Origin Thunderbolts : Yelena Belov. Marvel’s Deadliest Black Widow!

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Who is Yelena Belova?

If you don’t know who Yelena Belova is, you’re not alone. But after the Thunderbolts (2025) movie, you definitely will!

White Widow Vol 1 1 Artgem Virgin Variant

Yelena Belova is one of Marvel Comics’ most compelling antiheroes, stepping into the Black Widow mantle after Natasha Romanoff, the original Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson in the MCU died.

Trained in the Red Room, Yelena is a highly skilled assassin and spy. Initially introduced as Natasha’s rival, she eventually carves out her own path, sometimes working for the highest bidder, other times aligning with heroes, and often operating in the shadows.

Now, she is set to become a major player in the Thunderbolts movie, joining a team of antiheroes and former villains, proving that the Black Widow legacy is far from over!

Yelena Belova’s Origins in Marvel Comics

Yelena Belova made her comic debut in Inhumans #5 (1999). However, technically, she first appeared as a sketch Marvel Knights: Wave 2 Sketchbook #1.

She was trained in the Red Room, also known as the Black Widow Program, the same secret Soviet initiative that produced Natasha Romanoff the Black Widow. Under the mentorship of Pyotr Starkovsky, a high-ranking Red Room instructor, Yelena excelled in her training, even surpassing Natasha’s scores.

However, unlike Natasha, who defected and became an Avenger, Yelena remained fiercely loyal to Russia.

How did Yelena become the next Black Widow?

Yelena’s road to taking on the Black Widow mantle was far from simple. It wasn’t just about completing Red Room training, it involved manipulation, psychological warfare, and a disturbing conspiracy.

As Yelena matured, her mentor, Pyotr Starkovsky, became obsessed with her. Secretly, he paid a girl named Petra to dress as Yelena and fulfil his twisted fantasies. Yeah… this probably should have been a Penthouse comic.

But this wasn’t just a sordid scandal, it was an elaborate psychological operation orchestrated by Russian intelligence to push Yelena into fully embracing the Black Widow identity.

The Fabrika Club, where Petra worked, was actually run by the Glavnoye Razvedyvatel’noye Upravlenie (GRU), Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate. They recognized Yelena’s potential to become the next Black Widow but believed she lacked the psychological push to fully accept the role.

Things spiraled out of control when Petra lost her grip on reality, murdered Starkovsky, and claimed the Black Widow identity for herself.

In a brutal confrontation, Yelena uncovered the full extent of the conspiracy, fought Petra, and ultimately killed her, finally embracing her role as the Black Widow while also realizing she could never fully trust her superiors.

Yelena’s Key Comic Alignments & Evolution

Yelena Belova has shifted between hero, villain, and antihero, aligning herself with various factions:

First Appearance, Yelena appeared in Marvel Knights: Wave 2 Sketchbook #1;although Inhumans #5 (1999) is credited with the first full debut.

Inhumans #5 (1999)

Black Widow: Breakdown #1 and #2, 2001)

Yelena and Natasha unexpectedly switch bodies, leading to a shocking shift in their identities.  Now trapped in Natasha’s body, she is forced to take on the role of the Black Widow.

Manipulated and coerced into dangerous missions, Yelena is pushed deeper into a life that was never meant to be hers. The constant deception and high-stakes espionage begin to wear on her, blurring the lines between who she was and who she is becoming.

As the pressure builds, Yelena struggles to hold onto her own identity, slowly unravelling under the weight of a life she never chose.

Black Widow (2001) #1

Becoming Super-Adaptoid (New Avengers Annual, 2006) :

Yelena Belova, a former Russian spy and the second Black Widow, was grievously injured by Sauron in the Savage Land, suffering severe burns. In the aftermath, HYDRA took control of her, transforming her into a Super-Adaptoid,a powerful being capable of mimicking multiple Avengers' abilities.

Now a formidable weapon, she attacks the New Avengers, displaying incredible strength. However, despite her newfound power, she is ultimately defeated. As a final act of control, HYDRA activates a self-destruct mechanism, seemingly killing her, reinforcing her tragic role as a pawn of HYDRA rather than achieving her own ambitions.

New Avengers Annual, 200

Thunderbolts (Thunderbolts #128-129, 2009):

This is where the action truly kicks off! Yelena Belova, long presumed dead, suddenly resurfaces, seemingly alive and well. Norman Osborn recruits her to lead his new Thunderbolts team, assigning them a high-stakes mission to attack Air Force One and discredit Dr Leonard Samson.

However, as the chaos unfolds, a shocking twist is revealed: the "Yelena" leading the Thunderbolts isn't Yelena at all—it's Natasha Romanoff in disguise, infiltrating the team to keep an eye on Osborn's operations. What follows is an explosive, action-packed story full of deception, espionage, and high-stakes intrigue.

Thunderbolts #128-129, 2009

White Widow Identity (Black Widow #6 2021) :

In recent Marvel comics, Natasha, the legendary Black Widow, makes a difficult choice to leave her found family behind in order to protect them from the dangers of her world. Seeking an ally she can trust, she moves in with Yelena, and together, they operate as a formidable duo.

Black Widow #6 (2021)

As Natasha and Yelena work side by side, they introduce Yelana as the White Widow. And in 2023 the White Widow Searse arrives:

White Widow #1 (2023)

Final Thoughts

From a brainwashed spy to a rogue antihero, Yelena Belova’s journey is one of the most complex in Marvel Comics. Whether she’s fighting the Avengers, infiltrating S.H.I.E.L.D., or leading the Thunderbolts, she remains an unpredictable, deadly force.

With her White Widow identity in the comics and her upcoming role in Thunderbolts (2025), Yelena is set to become one of Marvel’s biggest stars, whether as a hero, villain, or something in between.

The movie is going to be awesome.