The definitive, chronological, and up-to-date guide and trade reading order for collecting Black Widow comic books via omnibuses, hardcovers, and trade paperback graphic novels. Part of Crushing Krisis’s Crushing Comics. Last updated September 2023 with titles scheduled for release through April 2024.
No Marvel character has been so important to the company’s rich continuity yet so on the fringe for as many years as Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow.
Black Widow has been a villain and a spy, a symbol of the Cold War and of the triumph of democracy, a love interest and a superhero. Yet, for the first few decades of her publishing history it wasn’t uncommon for her to disappear from view for years at a time. It took over 40 years for her to merit her own ongoing title, and over 50 for one to last longer than a year!
Black Widow began as one of the first femme fatales of Marvel’s superhero era when she was introduced as a Russian spy in the Iron Man title Tales of Suspense in 1964 by Stan Lee, Don Rico, and Don Heck. She was unique not only as a female villain but as a non-costumed antagonist to start in an era where mutants, machines, and Asgardian gods were dominating the villain line-ups. In fact, she was Russia’s answer to Captain America – a super-spy rather than a super-soldier, who is resistant to the effects of disease and time.
Soon thereafter, she became one of Marvel’s earliest character to flip from villain to hero, following suit of her early collaborator Hawkeye and the mutant twins Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. She followed in their footsteps to appear regularly in The Avengers beginning with #29 in 1966, though she was not recognized as a member until #111 in 1976.
Black Widow continued to serve as a female sidekick or team member for another three decades, notably in Daredevil, Captain America,The Avengers, and The Champions. Still, she was a supporting player even as she was voted a full-time member of the Avengers in #329 in 1991. From there she finally had her first series of headline releases, albeit as one-shot graphic novels rather than ongoing series. She still was not considered a core Avenger enough in 1996, when she did not join her teammates in the Heroes Reborn universe. Because of the fleeting nature of her appearances, collecting her is a challenge – aside from a few collections of her anthology stories and her run in Daredevil, there aren’t a lot of major Black Widow runs before the 90s.
It wasn’t until 1999 that Black Widow finally attained her own headline title (still: a limited series) as part of the more adult-oriented Marvel Knights line. Ironically, it came while defending her codename from a usurper and villain named Yelena Belova. However, from that point forward she increasingly became part of the core fabric of the Marvel Universe, appearing in several limited series, playing a major role in Civil War, co-starring in Iron Man, and taking over Captain America along with Bucky Barnes while Steve Rodgers was presumed dead.
Who can say if it was her Iron Man origins or this resurgence that lead to Black Widow being written into Iron Man 2 in 2010 and cast with the hugely popular Scarlett Johansson. Even if Johansson wasn’t the best fit for the femme fatale, her casting was definitely the best thing that ever happened to Natasha in the comic books. She was finally granted her own ongoing series that same year. Even though that ended after eight issues, Black Widow had clearly received a promotion to featured player, appearing regularly across the full range of Avengers titles even before she subsequently found her way into The Avengers movie in 2012 in lieu of several other famous female team members.
Since 2010 every year features Black Widow in more stories and starring turns than the one before. 2014 was inarguable Natasha Romanoff’s best year yet. In film, she shared top billing with Chris Evans’s Captain America in The Winter Soldier. At the same time, she launched another solo series drawn by fan and critical favorite Phil Noto. This one lasted as long as possible – 20 issues before being shut down by Marvel’s linewide re-launch in the fall of 2015 – and then relaunched by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid in 2016!
- Epic Collections & Complete Collections
- Reading Order
- Before Black Widow
- Silver Age (1964 – 1970)
- Debut in Tales of Suspense (1959) #52-53, 57, 60, 64 (1964 – 1965)
- joins The Avengers (1963) #29-76 (Jun 1966 – May 1970)
- Bronze Age
- The 1980s & 1990s
- in Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13 & Marvel Team-Up (1972) #82-85
- 1980s Guest Star
- The Coldest War (1990) OGN & Abbatoir (1993) OGN
- in the “Leather Jackets” era of Avengers (1963),
Punisher / Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web OGN (1992),
& Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty OGN (1995) - in Avengers by Busiek & Perez & Journey Into Mystery (1996-1998)
- Early-00s “Marvel Knights” era
- Black Widow (1999) #1-3
- Black Widow (2001) #1-3
- Marvel Knights (2000) #1-15 & Marvel Knights (2002) #1-6
- Yelena Belova in Black Widow (2002) #1-3 [AKA “Pale Little Spider”]
- Black Widow (2004) #1-6
- Mid-00s Avengers & Solo Series
- Heroic Age (2010 – 2012)
- Marvel Now (2012 – 2015)
- Co-Starring in Winter Soldier (2012) #1-14,
Avengers, Avengers Assemble, & Secret Avengers (2012 – 2014) - Black Widow (2014) #1-20 by Nathan Edmondson & Phil Noto,
Original Sin, Avengers, Avengers World, & Secret Avengers (2014 – 2015)
- Co-Starring in Winter Soldier (2012) #1-14,
- All-New, All-Different Marvel (2016 – 2017)
- Black Widow (2016) #1-12 by Chris Samnee & Mark Waid
- in Secret Empire (2017)
- Marvel Legacy (2017 – 2018)
- Marvel Fresh Start (2018 – present)
- Black Widow (2019) #1-6 by Jen & Sylvia Soska and Flaviano
- The Web of Black Widow (2019) #1-5 by Jody Houser & Stephen Mooney
- Black Widow (2020) #1-15 by Kelly Thompson & Elena Casagrande
- Out-of-Continuity Material
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Black Widow Epic Collections & Complete Collections
Want the most-complete Black Widow bookshelf with the fewest possible books? Here’s your path to collecting all of Natasha Romanoff’s most-essential comics from 1964 to 2017 in paperback recollections.
Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Beware the Black Widow (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921262 / digital)
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #52-53, 57, 60, 64; Avengers (1963) #29-30, 36-37, 43-44; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86; Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8; Daredevil (1964) #81, and material and sub-plot pages from from Avengers (1963) #16, 32-33, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47, 57, 63-64, 76.
Black Widow: Marvel Team-Up (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922788 / digital)
We could call this “Epic Vol. 1.5,” since this volume acts as a “Epic Companion,” filling in team-up stories that run prior to and alongside the second Epic volume. Collects Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53, 70, 93.
Epic Collection, Vol. 2: The Coldest War (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921309 / digital)
Collects Bizarre Adventures (1981) #25; Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13; Solo Avengers (1987) #7; Black Widow: Coldest War (1990) OGN; Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN; Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993) OGN; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #135; Daredevil Annual (1967) 10; Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) OGN; and Journey Into Mystery (1951) #517-519.
