Yelena Belova

{{Short description|Fictional character, a spy in the Marvel Comics Universe}}

{{Infobox comics character

| character_name = Yelena Belova

| image = Comic Still of Yelena Belova as the Super-Adaptoid.png

| converted = y

| caption = Yelena Belova as depicted in Secret Avengers (2013) #5
Art by Luke Ross

| debut = {{ubl|Design:| Marvel Knights: Wave 2 Sketchbook #1 (January 1998)|Character:|Inhumans #5 (January 1999)}}

| creators = {{ubl|Devin Grayson|J.G. Jones|Paul Jenkins|Jae Lee}}

| species = Human

| homeworld = Moscow, Russia

| alliances = {{ubl|Russian Federation|S.H.I.E.L.D.|Hydra / A.I.M.|Thunderbolts}}

| partners =

| supports =

| aliases = {{ubl|Black Widow|Super-Adaptoid|White Widow}}

| powers = * Expert marksman and mastery of various weapons

Master martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant

| cat = super

| subcat = Marvel Comics

| hero = y

| villain = y

| sortkey = Belova, Yelena

}}

Yelena Belova ({{langx|ru|Еле́на Бело́ва}}) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Devin Grayson and artist J.G. Jones, the character appeared as a sketch in Marvel Knights: Wave 2 Sketchbook #1 (January 1998) before debuting a year later in the second volume of Inhumans #5 (January 1999) by writer Paul Jenkins and artist Jae Lee.

Trained as an assassin in the Russian-based Red Room, Belova became the second modern-era character to use the Black Widow moniker, after Natasha Romanova. Originally sent to kill Romanova, the two became allies and have since worked together. Belova also became a version of Super-Adaptoid as a member of Hydra and A.I.M., before being freed and adopting the codename White Widow. Belova has been part of various teams and organisations including S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Thunderbolts. She is the first confirmed asexual character in the Marvel Universe.

Florence Pugh portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) beginning with the film Black Widow (2021) and the Disney miniseries Hawkeye (2021). Pugh's version is depicted as the sister of Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow.

Publication history

Yelena Belova first appeared as a sketch in Marvel Knights: Wave 2 Sketchbook #1 (January 1998) by writer Devin Grayson and artist J.G. Jones.{{Cite web|url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/54493/yelena-belova-get-first-solo-series-white-widow|title=Yelena Belova to Get First Solo Series as White Widow|date=June 30, 2023|last=Alverson|first=Brigid|accessdate=March 7, 2025|website=IcV2}} She debuted in Inhumans (Vol. 2) #5 (March 1999) by writer Paul Jenkins and artist Jae Lee.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-thunderbolts-members-powers-comics-origin-history/|title=Marvel's Thunderbolts* Explained: All Members Powers, Comics Origin & MCU History|accessdate=March 7, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=September 23, 2024|last=Craig|first=Richard}} Belova starred in and was full introduced in the mini-series Black Widow (1999) by Grayson and Jones, as part of the Marvel Knights imprint.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/revisiting-marvels-beezer-belova/|title=Revisiting Marvel's Beezer & Belova|last=De Blieck Jr.|first=Augie|publisher=Comic Book Resources|date= July 16, 2013|access-date=June 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190616051339/https://www.cbr.com/revisiting-marvels-beezer-belova/|archive-date=June 16, 2019}} Belova was introduced as the second incarnation of the Black Widow after Natasha Romanova (Natasha Romanoff), her obsession turned rival.

