Warning: contains spoilers for Venom #26Marvel's iconic Black Widow is sporting a terrifying new status quo, as the dangerous assassin fuses with a Klyntar symbiote in Venom #26, transforming her into the world's most effective super spy. While Natasha Romanoff has always been one of Marvel's most feared secret agents, Black Widow's new Venom powers bring her considerable skills to a whole other level.
Black Widow is a perfect Marvel hero to be paired with a symbiote, partly because her spider-like codename and symbol fit flawlessly with the Venom mythos, but also because she has the brutality, drive, and experience to wield a symbiote responsibly and to its most deadly effect.
Venom #26, from writer Torunn Grønbekk and artists Julius Ohta and Frank D'Armata, sees Natasha Romanoff using her impressive new abilities to assassinate and extract the memories from her target, as she continues her investigation into the dangerous new group she calls "NoName."
Black Widow's Symbiote Allows Her To Access Targets Memories
Natasha's new slimy status quo was first teased in Venom #23, where Dylan Brock's Venom and Bren's Toxin became aware of a terrorist-like group who are "No One" that is targeting people associated with Alchemax. Romanoff found her symbiote, who is incredibly young for its species, in a destroyed Alchemax facility, and immediately felt a strong bond with it, choosing to become the creature's host. Now in Venom #26 Natasha is calling herself "Widow" and using her new abilities to discover the secrets of "NoName," teaming up with Dylan to accomplish her goals.
Before partnering with Venom, however, Widow interrogates a former associate of hers, Keith Walken. Her investigation into NoName brought her to Keith, who is part of the clandestine group whose sole goal is to get justice for victims of Alchemax. As Keith pulls a gun on Natasha her symbiote attacks - as a truly terrifying and beautiful spider goo - and kills the NoName agent, devouring his brain like in a classic Venom story. While Widow first onishes her new symbiote partner, she quickly realizes that by eating Keith's brain the symbiote has stolen his memories, which Natasha is now able to sift through at her leisure.
Widow's New Symbiote Status Quo Is Here To Stay
Widow's new ability to absorb and view her target's memories makes her perhaps the world's most effective spy. By stealing their memories directly Natasha can get the most detailed information possible, without needing to rely on things like torture or truth serum. Plus, the symbiote gives her increased stealth, strength, and regenerative weaponry. Thankfully, it appears that Black Widow's journey as the symbiote "Widow" is far from over, with Marvel revealing a gorgeous new cover by Derrick Chew for Thunderbolts #1 featuring the symbiote Natasha. Widow will be part of Bucky's new Thunderbolts team hunting down Marvel's most vile villains, and she will have her symbiote right beside her the whole time.
Natasha Romanoff was raised since she was a young girl to be an expert in espionage, and she has proven her status as one of Marvel's most deadly and desired spies for years. Now, acting as the host to a powerful young symbiote, the Black Widow has gained even more skills and abilities to perfect her craft, cementing her status as Marvel's most dangerous spy.
Venom #26 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.