Marvel Knights Black Widow by Grayson & Rucka: The Complete Collection (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302914004 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (1999) #1-3, Black Widow (2001) #1-3, Black Widow (2002) #1-3 [AKA “Pale Little Spider,” starring Yelena Belova]
Black Widow: Welcome to the Game (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921255 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (2004) #1-6, Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her (2005) #1-6.
Widowmaker (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921446 / digital)
Collects Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) #1-4, Black Widow (2010) #1-8, Widowmaker (2010) #1-4, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) #1, Black Widow Saga (2010) #1; and material from Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1 and Iron Man: Kiss and Kill (2010) #1
Modern Epic Collection, Vol. 1: Chaos (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956431 / digital TBA)
Collects Black Widow (2014) #1-20, plus All-New Marvel Now! Point One (2014) #1 (D-Story) and a crossover with Punisher (2014) #9
by Waid & Samnee Complete Collection (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921293 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (2016) #1-12
Natasha Romanoff, Black Widow Reading Order
Before Black Widow
As with several of Marvel’s early heroes, Black Widow’s origin and pre-superhero life have been told and retconned on several occasions. At this point, Natasha’s age is a bit unclear, as her USSR origins are preclude her being aged down to less than her mid-30s by Marvel’s sliding time scale.
Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #1-6: Although the in-continuity aspects of this story happen in 2010 continuity, flashbacks in this series are some of Widow’s earliest stories and they continue through the timeframe of the other issues, below. See below for collection information.
Uncanny X-Men (1963) #268: Features appearances by Natasha as a child. See Uncanny X-Men.
Daredevil (1964) #88: See Guide to Daredevil. Features a brief flashback to Black Widow’s origins as told by a third party, which she quickly interrupts. See below for collection information.
Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10: Contains brief flashbacks similar to those in Daredevil, as this also involves Widow’s companion Ivan. See below for collection information.
Also in this period, various flashbacks to Natasha’s early life and the Red Room, including flashbacks in Daredevil (1964) #88, Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #1, Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10, Wolverine: Origins (2006) #9 & 16, Black Widow (2004) #4, Uncanny X-Men (1981) #268, Black Widow (2010) #4, Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10
Captain America Theater of War: America First! (2008) #1: An entirely apocryphal tale of the Atlas Era Captain America of 1955 (i.e., NOT Steve Rogers). While there is a character named Natasha who works for the Russians in this issue, I cannot suggest you read it. See Guide to Captain America – Steve Rogers for collection information.
Flashbacks continue in Captain America & Bucky (2011) #624, Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #2, Captain America & Bucky (2011) #624, Black Widow: Coldest War (1990) OGN, Avengers (1963) #44, Daredevil (1964) #90, and Avengers Assemble (2012) #12-13
Wolverine (1988) #-1: See Guide to Wolverine – Logan
Before the Fantastic Four: Ben Grimm & Logan #1-3 (2009): See Guide to Wolverine – Logan
Debut in Tales of Suspense (1959) #52-53, 57, 60, 64 (1964 – 1965)
Black Widow debuted in the pages of Tales of Suspense when it was effectively Iron Man’s title (later shared with Captain America, once he was unthawed).
in oversize hardcover…
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279)
This volume includes nearly all of Black Widow’s significant material from her debut through 1998 except for Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Comics Presents stories (with one exception). It collects (in order of release) Tales if Suspense (1959) #52-53, 57, 60 & 64 (Iron Man stories only), Avengers (1963) #29-30, 36-37, & 43-44; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86; Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8 (2nd stories), Daredevil (1964) #81; Bizarre Adventures [Magazine] (1981) #25; material from Daredevil (1964) Annual 10; a solo story from Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13; Solo Avengers (1987) #7; Black Widow: The Coldest War (1990) OGN; Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN; Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993) OGN; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #135 (4th story); Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) OGN; Journey Into Mystery (1996) #517-519; plus subplot pages from Avengers (1963) #16, 32-33, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47, 57, 63-64, & 76.
Also, see Guide to Iron Man – Tony Stark for other oversize options of this material.
in Epic Collection paperback…
Beware the Black Widow (Epic Vol. 1) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921262 / digital)
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #52-53, 57, 60, & 64; Avengers (1963) #29-30, 36-37, 43-44; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86; Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8; Daredevil (1964) #81, and material and sub-plot pages from from Avengers (1963) #16, 32-33, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47, 57, 63-64, 76.
other collections…
Tales of Suspense (1959) #52: The Sting of the Widow (2009 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785137948 / digital)
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #52, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86, Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8 (2nd stories), and Daredevil (1964) #81.
Tales of Suspense (1959) #53, 57, 60, 64: See Guide to Iron Man – Tony Stark for additional collection options.
Click for a list of guest appearances in this period.
Black Widow joins The Avengers (1963) #29-76 (Jun 1966 – May 1970)
Black Widow is considered in the first big Avengers line-up change in Avengers (1963) #16 in 1965, but doesn’t sign on to the team until a year later.
in oversize hardcover…
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279)
This volume includes nearly all of Black Widow’s significant material from her debut through 1998 except for Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Comics Presents stories (with one exception). See above for full contents
Also, see Guide to Avengers (1963-1996) for other oversize options of this material.
in Epic Collection paperback…
Beware the Black Widow (Epic Vol. 1) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921262 / digital)
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #52-53, 57, 60, & 64; Avengers (1963) #29-30, 36-37, 43-44; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86; Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8; Daredevil (1964) #81, and material and sub-plot pages from from Avengers (1963) #16, 32-33, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47, 57, 63-64, 76.
other collections…
Avengers (1963) #29-30, 32-33, 35-39, 41-48, 52, 57, 59, 63-64, & 76: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996). Natasha is implied in issue #40, then after issue #44 implied in Annual 1, and implied in issues #48 & 50.
Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86: The Sting of the Widow (2009 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785137948 / digital)
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #52, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86, Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8 (2nd stories), and Daredevil (1964) #81. Also, see Guide to Spider Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018). This issues introduces Black Widow’s well-known sleek black look.
Click for a list of guest appearances in this period.
Black Widow in Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8
Black Widow headlined this anthology adventure series when it launched, splitting each issue with The Inhumans.
in oversize hardcover…
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279)
This volume includes nearly all of Black Widow’s significant material from her debut through 1998 except for Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Comics Presents stories (with one exception). See above for full contents
Also, see Guide to Daredevil, as this material is often collected with Natasha’s run in Daredevil (1964) as covered in the next section.
in Epic Collection paperback…
Beware the Black Widow (Epic Vol. 1) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921262 / digital)
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #52-53, 57, 60, & 64; Avengers (1963) #29-30, 36-37, 43-44; Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86; Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8; Daredevil (1964) #81, and material and sub-plot pages from from Avengers (1963) #16, 32-33, 38-39, 41-42, 45-47, 57, 63-64, 76.
other collections…
#1-8 (2nd stories): The Sting of the Widow (2009 hardcover, ISBN 978-0785137948 / digital)
Collects Tales of Suspense (1959) #52, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #86, Amazing Adventures (1970) #1-8 (2nd stories), and Daredevil (1964) #81.
