Black Widow is one of the best members of the Avengers, and her solo movie has been a long time coming. Despite Marvel not always treating the character as well as they should have, she still remains extremely popular with fans, so much so that even death can't stop her.
One of Natasha Romanov's slightly more controversial storylines, however, was that of her romance with Bruce Banner. Many fans and critics didn't really understand where this came from. So, to try and rectify the situation, we've come up with 10 people who Natasha would have been better off with.
Happy Hogan
This suggestion is mainly for comedic purposes as Happy is a comic foil for the other heroes in the MCU. However, the pairing of Happy and Natasha could actually be quite cute to watch unfold, especially considering the fact that they haven't shared many scenes together.
Their biggest interaction was in Iron Man 2, when Natasha was sent undercover to assess whether Tony Stark would be a good fit for Nick Fury's Avengers scheme. Happy and Natasha's best moment was when they fought alongside each other, which was hilarious but also totally badass.
Scott Lang
Like Happy, Black Widow hasn't shared many scenes with Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man. However, they both possess a very similar sense of humor, which would make them one of the more adorable couples in the MCU.
They first met when the Avengers split up due to a disagreement over the Sokovia Accords, with Tony's side arguing that they should be held responsible for their actions, while Captain America argued that politicians shouldn't be allowed that much power. During this conflict, Natasha and Scott faced off against each other and exchanged brief banter before she overpowered him.
Tony Stark
Iron Man and Black Widow have a complicated relationship. Half the time, they can't seem to work out whether they even like or trust each other. However, even when they disagree, it's clear that there is real respect between the two heroes, so it's fascinating to imagine what they'd be like as a couple.
When Nat was undercover and working for Tony, he shamelessly flirted with her non-stop. However, just like Pepper, Nat was not one of those women who would just fall into bed with Tony, and rebuffed his advances quite firmly. As Tony matured, though, he and Natasha did become closer.
Bucky Barnes
Believe it or not, Natasha and Bucky actually met before the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. A lot of the time that they were onscreen with each other, they were on opposing sides. Bucky was conditioned by HYDRA to be the Winter Soldier, their personal assassin, and he was almost unstoppable.
However, behind the sullen, lifeless alter ego, Bucky Barnes was still in there, as he saved Steve Rogers's life. He also fought alongside Black Widow in Avengers: Infinity War. These two had so much in common, it's actually unreal. They both escaped dark pasts to finally fight on the side of good.
Sam Wilson
When Captain America: Civil War came out into theaters, it was obvious that the new Avengers team had been working together for quite a while since their last appearance in Avengers: Age Of Ultron. They seemed like a well oiled machine, and were able to trade witty banter while on a mission.
Sam and Nat had previously gotten acquainted when the latter was on the run with Steve after HYDRA took over S.H.I.E.L.D.. Sam provided them with shelter, and aided them in their big fight. He and Black Widow were also close enough to tease each other, suggesting that they would have made a fun couple.
Grant Ward
This is probably the most controversial choice on this list as Ward spent the majority of his time on Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. as an enemy and a traitor, having been secretly working for HYDRA until the big reveal. Therefore, while the twist was phenomenal, he was hated by the characters in show.
However, Black Widow went through something similar. We still don't know her total backstory (yet) but we do know that she made some very bad choices early in her life, killing a lot of people. Nat could have been a positive influence on Ward, demonstrating that your mistakes don't define you.
Matt Murdoch
Although Daredevil only lasted for three seasons before it was cancelled by Netflix, it was still immensely popular. Although the TV series was technically part of the MCU, it was much darker and grittier, with more violence and adult themes. Black Widow could have easily fit into this world.
Plus, she and Murdoch are similar people. They don't trust easily, but when they do, they trust completely. Watching them meet each other for the first time, then watching them slowly develop into friends and eventually something more would have been such a sweet storyline.
Loki
As if no one has ever considered this before. Loki may be a god to us mere humans, and he may view Black Widow as a mere ant he needs to squash, but there's no denying that they would make a powerhouse couple. Of course, Loki is far too important for relationships, but that would be part of the fun.
One of the most iconic scenes from The Avengers is when Natasha successfully interrogates Loki without him even realizing he's given her what she needed to know. Loki is rarely outsmarted; even Thor has difficulty. Yet Natasha played him like a fiddle. Their relationship would be so intense.
Steve Rogers
The friendship between Captain America and Black Widow was absolutely adorable to watch. Due to Steve's encounters with HYDRA, and the fact that Natasha was very close to Fury, whom Steve didn't trust, these two friends struggled to trust each other at first, with both keeping their cards close to their chests.
However, when it was revealed that HYDRA had infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D., the pair were forced to go on the run with each other. During that time, both Natasha and Steve proved that they had the other's back, and so a strong and beautiful friendship began to form, ending only when Natasha tragically sacrificed herself.
Clint Barton
If Natasha truly had to be with someone other than the Hulk, it would have to be Clint. He and Black Widow go way back, since before the first Avengers movie. Fans have been clamoring to know more about their mysterious past and how they first met, which just goes to show how cute these two are together.
We know Clint has a family who he would do anything for, but he and Nat share a special bond. Their banter is hilarious and meaningful, and they are willing to sacrifice themselves for each other, as evidenced in Avengers: Endgame. If they had actually gotten together, they would have been the best couple.