Black Widow

Black Widow

• Designation: Freelance Agent
• Nationality: Russian
• Criminal Record: Extensive, but purged at Director Fury’s request 
• Powers: Government treatments have slowed her aging, augmented her immune system and enhanced her physical durability
• Abilities: Extensive weapons training, hand to hand combat master, expert at most known black ops and espionage techniques 
• Unique Weapons: The “Widow’s Sting,” wrist gauntlets firing a bioelectric blast 
• Known History: An orphan raised in the Russian Secret Service’s top secret “Red Room” to become a master assassin, the Widow was brainwashed into believing she was a great ballerina who volunteered for government service when her fiancee was killed by Western agents. 

At her agency’s request, Black Widow infiltrated Stark Industries to steal the technological secrets of Tony Stark, aided by her lover, the American criminal Hawkeye. When Iron Man foiled their schemes, the Widow’s handlers ordered her to tie up loose ends by assassinating Hawkeye. They did not anticipate she had developed feelings for him, however, and that love allowed her to unravel her programming and defect to SHIELD — with Hawkeye in tow. 

Observations: “The Widow has spent her life switching sides. There’s no reason to believe she won’t switch on us one day. The idea she should be allowed near impressionable recruits is nothing short of insane. I have made my objections known to Director Fury as well as the World Security Council and find their inaction maddening.” — Maria Hill