The sins of Black Widow’s past recently resurfaced in the form of an old enemy seeking retribution but was ironically the key to her salvation. Natasha Romanoff is known to have “red in her ledger” which comes at the expense of a number of people she’s been ordered to eliminate. While most who cross paths with Black Widow don’t live to talk about it, some are simply unfortunate enough to feel the impacts of her actions as a result of someone they know being targeted by the secret agent. In the latest issue of Black Widow, a person who’s loved one was killed by Romanoff seeks vengeance against the Avenger, unwittingly saving her in the process.
In Black Widow #4 by Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande, and Carlos E. Gomez, it is revealed that Black Widow ed who she really was, awakened from the daze of her manufactured life.
Weeping Lion’s desire for revenge becomes his undoing, not just for himself but for his entire team of villains. The vindictive foe shortsightedly takes it upon himself to enact his personal vengeance upon the Avenger at the expense of the overall mission. After Black Widow is freed from her fictitious life, she immediately springs into action, fighting off a small army under the command of Viper, Weeping Lion, and other villains who wish ill upon her. While Black Widow is relieved to have her memories back, she is now forced to give up the life she built with her husband and her son. At the end of Black Widow #4, Natasha is spending one last night with her family before she leaves them for their own safety, but as they lay together for the last time, a mysterious enemy shoots a rocket through their window and seemingly kills Black Widow’s husband and son.
While Weeping Lion fails in his mission to kill Black Widow, he arguably inflicted more damage than if he had succeeded. Natasha was given happiness, albeit for a villainous purpose, but to her it was real. Nat had a happy life with a loving family, then as suddenly as they were given to her, they were taken away.
Weeping Lion’s shortsightedness in his need for revenge saved Black Widow from a false reality, though Romanoff still suffers a cruel fate at the hands of her enemies. Black Widow’s worst crime technically saved her life, but because she killed a loved one of Weeping Lion, her loved ones were taken away in return.
