MPower Series Snubs Black Widow: MCU’s Founding Female Avenger Left Out In The Cold

Explore The Controversy Surrounding Marvel Studios’ MPower Docuseries, Which Celebrates Female Superheroes In The MCU But Overlooks Founding Avenger Black Widow, Sparking Debate On Representation

By Amitabh Mukherji
March 17,2023
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Marvel Studios has released a new streaming docuseries on Disney+ called MPower. The show highlights the stories of powerful female superheroes in the MCU, coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023. MPower features the women of Black Panther’s Wakanda, Captain Marvel, the Scarlet Witch, and the female Guardians of the Galaxy, giving female superheroes the spotlight they deserve.

The Absence Of Black Widow In MPower

Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow
Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow

While it is essential to showcase the stories of female superheroes in the MCU, the docuseries neglects one crucial character – Natasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow. As the first female superhero introduced in the MCU and an original member of the Avengers, Black Widow’s absence from MPower is striking. Although the character has had multiple appearances throughout the MCU, Black Widow has not received the recognition she deserves.

Black Widow’s Legacy In The MCU

Black Widow in Avengers
‘Red in my Ledger’

Despite her death in Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow’s legacy continues with the introduction of characters like Yelena Belova, Alexei Shostakov, and Melina Vostokoff. Florence Pugh’s portrayal of Yelena Belova has already appeared in the series Hawkeye, and the upcoming Thunderbolts series will further solidify Natasha Romanoff’s impact on the MCU. It remains to be seen if MPower will address Black Widow’s character in a potential second season or if the MCU will explore her story further through other projects.