Belova went on to star alongside Romanova and Daredevil in a second miniseries titled Black Widow (2001).{{Cite web|url=https://www.comicsbookcase.com/features-archive/black-widow-underestimated-solo-comics|title=Black Widow Underestimated - Tortured Beginnings and Solo Black Widow|accessdate=March 7, 2025|website=Comics Book Case|date=March 24, 2022|last=Thomas|first=Paul}} The next year, she starred in her first solo three-issue miniseries, Black Widow: Pale Little Spider (2002) by writer Greg Rucka and artist Igor Kordey, under the mature audience Marvel MAX imprint, establishing her as the first confirmed asexual character in the Marvel Universe.Black Widow: Pale Little Spider #1–3 (June–August 2003) Marvel Comics.{{Cite web|last=Benten|first=Emma|date=July 20, 2021|title=Marvel: 10 Characters You Didn't Know Were LGBTQ+|url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-comics-characters-didnt-know-lgbqt|access-date=July 20, 2021|website=Screen Rant|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721224545/https://screenrant.com/marvel-comics-characters-didnt-know-lgbqt/ |archive-date=2021-07-21}}{{Cite web|last=Morse|first=Ben|title=Writer Devin Grayson on Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova, and the History of 'Black Widow'|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/writer-devin-grayson-on-natasha-romanoff-yelena-belova-and-the-history-of-black-widow|access-date=May 21, 2021|website=Marvel Entertainment|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128100429/https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/writer-devin-grayson-on-natasha-romanoff-yelena-belova-and-the-history-of-black-widow|archive-date=January 28, 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Morse|first=Ben|title=Writer Devin Grayson on Natasha Romanoff, Yelena Belova, and the History of 'Black Widow'|url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/writer-devin-grayson-on-natasha-romanoff-yelena-belova-and-the-history-of-black-widow|access-date=May 21, 2021|website=Marvel Entertainment|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128100429/https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/writer-devin-grayson-on-natasha-romanoff-yelena-belova-and-the-history-of-black-widow|archive-date=January 28, 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite tweet|author=Devin Grayson|author-link=Devin K. Grayson|user=Gothamette|number=1470757734098292741|title=Many of you have been asking me about #YelenaBelova's sexuality recently. Here are my thoughts on the matter: https://buff.ly/3dNHIP2}}{{Cite web|last=Grayson|first=Devin|author-link=Devin K. Grayson|title=Yelena Belova's Sexuality|url=http://www.devingrayson.net/devingraysonblogish/yelenas-sexuality|access-date=December 13, 2021|website=DevinGrayson.net|language=en}}{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.tumblr.com/gaileyfrey/721656339547471872/the-assassins-out-of-the-bag-im-writing-yelena|title=The assassin's out of the bag: I'm writing Yelena Belova, the White Widow, in her own series at Marvel!!|date=July 1, 2023|author-link=Sarah Gailey|last=Gailey|first=Sarah|access-date=July 1, 2023|via=Tumblr|work=gaileyfrey|quote=I love Yelena so much and I'm beyond excited to share her story with all of you. It's a wild honor to be trusted with the work of bringing the White Widow into her own world on her own terms. I can't wait to share what's in store [this November] – it's gonna be killer. – gailey #yelena belova #white widow #black widow #Sarah Gailey #comics #Alessandro Miracolo #David Marquez #marvel #the avengers #hawkeye #asexual #HERO is a strong word okay #i promise you she will have a blast tho #murdering whoever needs to get murdered}}

Fictional character biography

Yelena Belova was born in Moscow in Soviet times and later recruited into the Russian Federation (GRU).Women of Marvel: Celebrating Decades Handbook #1 (January 1, 2010) She was trained to be an assassin in the Red Room by the spymasters who trained Natasha Romanova, the first Black Widow later turned Avenger.