Avengers (1963) #83: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996). This appearance fits between Amazing Adventures #4-5. Afterward, she is implied but unseen in Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Comic Magazine (2001) #12 before returning to Amazing Adventures #5.
Black Widow & Daredevil in Daredevil (1964) #81-124
After her solo stint in Amazing Adventures, Natasha signs on as a full-time co-star to Daredevil for several years of his ongoing title, which includes his entire classic San Francisco period.
in oversize hardcover & Epic Collection paperback…
Since this is a lengthy, omnibus-sized run all on its own, The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279) and Beware the Black Widow (Epic Vol. 1) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921262 / digital) each only contains issue #81. See Guide to Daredevil for other collection options in these formats.
other collections…
Daredevil (1964) #81-99: See Guide to Daredevil
During Daredevil #83: Marvels (1994) #4
Between Daredevil #88-89: Incredible Hulk (1968) #152
During Daredevil #99: flashbacks in Defenders (1972) #7
Avengers (1963) #111-112: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996). Black Widow officially joins the team only to leave it an issue later.
During Avengers #112: retcon material in I ♥ Marvel: AI (2006)
Daredevil (1964) #101-117 & 120-124: See Guide to Daredevil. Note that Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10, below, fits between #123-124.
Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10: Black Widow: Marvel Team-Up (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922788 / digital)
This fits prior to Daredevil #124. Collects a number of Natasha’s team-up appearances from the 1970s and 80s by authors like Chris Claremont and Marv Wolfman from Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53, 70, & 93.
Click for a list of guest appearances in this period.
Black Widow of The Champions of Los Angeles (1975 – 1977)
After her run in Daredevil, Natasha joins this team of unlikely allies, originally conceived as a buddy title for ex-X-Men Iceman and Angel.
The Champions (1975) #1-7: See Guide to The Champions
Marvel Vault: Gambit & The Champions (2011) #1: See Guide to The Champions. This occurs during issue #7
The Champions (1975) #8-13: See Guide to The Champions
Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57: Black Widow: Marvel Team-Up (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922788 / digital)
Also, See Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018), as Team-Up was primarily a Spider-Man supporting title. Collects Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53, 70, 93.
The Champions (1975) #14-15: See Guide to The Champions
Iron Man (1968) Annual 4, Avengers (1963) #163, & Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) #14: See Guide to The Champions. These guest-appearances are customarily collected alongside that series.
The Champions (1975) #16-17: See Guide to The Champions
Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #17-18: See Guide to The Champions. These issues resolve the Champions run and are generally collected alongside it, as is Hulk (1968) Annual 7 – but she does not appear in that issue.
Click for a list of guest appearances in this period.
Black Widow returns to Avengers & Daredevil
Avengers (1963) #173-177: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996).
During Avengers #177: flashback in Fantastic Four (1961) Annual 24 (2nd story) and additional material in Avengers: Korvac Saga (1991) Trade Paperback
Daredevil (1964) #155-158: See Guide to Daredevil
After Daredevil #158: Flashbacks in Black Widow (1999) #1
Avengers (1963) #181: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996).
Black Widow in Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13 & Marvel Team-Up (1972) #82-85
in oversize hardcover…
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279)
This volume includes nearly all of Black Widow’s significant material from her debut through 1998 except for Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Comics Presents stories (with one exception). See above for full contents
in Epic Collection paperback…
The Coldest War (Epic Vol. 2) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921309 / digital)
Collects Bizarre Adventures (1981) #25; Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13; Solo Avengers (1987) #7; Black Widow: Coldest War (1990) OGN; Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN; Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993) OGN; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #135; Daredevil Annual (1967) 10; Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) OGN; and Journey Into Mystery (1951) #517-519.
other collections…
Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13: Black Widow: Web of Intrigue
Collects the story from Marvel Fanfare (1923) #10-13 which later came to be known as “Web of Intrigue,” plus material from Bizarre Adventures #25, and Black Widow: The Coldest War GN. Reprinted in paperback in 2016 (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1302900267 / digital)
Marvel Team-Up (1972) #82-85: Black Widow: Marvel Team-Up (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922788 / digital)
Also, See Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018), as Team-Up was primarily a Spider-Man supporting title. Collects Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53, 70, 93.
Black Widow, 1980s Guest Star
Black Widow was without a home title in this period. She was an occasional Avengers and supporting character in Daredevil.
Daredevil (1964) #160-161 & 164-165: See Guide to Daredevil
Marvel Treasury Edition (1974) #25
Marvel Team-Up (1972) #98
Bizarre Adventures [Magazine] (1981) #25: In Web of Intrigue, Omnibus, and Epic, all above.
After Bizarre Adventures: flashbacks in Vote Loki (2016) #1
Avengers (1963) #211 & 221: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
After Avengers #211: cameo in Marvel Graphic Novel (1982) #1 [AKA The Death of Captain Marvel] and flashbacks to those events in Silver Surfer (1968) Annual 6 (flashback) and Daredevil (1964) Annual 10 (2nd story)
Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions (1982) #1-3: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Contests of Champions. Natasha appears in issue #1 and is not selected for the contest, so is only implied in #2-3 (as well as later in Deadpool’s Secret Secret Wars (2015) #1 (2nd story)
Daredevil (1964) #187-190 & 200-201: See Guide to Daredevil.
Avengers (1963) #239: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
Marvel Team-Up (1972) #140-141 Black Widow: Marvel Team-Up (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922788 / digital)
Also, See Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (1963-2018), as Team-Up was primarily a Spider-Man supporting title. Collects Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53, 70, 93.
Marvel Team-Up (1972) #141: Marvel-Verse Black Widow (2020 digest-size paperback, ISBN 978-1302921194 / digital)
Collects a mix of in- and out-of-continuity material, including Marvel-616 stories from Marvel Team-Up (1972) #141, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53 & 93, and Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1 (Black Widow story), as well as all-ages material from Marvel Adventures the Avengers (2006) #21 and Marvel Adventures Super Heroes (2010) #10, 17 (B story).
During Team-Up #141: Code Of Honor (1997) #3
Daredevil (1964) #207-208, 217, & 222: See Guide to Daredevil.
West Coast Avengers (1984) Annual 1: See Guide to Avengers West Coast
Daredevil (1964) #236-237, 239: See Guide to Daredevil.
