The Black Widow Strikes

The Black Widow Strikes possible cover

  The Black Widow is Marvel’s sexiest and most dangerous super spy. Natasha is starring in the Secret Avengers, The Winter Soldier with her lover Bucky and will have a role in Avengers Vs. X-Men. And then there’s that little movie you might have heard about during the Super Bowl.

  Marvel’s The Avengers features Scarlett Johansson as the super spy on the big screen. Fans can dive into a new Widow limited series set in the cinematic Marvel Universe. The spy goes back to Russia to stop an international crisis and demonstrates how lethal she can be. Marvel’s The Avengers: The Black Widow Strikes is set between Iron Man 2 and the Avengers movies writer Fred Van Lente tells Marvel.com.

  “Black Widow is running down some loose ends from Iron Man 2, namely some bootleg Stark technology that Justin Hammer made. It’s her and Agent Coulson going into Russia, but you’ll also probably see Nick Fury and the other heroes as necessary.”

Secret Avengers #20 courtesy Marvel.com

  “For this series, I’ve given Black Widow a kind of fan/stalker–a freelance espionage operator who has modeled herself on Black Widow,” explains Van Lente. “She’s attempting to usurp the Black Widow title from Natasha, so these two are in competition with one another.”

  “I took my inspiration for this series from Joss Whedon’s script for Marvel’s the Avengers, which I was lucky enough to read,” says Van Lente. “He does a good job making her inclusion on the team perfectly believable.”

  “This is on the same scale as the Marvel movies. We’re working closely with Marvel Studios to have it integrate seamlessly with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Once this is over, they’re welcome to use any of my ideas here for a movie,” Van Lente says with a chuckle. “It was fun to talk to the studio and see what they have in mind for Black Widow, but who knows where she’ll be after Marvel’s The Avengers‘; maybe she doesn’t even make it out at the end?”

Black Widow: Deadly Origin cover courtesy Marvel.com

  For the entire interview here’s the Marvel.com link.

  A Geek’s opinion: I’d love to see a Black Widow solo movie (vs. Yelena?) but I’d much rather see Natasha partner with Steve Rogers in Captain America 2 where she meets The Winter Soldier/Bucky.

The Winter Soldier #1 Accept the Mission!

 

The Winter Soldier #1 courtesy Marvel.com

  Bucky Barnes is back in his own series stalking the underworld of the Marvel Universe. Bucky faked his death, gave the Captain America role back to Steve Rogers and suited up as the Winter Soldier again.

  Bucky and Black Widow are on the trail of Russian sleeper agents before an army of Winter Soldiers is unleashed on the world. New readers get a quick recap but the focus is on the mission. The villains behind the conspiracy are an exciting surprise.

  Ed Brubaker calls Bucky and Natasha “the Mr. and Mrs. Smith” of the Marvel Universe. The chemistry is smoldering. They share a passion for each other and thrill of the espionage game. Butch Guice’s art is dark, sexy and full of energy. The new series builds on the best elements from Bucky in Captain America and blasts into its own direction.

Winter Soldier #1 preview art courtesy Marvel

  This debut is a thrilling mix of superheroics and James Bond. Bucky is out of Cap’s shadow. The Winter Soldier #1 shows why he’s the best man to operate in the shadows of the Marvel Universe.

 

Black Widow Solo Movie?

Scarlett Johansson and Jeremy Renner on sete in The Avengers courtesy Marvel.com

  Scarlett Johansson returns as Black Widow in The Avengers movie in May, 2012 and says she’s ready to go back in black for a solo movie.

  “I love playing the Widow. I think she’s got a very interesting past, a lot of storylines to explore, and certainly Kevin (Feige) loves that character,” she told us when asked about a possible spin-off.  “I think that Marvel has a very personal relationship with their fans, and I think if the fans want it, and the audience wants it, nothing’s impossible. I would love to explore that option as well. Like I said, I love the character and it would be nice to see something nice and gritty” Johansson told SuperHeroHype.

Black Widow: Deadly Origin cover courtesy Marvel.com

  Black Widow is a KGB assassin turned SHIELD operative and quickly became Nick Fury’s top field agent. Natasha has been with the Avengers, Champions, Defenders, Thunderbolts and Secret Avengers – that resume alone makes her character worthy of solo screen time.

  Natasha has quite a love life with romantic partnerships with Iron Man, Hawkeye, Daredevil and Bucky Barnes (the former Captain America and Winter Soldier.)

  A possible enemy for a Black Widow solo movie would be Yelena Belova – the second Black Widow. Yelena followed the same path as Natasha until an attack left her disfigured. She was then recruited by the modern day Hydra (Red Skull’s criminal group from the Captain America movie) and given super powers.

Black Widow and The Winter Soldier from the cover of Captain America and Bucky #624 courtesy Marvel.com

  No word on if Scarlett Johansson will appear in Iron Man 3. I’m hoping Captain America 2 will be set in the modern day and be based on the Winter Soldier epic which prominently features Black Widow working with Steve Rogers and eventually falling for the back from the dead Bucky. Natasha and Bucky have the best chemistry. Both are deadly, hot and thankfully good guys now.

What do you think? Black Widow solo? Black Widow in Iron Man 3 or Captain America 2?