Black Widow (Natasha Romanova) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Widow |
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Textless variant cover of Black Widow #1
(April 2010). Art by Jelena Kevic Djurdjevic. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Tales of Suspense #52 (April 1964) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Don Rico Don Heck |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Natalia Alianovna Romanova |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations |
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| Partnerships | Winter Soldier Hawkeye Daredevil |
| Notable aliases | Natalia Shostakova Natasha Romanoff Natalie Rushman Laura Matthers Mary Farrell Oktober Yelena Belova |
| Abilities | |
Black Widow, whose real name is Natalia Alianovna "Natasha" Romanova, is a famous character from Marvel Comics. She was created by Stan Lee, Don Rico, and Don Heck. Black Widow first appeared in Tales of Suspense #52 in April 1964.
When she first appeared, Black Widow was a Russian spy and an enemy of the superhero Iron Man. Later, she decided to leave Russia and join the United States. She became a special agent for the spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. and a key member of the superhero team, the Avengers.
Black Widow has been featured in many different types of media. You can see her in animated TV shows, video games, and movies. The actress Scarlett Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films. She appeared in movies like Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), and her own movie, Black Widow (2021).
Contents
Who is Black Widow?
Natasha's Early Life and Training
Natasha Romanova was born in Stalingrad, which is now called Volgograd, in Russia. She is known as the first and most famous Black Widow. She was trained to be a spy, a master of martial arts, and a skilled sniper. She also uses high-tech weapons, like her "Widow's Bite" wrist weapons. These weapons can shoot powerful energy blasts.
At first, Natasha didn't wear a superhero costume. She wore fancy evening clothes and a veil. Later, she decided to leave Russia and join the U.S. One reason for this was her feelings for the superhero archer, Hawkeye.
A man named Ivan Petrovich was like a father figure to Natasha. He said he took care of her after her mother died during a battle in 1942. He raised her, and she later trained to be a Soviet spy to help her country.
The Red Room Program
Later stories explain that Natasha was raised from a very young age by the U.S.S.R.'s "Black Widow Ops" program. Ivan Petrovich brought her to a secret facility called the "Red Room." Here, young girls were trained in combat and spying. They were also given special treatments that made them stronger and helped them live longer.
The Red Room program gave each Black Widow false memories. This was to make sure they stayed loyal. Natasha eventually found out about these false memories, including that she was never a ballerina, which she had always believed. She also learned that the Red Room was still active. During her training, she even had a brief romance with the Winter Soldier.
The KGB, a Soviet spy agency, arranged for Natasha to marry a test pilot named Alexei Shostakov. But when Alexei became the new Soviet operative, the Red Guardian, he was told he couldn't see his wife anymore. Natasha was told he had died, and she continued her training as a secret agent.
Black Widow's Amazing Powers and Skills
Black Widow has special abilities because of biotechnology. This makes her body resist aging and diseases. She also heals faster than most people. Her body's special cells help her fight off germs and stay healthy.
Natasha is very smart. She is great at understanding and influencing people's thoughts. She can also hide her true feelings perfectly. Like Steve Rogers, she can quickly understand many pieces of information. She can also react fast to changing situations, which is very useful for a spy.
Black Widow is an amazing athlete, gymnast, and acrobat. She can do many difficult moves and stunts. She is also a skilled ballerina. She has mastered many different martial arts, including jiu jitsu, aikido, boxing, judo, karate, savate, ninjutsu, and sambo. She is also an expert with guns and close-combat weapons like batons and knives.
She is also a skilled hypnotist. She can use eye contact, special ways of speaking, and a calm voice to influence people's minds. She can even plant ideas or change memories.
Black Widow's Special Gear
Black Widow uses many cool gadgets. These were first made by Soviet scientists and later improved by S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists.
She often wears special bracelets that shoot "Widow's Bite" energy blasts. These blasts can deliver a powerful electric shock. Her bracelets can also shoot "Widow's Line" grappling hooks, tear gas pellets, and a special "Widow's Kiss" gas that can instantly knock someone out.
She wears a belt with metallic discs. Some of these discs are plastic explosives, and others hold other useful equipment. Her costume is made of a special fabric with tiny suction cups on the fingers and feet. This allows her to stick to walls and ceilings, just like a spider!
Black Widow in Movies and Games
Black Widow is a very popular character and has appeared in many different forms of entertainment.
On Television
Black Widow has been in many animated TV shows. She appeared in The Marvel Super Heroes, The Super Hero Squad Show, and The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. She was also in Iron Man: Armored Adventures and Avengers Assemble. Many times, she is voiced by the actress Laura Bailey.
In Films
Black Widow has appeared in several animated films, such as Ultimate Avengers and Ultimate Avengers 2. She also had roles in Iron Man: Rise of Technovore and Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher.
Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
Natasha Romanoff is a very important character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). She is played by Scarlett Johansson. In the MCU, she was once an assassin for the Red Room before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. and becoming a founding member of the Avengers.
She first appeared in Iron Man 2 and then in many other Avengers films, including The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. She also starred in her own movie, Black Widow. Different versions of Natasha have also appeared in the animated series What If...?, voiced by Lake Bell.
In Video Games
Black Widow is a playable character in many video games. She has appeared in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, and Marvel Super Hero Squad Online. She is also a popular character in games like Lego Marvel Super Heroes, Marvel Contest of Champions, and Marvel's Avengers. Her MCU look is even an unlockable outfit in Fortnite Battle Royale.
In Books
Black Widow is also featured in novels like Black Widow: Forever Red and Black Widow: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl. She also appears in novel adaptations of comic book stories like The Death of Captain America and Civil War.
Images for kids
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Black Widow's first costume and hairdo from The Avengers #36 (Jan. 1967), art by Don Heck.
See also
In Spanish: Viuda Negra (personaje) para niños