Black Widow: The Coldest War (1990) & Daredevil/Black Widow: Abbatoir (1993)
in oversize hardcover…
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279)
This volume includes nearly all of Black Widow’s significant material from her debut through 1998 except for Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Comics Presents stories (with one exception). See above for full contents
in Epic Collection paperback…
The Coldest War (Epic Vol. 2) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921309 / digital)
Collects Bizarre Adventures (1981) #25; Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13; Solo Avengers (1987) #7; Black Widow: Coldest War (1990) OGN; Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN; Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993) OGN; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #135; Daredevil Annual (1967) 10; Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) OGN; and Journey Into Mystery (1951) #517-519.
other collections…
Daredevil / Black Widow: Abattoir (1993) OGN (ISBN 0871359944)
Despite its 1993 release, this graphic novel was set in continuity here.
Daredevil #247 & 252: See Guide to Daredevil
Black Widow: The Coldest War (199) OGN (ISBN 0871356430)
After twenty-five years, Black Widow gets her first headlining title! Granted, it’s for a one-shot original graphic novel, but it’s still a major moment. Also collected in Web of Intrigue, Epic, and Omnibus, all, above.
Note that the following Solo Avengers and Daredevil appearances fit with the final few pages of this The Coldest War.
Solo Avengers (1987) #7 (2nd story) & 14-16: See Guide to Hawkeye
Daredevil (1964) #262: See Guide to Daredevil. Occurs between Solo Avengers #7 & 14
Atlantis Attacks: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Atlantis Attacks. Avengers (1963) #305 & Annual 18 and Fantastic Four (1961) Annual 22
Punisher War Journal (1988) #9: See Guide to Punisher
Avengers Spotlight (1989) #27 (2nd story): See Guide to Hawkeye
After Spotlight: flashback in Avengers (1963) Annual 19 (3rd story)
Avengers (1963) #313: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996).
Uncanny X-Men (1981) #268 (present day scenes only): See Guide to Uncanny X-Men by Chris Claremont (1975-1991).This single classic Uncanny X-Men appearance drawn by Jim Lee causes Black Widow continuity issues for years to come by making her as old as Captain America and Wolverine – before the freezing and the adamantium!
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53 & 70 (4th stories): Black Widow: Marvel Team-Up
(2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922788 / digital)
Collects Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53, 70, 93.
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53 (4th story):
Marvel-Verse Black Widow (2020 digest-size paperback, ISBN 978-1302921194 / digital)
Collects a mix of in- and out-of-continuity material, including Marvel-616 stories from Marvel Team-Up (1972) #141, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53 & 93, and Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1 (Black Widow story), as well as all-ages material from Marvel Adventures the Avengers (2006) #21 and Marvel Adventures Super Heroes (2010) #10, 17 (B story).
After MCP #53: Captain America (1968) #373-374 & 376-377, Namor, The Sub-Mariner (1990) Annual 1 (4th story)
After MCP #70: Captain America (1968) #383
Black Widow in the “Leather Jackets” era of Avengers (1963),
Punisher / Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN,
& Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) OGN
Black Widow joins the team full-time for her longest sustained run to date starting from issue #329 in 1991 through the cancellation of the book in 1996. For much of this run she was the team’s Chairman – the de facto decision-maker according to the by-laws.
in oversize hardcover…
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279)
This volume includes nearly all of Black Widow’s significant material from her debut through 1998 except for Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Comics Presents stories (with one exception – MCP #135). See above for full contents
Also, see Guide to Avengers (1963-1996) for other oversize options of this material.
in Epic Collection paperback…
The Coldest War (Epic Vol. 2) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921309 / digital)
Collects Bizarre Adventures (1981) #25; Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13; Solo Avengers (1987) #7; Black Widow: Coldest War (1990) OGN; Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN; Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993) OGN; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #135; Daredevil Annual (1967) 10; Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) OGN; and Journey Into Mystery (1951) #517-519.
in other collections…
Avengers (1963) #329-339: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #93 (4th story): Black Widow: Marvel Team-Up
(2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302922788 / digital)
A one-shot Black Widow and Daredevil story by future Spider-Man writer Dan Slott! Collects Marvel Two-In-One (1974) #10; Marvel Team-Up (1972) #57, 82-85, 98, 140-141; and material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53, 70, 93.
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #93 (4th story):
Marvel-Verse Black Widow (2020 digest-size paperback, ISBN 978-1302921194 / digital)
Collects a mix of in- and out-of-continuity material, including Marvel-616 stories from Marvel Team-Up (1972) #141, Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #53 & 93, and Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1 (Black Widow story), as well as all-ages material from Marvel Adventures the Avengers (2006) #21 and Marvel Adventures Super Heroes (2010) #10, 17 (B story).
Avengers (1963) #341-345: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996). Includes the “Galactic Storm” crossover.
Punisher / Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN (ISBN 0871357364)
Also collected in omnibus and Epic, above. Also, see See Guide to Punisher
Avengers (1963) #348-349, 350 (both stories, 351, 355-359, 360 (both stories), & 361-366: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #125-130: See Guide to Wolverine – Logan. This is a serialized Wolverine story collected alongside his material.
Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #135 (4th story): A solo Black Widow story by Mindy Newell. Collected in omnibus and Epic, above.
Avengers (1963) Annual 22, #367-370, 372-374, 375 (both stories), 378-380 & 382 (2nd & 3rd stories): See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996). Includes the “Avengers/X-Men: Bloodties” crossover.
Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty OGN (1995) (ISBN 978-0785101567)
Also collected in omnibus and Epic, above. Also see Guide to Nick Fury (eventually).
Avengers (1963) #384-389, 391, 393-395, 397-402: See Guide to Avengers (1963-1996). Includes the “Taking AIM” crossover with Captain America, the Avengers line “The Crossing” crossover, and Onslaught.
Click here for a list of all of appearances in this period, including her membership in Avengers and participation in events.Black Widow does not join The Avengers in their pocket Heroes Reborn universe, making her one of the few remaining Avengers-related heroes to remain in the 616 universe in this period.
