Black Widow (Monica Chang–Fury) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.^[1][2] Originating in the Ultimate Marvel universe in 2009 she is depicted as the ex-wife of that universe's Nick Fury. A Earth-616 version later debuted in 2013; this version of Chang is an Asian American devout Muslim.^[3]

The character has been adapted to television twice as a composite character: with Black Widow 2099 as Layla in Avengers Assemble, voiced by Jennifer Hale, and as the Skrull Varra in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) miniseries Secret Invasion, portrayed by Charlayne Woodard.

Fictional character biography

Monica Chang-Fury was created by Mark Millar and Carlos Pacheco, and debuted in Ultimate Comics: Avengers #3 (December 2009) as the second Black Widow in the Ultimate Marvel continuity.^[4] She is the former wife of Nick Fury.^[5] They divorced after she found out that Fury cheated with all her female family members and friends.^[6]

An active member of the Avengers' missions and while being contemptuous with Fury and Hawkeye, she assisted in fighting alongside War Machine and the Red Wasp against the Red Skull,^[7] being the Punisher's wrangler,^[8] and repelling a vampire infestation.^[9] Monica later transferred to the New Ultimates alongside Captain America, Iron Man and Thor, and fights against her former teammates who were supposedly selling government secrets to which both teams fight against the conspiracy's manipulator Gregory Stark.^[10]

Monica rejoined the Ultimates with Fury as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. again and moved herself and Julius Chang (her and Fury's child) to the Triskelion,^[11] alongside Fury, Hawkeye and the Falcon battling the Maker's Children of Tomorrow while a coup d'état occurred in the midst of the chaos.^[12] Since a nuclear attack on Washington, D.C. almost killed the whole presidential cabinet, a new "Civil War" erupted. Monica personally helped against Marvin Flumm, resulting in Monica as the new Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. director (one of only four women to serve in the position in any continuity of Marvel),^[13] helping alongside political gimmicks to eliminate several terrorist cells of Hydra,^[14] and stopping a corrupt politician's conspiracy.^[15]

Because of Galactus's destructive abilities, Monica gets cited in court.^[16][17] However, Monica acts as Jessica Drew's contact involving Crossbones's capture as Monica's last chance to bring down Roxxon, wishing the third Black Widow well.^[18] While working with the FBI, Monica apparently is killed by the Green Goblin.^[19]

Other versions

Monica Chang makes her first appearance in Marvel's mainstream Earth-616 continuity in the Avengers A.I. series.^[20] This version is the chief of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s A.I. Division, and is an Asian American devout Muslim.^[21][22] Monica enlists Hank Pym to help her stop Dimitrios (which evolved from the fail-safe virus used to defeat Ultron) and they form the Avengers A.I. consisting of a Doombot, Victor Mancha and the Vision. During their first mission, the Avengers A.I. faced hijacked S.H.I.E.L.D. Drones which attacked a hospital in Atlanta.^[23] She later prevents the end of the universe by preventing the execution of an LMD infected with a virus.^[24]

In other media

• An amalgamated version of Monica Chang and Black Widow 2099 named Layla appears in the Avengers Assemble episode "Into the Future", voiced by Jennifer Hale. This version is a resistance fighter from a possible future ruled by Kang the Conqueror.^[25]
• Charlayne Woodard portrayed Varra in the 2023 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) miniseries Secret Invasion. This version, a Skrull, is Nick Fury's wife who impersonated Dr. Priscilla Davis, a doctor who gave permission to utilize her likeness.^[26][27]

See also

• List of Black Widow characters

References