The Guide to Black Widow

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow is just right around the corner and has fans all over the world excited for a new Marvel movie and Natasha’s first solo film. The film introduces new characters and backstories that some may not know about, so I created this guide to guide you through various topics using the source material and other media distributed by Marvel. Herein you’ll find character profiles that explain key new characters like Yelena Belova to name one of them, themes such as how this spy action thriller is different from other spy films, and finally the comic books that inspired the film. The comics serve as a way to differentiate as well as enjoy them for yourselves and explain the character’s origins featured in them.

Yelena Belova

From the information we’ve gotten from the trailers, Yelena is a big part of Natasha’s early life and the “little sister” of the family of four (Red Guardian, Melina, Natasha, and Yelena herself) and careless at times because she has been in the Red Room for so long that she wants to find her destiny and as Scarlett Johanson says, “she wants to write her own story”. Similar to how Natasha was trying to find her place in the world, she did with the Avengers. Yelena is still young in the world of Black Widows accustomed to only following orders from the Red Room’s leader Dreykov. Not much is known about Yelena in the film other than what’s been shown in trailers and other books and media. However, in the comic books, she didn’t Natasha at an early age or have any relationships with Melina and the Red Guardian (As far as my comic knowledge goes). She first appeared as a cameo in Inhumans #5 in 1999 and the same year, she appeared again to prove her worth as a trained spy and take over the mantle of “Black Widow” from Natasha. Time and again she would prove to be an ally and an enemy to Natasha so how she’s portrayed in comics and how she is in the film is very different. In the far future, one can hope for an in-depth look at her origin in the comics.

Played by Florence Pugh

Comics: Inhumans #5 (1999), Black Widow #1–3 (1999), Black Widow #1–3 (1999), Black Widow Pale Little Spider #1–3.

Melina Vostokov

Melina Vostokov serves as the mother of the bunch. She’s older than Natasha and has seen it all as a person and a widow. Her self-esteem is lacking, probably of the things she’s done as a Widow doing things that are out of character, and when she does that feeling of wanting to love and care for her flock, she “doesn’t feel deserving of it” and has lived a life of disappointments and lies. What those disappointments and lies have yet to be seen in the film. In the comics, she is known as “Iron Maiden” and instead of seeing Natasha as a daughter, she treated her as an enemy and had intense hate and jealousy because she was living in her shadow. Like the film, she was also an agent of the Red Room but was then hired to kill Black Widow but later failed. There’s not much detail describing her past. After failing to do her duty, she later joins a team consisting of female villains known as the Femizons. After the death of her leader, she left and later lead a team of her own known as the Remont Six. They faced A.I.M, as well as a Russian Superhero team, which was known as the Winter Guard that included the Red Guardian.

Played by Rachel Weisz

Comics: Marvel Fanfarre #11(1983)

The Red Guardian

Alexei Shostakoff is the Soviet Union version of Captain America. According to David Harbour, he receives a dose of a serum that gave him strong strength (Not the Super-Soldier serum) and became the Red Guardian to fight back America’s Super Soldier. In the 90’s he was deployed as an American dad with his wife, Melina, and two daughters, Natasha and Yelena. Why they do this we don’t know yet but his Red Guardian persona was either discarded after a few years or just kept secret because very few people know the Red Guardian. He’s supposed to be a comedic character but also serious when he has to be. Avengers #43 introduces the character of Alexei Shostakoff/Red Guardian and, like the film, is an imitation of Captain America to threaten America. He was skillfully trained by the KGB and had magnetic discs that return to him, similar to Captain America’s shield. He first encounters Hercules and Hawkeye when they go on a rescue mission in the missing whereabouts of Black Widow. He later reveals himself to be Natasha’s husband whom she thought was dead. After the Avengers arrive to rescue their friends, who were captured. A Chinese general was about to shoot Black Widow but instead got himself shot. He did have a change of heart and saved Captain America’s life. But that wasn’t the last we saw of Alexei in the comic books…

Played by David Harbour

Comics: Avengers #43–44 (1963)

Rick Mason

Rick Mason is that type of person where when somebody from the Underworld needs help, he helps them for a price. Not much is known about him other than he’s a good friend of Natasha. In the comic books, he’s the son of the Tinkerer who also makes an appearance in the MCU working alongside the Vulture and designing weapons to sell. Whether he’s his son in this universe is not known. He’s only had a total of 12 appearances in all of his comic book history, working alongside other heroes such as Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel).

Played by O-T Fagbenle

Comics: Marvel Graphic Novel #57: Rick Mason: The Agent (1989)

Dreykov

Dreykov is the man who owns the Red Room and the program that trains the Widows are his as well. He is possibly the founder of everything that started this because of the time that it’s set. Agent Carter reveals that the Red Room had been going on for some time and that was a few years after WWII.

Played by Ray Winstone

Thunderbolt Ross

After the events of Civil War, Thunderbolt Ross began to go after Natasha after violating the Sokovia Accords by letting Captain America and Bucky Barnes go free who were against the Accords. Ross has previously appeared in the Incredible Hulk, father of Betty Ross, girlfriend of Bruce Banner the Hulk. In the comics, he has the same role of father and general. In later issues, he becomes the Red Hulk. After pursuing Banner as the Hulk for years, he decides t treat him as a friend and not an enemy.

Played by William Hurt

Comics: Incredible Hulk #1, #291 (1962), Hulk Vol 3 #1 (2008).

Taskmaster

Little to nothing is known about Taskmaster in ‘Black Widow’ other than he works with the Red Room’s leader Dreykov and is trying to kill Natasha and her friends. He first appeared in Avengers #195 in 1980. He’s a villain that mimics super hero’s moves such as Spider-Man, Captain America, and Black Widow, just to name a few. He’s worked with organizations such as Hydra and A.I.M. His real name is Tony Masters and has had this ability ever since he was a child. He worked with S.H.I.E.L.D but developed Amnesia after injecting himself with a rip-off version of the Super-Soldier serum. He then forgot his past and began a life of crime as Taskmaster and has fought notable heroes and even trained soldiers in Hydra and A.I.M because he was that good.

Played by: Unknown

Comics: Avengers #195 Series: (1963) Released: (1980), Avengers #196 (1963), Taskmaster #1–4 (2002)

Theme

The cast of ‘Black Widow’ has said time and again that this isn’t your ordinary spy thriller. It’s a movie about a group of individuals that are not related but treat each other like family. Each one going through pain but counting on each other for support and help. They hide because that’s all they were taught to do and when they come out into the light, they’re scared but also hopeful because they have this future ahead of them. They can’t accomplish a mission without each other and therefore rely on each other. They all have had their share of pain and suffering and yet they always come out on top because they count on each other.

Conclusion

These characters are in great hands by director Cate Shortland and Scarlett Johansson as producer. Personally, I can’t wait to see what they bring new to the table and really enjoy the characters of the film as well as its action-packed scenes. I hope to also see how it’ll fit into Black Widow’s story and really give the fans a proper farewell to her character. I hope you enjoyed this guide and found it informative. I’m sorry if there are any errors or mistakes in dates and comic book issues. If you see any or want me to add more, please let me know. And don’t forget to see the film, Black Widow in theaters or for a safer approach on Disney+ on July 9th. Thank you.

Sources:

Black Widow: The Official Movie Special. Above comic book issues.