Natasha appears in Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed (1996) #1, in flashback in Avengers (1998) Annual 1999 and Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #4, Thunderbolts (1997) #1, Imperial Guard (1997) #1, Daredevil (1964) #361, Punisher (1995) #17, Thunderbolts (1997) #3 & 9
Daredevil (1964) #368-371: See Guide to Daredevil
After Daredevil: retcon material in I ♥ Marvel: AI (2006) (3rd story), then in Shadows & Light (1998) #1
Black Widow in Avengers by Busiek & Perez & Journey Into Mystery (1996-1998)
After Heroes Reborn, Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor all relaunch with a 3rd volume in 1998. Black Widow appears sporadically across several titles, but is primarily back to being a supporting player in Daredevil’s 1998 relaunch.
in oversize hardcover…
The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2020 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302921279)
This volume includes nearly all of Black Widow’s significant material from her debut through 1998 except for Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Comics Presents stories (with one exception). See above for full contents
Also, see Guide to Avengers (1996-2005) for other oversize options of this material.
in Epic Collection paperback…
Journey Into Mystery (1996) #517-519: The Coldest War (Epic Vol. 2) (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921309 / digital)
Collects Bizarre Adventures (1981) #25; Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10-13; Solo Avengers (1987) #7; Black Widow: Coldest War (1990) OGN; Punisher/Black Widow: Spinning Doomsday’s Web (1992) OGN; Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir (1993) OGN; Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #135; Daredevil Annual (1967) 10; Fury/Black Widow: Death Duty (1995) OGN; and Journey Into Mystery (1951) #517-519.
other collections…
Avengers (1998) #1-3: See Guide to Avengers (1996-2005). Nearly every living Avenger to ever be active appears in this opening arc.
After Avengers #1-3: flashback in Avengers (1998) Annual 2001 (2nd story), then in Captain America (1998) #3, implied but unseen in Avengers (1998) #4, then in Daredevil (1964) #375
Journey Into Mystery (1996) #517-519: Black Widow is the star of “The Fire Next time” arc; only collected about in Omnibus and Epic Collection.
After Journey Into Mystery: Wolverine (1988) #125-126, Iron Man (1998) #5-6 & 8-11
X-Force / The Champions Annual ’98: See Guide to The Champions.
After Annual: Wolverine (1988) #134, Ant-Man Big Christmas (1999) #1, and Daredevil (1998) #2, 4, & 8
Black Widow (1999) #1-3
It’s hard to believe it took almost forty years for Black Widow to get her own limited series! This marked not only her first multi-issue starring title, but also the beginning of her higher profile in the Marvel Universe.
as recollected…
#1-3: Marvel Knights Black Widow by Grayson & Rucka: The Complete Collection (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302914004 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (1999) #1-3, Black Widow (2001) #1-3, Black Widow (2002) #1-3 [AKA “Pale Little Spider,” starring Yelena Belova]
as previously collected…
#1-3: Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider Hardcover
Previously collected in a TPB – in this case, the Hardcover version is more common. A 2016 TPB collects both this and the 2001 series.
Contest of Champions II (1999) #3-5: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Contest of Champions II
After Contest of Champions II: Implied in Avengers (1998) Annual 1999, then in Fantastic Four (1998) #27, Daredevil (1998) #9
Black Widow (2001) #1-3
as recollected…
#1-3: Marvel Knights Black Widow by Grayson & Rucka: The Complete Collection (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302914004 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (1999) #1-3, Black Widow (2001) #1-3, Black Widow (2002) #1-3 [AKA “Pale Little Spider,” starring Yelena Belova]
as previously collected…
#1-3: Black Widow: The Itsy-Bitsy Spider Hardcover
Previously collected in a TPB – in this case, the Hardcover version is more common. A 2016 TPB collects both this and the 2001 series.
During issue #3: flashback in Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #4
Avengers/Thunderbolts: Nefaria Protocols: See Guide to Avengers (1996-2005). Natasha appears throughout this story in Avengers (1998) #32, Thunderbolts (1997) #43, Avengers (1998) #33, Thunderbolts (1997) #44, and Avengers (1998) #34
Black Widow in Marvel Knights (2000) #1-15 & Marvel Knights (2002) #1-6
Natasha is an anchor of this pair of loosely-affiliated teams of street level characters and plots.
Marvel Knights (2000) #1-15: Marvel Knights By Dixon & Barreto: Defenders of the Streets (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302912130 / digital)
During #15: flashbacks in Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #4.
Daredevil (1998) #14-15, Daredevil/Spider-Man (2001) #2-4, & Daredevil (1998) #21: See Guide to Daredevil.
After Daredevil #21: Avengers (1998) #43-44 (and implied but unseen in #41), Thunderbolts (1997) #57 (and implied but unseen in #58), Captain America 1998) #50 (6th story). Also, see Black Widow (2002) #1-3, below.
Marvel Knights (2002) #1-6: Not collected
Marvel Knights Double Shot (2002) #4 (2nd story): Typically collected with Punisher material from this period. See Guide to Punisher.
After Double Shot: flashbacks in both Iron Man (1998) #50 and Daredevil (1998) #33. Then, in Avengers (1998) #55, Daredevil (1998) #36 (and implied in #37), Alias (2001) #15
Secret War (2004) #1-3 & 5: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret War
After Secret War: X-Statix (2002) #26, Hawkeye (2003) #7-8, flashback in Wonder Man (2007) #5
Daredevil (1998) #61-64: See Guide to Daredevil
Avengers (1963) #501-503: This is the famous “Avengers Disassembled” story – see Guide to New Avengers (2005-2010) or Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Avengers Disassembled
Yelena Belova in Black Widow (2002) #1-3 [AKA “Pale Little Spider”]
Natasha does not appear. Despite being labeled as “MAX” this series is a part of Marvel continuity – however, since it is a mature readers series, it is not available on Marvel Unlimited. It had never been collected in English prior to 2018.
#1-3: Marvel Knights Black Widow by Grayson & Rucka: The Complete Collection (2018 paperback, ISBN 978-1302914004 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (1999) #1-3, Black Widow (2001) #1-3, Black Widow (2002) #1-3 [AKA “Pale Little Spider,” starring Yelena Belova]
Black Widow (2004) #1-6
as recollected…
#1-6: Welcome to the Game (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921255 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (2004) #1-6, Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her (2005) #1-6.
as originally collected…
#1-6: Homecoming
Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her (2005) #1-6
as recollected…
#1-6: Welcome to the Game (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921255 / digital)
Collects Black Widow (2004) #1-6, Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her (2005) #1-6.
as originally collected…
#1-6: The Things They Say About Her
After this series: Marvel Team-Up (2005) #6, flashback in Captain America & Bucky (2011) #624, implied but unseen in Captain Universe (2005) #2 [AKA Captain Universe / Daredevil]. Natasha does not appear on-panel in House of M (2005), though her participation is implied in issue #6. Then she is implied but unseen in New Avengers (2005) #45
Then, in Wolverine: Origins (2006) #8-9; Daredevil (1998) #77-80; White Tiger (2007) #1, 3, & 6; and flashback in Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #4
Black Widow in Civil War and The Mighty Avengers
Though Black Widow was not a regular star of New Avengers, in the post-Civil War world her affiliation with SHIELD means that she is a dedicated member of the government-sanctioned Mighty Avengers team.
