It feels almost bizarre to say that we are approaching the 10 year anniversary of the release of The Avengers (2012), a movie that has become iconic not only within the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but within global pop culture, too, and yet feels as though it was released only yesterday. As we reach the end of the Women’s History Month celebrations, and with The Avengers’ anniversary coming soon, it seems only right to dive into the phenomenal character of Black Widow.
Also known as Agent Natasha Romanoff, the powerful assassin/spy is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in The Avengers movie, as well as a plethora of other pictures within the MCU; from her introduction back in Iron Man 2 (2010) to her very own story in Black Widow (2021). Whilst there has been frequent discourse over the years regarding Natasha’s accuracy with regard to her comic book source material, she has no doubt solidified herself as one of cinema’s most forceful female characters. Here is a rundown of some of Black Widow’s most powerful moments throughout the MCU. Spoilers ahead!
Black Widow’s most powerful moments
Natalie Rushman or Natasha Romanoff?
Audiences were first introduced to Black Widow back in 2010, during the Iron Man (2008) sequel. The aptly named Iron Man 2 brought us (as she was initially known) Natalie Rushman, a supposed legal notary brought in by Pepper Potts in order to oversee the signing over of Stark Industries to Pepper. Whilst first presented as a rather sexualized, reserved character of mystique, one of ‘Natalie’s’ first scenes involves her displaying some impressive martial arts moves in defense during Happy Hogan’s spontaneous boxing class. Although at this point, her Black Widow identity is unknown to many audience members, her power is already evident in both her ability to manipulate her sexual prowess and in her physical fighting skills.
However, arguably her most powerful moment comes after the revelation of her true identity as a spy working for S.H.I.E.L.D.. After showcasing a range of fighting techniques (including the use of weapons and her martial arts skills) in order to take out almost ten men and reach the villainous Ivan Vanko, Natasha walks down the hallway, not even stopping to look at her attacker as she lifts her arm and sprays pepper spray directly into the eyes of a final security guard. The moment is so nonchalant, so simple, and yet so powerful to the viewer, who understands Natasha as someone clearly not to be messed with.
Black Widow vs Loki
Natasha puts her espionage-cultivated manipulative abilities to good use in 2012’s The Avengers, producing another of Black Widow’s most powerful moments. As she talks with the entrapped Loki, Natasha realizes the only way to get information out of the Norse God of Mischief is to be mischievous herself. By allowing Loki to believe he is horrifying her and getting under her skin as he brings up Agent Romanoff’s dark past and “dripping, gushing red” ledger, she is able to trick the Trickster God himself.
Natasha draws Loki into cockiness by becoming seemingly naïve and emotional, encouraging him to slip up and reveal his plan to unleash the Incredible Hulk. She is at her most powerful in this scene as she spins back to face him after apparently turning away in distress to cry, steadying her voice and returning to her normal state as she replies “So, Banner? That’s your play?,” referring to Dr. Bruce Banner, the Hulk. It is at this point that both Loki and the audience realize they have underestimated both Natasha’s acting capabilities and her strength – she willingly exposed a vulnerability of hers in order to outmaneuver Loki and obtain information for the betterment of the whole team.
Black Widow vs Jasper Sitwell
Although just a brief moment in 2014’s Captain America: Winter Soldier, Agent Romanoff and Captain America’s interrogation of S.H.I.E.L.D agent/HYDRA infiltrator Jasper Sitwell leads to another of Black Widow’s most powerful moments in the MCU. Attempting to uncover as much as possible about the notorious HYDRA organization’s plans to manipulate S.H.I.E.L.D’s Project Insight to target and eliminate threats and enemies, Steve Rogers and Natasha trap and question Sitwell on a roof. They imply a threat to throw him off if he does not comply. Although Sitwell calls their bluff, telling Cap “it’s really not your style, Rogers”, Steve allows Natasha to do the deed, kicking Sitwell from the roof and seemingly to the ground below.
