So there you have it: two things & I can't bring them together & they are wrenching me apart. These two feelings, this knowledge of a world so awful, this sense of a life so extraordinary - how am I to resolve them?
- Richard Flanagan, Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish
Natasha Romanoff: The truth is a matter of circumstances, it's not all things to all people all the time. And neither am I.
Steve Rogers: That's a tough way to live.
Natasha Romanoff: It's a good way not to die, though.
Steve Rogers: You know, it's kind of hard to trust someone when you don't know who that someone really is.
Natasha Romanoff: Yeah. Who do you want me to be?
Steve Rogers: How about a friend?
Natasha Romanoff: Well, there's a chance you might be in the wrong business, Rogers.
- Richard Flanagan, Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish
Natasha Romanoff: The truth is a matter of circumstances, it's not all things to all people all the time. And neither am I.
Steve Rogers: That's a tough way to live.
Natasha Romanoff: It's a good way not to die, though.
Steve Rogers: You know, it's kind of hard to trust someone when you don't know who that someone really is.
Natasha Romanoff: Yeah. Who do you want me to be?
Steve Rogers: How about a friend?
Natasha Romanoff: Well, there's a chance you might be in the wrong business, Rogers.
A (mis) interpretation:
Name: Natalia Alianovna Romanova.
Alias: Natasha Romanoff, various.
Age: 68 years old (as of 2010).
Codename: The Black Widow ( Чёрная вдова / Chyornaya Vdova)
Designation: Weapon III.
Affiliation: NKVD (Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del) / KGB (Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti) - The Red Dawn (Krasnyy Rasvet) (former); DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) (former); CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) - SAD (Special Activities Division) : PAG (Political Action Group) / SOG (Special Action Group) (former); S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) - Level Ten Operative / The Avengers Initiative (current).
Abilities: Artificially enhanced physiology; high intelligence; psychological manipulation; master hand to hand combatant; slowed aging; fast healing; espionage expert; master strategist and tactician; expert marksmanship; weapons expert.
Std. armaments: "The Widow's Bite" - electro-shock energy bracelet and power glove x 2; carbon nanotube reinforced Kevlar/Nomex hybrid combat suit; Glock 26 semi-automatic pistol x 2; various weaponries.
Late 1942, Stalingrad. A Soviet soldier, Ivan Petrovich, found a mortally injured woman with a one year old child in her arms amidst the rubbles from the aerial bombings by the Luftwaffe. She handed the girl over to Petrovich before dying. By February 1943, the German 6th Army surrendered, ending the Battle of Stalingrad and marks as one of the turning points in World War Two.
1953, Moscow. Twelve years old Natalia Romanova, the girl Petrovich rescued, was amongst thousands of orphans rounded up by the NKVD for the Red Dawn Programme. The programme is a project by Soviet Union to produce their own first super-soldier, based on the blood samples taken from Steve Rogers by their spies prior to the Captain's supposed death in an atomic explosion over the Artic to divert a nuclear holocaust planned by HYDRA. Soviet eugenicists led by captured HYDRA scientist, Drs Adelind Zola succeed in reverse engineer the blood samples to obtain the late Dr. Abraham Erskine's formula but it is incomplete. Out of the thousands of candidates, only Romanova survived with sanity intact. The rests were purged, including the eugenicists involved with the exception of Zola whom managed to escape to Latin America. Romanova immediately undergoes intensive training in espionage, its tradecrafts and all forms of martial art. Upon completion of her trainings and psychological indoctrination which include behavioural modification, Romanova was assigned as the Red Dawn Special Operations agent under the successor to NKVD, the KGB, of which Petrovich was the directorate supervising the programme. With the codename "The Black Widow", Romanova carried out various espionage activities, acting as agent provocateur, infiltrate target groups to sow dissension, influence policy, arrange kidnappings and carry out assassinations. She was also key member of the state secret police, and had her fair share of suppressing internal dissidents ruthlessly and without remorse, carrying out enhanced interrogation technique methods.
Romanova was particularly active throughout the entire Cold War period. She becomes a double agent in the mid-60s, working for the KGB, CIA and DIA through an extensive "double cross" system. She had participated in espionage and combat activities during the proxy wars globally where she carried out with absolute efficiency and effectiveness. By the 90s, during the glasnost and perestroika period, Romanova defected and becomes a full time S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, although where she was once questioned about where her true allegiance lies by General Alexander Pierce. Natalia proved her loyalty by uncovering a vast conspiracy involving the infiltration of HYDRA agents within the clandestine organisation and various government agencies. Her experiences in engaging against others the likes of her, meta-humans, human mutants and eventually the realisation that humankind is not alone in the universe after the Battle of New York makes her more determine to carry out her duties with upmost dedication, regardless of the acts or methods used to achieve the outcome.
