“...even this old fogey can see that you’re still in love with Horn-Head...”
        - Ivan, Natasha’s chauffeur and surrogate father figure, soon after her break up with Daredevil
           Champions #1 (October 1975)

“MATTHEW, I LOVE YOU!!”
        - Natasha’s emotional confession to Daredevil many years after their break-up
           Daredevil Vol.2 #4 (February 1999)

Natasha Romanoff has been a premier Soviet ballerina, an Olympic caliber gymnast, an accomplished fashion designer, a Cold War spy, the leader of two male dominated American based supergroups, a SHIELD-operative, an international jet setter and a loyal and caring person to her closest friends. Her abundant abilities and striking beauty make her a fierce individualist, capable to live, work and love as she desires. She has loved many of the world’s most eligible and successful men, and has lived the lifestyle that even the most ambitious of adventurers could only fantasize about. Despite her apparent joie-de-vivre, she, nonetheless, lives the life of quiet desperation and loneliness. One man, who she first loved and then left, retains a hold on her that she cannot break but at the same time cannot win back. His name is Matt Murdock.

Having been orphaned as a little girl in war ravaged Stalingrad and later widowed as a young bride, Natasha spent the remainder of her young adult life on a personal search for the components of her life that were deprived from her at a very early age: love, stability and purpose. Following the death of her husband, the Red Guardian, she worked as a Soviet secret agent during the height of the Cold War. But the experience left her feeling used and betrayed by her mother country, further contributing to a somewhat frail and disillusioned emotional state. She came to America, searching for love and security. Her extraordinary training, talents and skills enabled her to work with the Avengers as a superhero or with SHIELD as a secret agent. Along the way, she continued to explore and experiment with life in search of her quest. She traveled to exotic locations, dated - and often loved - such attractive and fascinating men as Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Clint Barton (Hawkeye). But she was growing increasingly restless and impatient, anxious that she may never be able to find her place in the world.

Her anxieties often escalated into bouts of paranoia. She felt cursed as the Black Widow. She feared that whoever she took as a mate would eventually die. Moreover, despite her work as a covert spy for SHIELD she felt her loyalty to her new country was forever questioned by her superiors. As a result, the more she searched and experimented with work and love, the more unstable and lonely her life had become.

Eventually, as chronicled in Amazing Adventures #1-8, she settled in Manhattan, living the life of a rich and single, thirty-something woman, careful to avoid getting too romantically linked to any one man. Much of her superhero exploits during this period of relative solitude demonstrated a desire to support local, urban causes (an interesting similarity of purpose she shares with Daredevil). It is during her Manhattan period that she finally meets Daredevil, the man who will provide her with those components of her life she so desperately desires.

As documented in Daredevil #81, Natasha first met Daredevil in the most dramatic and intense way possible: while saving his life. Other extraordinary events rapidly followed that continued to bring Daredevil and the Black Widow together as superheroes and civilians. Somewhat to their own bewilderment, they found themselves as a team fighting supervillains, such as the Scorpion, and continuing to save each other’s life. Matt also found himself in the truly unique - and somewhat bizarre - situation of having to successfully defend Natasha in court, against a murder charge forwarded by his former partner, Foggy Nelson. Although they didn’t know at the time that these occurrences which brought them together were part of a secret master plan of the mysterious Mr. Kline, they nonetheless found themselves profoundly affected by them.

Natasha’s paranoia grew. She feared her widow’s curse was putting Daredevil’s life at constant risk. The trial heightened her deep seeded concerns about being a former Soviet agent in cold war America. She needed to escape. Her paranoia, however, was conflicting with an unexpected and powerful emotional and physical attraction she was quickly developing for Matt. As a result, the extraordinary series of life threatening circumstances that brought Daredevil and the Black Widow together created a powerful curiosity about each other that quickly developed into a loving and lusty bond that neither could deny.

By the time Natasha escaped to Switzerland after her trial and acquittal, her feelings for Matt had transformed into desire. She wanted him there with her. Shortly after Matt arrived, their emotional and physical attraction to each other intensified. He realized that all the recent activities they had encountered together made them dependent and happy with each other. Matt himself was quickly falling in love with her. He had already come to realize what Peter Parker noted some months later - and with some degree of vicarious envy - in Daredevil #103 when he observed that Daredevil found himself a mate who can share his kind of life. Matt was so sure of his love for Natasha that he was prepared to leave New York for good in order to settle with her in San Francisco.

Matt solidified his relationship with Natasha by his so-called “final” break-up with Karen Page in Daredevil #86. Even Karen was sadly forced to admit to Natasha that “...he needs you. There’s nothing more I can give him.”

