Character Spotlight
How to Become Black Widow
Aug
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Name: Natasha Romanoff, Alias Black Widow
Game(s): Various Marvel Ensemble Games
Archetype: Rogue
Class: Assassin
Skills/Attributes:
- Peak human physical condition.
- Master-level close quarters combatant.
- Master marksman.
- Multilingual.
- Former KGB agent.
- Morally flexible.
- Compassionate.
- Loyal.
Overview:
Black Widow, AKA Natasha Romanoff is one of the most iconic characters of the modern day Marvel universe, thanks in no small part to Scarlett Johansson’s portrayal of her on the big screen in the Avengers movie franchise. She’s a powerful heroine who, in my opinion, deserves her own movie sometime soon. Lithe, strong, and deadly, Black Widow is a Rogue for sure, in the Assassin class.
Trained from a young age to be an international assassin and intelligence operative for the KGB, Black Widow is a formidable opponent in many arenas. Her own personal legend in the Marvel universe is as varied and interesting as her skillset. Starting out (like her compatriot Hawkeye) as a villain, she has evolved as a character over the years, turning into a staunch (if morally flexible) ally for the forces of good in the world. At least, most of the time…
Let’s jump in and see what we can do to emulate the fitness, skills and mindset of one of Marvel’s most fearsome heroines!
The Black Widow Workout is going to be all about maximizing our strength, stamina, and speed while maintaining a small and athletic frame. Black Widow is said to be at the absolute peak of human capabilities, having been granted a dose of the KGB’s own super serum (similar to Captain America.) We might not have a super serum available to us, but we can take a page out of the books of Olympic gymnasts, sprinters, marathon runners, and professional martial artists to created the ultimate combat-ready physique. Get ready for a funky fusion of Nightwing, Mikasa, and Lara Croft.
The Skills of a Black Widow is going to examine the type of training Natasha might have endured in the Red Room during her training to become a Black Widow. Not only is she a master of multiple martial arts, she’s also an expert shot, fluent in multiple languages, able to infiltrate almost any environment she chooses. She can disappear into a crowd, and then emerge at a moment’s notice to take down her target (even if that target might be super-powered.)
The Benevolent Assassin will take a look into the psyche of the Black Widow, and how she has evolved over time. Thought she emerged as a villain in the comics, she has shifted over time to become an agent for the forces of good. At the same time, she finds herself more comfortable in a morally gray area, as compared to some of her super-powered companions (lookin’ at you, Cap.) We’re going to take a look at how this ethical flexibility does not necessarily compromise her own moral compass, and how a realist worldview can actually help you be more benevolent than some idealists.
Natasha is a super cool character, and the Black Widow is even deadlier than her namesake (which, worth noting, black widows are actually pretty chill spiders.) She’s been a pretty common request here for a while, and while I put it off hoping she would get a game or movie of her own, I’m tired of waiting and Ms. Romanoff shall not be denied any longer! I’ll see you next week with The Black Widow Workout!