After the death of her trainer, she is activated and deployed to investigate his death. She tracks down and kills the killer, unaware that that the task was a ploy to get Belova to assert herself as the new Black Widow.Black Widow: Pale Little Spider #3 (Aug. 2002) Believing herself the rightful successor to the title, Belova volunteers to eliminate Romanova. During their confrontation, Romanova calls Belova "little one", encourages her to explore her personal identity rather than blindly devote herself to her nation, and subjects her to a cruel manipulation to teach her the reality of the espionage industry.Black Widow #1-3 (June-Aug. 1999) Belova remains loyal to the GRUWidowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova Vol 1 #1 (January, 2021) but retires to Cuba, where she becomes a successful businesswoman and model.Black Widow 2 #1 (Nov. 2005)

Belova is recruited by the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D., and becomes involved in the agency's vibranium mining in the Antarctic Savage Land.The New Avengers #5 (April 2005) Shortly afterward, she barely survives an attack by Sauron, receiving severe burns and disfiguring injuries. She is later approached by a man working for the terrorist organization Hydra who offers her revenge against S.H.I.E.L.D. and the New Avengers.The New Avengers #6 (June 2005) Belova is experimented on and genetically altered by Advanced Idea Mechanics (A.I.M.) scientists working for Hydra, who transform her into a version of the Super-Adaptoid. With this body, Belova gains the ability to copy the Avengers' powers. She is eventually defeated by a combination of Iron Man's armors and the Sentry's Void persona; in which the latter she absorbs along with the Sentry's powers. After her defeat, Hydra disables her with an implanted remote fail-safe mechanism.The New Avengers Annual #1 (June 2006)

At some point, Romanova assumes Belova's identity on behalf of Nick Fury and works with a vigilante group named the Vanguard.Marvel Comics Presents vol. 2 #5 (March 2008) During the Dark Reign event, she joins Norman Osborn's incarnation of the Thunderbolts.Dark Reign Files #1 (April 2009)Thunderbolts #128 (March 2009) Osborn reveals to Scourge that he has the real body of Belova in stasis, warning her that she could be his replacement on the team.Thunderbolts #136 (Sept. 2009) Belova is later freed by A.I.M. who elect her as a member on their High Council alongside Andrew Forson, Graviton, Mentallo, Superia, and an undercover Taskmaster.Secret Avengers vol. 2 #2 (March 2013) S.H.I.E.L.D. soon targets A.I.M. and deploys agents Romanova, Hawkeye and Mockingbird to execute Forson. Belova attacks Romanova but is later shot by an A.I.M. agent after being mistaken for Mockingbird.Secret Avengers #3-15 (2013)

After the events of Secret Empire, Belova was revived as a clone and assumed the Black Widow identity once again in Romanova's honor (whom she believes is dead). She travels around the world to destroy Hydra's remnants, attracting the attention of Hawkeye and the Winter Soldier.Secret Empire: Omega #1 (Sept. 2017)Tales of Suspense #100-#101 (Dec.-Jan. 2018-2019) Belova later assumed the White Widow monika.White Widow #1 (2023) She is recruited as a member of the Winter Soldier's Thunderbolts team alongside Romanova, Valentina de Fontaine, Sharon Carter, Red Guardian, U.S. Agent and Shang-Chi, who were assembled to take down the real Red Skull.Thunderbolts Vol. 5 #4 (2024)

Powers and abilities

Belova is a trained spy and assassin with extensive training in hand-to-hand combat,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/black-widow-florence-pugh-yelena-belova-red-room-explained-hawkeye|title=Florence Pugh in Black Widow: Yelena Belova and the Red Room Explained|accessdate=March 7, 2025|website=IGN|date=July 9, 2021|last=Knox|first=Kelly}} gymnastics and martial arts.Black Widow #1 (June 1999) She has often been described to be in "peak athletic condition".{{Cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/484489/florence-pugh-agreed-to-become-yelena-belova-in-black-widow-under-one-condition/|title=Florence Pugh Agreed To Become Yelena Belova In Black Widow Under One Condition|accessdate=March 7, 2025|website=Looper|date=August 11, 2021|last=Gemmil|first=James}}