Whilst Sitwell is actually caught by Falcon (Sam Wilson), for a moment both the audience and Sitwell are led to believe that Natasha has truly tried to kill him in cold blood. Despite this being accurate to Natasha’s vicious upbringing and Red Room training, it shocks us for a split second, reminding the audience that the hero we usually see is actually a professional killer who would likely be more than willing to throw a man from a roof, even without someone to catch him.
Natasha confides in the Hulk
There has been heavy discourse regarding the relationship between Natasha Romanoff and Dr. Bruce Banner in the MCU, with things seeming to culminate during Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015). Regardless of where you stand on the debate, one of Black Widow’s most powerful moments comes during a heart-to-heart between the two characters. After previously experiencing a Scarlet Witch-induced vision of her traumatic past, Natasha confides in the Hulk, confessing that her ‘graduation’ ceremony from her Red Room training back in Russia involved forced sterilization. Although there was significant controversy regarding the script’s problematic description of infertility, with Natasha calling herself a “monster”, the moment was an emotionally powerful one nonetheless, particularly from such a stoic female character.
This moment also shed light on forced sterilization and mutilation processes, in spite of whether or not the dialogue was well handled. Katie Hasty of UPROXX explores the moment in more depth, detailing the vulnerability of such a moment in cinema, and the importance and power of a feminine theme such as this one in what tends to be the boys’ game of super-heroism.
Marvel’s Avengers: Age Of Ultron..L to R: Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo)..Ph: Jay Maidment..©Marvel 2015
Black Widow’s sacrifice
Despite much backlash regarding the injustice towards and loss of such a prominent, powerful female character in cinema, Natasha’s final sacrifice in the epic Avengers: Endgame (2019) is poignant and impactful nonetheless. In order to retrieve the Soul Stone to take on the mighty Thanos, Natasha and Hawkeye’s Clint Barton travel to Vormir, where one of them must sacrifice themselves (“you must lose that which you love”). After a to-and-fro battle between the two agents over who will be the one to throw themselves off the cliff, it is ultimately Natasha that jumps to her death.
This is a heartbreaking moment for many fans who have witnessed her growth across so many MCU movies and we’re hoping for more (especially because of the rich abundance of comic book material regarding her character). However, regardless of debate, the scene is one of Natasha’s most emotionally powerful, demonstrating selflessness and daring on her part as she acts to save the life of the best friend she loves dearly. Her power is clear as the Black Widow character bows out of the chronological MCU timeline from then on.
Black Widow (2021)
After years of asking, fans were finally given a Black Widow-centric story in 2021, jumping back before her death to follow Natasha in between the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). With a plot that revealed more about her traumatic upbringing, Agent Romanoff teams up with her adopted sister and fellow Red Room-trained ‘widow’ (Yelena Belova) to take down the Red Room. It is revealed that General Dreykov, the Red Room’s overseer, has been using chemical subjugation to manipulate his trained widows into doing whatever they are instructed, and Natasha is hell-bent on stopping him.
In their climactic confrontation, Dreykov informs Natasha that she will be unable to physically harm him due to the pheromones he is emitting that manipulates the smeller. However, she demonstrates to the audience her sheer dauntlessness after seeing Dreykov’s slideshow of widows, all young girls across the world who are at his mercy of manipulation. In an incredibly powerful moment (and with the audience having been shown that Natasha was already aware of the pheromones), the Black Widow smashes her face into the control panel to break her own nose; this severs her olfactory nerve and allows her to finally attack Dreykov and shut down his Red Room system. Natasha illustrates incredible bravery and strength in this moment to take such a stomach-turning, self-sacrificial action, harming herself in order to ensure the safety of so many women.
(L-R): Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) and Yelena (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ BLACK WIDOW, in theaters and on Disney+ with Premier Access. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2021. All Rights Reserved.
Whilst these are just a small handful of Black Widow’s most powerful moments in the MCU, there are undoubtedly numerous more. Natasha Romanoff is one of the most powerful Avengers not necessarily in terms of superpowers or physical strength, but in terms of technical ability, wit, and bravery, and she remains a hero of cinema and an icon of female strength.
All MCU movies and projects can be streamed now on Disney+.
Black Widow’s most powerful moments in the MCU
Source: Pinoy White Knights
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