Marvel Studios' has delivered their latest insult against the MCU's Black Widow with their new streaming docuseries for Disney+. MPower explores the stories of the female superheroes of the MCU, released on March 8, 2023, in conjunction with International Women's Day. Showcasing the women of Black Panther's Wakanda, Captain Marvel, the Scarlet Witch, and the female Guardians of the Galaxy, MPower presents an opportunity for female superheroes to take the spotlight. While it's important to put the women of the MCU front and center, both in front of and behind the camera, MPower neglects one hero who was pivotal to the MCU.

The presence of female superheroes in the MCU has grown significantly in recent years, with Phase 4 especially introducing many powerful women to the franchise. After years of comic book movies being male-dominated, it's fantastic to see more women represented as some of the most extraordinary people in the multiverse. However, while it's important to showcase the MCU stories of Guardians of the Galaxy's Gamora and Nebula, Black Panther's Queen Ramonda, and Captain Marvel's Carol Danvers, one of the most recognizable heroes has once again been forgotten, as Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, is not included in MPower alongside her MCU family.

Black Widow

Black Widow is a film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. This is the 24th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the first solo film for Black Widow, one of the original six Avengers. The character previously appeared in seven MCU films, including all four Avengers movies. Black Widow was originally scheduled for May 2020 but was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

See at Disney+

Black Widow Was An Original Avenger But Never Got Recognition

natasha romanoff aka black widow in the avengers

Scarlett Johansson debuted as Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2, becoming the first female superhero introduced to the MCU and the only female member of the original Avengers team in The Avengers. Despite being featured very heavily throughout a multitude of MCU projects, including Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame, Romanoff never saw the recognition she deserved. A brief moment in Age of Ultron began to explain a little of Black Widow's MCU backstory, which sparked calls for a solo film featuring the original Avenger, which only arose after the character's death in Endgame.

Where many wanted an exploration of Natasha Romanoff's character, Black Widow arguably focused too much on the dynamic between her and her adoptive Russian family, as if Romanoff herself wouldn't have been able to carry a solo film without backup. Black Widow's most powerful moment in the MCU came during Avengers: Endgame, which saw her sacrifice herself so that the remaining Avengers could acquire the Soul Stone and defeat Thanos. Aside from the obvious fridging, it could be argued that Black Widow's death in Avengers: Endgame came after very little character development had happened, despite being one of the MCU's original superheroes.

Marvel Has Ignored Black Widow Again With MPower

It's possible that MPower omitted a Black Widow-centric episode simply for the fact that she is no longer in the MCU, but as one of the original members of the Avengers, and after having appeared in more than ten MCU projects, it's a travesty that she's been ignored again. Johansson has had a tumultuous relationship with Marvel Studios, most recently finding herself in a legal battle with the studio over a dispute over earnings after Black Widow was released simultaneously in theaters and on Disney+. Even so, this lawsuit was settled, and Johansson is reportedly working as a producer on an undisclosed upcoming MCU project.

Natasha Romanoff was always a comforting presence in the MCU, often acting as a sounding board for the likes of Tony Stark and Steve Rogers, and the development of Black Widow's relationship with Clint Barton was incredibly touching. Having said that, it's unfortunate that the crux of her character development in the MCU was her relationships with the male heroes around her. It would have been brilliant if MPower had featured a deep-dive into Black Widow's character, helping to develop her more as an individual, but this doesn't seem to be the plan unless a second season of the docuseries is produced.

How The MCU Can Still Do Black Widow Justice

Poster of Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova in the middle of many broken shards of glass with scenes from the Black Widow movie.

Luckily, despite Black Widow's death in Avengers: Endgame, her legacy is set to continue in the MCU with the introduction of characters such as Yelena Belova, Alexei Shostakov, and Melina Vostokoff, her surrogate Russian family. Florence Pugh has already made another MCU appearance after Black Widow in Hawkeye, which saw her fighting, albeit with misplaced anger, to protect her sister's honor. Though Melina's MCU future is unclear, Belova and Shostakov are set to become members of the MCU's first Thunderbolts team in Thunderbolts, which could further solidify the impact of Natasha Romanoff's Black Widow on the MCU.

More: Thunderbolts Could Be The Perfect Black Widow Spinoff