Civil War: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Civil War. Natasha appears in Civil War (2006) #3, Black Panther (2005) #23, and Civil War (2006) #6-7.
During Civil War #7: flashbacks in Mighty Avengers (2007) #2 and New Avengers (2005) #28-29
Fallen Son: Avengers (2007) #1: See Guide to New Avengers (2005-2010) or Guide to Captain America – Steve Rogers
Around the same time as Fallen Son: scenes in Young Allies Comics 70th Anniversary Special (2009) #1 and Avengers: Initiative (2007) #8, then in Silent War (2007) #5, and further scenes in New Avengers (2005) #29-30
Mighty Avengers (2007) #1-9 & 11: See Guide to Mighty Avengers & Ultimates.
During Mighty Avengers #1: Cameos in Irredeemable Ant-Man (2006) #7
After Mighty Avengers #7: New Avengers (2005) #34, then during #8 New Avengers (2005) #35-36
Black Widow in Captain America (2004) #27-50 & Secret Invasion
During the Death of Captain America saga, Black Widow takes over as one of the stars of the series alongside Winter Soldier, Falcon, and Sharon Carter.
Captain America (2004) #27 & 29-36, & 41-42: See Guide to Captain America – Steve Rogers. She is implied but unseen in issue #39.
After Cap #27: New Warriors (2007) #2, Avengers: Initiative (2007) #3, Giant-Size Avengers (2008) #1, Incredible Hulk (2000) #112, Incredible Hercules (2008) #114, flashback in Avengers: Initiative (2007) #12, New Avengers (2005) #38
After Cap #33: Cable & Deadpool (2004) #50, flashback in Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #4
After Cap #42: Captain Marvel (2008) #1, Marvel Apes (2008) #1, Fantastic Four (1961) #556 & 562, Avengers/Invaders (2008) #2 & 4-8, Hulk Smash Avengers (2012) #5, Hulk (2008) #8-9 (2nd stories), Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel (2009) #1
Secret Invasion: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret Invasion. Natasha appears in Secret Invasion (2008) #1-2, 4-6, Secret Invasion: Front Line (2008) #4, Avengers: Initiative (2007) #19, Secret Invasion (2008) #7 (and also in Marvel Apes (2008) #4 (2nd story and Thunderbolts (1997) #125, and Secret Invasion (2008) #8
After Secret Invasion: Wolverine: Origins (2006) #39
Captain America (2004) #43-48 & 50: See Guide to Captain America
After Cap #48: flashback in Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #4
After Cap #50: flashback in Winter Soldier (2012) #10.
Thunderbolts (1997) #128-136: See Guide to Thunderbolts. Natasha appears throughout Thunderbolts (1997) #128-129, Deadpool (2008) #7-8, Thunderbolts (1997) #130, Deadpool (2008) #9, and then in Thunderbolts (1997) #131-136
After Thunderbolts #133: Spider-Woman (2009) #5-6
During Thunderbolts #135: Secret Warriors (2009) #7-8
Heroic Age:
Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2010) #1-4
as recollected in a single paperback…
Widowmaker (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921446 / digital)
Collects Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) #1-4, Black Widow (2010) #1-8, Widowmaker (2010) #1-4, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) #1, Black Widow Saga (2010) #1; and material from Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1 and Iron Man: Kiss and Kill (2010) #1
as originally collected, along with guest appearances…
#1-4: Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1-6
Available in hardcover
Captain America: Reborn (2009): See Guide to Captain America. Natasha appears in Captain America (1968) #600 (2nd story), Captain America: Reborn (2009) #1-6, and Captain America: Who Will Wield The Shield? (2010) #1
After Wield the Shield, in Nomad: Girl Without A World (2009) #1-2 and Wolverine: Weapon X (2009) #10
Invincible Iron Man (2008) #14-22: See Guide to Iron Man – Tony Stark. Natasha turns in a memorable co-starring arc alongside Pepper Potts and Maria Hill.
Heroic Age:
Black Widow (2010) #1-8 & Secret Avengers
Black Widow began to assume a more prominent role in the Heroic Age, due in part to her rising star in Marvel Films. She stars in her first ongoing series, even if it is brief, plus continues her co-starring role in Captain America and Winter Soldier.
as recollected in a single paperback…
Widowmaker (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921446 / digital)
Collects Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) #1-4, Black Widow (2010) #1-8, Widowmaker (2010) #1-4, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) #1, Black Widow Saga (2010) #1; material from Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1, Iron Man: Kiss and Kill (2010) #1
as originally collected, along with guest appearances…
Iron Man: Kiss & Kill (2010) #1: Relevant portions are collected with Widowmaker, directly above, and Vol. 2, below. Also, see Guide to Iron Man – Tony Stark
At the start of the Heroic Age prior to Kiss & Kill, Natasha appears in New Avengers (2010) #1, Incredible Hulk (1968) #607, Captain America (1968) #609-610 (2nd stories), Avengers (2010) #1
Enter The Heroic Age (2010) #1 (3rd story): Collected above in both Widowmaker (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921446 / digital) and Marvel-Verse Black Widow (2020 digest-size paperback, ISBN 978-1302921194 / digital)
Secret Avengers (2010) #1-4: See Guide to Secret Avengers & Secret Warriors
After Secret Avengers #4: Vengeance Of The Moon Knight (2009) #10, Hercules: Fall of an Avenger (2010) #1, Incredible Hulks (2010) #614
Chaos War: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Chaos Warr. Natasha is in Chaos War (2010) #1-2, Chaos War: Dead Avengers (2011) #1 & 3, and implied in Chaos War (2010)
After Chaos War: I Am An Avenger (2010) #2 (3rd story), Deadpool (2008) #28-29
#1-5: Vol. 1: The Name of the Rose
Available in hardcover.
#6-8: Vol. 2: Kiss or Kill
Also includes material from Iron Man: Kiss and Kill (2010) #1
After #8: Captain America: Forever Allies (2010) #2 & 4, Wolverine (2010) #5.1, Taskmaster (2010) #4
Avengers (2010) #8-12: See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present)
Secret Avengers (2010) #6-10, 12.1, & Captain America & Secret Avengers (2011) #1: See Guide to Secret Avengers & Secret Warriors
After Secret Avengers #7: Klaws Of The Panther (2010) #4
Heroic Age:
Widowmaker (2010) #1-4 & Captain America
as recollected in a single paperback…
#1-4: Widowmaker (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921446 / digital)
Collects Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) #1-4, Black Widow (2010) #1-8, Widowmaker (2010) #1-4, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) #1, Black Widow Saga (2010) #1; material from Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1, Iron Man: Kiss and Kill (2010) #1
as originally collected…
#1-4: Hawkeye & Mockingbird / Black Widow: Widowmaker #1-4
Also collected in the larger Hawkeye: Avenging Archer trade.