Their move to San Francisco is something quite unprecedented in mainstream superhero comicdom. It was extremely uncommon for a major character, such as Daredevil, to permanently uproot to a new city for the sake of love. More importantly, at that time, having two superhero characters living together, in an unmarried, yet sexually suggested relationship was unprecedented for its time. Matt and Natasha were on the cutting edge of a sexual revolution in comics.

Their relationship, as depicted by artists Gene Colan and Tom Palmer, was very physical. They were constantly hugging, kissing and touching each other - as civilians walking down the street and as superheroes in battle. In Daredevil #89, for instance, they are on a rooftop wrapped in a loving embrace just as Electro enters the scene. (See “marquee picture” at the top of the article.)

Their workouts were often extremely physical, holding back nothing and taking great gratification in slapping and hitting each other. After a workout shown in Daredevil #122, Matt is ready to have sex, suggesting that the workout, to him, at least, was an extreme kind of foreplay. Even simply sitting, standing or walking, they were often seen leaning into each other, as if their need to be together was too strong to overcome. When they’re not together, Natasha is often seen obsessively thinking about him. They are so into being with each other as civilians and superheros that they display only half hearted attempts find jobs. For the time being, they live off Natasha’s inheritance, blissfully spending all their time together.

For the next several months, Natasha had finally established her purpose and place in life and Matt provided her with the love she so sorely missed. Eventually, she was going to be a fashion designer as well as Matt’s lover, confidant and even his landlord. As their relationship starts to intensify, Natasha’s paranoia completely evaporates. She no longer worries about a widow’s curse or threats from the outside world. Moreover, their stunning move to San Francisco provides her the fresh start she so desperately desired. After their first eight months in San Francisco, Natasha finally realized that Matt has given her what no other man ever could give her: the three elements of her life she was sorely missing, security, purpose and love. In fact, by Daredevil #109, Natasha confesses to herself that her time with Daredevil is “the best I’ve shared with any man - even my late husband.”

Despite their love and Natasha’s apparent happiness, the relationship was destined to fail, once again leaving Natasha to search for all that she had lost.

Personality problems evident at the beginning of the relationship became clashes that defined their respective identities as individuals that could not be overcome. Matt, like Natasha, was always a proud individualist and relative loner. Like Natasha, he was accustomed to having his own way. And despite the fact that Matt was a leading edge force in the sexual revolution of comics, he came with many faults and frailties. His manner was often translated into an uncompromising and unrelenting male chauvinism. In combat, he often fails to treat Natasha as his partner, but rather as his side kick. He would slap her backside and command her to dress as he demanded. He often takes her for granted, assuming she’ll simply follow his every whim. His ongoing references to her as a “kid” or “girl” or “sister” or “honey” constantly undermined her status as a superhero, his mate and, ultimately, his equal. Although she accepted this kind of language from Ivan, she could not from Matt. Ivan was a father figure and those expressions were terms of endearment. Matt, on the other hand, was her mate, and therefore the language was intolerable. In Daredevil #94, Natasha exclaims the defining line of their relationship by stating: “In case you hadn’t noticed, Matt - much as I think I love you - I’m my own woman - first, last and always!”

Yet despite her attitudes, he cannot change. When he decides to go back to New York to help his friend, Foggy Nelson, he automatically takes it for granted that she’ll agree to go with him. This infuriates her. By Daredevil #109, despite her confession that Matt is the best man she has ever met, she also concedes to herself that the relationship with him has effectively, if not actually, ended “because we are who we are...and neither of us wished to change.”

By Daredevil #122, the relationship had soured. For the last several months of their relationship they were in a constant emotional battle with each other. Their only peace came when Matt spent extended periods of time in New York. Eventually, Matt and Natasha finally came to the realization that their relationship, was indeed, over. Matt states to Natasha: “Why does everything come out wrong for us when both of us want it to come out right?” They then kissed and fought together against a supervillain one last time. By Daredevil #124, Natasha walked out on Matt. Although, she walked out on the relationship, she could not forget Matt and what he was able to provide her. However, the break-up forces her to once again find a way to redefine herself and to find a way to reclaim what she had gained and then ultimately lost with Matt.

From the time her relationship with Matt had ended, Natasha tried and tested new vocations and new men. Professionally, Natasha split her time as a spy-for-hire and as a participant or leader of superhero groups, such as the Champions and, once again, the Avengers. Her spy activities were often lucrative ventures, allowing her to live her life in an affluent manner. Her activities as a member of supergroups provided her with comradery and respect from her peers that helped to offset bouts of loneliness and isolation.

Her relationships with other men were transitory, at best, fulfilling her temporary needs. For example, Hercules, as chronicled in Iron Man Annual #4, made her feel safe. Tony Stark provided her occasional male friendship and respect. And even once, as shown in Iron Man #315-317, Stark provided her with sexual pleasures. Her relationships with other men rewarded her with passing needs and therefore paled to what she had - and lost - with Matt. What’s more, during her time apart from Matt, her paranoia returned. In Daredevil #158, she says: “Sometimes it seems my whole life has been nothing but one long meaningless fight. It’s as if I draw death to me and everyone I dare love.”

