Iron Maiden (Marvel Comics)

Iron Maiden
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Marvel Fanfare #11 (November 1983)
Created by	Ralph Macchio George Pérez
In-story information
Alter ego	Melina Vostokova Melina Von Vostokoff Мелина Востокова
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Thunderbolts Femizons Remont Six
Abilities	Iron suit increasing strength and durability Master martial artist and assassin Skilled hand-to-hand combatant Mastery of various weapons

Iron Maiden (born as Melina Vostokova; Melina Von Vostokoff; Мелина Востокова) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Ralph Macchio and George Pérez, the character first appeared in Marvel Fanfare #11 (November 1983).^[1][2] The character is Russian and is depicted most notably as an enemy of Black Widow.

The character made her live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Widow, portrayed by Rachel Weisz.

Publication history

Iron Maiden first appeared in Marvel Fanfare #11 (November 1983), created by Ralph Macchio and George Pérez.

Fictional character biography

Melina Vostokova was an agent recruited by the Government of the Russian Federation.^[3] Feeling she was living in the shadow of Natalia Romanova / Black Widow, Iron Maiden started to develop a deep hatred for her.^[4][5] Eventually, she stopped working for the Russian government to become a freelance agent and assassin.^[6][7][8]

Iron Maiden was among the assassins hired to kill Black Widow.^[9] She fought Natalia Romanova, but the battle was interrupted by Jimmy Woo and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents who arrived.^[10][11] Eventually, Iron Maiden managed to escape from her nemesis and Woo.^[12]

She then joined the Femizons, a team of superhuman female criminals led by Superia, whose purpose was to gain power and sterilize the planet in order to create a new world where women would rule.^[13][14] Iron Maiden served as one of Superia's lieutenants.^[15][16]

Iron Maiden was eventually apprehended and coerced into joining the Thunderbolts during the Civil War series.^[17][18]

Iron Maiden later joined the group of Soviet Revolutionaries known as Remont Six to lead an attack against an A.I.M. installation located outside of the Forbidden Zone in Russia. This team overpowered both Red Guardian and Crimson Dynamo but Ursa Major overpowered most of the group out.^[19]

Powers and abilities

Iron Maiden is a master martial artist, assassin, and spy, with knowledge in horticulture.^[20][21][22] She is also a weapon expert.^[23] She wears a lightweight but strong metal suit that protects her from impacts, bullets and energy weapons. It appears to function as a form of silver exoskeleton, enhancing her strength and durability to an unknown degree.^[24][25]

Reception

Critical reception

Screen Rant included Iron Maiden in their "10 Comic Book Thunderbolts That Should Join The MCU Team" list,^[26] and ranked her 2nd in their "Black Widow's 10 Biggest Enemies" list,^[27] and 5th in their "Red Room's Most Powerful Members" list.^[28]

Other versions

Earth X

In the Earth X trilogy, a version of Iron Maiden plays a major role as a different character from the original Earth-616 version. Iron Maiden is a scientist who works on a project initiated by Reed Richards, which is meant to power the world using vibranium, in order to create an efficient energy source which would have no limit.^[29] During her exposition to vibranium, she becomes a human mutate and gains the ability to have full control over vibranium. Using her powers, Iron Maiden was able to create a vibranium amor all over her body, generate firing weapons, demonstrated energy projection, and had the power of flight, although the extent and limits of her powers remain unknown. She was forced to become a servant of the Red Skull until his death.^[30]

Mangaverse

In the Marvel Mangaverse reality, a version of Iron Maiden features under the name of Antoinette "Toni" Stark.^[31][32][33] The character is depicted as the twin sister of Tony Stark, a former agent of SHIELD who took over Stark Industries after her sibling mysteriously disappeared.^[34] The character later dies during a battle with the Hulk.^[35][36]

Exiles

In the New Exiles series, an unidentified female uses the Iron Maiden alias while using her own battlesuit and is a member of "Bloodforce" alongside Blackdog, Bloodwitch, Rough Justice, and Sandstorm.^[37]

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Marvel equivalent of Iron Maiden was an alternative codename for Natalia Romanova / Black Widow while sporting her own black suit of armor also dubbed Cybernatrix.^[38][39]

In other media

Melina Vostokoff appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Rachel Weisz.^{[40][41][42][43][44]: 4}

