Black Widow’s symbiote is giving her a sleek design upgrade as Marvel’s Venom War begins this summer. Natasha Romanoff has been bonded to a newborn symbiote since 2023, and now goes by the name of Widow due to their attachment. With a symbiote costume that leans into her spider codename and new powers, Widow proves to be the perfect host to tackle the all-out Venom battle brewing in Marvel Comics.

In the first details released for August’s Venom War: Venomous #1 by Erica Schultz and Luciano Vecchio, it’s revealed that Natasha and her symbiote have reached a new understanding. This comes after the events of Black Widow: Venomous, a one-shot by the same creative team that is releasing the month prior. In Leirix’s cover art, Widow’s new costume is on full display.

Widow’s new costume lets her hair down, featuring the character’s classic bangs and what appears to be a spider-eyes design on the top of her head. With various Venom tendrils and her new disturbing symbiote powers, super-spy Widow could be a greater threat than any previous Venom incarnation.

Natasha Romanoff’s Widow Proves to Be the Perfect Symbiote Host

Black Widow’s symbiote upgrade could have been seen as a cheap gimmick for the character, but Natasha’s Widow symbiote is a fascinating progression for the hero. Since her villainous debut 60 years ago in Tales of Suspense #52 by Stan Lee, Don Rico, and Don Heck, the Black Widow moniker has mostly referred to the trope of a woman who kills her lovers. However, Widow’s new costume in Venom War: Venomous highlights her spider-themed codename in all-new and cool ways. Natasha’s new powers give her a distinct venomous upgrade to match her namesake of the deadly black widow spider.

In Natasha’s recent series reuniting her with Hawkeye, her most disturbing new power has been shown to enhance her status as a super-spy. In Black Widow & Hawkeye #1 by Stephanie Phillips, Paolo Villanelli, and Mattia Iacono, the Widow symbiote can eat a victim’s brain to help Natasha gather information and access their memories. While Hawkeye expresses some discomfort with Widow’s new symbiote status, her ultra-powerful enhancement has given new life to the character and sets her apart from Marvel’s other spy characters. With a major Venom event on the horizon, hopefully Natasha can keep her symbiote in the war’s aftermath.

Black Widow Chooses Her Side in the Upcoming Venom War

It’s been revealed in early details that Natasha will be taking the side of Dylan Brock during Venom War as father and son feud over their shared symbiote. While Black Widow has interacted with Eddie Brock in the past, she’s had a closer relationship with his son Dylan recently and helped him take down the villainous organization Noname in Venom (2022) #28 by Torunn Grønbekk, Julius Ohta, Rafael Pimental, and Frank D’Armata. Though the cover for Venom War: Venomous #1 shows Widow alongside Agent Anti-Venom, it appears that they will be on opposite sides of the war as it progresses.

Since the new Widow symbiote debuted and bonded with Natasha Romanoff, the character’s already impressive super-spy status has been majorly upgraded with her new memory-absorbing powers. As one of the most powerful characters on Dylan Brock’s side in the Venom War, there’s no telling how the contentious all-symbiote brawl will play out for Natasha as she fights former allies. With enhanced Venom abilities and a new costume that highlights her deadly spider codename, Black Widow’s symbiote transformation is a substantial development for her character in Marvel Comics.