Captain America (1968) #607-611, 611-614 (2nd stories), & 612-619: See Guide to Captain America – Steve Rogers. Natasha is implied but unseen in issue #606
After Cap #611 (1st story) Heroes for Hire (2011) #1 & 5
Heroic Age:
Black Widow in Secret Avengers & in Fear Itself (2011)
Onslaught Unleashed (2011) #1-4: See Guide to Secret Avengers & Secret Warriors. This is effectively an arc of Secret Avengers as a standalone mini-series, which fits prior to Captain America (1968) #612 (1st story).
After Cap #619: Heroes for Hire (2011) #9 (flashback)
Fear Itself (2011): See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Fear Itself or Guide to Secret Avengers & Secret Warriors. . Natasha doesn’t figure strongly into the main series, but she is the main character of the Secret Avengers tie-ins and is connected to one of the major outcomes of the event. Natasha appears in Fear Itself (2011) #3, Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt (2011) #2, Fear Itself (2011) #4, Secret Avengers (2010) #15, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) #1, and Fear Itself (2011) #7, 7.1, & 7.2
Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) #1: Widowmaker (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921446 / digital)
Collects Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) #1-4, Black Widow (2010) #1-8, Widowmaker (2010) #1-4, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) #1, Black Widow Saga (2010) #1; material from Enter the Heroic Age (2010) #1, Iron Man: Kiss and Kill (2010) #1
After Fear Itself: Avengers (2010) #16 & 18, Fear Itself: Fearless (2011) #2-2 & 10-11, Battle Scars (2012) #6, Captain America & Bucky (2011) #624, Hulk (2008) #42-43, Spider-Island: Heroes For Hire (2011) #1
Secret Avengers (2010) #16 & 19-25:See Guide to Secret Avengers & Secret Warriors.
After Secret Avengers #21: Moon Knight (2011) #6, Wolverine (2010) #16, X-23 (2010) #20
After Secret Avengers #25: Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #682-685, Amazing Spider-Man: Ends of the Earth (2012) #1, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #686-697, cameo in Astonishing X-Men (2004) #50, then Venom (2011) #21-22
Captain America & Black Widow (2012) #636-640 by Cullen Bunn
Just prior to the Marvel Now linewide relaunch Cullen Bunn took over Ed Brubaker’s longrunning Captain America title as it renumbered to “Legacy Numbering” and turned it into a team-up title, with a new team-up every arc or issue.
#636-640: Captain America and Black Widow (2013 paperback, ISBN 978-0785165286 / digital)
See Guide to Captain America – Steve Rogers for more collection options.
Black Widow in Avengers Assemble (2012), Avengers vs. X-Men (2012), & Secret Avengers
Avengers Assemble (2012) #1-8: See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present)
Avengers vs. X-Men: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Avengers vs. X-Men. Black Widow appears throughout this event. Her main action is in a satisfying knock-down, drag-out fight with Magik in Vs. #3.
Natasha’s chronology in this event is Avengers vs. X-Men (2012) #1-2 and New Avengers (2010) #24, Avengers vs. X-Men (2012) #3-4 and Uncanny X-Men (2012) #13, Avengers vs. X-Men (2012) #5 and AvX Vs. (2012) #3 (2nd story), Avengers Vs. X-Men (2012) #6, Avengers (2010) #29, Avengers Vs. X-Men (2012) #7, 9, & 11-12
Secret Avengers (2010) #29 & 31-37: See Guide to Secret Avengers & Secret Warriors.
After Secret Avengers: Avengers (2010) #34, New Avengers (2010) #33-34, and Avengers Assemble (2012) #9
Marvel Now:
Co-Star in Winter Soldier (2012) #1-14, Avengers (2012),
Avengers Assemble, & Secret Avengers (2012 – 2014)
First, Natasha appears throughout Winter Soldier’s first solo series except in the final arc from #15-19, though she is implied in that story.
Then, she is a regular character in much of the Avengers line in Marvel Now. She is a consistent presence in Avengers, one of the headliners of Secret Avengers and Avengers Assemble, and she even turns up in Hawkeye from time to time.
as recollected…
#1-14: Winter Soldier by Ed Brubaker, The Complete Collection – Also includes Fear Itself #7.1: Captain America
as originally collected…
#1-5: Vol. 1: The Longest Winter
After Winter Soldier #6: Avengers (2012) Annual 1 (Winter 2013/2014)
A+X (2012) #2: See Guide to Uncanny Avengers. This fits between Winter Soldier #6-7
Avengers (2012) #1-4: See Guide to Avengers Flagship Titles (2010 – Present). This fits between Winter Soldier #6-7
#6-9: Vol. 2: Broken Arrow
#10-14: Vol. 3: Black Widow Hunt
#15-19: Vol. 4: The Electric Ghost
After Winter Soldier: Punisher War Zone (2012) #1-5, Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #700
Click to expand a list of further Avengers appearances in this period, including events.
Marvel Now:
Black Widow (2014) #1-20 by Nathan Edmondson & Phil Noto
Original Sin (2014), Avengers, Avengers World, & Secret Avengers (2014 – 2015)
Black Widow earns only her second ongoing series with beautiful art from Phil Noto. She continues to appear in Avengers, Avengers World, and is one of the featured characters in Secret Avengers. Individual issues of those titles will not be listed below.
as recollected in Modern Era Epic Collection paperback…
Chaos (Modern Epic Collection) (2024 paperback, ISBN 978-1302956431 / digital TBA)
Collects the full series, plus All-New Marvel Now! Point One (2014) #1 (D-Story) and a crossover with Punisher (2014) #9
as originally collected…
#1-6: Vol. 1: The Finely Woven Thread
Includes All-New Marvel Now! Point One (2014) #1 (D-Story)
Original Sin: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events: Original Sin. Black Widow is a featured character in this event. She appear sin Original Sin (2014) #1-2 & 6-8, and also in #3.1.
#7-12: Vol. 2: The Tightly Tangled Web
Also collects Punisher (2014) #9, which is concurrent with issue #9.
#13-20: Vol. 3: Last Days
Note that issues #19-20 are part of “Time Runs Out” as noted below, and are also collected in Secret Wars: Last Days of the Marvel Universe oversize hardcover.
