Black Widow (comics) - Definition and Overview

The Black Widow is the name of several fictional characters published by Marvel Comics.

Claire Voyant, the Golden Age Black Widow

The first character named Black Widow in comic books was a supernaturally powered woman who appeared in Mystic Comics #4 published by then-named Timely Comics, which would eventually become Marvel Comics. This was during the "Golden Age of Comics" in August of 1940. She was created by writer George Kapitan and artist Harry Sahle.

Her name was appropriately Madame Claire Voyant, a spirit medium who communicated with the dead through magic. She had blonde hair and an eerily flowing green dress. While serving a family of customers named the Waglers, she was possessed by Satan to put a curse on them. James, a member of that family, survived a subsequent car crash provoked by the spell. He returned to Claire's quarters, and gunned her down.

Afterwards, Claire Voyant went to hell. Satan put her in her Black Widow costume, which has a spider-like design on the front, a green cape similar to her dress, and boots with fire designs on the trim. He gave her amazing powers. She could kill with a single touch of fingers to the head (which left a branded "Black Widow mark"), summon flames, and use other mystical tricks. Satan, who appeared as a nude man in a style quite provocative for the 1940's, sent her back for her first mission - to avenge her death.

She later fought arms manufacturers, crime bosses, and Nazis. Despite her nature, she joined other superheroes when going up against the later threat. She was featured on a flashback splash page in the first issue of Alex Ross's acclaimed Marvels.

Natasha Romanova, the Silver Age Black Widow

The current and most well-known Black Widow is a female spy who defected to the USA from the Soviet Union and subsequently joined The Avengers. She was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Tales of Suspense #52.

The Black Widow's real name is Natalia Alianovna Romanova. Her friends often call her "Natasha", the informal version of the name "Natalia". She sometimes chooses to Anglicize her last name as "Romanoff." Although she fought Iron Man during her first few appearances, she and her ally Hawkeye were recruited by Captain America to join the Avengers. She later become romantically involved with Daredevil. She has served as the leader of the Avengers on several occasions.

The Black Widow is a skilled martial artist, sniper, and ballet dancer. Her equipment usually includes a grappling hook with a retractable line and a pair of wrist-moutned energy weapons (her "widow's sting"), although she is sometimes depicted as instead using more traditional weapons.

The Ultimate Marvel version of the Black Widow is a member of The Ultimates.

A Black Widow motion picture starring Rebecca Romijn-Stamos has been proposed.

Yelena Belova

Yelena Belova is an amoral spy and assassin who was trained by the same Russian spymasters who trained Natasha. Having beaten Natasha's results in all of the tests presented to her, she was declared to be the new Black Widow. Yelena first appeared in the Marvel Knights Inhumans series, and subsequently fought Natasha for the title of the Black Widow. The battle was inconclusive, and later confrontations between the two Black Widows led Yelena to doubt her place in the world. Both women are still using the Black Widow name.

External Links

The "Golden Age" Black Widow (http://www.geocities.com/jjnevins/widow.html)