Summary
- Black Widow’s inclusion in the Secret Invasion storyline could have fixed some of the issues that plagued the show, such as perceived betrayal and unclear plot ties.
- Black Widow’s presence as Nick Fury’s trusted ally would have made his decision to abandon Earth less inconsistent and provided a leadership role for her character.
- Despite her death in Avengers: Endgame, Black Widow’s absence on the Avengers team affected Fury’s hesitation to call them for help, showcasing her influence even after her passing.
One storyline in the MCU’s Phase 5 would have been perfect for the character of Black Widow, something that her death in Avengers: Endgame prevented from happening. Throughout Phases 4 and 5 in the MCU, several of the franchise’s legacy characters have been officially retired. While Captain America, Iron Man, and Black Widow herself saw their end in Avengers: Endgame, much of the Multiverse Saga has centered on introducing the next generation of the MCU’s heroes.
This has extended to Marvel Studios’ various Disney+ shows with some major characters being introduced that way. Not only that but some significant Marvel Comics storylines have been adapted on Disney+ rather than on the big screen, something that is definitely the case with Phase 5. One of Phase 5’s biggest, most twisty stories came in the form of a TV show and would have been undoubtedly improved through the character of Black Widow were it not for her untimely albeit satisfying death in Avengers: Endgame.
Black Widow Would Have Been The Perfect Fix To Several Secret Invasion Issues
The MCU story in question is Secret Invasion, the Disney+ show centered on Nick Fury’s attempts to stop a covert Skrull infiltration of Earth. Despite the promise of the comic run of the same name, Secret Invasion is regarded the worst MCU show with several issues contributing to this reputation. However, many of the problems facing Secret Invasion would interestingly have been fixed by the inclusion of Black Widow.
For one, Natasha’s close trust in Nick Fury would have improved his perceived betrayal of Maria Hill as she would have been dedicated to clearing his name. Furthermore. Natasha’s Earth-based operations would have improved the ending of Secret Invasion with G’iah and Sonya Falsworth teaming up. Not only would this have tied the story of G’iah and Sonya closer to major MCU plots – something that is frustratingly unclear going forward – but would have allowed Black Widow to flourish in a leadership role that Avengers: Endgame hinted at during the Blip.
Also, if Black Widow was part of Secret Invasion, it would have fixed a Nick Fury inconsistency. This inconsistency was that Fury abandoned Earth to work on SABER, something that only works due to his PTSD of the Blip. However, it seems unlikely that Nick would leave Earth completely alone and Natasha being left behind as his most trusted ally would have fixed this. That said, Natasha’s Endgame death meant none of this was the case, and Secret Invasion interestingly suffered as a result.
Nick Fury’s Secret Invasion Storyline Was Still Secretly Affected By Black Widow
Despite Black Widow’s death in Phase 3 of the MCU, her presence was still felt secretly throughout Secret Invasion. Throughout the show, Fury’s hesitancy to call in the Avengers to help with such an impactful storyline was perhaps one of the more frustrating elements of the show. However, this could be written down to the people Fury trusted most now no longer being part of the team.
Tony Stark’s Iron Man is no longer an Avenger, nor is Black Widow. The latter was certainly positioned as Fury’s most trusted ally on the Avengers roster throughout the Infinity Saga. Now that Natasha is not present on the team, Fury could be less inclined to call in the Avengers for help as he is unfamiliar with most of the new members. This is one of the ways Black Widow impacted Secret Invasion, despite her death in Avengers: Endgame which, if reversed, could have fixed a handful of other problems with the Phase 5 show.