Black Widow (Claire Voyant) is the name of a supernaturally powered fictional character in the Golden Age of the Marvel Universe, but first appeared under Marvel's 1930s-'40s predecessor, Timely Comics. She first appeared in Mystic Comics #4 (August 1940). She is unrelated to Marvel's later superspy characters called Black Widow. Timely Comics is the 1940s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to the date or issue of a characters first appearance. ... Mystic has been used as the title of four comic-book series. ... Look up Supernatural in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A fictional character is any person who appears in a work of fiction. ... It has been suggested that Earth-616 be merged into this article or section. ... Timely Comics is the 1940s comic book publishing company that would evolve into Marvel Comics. ... Mystic has been used as the title of four comic-book series. ... The genre of spy fiction — sometimes called political thriller or spy thriller — arose before World War I, and at about the same time that the first modern intelligence agencies were formed. ... This entry is for the Marvel Comics characters called Black Widow. ...

Fictional character history

Madame Claire Voyant is a spirit medium who communicated with the dead through magic. She had blonde hair and an eerily flowing green dress. While serving a family named the Waglers, she was possessed by Satan to put a curse on them. James, a member of that family, survived a subsequent car crash provoked by the spell. He returned to Claire's quarters and gunned her down. For other meanings of medium, see medium (disambiguation). ... Gustave Dorés depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan, from the Hebrew word for accuser (Standard Hebrew: , Satan Tiberian Hebrew ; Koine Greek: , Satanás; Aramaic: , ; Arabic: , , Geez: Sāyṭān), is a term with its origins in the Abrahamic faiths which is traditionally applied to... Look up Curse in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Afterwards, Claire Voyant's soul went to Hell. Satan dressed her in her Black Widow costume, which has a spider-like design on the front, a green cape similar to her dress, and boots with fire designs on the trim. He gave her the power to kill with a single touch of fingers to the head (which left a branded "Black Widow mark"), summon flames, and use other mystical tricks. Satan — who, daringly for the time, was discreetly depicted as a nude man — sent her back to Earth to avenge her death. After killing her murderer, Garvey Lang,^[1] she returned to Satan, who charged her with bringing evil souls to him, since he was not content with waiting for them to die a natural death and perhaps repent their sins. "On the upper world are mortal creatures whose hearts are blackened with wickedness and corruption. You, the Black Widow, will bring their souls to me!" The soul, according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is a self-aware ethereal substance particular to a unique living being. ... Medieval illustration of Hell in the Hortus deliciarum manuscript of Herrad of Landsberg (about 1180) Hell, according to many religious beliefs, is a place or a state of pain and suffering. ...

She later fought arms manufacturers^[2], crime boss, Karl Koodamore^[3], and aided the Invaders against theNazis^[4] as well as killing Ogor and healing his victim^[5]. The Invaders is the name of two fictional superhero teams in the Marvel Comics universe. ... National Socialism redirects here. ...

She was later revealed to have been active after World War II^[6] but her activities and whereabouts between then and now remains unknown.

Her introduction in Mystic Comics #4:

Introducing the strangest, most terrifying character in action picture magazines — the Black Widow. You've heard of the black widow spider — that evil creature whose bite spells doom. Now start the adventures of another black widow — a human tool of Satan whose very touch means death.'

References

• The "Golden Age" Black Widow
• Another profile on the "Golden Age" Black Widow
• Don Markstein's Toonpedia: The Black Widow