The Big Book Of Marvel

Black Widow - Natasha Romanoff

"Uncompromising and deadly"

Real Name: Natalia (Natasha) Alianovna Romanova
Occupation: Intelligence agent
Base: New York City
Height: 5 feet 7 inches
Weight: 125 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Red/Auburn
First Appearance: Tales of Suspense #52 (April 1964)

Essential Storylines
Daredevil #87-90 - Black Widow and Daredevil move to san Francisco; Black Widow's history is explained.
Pale Little Spider #1-3 - The origins of Yelena Belova are explained for the first time.
Black Widow Vol. I #1-3 - The two Black Widows, Natasha Romanova and Yelena Belova, go head-to-head and their bitter enmity begins.

Actress: Scarlett Johansson

Powers
Martial Artist; Olympic-level gymnast; trained spy; cartridges on wrist house various devices and also fire various blasts known as the "Widow's Bite"

Backstory
Shortly after Russia's World War II victory at Stalingrad, a lady, trapped in a burning building, threw her baby to a stranger below - a soldier named Ivan Petrovich. He raised the baby, named Natasha, who turned out to be a superb student, athlete, and ballerina. She married test pilot Alexei Shostakov, but their happiness was cut short. Faking Shostakov's death and leaving Natasha to grieve, the KGB trained him to become the Red Guardian - a Russian Super-Soldier. Next, the KGB (via the so-called Red Room program) Manipulated Natasha into becoming a spy, code-named Black Widow.

Two espionage missions against Stark Industries brought Black Widow into contact with Hawkeye, and he inspired her to join SHIELD. A romance between them proved short-lived. Encountering the Red Guardian on a mission, she had only just learned his true identity when he was shot and killed. Later, Natasha become romantically involved with Daredevil and founded the Champions. She also led the Avengers during one of its hardest periods, when several members died. More recently, she became the foe of a rival Black Widow, Yelena Belova. She also learned she was one of many Black Widows and her memories of her early life were implanted. While working for Iron Man's SHIELD, Natasha helped install Bucky Barnes as the new Captain America.

During Hydra's takeover of the United States, Black Widow helped lead the fight against the evil version of Captain America but was killed battling him. Following Hydra's fall, she found herself back in the Red Room - only to realize she was now a clone, albeit one with all her old memories in place, including the memory of her own death. She helped bring down the new Red Room and went rogue once more.