Natasha Romanoff might have fallen for Bruce Banner in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but in the comics, she’s been linked to a variety of different characters. From Hercules to Hawkeye, the Black Widow has formed romantic connections with a few heroes. Two of her most important romantic connections, however, are with Daredevil and the Winter Soldier.
Natasha and Matt Murdock bonded over their need to do the right thing and gave a relationship a shot. Though it didn’t work out, they continued to help one another in tough situations in the decades that followed. Bucky Barnes, on the other hand, met Natasha when she was still in training in the Red Room, when he didn’t even know his own name. He and Natasha have found their way back to one another time and again despite multiple memory wipes. Just whether or not Daredevil or the Winter Soldier is the best match for Black Widow remains to be seen.
10 Daredevil: Black Widow Can Be Normal
Matt Murdock doesn’t spend all of his time in the middle of global catastrophes. He lives a normal life as a lawyer when he’s not wearing his red suit. Since he and Natasha learn one another’s identities fairly quickly, it gives them both the chance to have a normal life.
While Natasha isn’t always great at “normal,” it’s something she wants every so often. She even tries her hand at getting out of the spy game completely while they are together.
9 Winter Soldier: They’re About The Same Age
Natasha and Bucky are both born sometime in the 1920s in their original comic book stories. As teens, they also both wind up in programs in the Soviet Union in which they are trained and brainwashed. Thanks to some Super-Soldier serum similar to Captain America’s, they age much slower than other humans.
As a result, the two have lived through the same parts of history. Those time periods inform who they are in the modern day. There aren’t many people who share the same memories of the world as they do.
8 Daredevil: She Got Him To Move To California
When Natasha and Matt both wanted a fresh start in their lives, Natasha had a great idea. She convinced Matt that they can get that fresh start away from New York, and on the opposite side of the country at that.
Matt and Natasha live in San Francisco for a while, which is a big step for Matt. As Daredevil, he commits himself to protecting his corner of the universe, which is specifically Hell’s Kitchen. He doesn’t often get involved with conflict outside of his neighborhood, making California way outside of his comfort zone, but a place he is willing to try to be with Natasha.
7 Winter Soldier: They Both Chose A New Path
The Black Widow and the Winter Soldier don’t suddenly become heroes with their training and abilities. Instead, they both had to choose that path in life after decades of manipulation, experimentation, and programming.
It takes them both a long time to do it, but they both manage to walk away from the Red Room life and start over, choosing to take the heroic path. They also both end up sucked back into the Red Room on occasion, but they work to overcome the manipulations every time.
6 Daredevil: They Still Love One Another
Though Daredevil and Black Widow haven’t been in a romantic relationship together for years in the comics, they never deny their feelings for each other. The two are always willing to help one another out, despite of, or perhaps because of, any lingering feelings they might have.
When pressed, Natasha admits her love for Matt still, just as he does for her. Their actual romance might be in the past, but that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t take a chance on one another again.
5 Winter Soldier: She Doesn’t Have To Play The Damsel In Distress
All three of these heroes have superhuman abilities and can handle themselves in a fight. More often than not, however, Daredevil doesn’t entirely trust Black Widow to take care of herself, especially in the early days of their relationship.
Daredevil is so used to being the hero, that he frequently believes he has to be responsible for the heavy lifting in a fight. Winter Soldier, on the other hand, trusts her to hold her own. The dynamic allows Natasha a little more independence.
4 Daredevil: Matt Chooses Natasha Over Karen
In the early days of Daredevil comics, many fans believed Karen Page was the one for Matt Murdock. They went through so much together that it didn’t seem like he could end up with anyone else. Then, Natasha entered the picture.
While Natasha and Matt were still feeling out their relationship, Karen came back into Matt’s life. Rather than return to her, as many expect, Matt chooses to pursue his relationship with Natasha instead, closing the previous chapter of his life and showing Natasha that he was willing to put her first.
3 Winter Soldier: Their Understanding Of Crossing Lines
Even though Natasha and Bucky are the good guys, they don’t always play for the heroes’ team. The two of them understand that about one another.
There is no judgment if one of them crosses a line to do a bad thing. They understand that the world isn’t black and white. Both the Black Widow and the Winter Soldier operate more in shades of grey.
2 Daredevil: Their Commitment To Heroics
Despite Natasha and Matt taking their shot at living a normal life, they both grew tired of the regular civilian lifestyle. What’s important is that they were able to admit that to one another.
When the two live in California, each of the duo grew tired of their regular lives and set out on their own to help people. They don’t keep their activities a secret for long, admitting that they just couldn’t give up their Black Widow and Daredevil personas and walk away from a chance to help someone.
1 Winter Soldier: Their Red Room History
There’s something to be said for shared history. Natasha and Bucky haven’t just lived the same years; they’ve also had the same experiences, as previously mentioned. Trained and brainwashed for the Red Room, they had very similar experiences in their formative years.
The Winter Soldier even trained young Black Widow in the Red Room in some of the retcons of their story. They worked alongside one another and fell for one another, still finding their way back to each other every time their memories were wiped clean. No one else can understand what they have been through outside of those who have lived the Red Room experience.