Black Widow's major crossovers are Secret War (2004), Civil War (2006) and Secret Empire (2017), where Natasha Romanoff demonstrates her spy expertise and unwavering loyalty in the Marvel Universe's most sensitive conflicts.
Natasha Romanoff operates in the shadow of major Marvel events. A former KGB spy turned Avenger, Black Widow is often at the heart of the espionage and conspiracy storylines that run through crossovers. His key appearances are sought after by collectors who appreciate complex characters and tales of political tension.
This guide identifies crossovers where Black Widow plays a significant role, with the essential numbers for each event. For Natasha's founding numbers, see our guide to Black Widow key numbers.
Secret War (2004). The Clandestine Operation
Brian Michael Bendis places Natasha on a secret mission orchestrated by Nick Fury against Latveria. This 5-issue mini-series, illustrated by Gabriele Dell'Otto, is a spy thriller where Black Widow excels in her natural role as an undercover agent.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Secret War #1: Start of the secret mission, recruitment of the team. VF: €15-30
- Secret War #3: Natasha in action, infiltration of Latveria. VF: €10-18
- Secret War #5: Explosive conclusion, consequences for Fury. VF: €10-20
Civil War (2006). The Torn Spy
Natasha chooses Tony Stark's pro-registration camp, consistent with his past as a government agent. She leads field operations against rebel heroes, but her inner conflict shines through in dedicated tie-ins.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Civil War #1-7: Main series, Natasha alongside Stark. VF: €8-20 depending on number
- Civil War: The Initiative: Role of Black Widow in the new program. VF: €6-12
- Mighty Avengers #1: Natasha in the new post-Civil War team. VF: €8-15
Secret Empire (2017). The Ultimate Resistance
When Steve Rogers reveals himself as an agent of Hydra, Natasha takes charge of the underground resistance. Secret Empire is one of the most important crossovers for Black Widow: her heroic sacrifice against Captain America Hydra has a profound impact on the Marvel Universe.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Secret Empire #1: Hydra takes power, Natasha enters into resistance. VF: €8-15
- Secret Empire #7: Death of Black Widow facing Steve Rogers. VF: €12-25
- Tales of Suspense #100-104: Direct sequel, Winter Soldier and Hawkeye investigate Natasha's death. VF: €6-12 each
Age of Ultron (2013). The Survivor
In the dystopian future of Age of Ultron, Natasha is one of the few survivors. The tie-ins show his tactical expertise in a post-apocalyptic world dominated by artificial intelligence.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Age of Ultron #1: Devastated world, surviving heroes including Black Widow. VF: €8-15
- Avengers Assemble #14AU-15AU: Natasha-centric tie-ins. VF: €5-10 each
- Age of Ultron #10: Conclusion and temporal consequences. VF: €8-12
Secret Invasion (2008). The spy faces the impostors
The Skrull invasion is a spy's nightmare: impossible to distinguish allies from enemies. Natasha must use all her know-how to identify infiltrators within the Avengers themselves.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Secret Invasion #1: Revelation of the invasion, widespread paranoia. VF: €12-20
- Mighty Avengers #12-20: Natasha in the counter-offensive. VF: €4-8 each
- Secret Invasion #8: Final battle in Central Park. VF: €8-15
Original Sin (2014): Secrets Revealed
The Watcher's murder unlocks all the secrets of the Marvel Universe. For a spy like Natasha, whose entire life is based on secrecy, this event is particularly devastating and revealing.
Collectible Key Numbers
- Original Sin #1: Murder of the Watcher, investigation launched. VF: €8-15
- Original Sin #5: Revelations about the past of several heroes. VF: €5-10
- Original Sin Annual #1: Secrets from Natasha's past exposed. VF: €6-12
Manage your Black Widow collection through Marvel crossovers with our collection management application. Identify each missing tie-in and complete your event arcs.
How to read and collect Natasha's crossovers
The six events in this guide are spread over thirteen years of publication: Secret War (2004), Civil War (2006), Secret Invasion (2008), Age of Ultron (2013), Original Sin (2014) and Secret Empire (2017). Read in that order, they almost form a biography: the undercover agent, the government operative on the pro-registration side, the spy facing impostors, the survivor, the woman whose life rests on secrecy, and then the resistance leader. If you are short on time, start with the three major crossovers, Secret War, Civil War and Secret Empire, where her role is most decisive.
Start with the main series, then choose your tie-ins
Each event has a finite core: five issues for Secret War, seven for Civil War, mini-series with a clear beginning and end. That is the easy part of the collection: you can complete it without chasing isolated issues. Tie-ins are another matter, because there are many of them and only some are truly about Natasha. Keep the ones the guide names as centered on her (Civil War: The Initiative, Mighty Avengers #1, Avengers Assemble #14AU-15AU, Original Sin Annual #1) and set the others aside, unless you want a complete event.
Sets that should not be split
Two groups of issues are best bought together. The first is Secret Empire #7 and its direct sequel published in Tales of Suspense #100-104: Natasha's death at the hands of Steve Rogers, then the investigation led by the Winter Soldier and Hawkeye. Reading #7 without the sequel leaves the story hanging. The second is the Secret Invasion pair, #1 and #8: the revelation of the Skrull invasion and the final battle in Central Park, with the Mighty Avengers #12-20 issues in between, where Natasha takes part in the counteroffensive.
Things to watch for when buying
- The AU suffix. The Age of Ultron tie-ins carry a special numbering (Avengers Assemble #14AU and #15AU). Check the suffix in the listing: an issue 14 without the suffix is not the same item.
- Annuals. Original Sin Annual #1 is a separate issue, not part of the mini-series numbering. Search for it under its full name.
- The character's real role. In a crossover, a name on the cover does not guarantee a memorable scene. Check the content before paying a sought-after price for a tie-in.
- Mini-series first. On a limited budget, a complete mini-series makes more sense than three scattered tie-ins.
To keep track of what is missing, make one list per event, with a line for the main series and one for each tie-in you keep. An event with every issue checked off is a finished arc, which makes the collection easier to read than a pile of isolated issues. Natasha's founding issues, for their part, are in the guide devoted to her key issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
The three main ones are Secret War (2004), Civil War (2006) and Secret Empire (2017), where Natasha Romanoff shows her spy expertise and loyalty in the most sensitive conflicts of the Marvel universe. The guide also covers Age of Ultron, Secret Invasion and Original Sin.
Brian Michael Bendis places her in a secret mission orchestrated by Nick Fury against Latveria. This 5-issue mini-series, illustrated by Gabriele Dell'Otto, is a spy thriller in which she excels in her role as an undercover agent.
She chooses Tony Stark's pro-registration side, consistent with her past as a government agent. She leads field operations against the rebel heroes, but her inner conflict shows through in the dedicated tie-ins.
When Steve Rogers is revealed as a Hydra agent, Natasha takes the lead of the underground resistance. Her sacrifice against Hydra Captain America, in Secret Empire #7, deeply marks the Marvel universe, and the aftermath plays out in Tales of Suspense #100-104.
Those centered on her: Civil War: The Initiative, Mighty Avengers #1, the Age of Ultron tie-ins Avengers Assemble #14AU-15AU and Original Sin Annual #1, which exposes secrets of her past.