This Interests Me!: Avengers Spotlight: The Black Widow
by Ben Silverio
In this edition of Avengers Spotlight, we’ll be taking a look at a lady that goes by many names: Natalia Romanova, Natalie Rushman, Laura Matthers, Oktober, Yelena Belova, Natasha Romanoff. No matter which alias she goes by, she is still The Black Widow.
Editor and plotter Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico, and artist Don Heck created the Black Widow. Her first appearance in the Marvel Universe was in ‘Tales of Suspense’ #52 from 1964. Back then she appeared as a non-costumed Soviet spy who battled Iron Man. After having a brief partnership with Hawkeye, professionally and romantically, as villains, Natasha defected to the United States after appearing in ‘The Avengers’ #29 in 1966, where she became a recurring ally and eventually official member of the superhero team.