As a recipient of the super-soldier serum, Romanova possesses super human physiology, giving her exceptional strength, speed, endurance and dexterity, fast healing form any injuries in short time as well as absolute immunity from any forms of diseases and poisons. She is well trained to carry out any forms of tradecrafts and assassination. Romanova is a cunning strategist and tactician in covert and clandestine operations, and exceptionally gifted and effective field commander, often considered second only to Steve Rogers. With enhanced intellect, Romanova displays an uncanny affinity for psychological manipulation and can mask her emotion perfectly, adapt to various accents, behavioural aspects or even changes her look like a talented actress. Wade Wilson aka Deadpool likes to remark, 'Will the real Black Widow please stands up?' She could deduce with precision a person's thought through body language and behavioural cue, and has no hesitancy in employing any forms of interrogative measures to extract information from any suspect. Romanova could quickly process multiple information streams such as threat assessment and rapidly respond to changing tactical situations as per required. Although she prefers not to engage in a hand to hand combat, Romanova is a formidable martial artist, incredibly dexterous, nimble with graceful moves like a deadly gymnast. She has photographic memory, a polyglot, being fluent in fourteen languages and one dead language. Romanova is an expert markswoman, proficient in all forms of firearms and melee weapons. In combat, Romanova primary weapon is a pair of wrist bands containing electro-shock projectiles and gloves powered by electric micro-capacitors which delivers up to 50,000 volts of current sufficient to electrocute anyone several times over. Created for her by Anton Vanko, the "Widow's Bite" as it is called, also acts as a form of force weapon of which Romanova could activate to envelope both her fists with molecular bond disrupting energy, allowing her to punch through super hardened armours and defence in addition to her superhuman strength. She is also an incredibly capable cyber-hacker, a master cryptanalyst and adept in information technology. Her decades of serving as a top espionage agent makes Romanova an incredibly experience clandestine operative, with a rank of Level Ten in S.H.I.E.L.D., whose authority is effectively a step remove from only Director Colonel Fury and Deputy Director Maria Hill. While many sees her as an opportunist, deceptive and questions with her loyalty lies, Romanova believes in the values of morality and justice upon meeting Steve Rogers. Although Rogers disapproves of her methods more often than not, Romanova believes the means justify the end. Like day and night, both share the same goal, albeit through different path. Romanova has had many past relationships with both men and women but due to eventual realisation that she is near immortal, she has since decided not to engage into any form of intimate relationship currently.
..........................................................................................
Name: Natalia Alianovna Romanova.
Alias: Natasha Romanoff, various.
Age: 68 years old (as of 2010).
Codename: The Black Widow ( Чёрная вдова / Chyornaya Vdova)
Designation: Weapon III.
Affiliation: NKVD (Narodnyy Komissariat Vnutrennikh Del) / KGB (Komitet gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti) - The Red Dawn (Krasnyy Rasvet) (former); DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency) (former); CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) - SAD (Special Activities Division) : PAG (Political Action Group) / SOG (Special Action Group) (former); S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division) - Level Ten Operative / The Avengers Initiative (current).
Abilities: Artificially enhanced physiology; high intelligence; psychological manipulation; master hand to hand combatant; slowed aging; fast healing; espionage expert; master strategist and tactician; expert marksmanship; weapons expert.
Std. armaments: "The Widow's Bite" - electro-shock energy bracelet and power glove x 2; carbon nanotube reinforced Kevlar/Nomex hybrid combat suit; Glock 26 semi-automatic pistol x 2; various weaponries.
Late 1942, Stalingrad. A Soviet soldier, Ivan Petrovich, found a mortally injured woman with a one year old child in her arms amidst the rubbles from the aerial bombings by the Luftwaffe. She handed the girl over to Petrovich before dying. By February 1943, the German 6th Army surrendered, ending the Battle of Stalingrad and marks as one of the turning points in World War Two.
1953, Moscow. Twelve years old Natalia Romanova, the girl Petrovich rescued, was amongst thousands of orphans rounded up by the NKVD for the Red Dawn Programme. The programme is a project by Soviet Union to produce their own first super-soldier, based on the blood samples taken from Steve Rogers by their spies prior to the Captain's supposed death in an atomic explosion over the Artic to divert a nuclear holocaust planned by HYDRA. Soviet eugenicists led by captured HYDRA scientist, Drs Adelind Zola succeed in reverse engineer the blood samples to obtain the late Dr. Abraham Erskine's formula but it is incomplete. Out of the thousands of candidates, only Romanova survived with sanity intact. The rests were purged, including the eugenicists involved with the exception of Zola whom managed to escape to Latin America. Romanova immediately undergoes intensive training in espionage, its tradecrafts and all forms of martial art. Upon completion of her trainings and psychological indoctrination which include behavioural modification, Romanova was assigned as the Red Dawn Special Operations agent under the successor to NKVD, the KGB, of which Petrovich was the directorate supervising the programme. With the codename "The Black Widow", Romanova carried out various espionage activities, acting as agent provocateur, infiltrate target groups to sow dissension, influence policy, arrange kidnappings and carry out assassinations. She was also key member of the state secret police, and had her fair share of suppressing internal dissidents ruthlessly and without remorse, carrying out enhanced interrogation technique methods.
