Claim: Black Widow is a Russian superhero.

Black Widow -LRB- Чёрная вдова , transliterated Chyornaya Vdova -RRB- -LRB- Natalia Alianovna `` Natasha '' Romanova , Russian : Наталья Альяновна '' Наташа '' Романова , also known as Natasha Romanoff -RRB- is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics . Created by editor and plotter Stan Lee , scripter Don Rico , and artist Don Heck , the character first appeared in Tales of Suspense No. 52 -LRB- April 1964 -RRB- . The character was first introduced as a Russian spy , an antagonist of the superhero Iron Man . She later defected to the United States , becoming an agent of the fictional spy agency S.H.I.E.L.D. , and a member of the superhero team the Avengers .   Scarlett Johansson portrayed the character in the films Iron Man 2 -LRB- 2010 -RRB- , The Avengers -LRB- 2012 -RRB- , Captain America : The Winter Soldier -LRB- 2014 -RRB- , Avengers : Age of Ultron -LRB- 2015 -RRB- and Captain America : Civil War -LRB- 2016 -RRB- as a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe franchise .