As the Super-Adaptoid, Belova could mimic the abilities of other superheroes and absorb power from those around her.{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/black-widow-yelena-belova-superman-sentry/|title=Black Widow: Yelena Belova's Strongest Form Beat Marvel's Superman|accessdate=March 7, 2025|website=Screen Rant|date=November 20, 2021|last=Moure|first=Dylan}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/black-widow-yelena-new-avengers-super-adaptoid/|title=Black Widow: How Marvel Made the MCU's Newest Hero as Strong as EVERY Avenger|website=Comic Book Resources|date=July 12, 2021|last=Dodge|first=John}}

Reception

= Accolades =

In 2019, Comic Book Resources ranked Yelena Belova 7th in their "10 Most Powerful Russians In Comics" list.{{Cite web|last=Kortenber|first=Sayge|date=December 24, 2019|title=Black Widow: 10 Most Powerful Russians In Comics, Ranked|url=https://www.cbr.com/black-widow-powerful-russian-comics-heroes-marvel-dc/|access-date=December 29, 2022|website=CBR|language=en-US}}
In 2020, Scary Mommy included Yelena Belova in their "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic" list.{{Cite web|last=Kaye|first=Deirdre|date=November 16, 2020|title=Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic|url=https://www.scarymommy.com/marvel-female-characters|access-date=December 29, 2022|website=Scary Mommy|language=en}}
In 2021, Screen Rant included Yelena Belova in their "10 Best Versions Of Black Widow From Marvel Comics" list{{Cite web|last=Harn|first=Darby|date=July 15, 2021|title=10 Best Versions Of Black Widow From Marvel Comics|url=https://screenrant.com/best-black-widow-comic-book-versions/|access-date=December 29, 2022|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}} and in their "Red Room's Most Powerful Members" list.{{Cite web|last=Lealos|first=Shawn S.|date=July 5, 2021|title=Black Widow: The Red Room's Most Powerful Members, Ranked|url=https://screenrant.com/marvel-comics-black-widow-the-red-room-most-powerful-members-ranked/|access-date=December 29, 2022|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US}}

In other media

=Television=

Yelena Belova appears in Avengers Assemble, voiced by Julie Nathanson. In the show, Belova is depicted as the second incarnation of the Black Widow, after Baron Strucker reactivated the Red Room program. As the self-proclaimed rival of Natasha Romanoff, Belova later rechristens herself the Crimson Widow while acting as a Hydra agent.{{cite episode|title=Seeing Double|series=Avengers Assemble|network=Disney XD|season=3|number=14|airdate=August 28, 2016}}

=Marvel Cinematic Universe=

File:Florence Pugh (48471906272) (cropped).jpg promoting Black Widow at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con]]

Yelena Belova appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by English actress Florence Pugh. This version is an adopted sister to Natasha Romanoff and was trained to be a Black Widow assassin in the Red Room.{{Cite magazine|last=Coggan|first=Devan|date=July 20, 2019|title=Black Widow hits Comic-Con with first details of Scarlett Johansson film|url=https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/20/black-widow-movie-first-look-scarlett-johansson/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721020135/https://ew.com/comic-con/2019/07/20/black-widow-movie-first-look-scarlett-johansson/|archive-date=July 21, 2019|access-date=July 20, 2019|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=March 18, 2019|title=Scarlett Johansson's 'Black Widow' Movie Adds Florence Pugh|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/florence-pugh-scarlett-johansson-black-widow-1203165665/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319085011/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/florence-pugh-scarlett-johansson-black-widow-1203165665/|archive-date=March 19, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019|website=Variety}}{{Cite web|last=Evangelista|first=Chris|date=July 29, 2019|title='Black Widow' Will Have Multiple Black Widows|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/multiple-black-widows/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730024519/https://www.slashfilm.com/multiple-black-widows/|archive-date=July 30, 2019|access-date=July 30, 2019|website=/Film}}