All-New, All-Different Marvel:
Black Widow (2016) #1-12 by Samnee & Waid
Natasha scores one of the biggest blockbuster re-debuts with the recently-departed team from Daredevil – Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, but with artist Samnee plotting the series as well as illustrating it and Waid on scripting duties!
as recollected…
by Waid & Samnee Complete Collection (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921293 / digital)
as originally collected…
#1-6: Vol. 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Most Wanted (2016 paperback, ISBN 978-0785199755 / digital)
#7-12: Vol. 2: No More Secrets (2017 paperback, ISBN 978-0785199762 / digital)
Also in this period: Spider-Woman (2016) #1, in the continuity-lite Marvel Tsum Tsum (2016) #1, Mockingbird (2016) #1, cameo in Unbeatable Squirrel Girl Beats Up The Marvel Universe (2016) OGN
Civil War II: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Civil War II. Natasha is in Civil War II: Choosing Sides (2016) #4 (3rd story), Ms. Marvel (2016) #12 (2nd story), Captain America: Steve Rogers (2016) #7, Civil War II: The Oath (2017)
After Civil War II, in Mighty Captain Marvel (2017) #4 (and implied but unseen in #5), Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) #16, flashback in Unstoppable Wasp (2017) #7, Spider-Man/Deadpool (2016) #12, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015B) #16, Spider-Woman (2016) #17, Deadpool vs. Punisher (2017) #1, Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #1 (2nd story)
Black Widow in Secret Empire (2017)
I’d go so far as to say Natasha is one of the main characters of this event!
Secret Empire: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Secret Empire. She appears in Free Comic Book Day 2017: Secret Empire (2017) #1, Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #30, Secret Empire (2017) #1-2, Occupy Avengers (2017) #8-9 (including flashbacks to prior to #1), Secret Empire (2017) #3, Secret Empire: Uprising (2017) #1, Secret Empire (2017) #4-7 & Omega
Marvel Legacy:
Tales of Suspense (2017) #100-104
Natasha headlines a series with her conspicuous absence with Matt Rosenberg’s Tales of Suspense, which follows up on her disappearance at the end of Secret Empire. Though she is not the on-panel star of this series, it is all about her.
#100-104: Tales of Suspense: Hawkeye & the Winter Soldier
After Tales of Suspense: Punisher (1986) #226-228, Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (2015B) #37, Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #1
Black Widow in Infinity Countdown: Black Widow (2018) #1 & Infinity Wars (2018)
Wolverine returns and hands an Infinity Stone over to Natasha – making her a sudden major player in the entire Marvel Universe.
Infinity Countdown: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity Countdown & Infinity Wars. Natasha appears in Infinity Countdown (2018) #1, Infinity Countdown: Black Widow (2018) #1, Infinity Countdown (2018) #5
After Countdown #1, in Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #10 and Punisher (2018) #1 & 4
Infinity Wars: See Guide to Marvel Universe Events – Infinity Countdown & Infinity Wars. Natasha appears in Infinity Wars (2018) #1-3 and Infinity Wars: Sleepwalker (2018) #1 (and possibly #3)
Marvel Fresh Start:
Black Widow (2019) #1-6 by Jen & Sylvia Soska and Flaviano
After Infinity Wars, Natasha returns in a new series with a dark tone and a focus on human trafficking. [Marvel Unlimited]
#1-5: No Restraints Play (2019 paperback, ISBN 9781302916732 / digital)
Also in this period: Domino: Hotshots (2019) #1-5, Uncanny X-Men (2019) #11 (2nd story), Weapon H (2018) #8-12, Punisher (2018) #13-16, Hulkverines! (2019) #3
The Web of Black Widow (2019) #1-5 by Jody Houser & Stephen Mooney
#1-5: Web of Black Widow (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302920074 / digital)
Also in this period: War of the Realms Strikeforce: War Avengers (2019) #1 and Captain Marvel (2019) #6-7
Black Widow (2020) #1-15 by Kelly Thompson & Elena Casagrande
A smash-hit, Eisner-winning, ongoing run that focuses on Natasha and her wide supporting cast – though, the first arc starts with a shock!
#1-5: by Kelly Thompson, Vol. 1: The Ties That Bind (2021 paperback, ISBN 978-1302924836 / digital)
#6-10: by Kelly Thompson, Vol. 2: I am the Black Widow (2021 paperback, ISBN 978-1302930134 / digital)
#11-15: by Kelly Thompson, Vol. 3: Die by the Blade (2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302932541 / digital)
Out-of-Continuity Material
Listed in order of publication.
Black Widow and the Marvel Girls (2009) #1-4: Black Widow and the Marvel Girls
This series is part of Earth-20051 Marvel Adventures YA continuity.
Marvel’s the Avengers: Black Widow Strikes (2012) #1-3 (2012 paperback, ISBN 978-0785165682/ digital)
Part of the MCU comics continuity, set between Iron Man 2 and Avengers.
Marvel’s Black Widow: Forever Red [Book 1] by Margaret Stohl
(2015 hardcover, ISBN 978-1484726433 / 2016 paperback, ISBN 978-1484776452 / digital / 2015 CD audiobook / digital audiobook)
Marvel’s Black Widow: Red Vengeance [Book 2] by Margaret Stohl
(2016 hardcover, ISBN 978-1484773475 / 2017 paperback, ISBN 978-1484788486 / digital / 2016 CD audiobook / digital audiobook)
Marvel’s Black Widow Prelude (2019) #1-2 (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921088 / digital)
Part of MCU Comics continuity. Also collects Marvel-616 continuity stories from Avengers (1963) 43 & 196; Web of Black Widow (2019) #1; and material from Tales of Suspense (1959) 52-53.
Black Widow Poster Book (2020 paperback, ISBN 978-1302921347)
Marvel Studios’ Black Widow: The Art of the Movie (2023 hardcover, ISBN 978-1302923587 / digital TBA)
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Black Widow, Vol. 4 & Vol. 5 and Civil War is actually Black Widow Vol 3 and Vol 4
Whoops, I meant Black Widow Vol 3 and then ‘Black Widow 2’ also known as Black Widow- The Things They Say About Her (a limited series)
Thanks, Jamie. Trying to keep up with volume numbers for her series is hopeless, since some sources count the series with subtitles as “Black Widow” volumes and some don’t. I’ve switched entirely to attributing them by year with this update.
Black Widow and the Marvel Girls is in continuity.
It also comes before the Deadly Origin series.
JB, it appears to be out of continuity with 616 and in continuity with Marvel 20051 (Marvel Adventures). That makes sense, since Paul Tobin had authored several Adventures-continuity series at that point.
Missing the Black Widow: Widowmaker tpb (978-1302921446/ 1302921444) which collects; Black Widow: Deadly Origin (2009) 1-4, Black Widow (2010) 1-8, Widowmaker (2010) 1-4, Fear Itself: Black Widow (2011) 1, Black Widow Saga (2010) 1; material from Enter The Heroic Age (2010) 1, Iron Man: Kiss And Kill (2010) 1
Thanks JB, I finally gave this page a LONG overdue major revision to include all of these pseudo-complete-collections.