Warning: Contains Spoilers for Thunderbolts*! 62b2x

Within the sprawling Marvel Universe, a chilling undercurrent of terror lingers. A shadowy institution, a place whispered about in hushed tones even by seasoned spies and hardened assassins: the Red Room. More than just a training facility, the Red Room is a symbol of trauma for Black Widows; a place where innocence is systematically extinguished and replaced with lethal efficiency, leaving behind physical and psychological scars.

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Thunderbolts*.

Marvel Comics has just confirmed that there is one character Iron Man believes is more than a match for Black Widow, as Tony Stark is forced to enlist the help of MCU character Melinda May to protect him, after Widow sets her sights on Tony, setting up a confrontation that will prove who truly is the better fighter of the two.

The MCU almost featured a number of deleted scenes featuring Black Widow that could have changed the trajectory of the whole franchise. After making her debut early in the MCU’s movie timeline, Black Widow went on to become one of the franchise’s most important heroes. Natasha Romanoff’s role in the MCU’s Infinity Saga as a founding Avenger was a major one, with later movies introducing other Black Widows with the potential to influence the MCU in a similar way.

Out of the three potential Black Widow replacements that the MCU has set up so far, two of them are seemingly already going to waste. Scarlett Johansson’s Natasha Romanoff debuted in Phase 1 and was a crucial part of the original core Avengers. As Natasha’s backstory got further fleshed out, the name Black Widow started to mean more than just her hero identity. It represented the cruel Red Room, where young girls were trained to become elite spies and assassins known as Black Widows.

Ultimate Wolverine is about to come into conflict with his world’s Black Widow, but if Logan is this continuity's Winter Solider, then his relationship with Natasha Romanova could be more than simply platonic. If this turns out to be the case, as Marvel Comics readers have begun to speculate, it will mean something far more significant, if, or perhaps when, the two come to blows.

Daredevilhas a very tumultuous history when it comes to dating. However, one of his earliest and most stable relationships is with none other than Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. Sadly, after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Natasha and Matt Murdock’s iconic chemistry will most likely never make it to the MCU.

Following the original's death, the MCU is now home to three replacement Black Widows, and one convincing theory suggests that Marvel has introduced one to justify killing yet another. Natasha Romanoff boasts one of the most tragic deaths in the MCU, sacrificing herself on Vormir to attain the Soul Stone after fighting with Clint Barton for the morbid honor. Like most other mainline MCU heroes who have either died or stepped back, this has left a gulf that another character has soon stepped in to fill.

Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow is among my favorite characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and I really need Thunderbolts*to redeem her legacy after a recent Marvel mistake. Even though there are rumors concerning Scarlett Johansson returning to the MCU as Black Widow, the character's time as a main figure in the universe is likely over. As a result, it is important that the franchise find other characters to take her place, both in the Avengers team, and in the larger universe.