Pugh first appears in the live-action film Black Widow.{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/heres-what-happened-in-the-black-widow-footage-marvel-s-1836393723|title=Here's What Happened in the Black Widow Footage Marvel Showed at Comic-Con|last=Lussier|first=Germain|website=io9|date=July 20, 2019|access-date=June 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721060738/https://io9.gizmodo.com/heres-what-happened-in-the-black-widow-footage-marvel-s-1836393723|archive-date=July 21, 2019}} Director Cate Shortland said that Romanoff would be "handing [Belova] the baton" in the film, which would "propel another female storyline".{{Cite web|last=Travis|first=Ben|date=July 6, 2020|title=Black Widow Movie Will 'Hand The Baton' To Florence Pugh, Says Cate Shortland – Exclusive|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/black-widow-movie-hand-baton-florence-pugh-says-cate-shortland-exclusive/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706140055/https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/black-widow-movie-hand-baton-florence-pugh-says-cate-shortland-exclusive/|archive-date=July 6, 2020|access-date=July 6, 2020|website=Empire}} Scarlett Johansson, who portrays Romanoff, said Belova would stand on her own in comparison to Romanoff, while Pugh said there was a "generational difference" between the two, noting, Belova is "unapologetic, and confident in herself, and curious ... and emotionally brave".{{Cite web|last=Sheperd|first=Jack|date=September 17, 2020|title=Florence Pugh and Scarlett Johansson discuss the future of Black Widow|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/black-widow-2-florence-pugh-scarlett-johansson/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920150402/https://www.gamesradar.com/black-widow-2-florence-pugh-scarlett-johansson/|archive-date=September 20, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|website=GamesRadar+}} Additionally, Pugh stated Belova "knows exactly how to function in the areas in which she has been trained, but she has no clue how to live as a human being," calling her "a lethal weapon but also a bit of a kid".{{Cite web|title=Black Widow Advance|url=https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/black_widow_advance_updated_final_04-29-21_e1222ad3.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520172810/https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/black_widow_advance_updated_final_04-29-21_e1222ad3.pdf|archive-date=May 20, 2021|access-date=May 20, 2021|publisher=Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution}}[https://youtube.com/watch?v=GstiMyqUUGI&ab_channel=MTVNews Scarlett Johansson & Florence Pugh on “Black Widow” & Future of the MCU| MTV News] Violet McGraw portrays a young Yelena.{{Cite web|author=MC|date=January 27, 2021|title=Exclusive: Violet McGraw Talks her New Film, Our Friend and her Role in Black Widow!|url=http://www.beautifulballad.org/2021/01/27/exclusive-violet-mcgraw-talks-her-new-film-our-friend-and-her-role-in-black-widow/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220173006/http://www.beautifulballad.org/2021/01/27/exclusive-violet-mcgraw-talks-her-new-film-our-friend-and-her-role-in-black-widow/|archive-date=February 20, 2021|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=Beautiful Ballad}}
Pugh reprises her role in the miniseries Hawkeye.{{Cite web|last=Otterson|first=Joe|date=December 3, 2020|title='Hawkeye' Series at Disney Plus Adds Six to Cast, Including Vera Farmiga and Tony Dalton (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/hawkeye-disney-plus-florence-pugh-vera-farmiga-cast-1234845371/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203211345/https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/hawkeye-disney-plus-florence-pugh-vera-farmiga-cast-1234845371/|archive-date=December 3, 2020|access-date=December 3, 2020|website=Variety}}
Pugh will reprise her role in the upcoming films Thunderbolts* (2025) and Avengers: Doomsday (2026).{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/thunderbolts-cast-florence-pugh-julia-louis-dreyfus-1235364635/|title= Marvel's 'Thunderbolts' Recruits Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, David Harbour, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and More|last=Panaligan|first=EJ|website=Variety|date=September 10, 2022|access-date=September 10, 2022}}{{Cite web|last1=Couch|first1=Aaron|last2=Kit|first2=Borys|date=March 26, 2025|title=Marvel Unveils 'Avengers: Doomsday' Cast with MCU Mainstays and 'X-Men', 'Fantastic Four' Stars|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-doomsday-cast-announced-1236172556/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250326205542/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avengers-doomsday-cast-announced-1236172556/|archive-date=March 26, 2025|access-date=March 26, 2025|website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Pugh is also set to voice an alternate universe of Belova in the animated series Marvel Zombies (2025).{{Cite web|last=Nolan|first=Liam|date=July 22, 2022|title=SDCC Live: Marvel Studios Animation Panel Reveals Future of X-Men '97, What If and Marvel Zombies|url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-studios-animation-x-men-what-if-zombies-sdcc/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722212921/https://www.cbr.com/marvel-studios-animation-x-men-what-if-zombies-sdcc/|archive-date=July 22, 2022|access-date=July 22, 2022|website=Comic Book Resources}}

