Black Widow, aka Natasha Romanoff, was a beloved character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) for over a decade. Despite being a founding member of the Avengers, her death in Avengers: Endgame sparked controversy among fans due to the lack of a funeral or any on-screen memorial for the heroic spy.
When did Black Widow die?
Black Widow sacrificed herself on Vormir in 2014 during Avengers: Endgame to help the Avengers get the Soul Stone. After retrieving the Soul Stone, Hulk attempted to bring her back to life by snapping the Infinity Stones in 2023, to no avail. Her death was confirmed by the events of Black Widow which took place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War.
Why did Black Widow have to die?
For the Soul Stone to be acquired, a soul had to be given – this was the rule set by the Red Skull on Vormir. Out of Hawkeye and herself, Black Widow chose to be the sacrifice so the Avengers could get the Soul Stone to defeat Thanos. Her death was irreversible, as the effects of the Soul Stone trade cannot be undone.
Did any other Avengers get an on-screen funeral?
Yes, Tony Stark received an extensive funeral sequence at the end of Avengers: Endgame. The funeral included a large crowd of supporting characters from across the MCU, including Pepper Potts, Happy Hogan, Harley Keener, Aunt May, Secretary Ross, and more. It was an impactful send-off for Tony Stark that highlighted his legacy.
Tony Stark’s funeral
- Held at Tony Stark’s cabin by the lake
- Attended by numerous MCU heroes and characters
- Featured a holographic message from Tony to those assembled
- Included a symbolic farewell with Tony’s first arc reactor reading “Proof that Tony Stark has a heart”
So why didn’t Black Widow receive an on-screen funeral?
There are a few potential reasons that have been suggested by fans and writers:
She didn’t have close personal ties
Tony had a wife, daughter, and close confidantes like Happy Hogan and James Rhodes. Black Widow was written as someone who pushed away personal connections, which made crafting a meaningful funeral sequence more challenging.
Her death wasn’t the climax
Tony’s death came at the very end of Endgame and was the culmination of his hero’s journey over many MCU films. Black Widow died halfway through the movie, making a funeral feel narratively out of place.
Plans for prequel movie
Marvel likely wanted to avoid giving Black Widow a complete send-off since they had already announced plans for a Black Widow prequel movie. A funeral may have closed the book on her story prematurely.
Focus on OG Avengers
Endgame was focused on wrapping up the stories of the original Avengers like Tony Stark and Steve Rogers. Black Widow may have gotten short shrift in favor of servicing the main heroes’ endings.
How was Black Widow honored after her death?
While Black Widow did not receive an on-screen funeral, her sacrifice was acknowledged and honored in a few ways:
Clint’s grief
Hawkeye was visibly distraught after Black Widow’s death and her loss clearly motivated him during the final battle against Thanos. This emphasized the close partnership between them.
Theodore “Teddy” Barton
In Hawkeye, it was revealed that Hawkeye named his youngest son Teddy after Black Widow’s real name, Natalia Alianovna Romanova. This was a subtle memorial for his fallen friend.
Yelena’s grief
The events of Black Widow showed that Yelena was deeply affected by Natasha’s death. She channeled her grief into taking down the villains who caused Natasha so much pain.
Conclusion
While Black Widow did not receive the same grand MCU funeral sequence as Iron Man, there were some on-screen moments that paid respect to her sacrifice. Her relatively isolated backstory and the narrative focus on original Avengers likely contributed to the decision. Nonetheless, Black Widow was a seminal member of the Avengers whose bravery helped defeat Thanos.