Black Widow (Golden Age)
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The first fictional character named Black Widow in comic books was a supernaturally powered woman who debuted in Mystic Comics #4 (Aug. 1940), published by Marvel Comics' Golden Age predecssor, Timely Comics. She was created by writer George Kapitan and artist Harry Sahle. She is unrelated to Marvel's later superspy characters called Black Widow.
Her name was appropriately Madame Claire Voyant, a spirit medium who communicated with the dead through magic. She had blonde hair and an eerily flowing green dress. While serving a family of named the Waglers, she was possessed by Satan to put a curse on them. James, a member of that family, survived a subsequent car crash provoked by the spell. He returned to Claire's quarters, and gunned her down.
Afterwards, Claire Voyant's soul went to Hell. Satan dressed her in her Black Widow costume, which has a spider-like design on the front, a green cape similar to her dress, and boots with fire designs on the trim. He gave her the power to kill with a single touch of fingers to the head (which left a branded "Black Widow mark"), summon flames, and use other mystical tricks. Satan — who, daringly for the time, was discreetly depicted as a nude man — sent her back to Earth to avenge her death. After killing her murderer she returned to Satan, who charged her with bringing evil souls to him, since he was not content with waiting for them to die a natural death and perhaps repent their sins. "On the upper world are mortal creatures whose hearts are blackened with wickedness and corruption. You, the Black Widow, will bring their souls to me!"
She later fought arms manufacturers, crime bosses, and Nazis — despite her nature, joining the more traditional superheroes when going up against that wartime threat. She was featured on a flashback splash page in the first issue of Marvel Comics acclaimed miniseries, Marvels.
Her introduction in Mystic Comics #4:
Introducing the strangest, most terrifying character in action picture magazines — the Black Widow. You've heard of the black widow spider — that evil creature whose bite spells doom. Now start the adventures of another black widow — a human tool of Satan whose very touch means death.'
External links
- [The "Golden Age" Black Widow]
- [Another profile on the "Golden Age" Black Widow]
- [Don Markstein's Toonpedia: The Black Widow]
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