=Video games=

Yelena Belova's Black Widow suit appears as an alternate costume for Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow in the PlayStation Portable version of Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Marvel Heroes, and Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/04/marvel-ultimate-alliance-review-4|title=Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Review|last=Goldstein|first=Hilary|publisher=IGN|date=November 3, 2006|access-date=June 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425200117/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/11/04/marvel-ultimate-alliance-review-4|archive-date=April 25, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Blac Widow – Costumes|url=http://xkmh.weebly.com/black-widow.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924053337/http://xkmh.weebly.com/black-widow.html|archive-date=September 24, 2017|access-date=May 29, 2019|publisher=Weebly}}
Black Widow appears in The Punisher: No Mercy as a agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.{{cite video game|title=The Punisher: No Mercy| title-link=The Punisher: No Mercy|developer=Zen Studios|publisher=Sony Computer Entertainment|date=2 July 2009|platform=PlayStation 3|version=1.0}}
Dark Widow appears as a miniboss in Marvel Avengers Alliance.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbgsite.com/socialgames/content/marvel-avengers-alliance/guide/spec-ops-12-tasks-list.shtml|title=Marvel: Avengers Alliance Spec Ops 12 Task List|publisher=BBGsite|date=August 26, 2013|access-date=May 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912200917/http://www.bbgsite.com/socialgames/content/marvel-avengers-alliance/guide/spec-ops-12-tasks-list.shtml|archive-date=September 12, 2015}}
Black Widow appears as a mini-boss and unlockable playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest,{{cite news|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/11/ranking-every-marvel-puzzle-quest-character.html|title=The Best Marvel Puzzle Quest Characters|last=Gallaway|first=Brad|website=Paste|date=November 11, 2016|access-date=April 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420003138/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/11/ranking-every-marvel-puzzle-quest-character.html|archive-date=April 20, 2019}} with the MCU incarnation being added in a later update.{{cite web|title=New Character – ***** Yelena Belova (Black Widow) *****|url=https://d3go.helpshift.com/a/marvel-puzzle-quest/?s=news&f=new-character---yelena-belova-black-widow-4-21-20&l=en&fbclid=IwAR2vvzLeg7hqpNgAAevB9TUIGBYM0fRsTom0JAMxBY5J-CSw2_spB-DyqnI|access-date=April 21, 2020|publisher=Demiurge|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190558/https://d3go.helpshift.com/a/marvel-puzzle-quest/?s=news&f=new-character---yelena-belova-black-widow-4-21-20&l=en&fbclid=IwAR2vvzLeg7hqpNgAAevB9TUIGBYM0fRsTom0JAMxBY5J-CSw2_spB-DyqnI|url-status=dead}}
Black Widow appears as a playable character in Marvel Contest of Champions as part of the Black Widow film tie-in update.
Black Widow appears as a playable character in Marvel Future Fight as part of the Black Widow film tie-in update.