If Natasha developed any doubts about her natural chemistry with Matt or her deep seeded love for him after their breakup and during her time away in Los Angeles with the Champions, they were quickly dashed in the pages of Daredevil #157. After approximately two years apart, they passionately kiss in front of her current lover, Hercules. Later, they are shown, once again, engaging in a full physical workout at the Avengers New York headquarters, reminiscent of their earlier sexually charged workouts in San Francisco.

She often kept tabs on Matt through her own private intelligence network and every so often paid him a visit to test the waters of their relationship. In Daredevil #164, with Matt in the hospital and on the critical list, Natasha never leaves his side. In fact, she leans over him to whisper: “All that matters now is the future. Our Fu(ture).” But the story was always the same for the first number of times they met. In Daredevil #157, #165 and #189, Natasha would advance her desire to Matt to rekindle their relationship and Matt would rebuff her. After a while, she grudgingly came to accept the bittersweet notion that all they would ever be to each other were caring friends, willingly helping each other out in very tight jams.

But her respect and love for Matt never flinched. In Daredevil #329, she gets angry at her Avenger’s colleague, Captain America, for working with Daredevil’s “imposter.” In Daredevil #375, Natasha even offered Matt her assistance to get his current girl friend, Karen, out of trouble. And, most recently, in Daredevil Vol.2 #4, she confesses to Matt that she still loves him.

Despite Matt’s refusal to rekindle his relationship with Natasha, he continues to carry his own torch for her, as well. For instance, in Daredevil #352, Mastermind plays a mental illusion on him that truthfully demonstrated his one true love was Natasha. In Daredevil Vol.2 #2, Matt comes to the realization that he perhaps kept Natasha’s phone number in the memory bank of his office phone for reasons more intimate than friendship. Except, he refuses to fully recognize his own true feelings. As a result, a tremendous irony exists. Despite Matt’s history of refusing to re-establish their old relationship, he is probably as much in love with Natasha as she is with him.

Back in Daredevil #190, Natasha cryptically states to Matt that “we all do what we have to.” Grudgingly, Natasha carries on without Matt. With respect to their love, Matt felt the need to bury it, while Natasha continues her need to demonstrate it. And as they continue to adopt contrary actions to their feelings for each other, Natasha will be forever tied to a man who has a hold on her that she cannot break and at the same time cannot win back. Matt Murdock will forever be her true love lost.

Matt and Natasha's intense relationship was often depicted in other Marvel comics. Sometimes their relationship would impact on the storyline in someone else's comic. Sometimes the storyline would impact on their relationship. Below is a list of non-Daredevil comics in which the DD/BW relationship was highlighted.

Avengers #111, May 1973
Captain America offers official Avengers membership to DD and BW, causing the couple to temporarily break-up.

Avengers #137, Jul 1975
Natasha turns down Iron Man's desperate plea for help due to her complicated personal relationship with Daredevil.

Man-Thing #1, Jan 1974
DD and Natasha momentarily swing through a "hole in space" resulting in the couple saving a girl's life.

Marvel Comics Presents #93, 1991
DD and Natasha temporarily come back together to help SHIELD defeat a band of Hydra agents.

Avengers TimeSlide, Feb 1996
While passing through a strange time zone, a mature, thirty-something Natasha confronts a teenaged, naive, pre-DD Matt Murdock telling him to stay uninvolved in a dangerous situation, probably saving his life.

Marvel Fanfare #10, Sep 1983
Nick Fury provides a detailed re-telling of Natasha's life, that includes the following: "...She crossed paths with ol' hornhead - Daredevil. Fer awhile, ya didn't see one without the other, an' people started realin' there wuz a lot more ta their parlay than crimefightin." This indicates how well their relationship was known within the Marvel Universe.

Shadows & Light One, Feb 1998
While on a private mission inside the Soviet Union, Natasha recaps her time spent with Daredevil, stating she was in love with him.

The Champions #1, Oct 1975
Following her painful break-up with Matt, Natasha moves to Los Angeles. This situation sets her up to become a member of The Champions.

Code of Honor #2, Mar 1997
DD and Natasha appear together fighting crime in this realistic-looking depiction of the Marvel Universe.

Marvel Team-Up #12, Aug 1973
Set up issue for Daredevil #103.
Daily Bugle editor Joe Robertson shows off old wire photos of DD and BW and sends Peter Parker to San Francisco to get new photos of the superhero couple for a special spread in the Paper's "Sunday Magazine" section.