Taskmaster Can Do For Black Widow What The Avengers Movies Failed To

In the upcoming Black Widow movie, the titular character faces off against the villainous Taskmaster, a fight that promises to show how powerful this often overshadowed Avenger truly is. Although not a lot of information is available yet about the Taskmaster in the MCU - and Marvel has never shied away from making some changes to their comic characters in adapting them for film - the Taskmaster in the Marvel comics is a suitable challenge for the cinematic Black Widow. While definitely a credible threat, the Taskmaster's comic abilities and skills are still human, but lethally dangerous; exactly the level which can highlight Black Widow's own abilities.

While certainly helpful against an alien invasion and a robot army, Black Widow is significantly overshadowed for a great deal of the Avengers films by flashier and harder-hitting colleagues. It's hard to tally every superpower that Thanos had, even before laying hands on the Infinity Stones. While capable and confident, Natasha's espionage skills were a bad fit for providing a suitable physical challenge for such a villain. Having an adversary that poses an appropriate challenge for a more subtle character while still providing excitingly high stakes is a challenge after all, and so it's exciting to see such a foe presented in the form of the Taskmaster.

In the comics, the Taskmaster is a kinetic genius, capable of copying tricks and moves that he sees as perfectly as possible. With experience fighting skilled martial artists and superheroes alike, he has an arsenal of skills, and the origin of Taskmaster's powers in the comics sets up an interesting parallel with the Black Widow, as he received a flawed recreation of the Super Soldier Serum that empowered Captain America, with whom Black Widow begins working very closely in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Since Captain America: Civil War reveals that a recreation of the serum was stolen by the Winter Soldier, working on behalf of the same organization that employs the Taskmaster, this seems like a likely character point to remain consistent.

The Black Widow shines when forced to adapt, to use tricks and tools, and to use a level of obfuscation to keep her foes off balance. This is exactly the skill set that would flourish against a villain that never falls for the same trick twice. The Taskmaster's threat shows the value of her other skills as well - blending in, sneaking around, and getting into secure locations. Black Widow has mastered a variety of dangerous weapons, and while the Taskmaster might be able to physically replicate her techniques, he won't get the same results unless he has a similar arsenal.

"Adapt and overcome" has been a consistent theme for the Black Widow in conflicts, and this film promises to put her up against an enemy who reflects this ability to a degree that will force her to show how resourceful she really is. With the existential threats posed in the Avengers films, Natasha has been helpful but not the stand-out main lead. With a balanced opponent who holds up a dark mirror to her training, her origin, and to the person that she once was, Black Widow will give audiences a chance to see just how much she had grown and changed over the years.

Next: Captain America's MCU Return Can Show His Hidden Endgame Story