultimate or Ultimates may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums
* ''Ultimate'' (Jolin Tsai album)
* ''Ultimate'' (Pet Shop Boys album)
*''Ultimate!'', an album by The Yardbirds
*''The Ultimate (Bryan Adams Album)'', a compilatio ...
version of Jessica Drew is a female Spider-Clone who uses by the Black Widow alias.
Black Widow 2099
The futuristic
2099
In contemporary history, the third millennium of the anno Domini or Common Era in the Gregorian calendar is the current millennium spanning the years 2001 to 3000 (21st century, 21st to 30th century, 30th centuries). Ongoing futures studies se ...
version of Black Widow is an African-American woman named Tania. She operates as part of the Avengers 2099 at the
Alchemax
Alchemax is a fictional megacorporation appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, usually depicted as part of the 2099 universe.
Publication history
The Earth-928 version of Alchemax first appeared in '' Spider-Man 2099'' #1 ...
corporation's behest. Like black widow spiders, she literally eats her mates after having sex with them.
Black Widow 2099 in other media
A variation of the futuristic Black Widow named Layla appears in the '' Avengers Assemble'' episode "Into the Future", voiced by
Jennifer Hale
Jennifer Hale is a Canadian-American voice actress. She is best known for her work in video game franchises such as ''Baldur's Gate'', '' Mass Effect'', '' Metal Gear Solid'', '' BioShock Infinite'', '' Metroid Prime'', ''Overwatch'', and '' Sta ...
. This version is a guerrilla warfare-styled resistance fighter from a future ruled by
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror (Nathaniel Richards) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is most frequently depicted as an opponent of the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. A time-traveling entity, seve ...