=Miscellaneous=

Yelena Belova appears in Marvel Knights – Spider-Woman: Agent of S.W.O.R.D., voiced JoEllen Anklam.{{cite web|title=Black Widow / Yelena Belova Voices (Marvel Universe)|url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Marvel-Universe/Black-Widow-Yelena-Belova/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420002059/https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Marvel-Universe/Black-Widow-Yelena-Belova/|archive-date=April 20, 2019|access-date=April 20, 2019|work=Behind The Voice Actors|postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}
Yelena Belova appears in Marvel Knights: Inhumans, voiced by Sarah Edmondson.
Yelena Belova appears in New Avengers: Breakout, written by Alisa Kwitney.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/12/new-avengers-breakout/|title=New Avengers: Breakout: A Kiss or Kill Dilemma|last=Lawson|first=Corrina|publisher=Wired|date=December 31, 2012|access-date=May 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222154758/https://www.wired.com/2012/12/new-avengers-breakout/|archive-date=December 22, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.spiderfan.org/review/comics/marvel_books_marvel_press/na_breakout.html|title=New Avengers: Breakout (Prose Novel) – Review|last=Couper|first=Jonathan|publisher=spiderfan.org|access-date= May 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529225558/http://www.spiderfan.org/review/comics/marvel_books_marvel_press/na_breakout.html|archive-date=May 29, 2019}} This version is Natasha Romanoff's former friend and roommate from the Red Room program who becomes a member of a rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. faction.
A future incarnation of Yelena Belova appears in Marvel's Wastelanders, voiced by Eva Amurri.{{cite web|title=Susan Sarandon and Stephen Lang Cast as Grey Widow and Old Man Hawkeye for Marvel's Wastelanders|last=Lovett|first=Jamie|date=May 24, 2021|website=ComicBook.com|url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/marvels-wastelanders-susan-sarandon-stephen-lang-grey-widow-hawkeye/|access-date=June 15, 2021}} This version uses the alias of Samantha Sugarman.

Collected editions

class="wikitable"

! Title

! Issues

! Cover dates

! Writer

! Penciller

! Description

Black Widow: The Itsy Bitsy Spider

| #1–3

| June – August 1999

| Devin Grayson

| J. G. Jones

| The Marvel Knights limited series, titled "The Itsy Bitsy Spider", has Natasha question her claim to the role of Black Widow when she is challenged by the younger spy Yelena as both track down a biotoxin. Grayson and Jones first introduced Yelena in Inhumans #5 to use her in this series.

Black Widow

| #1–3

| January – March 2001

| Devin Grayson and Greg Rucka

| Scott Hampton

| The second volume of Black Widow to feature Natasha and Yelena.

Black Widow: Pale Little Spider

| #1–3

| June – August 2002

| Greg Rucka

| Igor Kordey

| Pale Little Spider, published under the adults-only Max imprint, was the first solo series featuring Yelena on her own.

Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her

| #1–6

| November 2005 – April 2006

| Richard K. Morgan

| Sean Phillips

| In this series, Natasha goes into hiding as Nick Fury and Daredevil hunt her on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D., with Yelena appearing as a supporting character.

Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova

| #1

| January 2021

| Devin Grayson

| Michele Bandini

| A one-shot featuring Yelena and Red Guardian.

Wastelanders: Black Widow †

| #1

| March 2022

| Steven S. DeKnight

| Well-Bee

| Five one-shot comics were published as an adaptation of the Marvel's Wastelanders podcast set in the post-apocalypse world of Old Man Logan. Wastelanders: Black Widow features an older version of Yelena.{{Cite web|last=Christiansen|first=Connor|date=September 6, 2022|title=Wastelanders review|url=https://aiptcomics.com/2022/09/06/wastelanders-review|website=AIPT Comics}}

White Widow

| #1–4

| January – April 2024

| Sarah Gailey

| Alessandro Miracolo

| A four-part limited series featuring Yelena.

References

External links

{{Marvelwiki|black-widow-yelena/in-comics|Black Widow (Yelena)}}
[http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/b/blackwidowii.htm Yelena Belova] at the Marvel Directory
[http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/blackwidowbelova.htm Yelena Belova] at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
{{comicbookdb|type=character|id=2045|title=Yelena Belova}}

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