KGB Natasha

     Caspian Sea - Natasha Romanova, also known as Natalia Alianova (Natasha) Romanova, was created by editor Stan Lee, scripter Don Rico and artist Don Heck.  The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense No. 52 (April 1964).  Natasha Romanova was first introduced as a Russian spy, an antagonist of the superhero Iron Man.
     Born circa 1928, Natalia "Natasha" Romanova was apparently orphaned as a child when she was trapped in a burning building during an attack on Stalingrad by enemy forces.  Ivan Petrovich Bezukhov, a Soviet soldier, found Natasha in the inferno and a rescued her.  Although Ivan kept close watch on Natasha Romanova as she grew, by the late 1930's she had attracted the attention of Soviet intelligence, and the Soviets began Natasha's clandestine training.  Following WWII Natasha was recruited to become part of the Black Widow program, a team of elite sleeper agents.  Among the Widow's instructors was the Winter Soldier, formerly Captain America's sidekick Bucky (James Barnes).  Natasha studied as a Ballerina to cover her true occupation, that of  a spy.  The Soviet state eventually arranged for Natasha to marry Alexi Shostakov, a champion test pilot.  After a few years of happy marriage, the KGB faked Shostakov's death in a rocket test.  Grief for Shostakov drove Natasha's resolve deeper and she continued her education with the Red Room Academy, finally being appointed to title of the Black Widow.  Natasha Romanova later defected to the United States, becoming an agent of the fictional spy agency, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Directorate), United Nations affiliated intelligence agency dealing primarily with terrorism and superhuman threats that was originally founded by the U.S. government.  
     Natasha Romanoff, an alias of Natasha Romanova, (portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, c. 2010) appears in the movie Iron Man 2, posing as "Natalie Rushman", a Stark Industries employee of Pepper Potts.  It is revealed that she was assigned to evaluate Tony Stark for the Avengers Initiative, by Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.  Natasha Romanoff has a significant role in Marvel's "The Avengers" (2012) and also appears in Captain America: "The Winter Soldier" (2014), and is set to reprise the role in the upcoming Avengers:  Age of Ultron (2015).  Other aliases that Natasha Romanova (ballerina) and  Natalia Alianova ("Natasha") Romanova (spy) might be known as are:  Natalie Rushman, Laura Mathers, Natasha Romanoff, Oktober, Black Widow, and Natalia Shostakova.  See also, www.disney.com.