Marvel's new Black Widow has a tragic past teased in Wastelanders special

Natasha Romanoff continues to kick but in the ongoing Black Widow series, but this January Marvel Comics will be introducing a new Black Widow as part of the upcoming Wastelanders series.

January 1's Wastelanders: Black Widow #1 will star a Black Widow, but it's not the Black Widow (Natasha). Could it be Yelena Belova? We can confirm it's not, as Marvel has said Wastelanders: Black Widow #1 will be her first appearance - and we've heard the alternate codename 'Grey Widow' floated around for the character.

Whomever this new Black Widow is, we have a first look at her in action with these unlettered pages from Wastelanders: Black Widow #1 by writer Steven S. DeKnight and artist Well-Bee:

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As you can glean from the Wastelanders: Black Widow #1 preview, the mysterious new Black Widow is apparently rescuing  a bizarre new version of the Lizard called the Lizard King, who is imprisoned in an Orlando zoo. This is all set in the alt-reality future Marvel has dubbed 'Old Man Universe,' inspired by the iconic 'Old Man Logan' Wolverine story arc by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven.

Wastelanders: Black Widow #1 is one part of a five-issue Wastelanders project that includes solo issues in the Old Man Universe from Wolverine, Hawkeye, Doctor Doom, and Star-Lord.

Wastelanders: Black Widow #1's primary cover is drawn by Josemaria Casanovas, with a variant cover by Steve McNiven.

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Wastelanders: Black Widow #1 covers

Since this was announced, Marvel has announced a coinciding Wastelanders: Black Widow podcast series to launch January 10.

Wastelanders: Black Widow #1 goes on sale on January 12.

Here are the best Black Widow stories - good prep for what's next.