The Amazing Spider-Man #86
☆ Be the first to review + Add to your collection — Join freeAmazing Spider-Man #86 marks the single most consequential visual turning point in Black Widow's publishing history: the abandonment of her earlier fishnet-and-cape spy costume in favor of the skin-tight black bodysuit with wrist-mounted Widow's Bites and flowing red hair that has defined the character for more than five decades. The issue also establishes, for the first time in-continuity, that Natasha Romanoff's hair is red—a change that, like the costume itself, was locked in permanently. Functioning as an openly acknowledged backdoor pilot, the story bridges Natasha's Avengers-era supporting role into headlining status, teeing up her first solo series in Amazing Adventures vol. 2 the very next month. That trajectory—from recurring guest to independent protagonist—helped pave the way for her eventual co-headlining of Daredevil and her long-running status as one of Marvel's most durable lead characters.
In "Beware... the Black Widow!", Natasha Romanova makes a striking return to New York, clad in a new costume and eager to prove herself—only to find her challenge met by a weakened Spider-Man, who still manages to outfight her. Written by Stan Lee and brought to life by John Romita’s dynamic pencils and Jim Mooney’s sharp inks, this 1970 issue captures a tense, pivotal clash between two formidable figures. The cover, also by Romita, perfectly frames the moment’s intensity.
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The issue was scripted by Stan Lee and edited by Lee himself during the final stretch of his legendary run on the title. John Romita Sr. provided layouts and cover art, with Jim Mooney handling the bulk of interior pencils and inks; Don Heck was originally credited with layouts on the opening pages, but subsequent research by comics historian Nick Caputo found no clear evidence of his contribution there. Romita's design concept for the new costume drew on his familiarity with the 1940s newspaper strip Miss Fury—rather than the British TV spy-fi series The Avengers as is often assumed—adapting that character's sleek bodysuit without her mask, a story Romita himself recounted in later interviews. The issue appeared on newsstands in April 1970 with a July 1970 cover date, priced at fifteen cents.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Black Widow's signature modern costume: the all-black, form-fitting bodysuit with wrist-mounted Widow's Bites and a utility belt to conceal her grappling line.
- First appearance of Black Widow with red hair—all prior appearances depicted Natasha with black hair.
- This is the first in-continuity meeting between Spider-Man and Black Widow.
- Credited creative team: script by Stan Lee; layouts and cover by John Romita Sr.; interior pencils and inks by Jim Mooney; lettering by Sam Rosen. (Don Heck's credited layout contribution on pages 1–3 is disputed by researcher Nick Caputo.)
- The issue functions as an explicit springboard ('backdoor pilot') for Black Widow's first solo series, Amazing Adventures vol. 2 #1 (cover-dated August 1970), which was co-headlined with Jack Kirby's Inhumans and written by Gary Friedrich with art by John Buscema.
- Black Widow's recap of her career—citing her Iron Man battles in Tales of Suspense #52–53, her romance with Hawkeye beginning in Tales of Suspense #57, her first costume in Tales of Suspense #64, and the death of ex-husband the Red Guardian in Avengers #44—consolidates her biography for readers ahead of her solo launch.
- A subplot running through the issue continues the arc of Peter Parker's spider-powers mysteriously fading, a thread that would carry into subsequent issues.
- The story has been reprinted numerous times, including in Marvel Tales #67 (May 1976), Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 9, the Black Widow Epic Collection vol. 1: Beware the Black Widow (2019), The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus (2019), and True Believers: Black Widow & the Amazing Spider-Man #1 (2020).
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Reprints
Reprinted in O Homem-Aranha #43 (1972), L'Uomo Ragno [Collana Super-Eroi] #87 (1973), Spider-Man Comics Weekly #109 (1975), Spider-Man Comics Weekly #110 (1975), Marvel Tales #67 (1976), Strange #83 (1976), The Superhero Women #[nn] (1977), Titans #14 (1978), El Hombre Araña / El Asombroso Hombre Araña #80 (1981), Strange Spécial Origines #160 (1983), Spider-Man Comics Magazine #13 (1989), L'Uomo Ragno Classic #25 (1993), The Essential Spider-Man #4 (2000), Spiderman de John Romita #36 (2001), Women of Marvel #[1] (2006), Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (2007), Marvel Masterworks: The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (86) (2007), Black Widow: The Sting of the Widow #[nn] (2009), The Essential Spider-Man #4 [Third Edition] (2011), Marvel's Mightiest Heroes #27 (2014), The Amazing Spider-Man Omnibus #3 (2017), Black Widow Epic Collection #1 (2019), The Black Widow Strikes Omnibus #[nn] (2019), Marvel Tales: Black Widow #1 (2019) + 8 more
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