Natasha Romanoff

Height: 5’5 hair: red eyes: blue

Gifted spy Natasha Romanoff is more than worthy of her moniker, Black Widow. Ruthless, efficient, and exceptionally skilled, Natasha strikes fear into the hearts of her enemies. Although she once operated on the side of evil, her innate heroism allowed her to overcome her upbringing and defect, setting her on a lifelong path of redemption.

Natasha Romanoff was born in the Soviet Union as Natalia Alianovna Romanova (Наталия Альяновна Романова). Although her exact parentage is unknown, it is rumored that she is related to the late Romanov dynasty—the former rulers of Russia—but those claims have so far been unproven. Orphaned as a child, she was rescued during an attack on Stalingrad by a man named Ivan Petrovitch Bezukhov, who looked after and trained the girl. As she grew older, Natasha’s talents caught the attention of Soviet Intelligence, soon to be known as the KGB, and was recruited into their ranks. During World War II, Natasha was kidnapped by the Hand, who sought to make her a brainwashed master assassin. Luckily, she was rescued by Steve Rogers (Captain America) and Logan (who would later become Wolverine). During the War, the young Natasha served in the Russian army where she fell in love with another young soldier named Nikolai. Despite their initial happiness, their union did not end blissfully. Nikolai was killed in the war and the baby girl they conceived did not survive birth. Following World War II, Natasha progressed into the Black Widow Program, where young girls like her were conditioned to become sleeper agents. Trained at a facility called the Red Room, Natasha was also enhanced with the Soviets’ version of the Super-Soldier serum, gifting her with peak human strength and stamina, as well as resistance to disease and slowed-down aging. Natasha has memories of studying to be a ballerina as a cover during this time. However, because her psyche was tampered with by the government, it is unclear if she actually was ever a ballerina, or these memories were implanted. As her Black Widow training progressed, she encountered (and romanced) Captain America’s former best friend and sidekick, James Buchanan Barnes, who had been brainwashed into the becoming the assassin known as the Winter Soldier. Their relationship didn’t last long as she was set up to marry Alexei Shostakov, a renowned test pilot. Though they had a happy marriage, the KGB faked his death during an experimental rocket test in order to make him into the Red Guardian, the USSR’s version of Captain America, a hero who would represent and defend the nation. Natasha’s grief over his death drove her further into the clutches and control of the Red Room Academy and she finally earned the title of Black Widow. Although she initially worked against the Avengers and United States on the behest of her superiors, Natasha ended up defecting to join S.H.I.E.L.D. and later the Avengers to become a true Super Hero.

Interests… martial arts, interrogation, and hacking. She is the ultimate spy.

Natasha Romanov, or Black Widow, is a quiet individual who emphasizes doing what makes the most logical sense. She tends to approach situations in a detached way, focusing on rational analysis. For example, in the movie “Winter Soldier”, during their raid on a pirate ship, Captain America asks her if she knew that Nick Fury hired the pirates. Natasha doesn’t actually address the accusation, but instead, calmly rationalizes Fury’s actions, by saying, “Well, it makes sense. The ship was dirty. Fury needed a way in, so do you.” She doesn’t tend to address the morality of a situation, even when acting according to her values, but instead prefers to focus on the logic.

Natasha doesn’t value authenticity. Instead, she recognizes the need to adapt to the varying ways people think. When Captain America expresses a struggle to find someone with shared life experience, she basically tells him that truth is circumstantial, and that he should just make something up. To her, that seemed logical and effective, but in reality, it completely devalued what Captain America was looking for: an authentic emotional connection.

Natasha doesn’t struggle to do whatever seems the most rational to her. She can be quick to shift sides or allegiances, given the right set of circumstances. Initially, when presented with the Sokovia Accords, she agrees to sign, believing that to be the best course of action. However, during the battle against the dissenting Avengers, Natasha changes her mind, and allows some of them to escape. Unlike many of the others Avengers, this entire series of events doesn’t appear to provoke much emotional turmoil or internal conflict. She just analyzes each situation moment by moment, and reacts.

Natasha is action-oriented and handles each moment as it arrives. She’s an excellent operative, but doesn’t always plan far ahead. In the Black Widow movie, this is demonstrated clearly during an interaction with Yelena. While they are fleeing in via car, Yelena asks what the plan was, and Natasha tells her that the plan was just to drive away. Yelena quickly labels that as a “terrible plan.” However, this mentality allows Natasha to excel at adapting to new circumstances.

Natasha views reality in an objective way, and easily moves on from the past. In her official movie, for the majority of the film, she refuses to admit that her fake family had been real to her. Because it was always a facade, she internally labels them as such, and moves on from that portion of her life once it’s over. When talking to Yelena, Natasha reveals that she never slowed down long enough to think about what her life might have been.