Romanova was particularly active throughout the entire Cold War period. She becomes a double agent in the mid-60s, working for the KGB, CIA and DIA through an extensive "double cross" system. She had participated in espionage and combat activities during the proxy wars globally where she carried out with absolute efficiency and effectiveness. By the 90s, during the glasnost and perestroika period, Romanova defected and becomes a full time S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, although where she was once questioned about where her true allegiance lies by General Alexander Pierce. Natalia proved her loyalty by uncovering a vast conspiracy involving the infiltration of HYDRA agents within the clandestine organisation and various government agencies. Her experiences in engaging against others the likes of her, meta-humans, human mutants and eventually the realisation that humankind is not alone in the universe after the Battle of New York makes her more determine to carry out her duties with upmost dedication, regardless of the acts or methods used to achieve the outcome.
As a recipient of the super-soldier serum, Romanova possesses super human physiology, giving her exceptional strength, speed, endurance and dexterity, fast healing form any injuries in short time as well as absolute immunity from any forms of diseases and poisons. She is well trained to carry out any forms of tradecrafts and assassination. Romanova is a cunning strategist and tactician in covert and clandestine operations, and exceptionally gifted and effective field commander, often considered second only to Steve Rogers. With enhanced intellect, Romanova displays an uncanny affinity for psychological manipulation and can mask her emotion perfectly, adapt to various accents, behavioural aspects or even changes her look like a talented actress. Wade Wilson aka Deadpool likes to remark, 'Will the real Black Widow please stands up?' She could deduce with precision a person's thought through body language and behavioural cue, and has no hesitancy in employing any forms of interrogative measures to extract information from any suspect. Romanova could quickly process multiple information streams such as threat assessment and rapidly respond to changing tactical situations as per required. Although she prefers not to engage in a hand to hand combat, Romanova is a formidable martial artist, incredibly dexterous, nimble with graceful moves like a deadly gymnast. She has photographic memory, a polyglot, being fluent in fourteen languages and one dead language. Romanova is an expert markswoman, proficient in all forms of firearms and melee weapons. In combat, Romanova primary weapon is a pair of wrist bands containing electro-shock projectiles and gloves powered by electric micro-capacitors which delivers up to 50,000 volts of current sufficient to electrocute anyone several times over. Created for her by Anton Vanko, the "Widow's Bite" as it is called, also acts as a form of force weapon of which Romanova could activate to envelope both her fists with molecular bond disrupting energy, allowing her to punch through super hardened armours and defence in addition to her superhuman strength. She is also an incredibly capable cyber-hacker, a master cryptanalyst and adept in information technology. Her decades of serving as a top espionage agent makes Romanova an incredibly experience clandestine operative, with a rank of Level Ten in S.H.I.E.L.D., whose authority is effectively a step remove from only Director Colonel Fury and Deputy Director Maria Hill. While many sees her as an opportunist, deceptive and questions with her loyalty lies, Romanova believes in the values of morality and justice upon meeting Steve Rogers. Although Rogers disapproves of her methods more often than not, Romanova believes the means justify the end. Like day and night, both share the same goal, albeit through different path. Romanova has had many past relationships with both men and women but due to eventual realisation that she is near immortal, she has since decided not to engage into any form of intimate relationship currently.
..........................................................................................
My impulse purchase sometimes get better of me. I had sold off the first Black Widow (much to my regret because I would like to retain the "body" ;)), but that's alright coz I originally wanted to built The Avengers before realising Marvel Studios are coming out with a bunch of sequels and ties in movies which means Hot Toys would be churning out various versions of the characters. This would lead to debating with myself which one would be the definite version to get. Which is why I stay away from Iron Man (s). This is the third incarnation of the Black Widow figure based on Scarlett Johansson, from the recent Captain America 2 : The Winter Soldier. And its most likely not the last. But the screen version is good enough for me to get the figure, which is great, though minimal in accessories. The head sculpt (by Yulli, no less) is as close to the real deal as possible. But unfortunately it has that "huh?" look on it and let's face it, ScarJo's likeliness is difficult to capture, just like Harrison Ford. But this is definitely for keep though I "miss" the first version well-endowed body. The fan-fiction writing is based on the Weapon series from Marvel Universe. It is vastly different from the official write up. And I decided to re-imagine her as a super-powered human.
No comments:
Post a Comment