• First appearing in the live-action film Black Widow (2021), this version is a seasoned spy, Black Widow, and lead scientist for the Red Room who developed a means of controlling their Widows and serves as a mother figure to Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova, and a significant other to Alexei Shostakov. After reuniting with the trio, Vostokoff joins them in dismantling the Red Room.
• Alternate timeline variants of Vostokoff appear in the Disney+ animated series What If...?, voiced by Weisz in the episode "What If... Captain Carter Fought the Hydra Stomper?" and Kari Wahlgren in the episode "What If... the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?".^[45][46] In the former, a variant of Vostokoff became the head of the Red Room who brainwashed Steve Rogers before she is later killed by Romanoff. In the latter, a separate variant of Vostokoff joined the Avengers in their efforts to fight the Apex and its gamma monsters.
• Vostokoff will appear in the live-action film Thunderbolts* (2025).^[47]

References

1. "'Black Widow' trailer confirms key character's link to villain Iron Maiden". Inverse. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
2. Albers, Caitlin (2019-08-14). "Black Widow - What We Know So Far". Looper. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
3. "'Black Widow': Who is Rachel Weisz's character Melina Vostokoff? | MEAWW". meaww.com. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
4. Caballero, David (2021-04-29). "Black Widow: 10 Things Only Comic Book Fans Know About Melina Vostokoff". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
5. Knox, Kelly (2021-07-08). "Black Widow: Rachel Weisz's Character Explained - Who Is Melina Vostokoff?". IGN. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
6. Marvel Fanfare #11
7. "Black Widow May Have Cast Rachel Weisz as Villain Iron Maiden". Marvel. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
8. "'Black Widow': Who is Rachel Weisz's character Melina Vostokoff? | MEAWW". meaww.com. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
9. "Marvel's Black Widow Has a Hidden Iron Maiden Tease". Marvel. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
10. Ralph Macchio, George Pérez (w), George Pérez (a). Marvel Fanfare, vol. 1, no. 11-12 (January - March, 1984). Marvel Comics.
11. Shelton, Connor (2022-10-05). "10 Most Powerful Marvel Characters That Black Widow Has Beaten In A Fight". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
12. Marvel Fanfare #12
13. "Black Widow May Have Cast Rachel Weisz as Villain Iron Maiden". Marvel. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
14. "'Black Widow': Who is Rachel Weisz's character Melina Vostokoff? | MEAWW". meaww.com. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
15. Mark Gruenwald (w), Rik Levins (a). Captain America, vol. 1, no. 389 (August, 1991). Marvel Comics.
16. Knox, Kelly (2021-07-08). "Black Widow: Rachel Weisz's Character Explained - Who Is Melina Vostokoff?". IGN. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
17. Fabian Nicieza (w), Tom Grummett (a). Thunderbolts, vol. 1, no. 105 (October, 2006). Marvel Comics.
18. Iacobucci, Jordan (2022-06-13). "10 Comic Book Thunderbolts That Should Join The MCU Team". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
19. David Gallaher (w), Steve Ellis (a). Hulk: Winter Guard, vol. 1, no. 1 (December 3, 2009). Marvel Comics.
20. Caballero, David (2021-04-29). "Black Widow: 10 Things Only Comic Book Fans Know About Melina Vostokoff". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
21. Chrysostomou, George (2020-02-26). "Black Widow: 10 Things You Need To Know About Melina Vostokoff". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
22. Vaynshteyn, Gina (2019-12-03). "Is Iron Maiden in the New 'Black Widow' Trailer? Here's Why She's Important". Distractify. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
23. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #5
24. Shelton, Connor (2022-10-05). "10 Most Powerful Marvel Characters That Black Widow Has Beaten In A Fight". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
25. Knox, Kelly (2021-07-08). "Black Widow: Rachel Weisz's Character Explained - Who Is Melina Vostokoff?". IGN. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
26. Iacobucci, Jordan (2022-06-13). "10 Comic Book Thunderbolts That Should Join The MCU Team". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
27. Lealos, Shawn S. (2021-07-02). "Black Widow's 10 Biggest Enemies, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
28. Lealos, Shawn S. (2021-07-05). "Black Widow: The Red Room's Most Powerful Members, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
29. Smith, Thompson (2021-08-26). "Forgotten Marvel Comics Superheroes That Deserve To Be In The MCU - Looper". Looper.com. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
30. Earth X vol. 1 #2-12
31. Ben Dunn (w), Ben Dunn (a). Marvel Mangaverse: New Dawn, vol. 1, no. 1 (March, 2002). Marvel Comics.
32. Ben Dunn (w), Ben Dunn (a). Marvel Mangaverse: Eternity Twilight, vol. 1, no. 1 (March, 2002). Marvel Comics.
33. Wilber, Robert (2020-09-03). "Marvel's Mangaverse: The Forgotten Universe That Fused Avengers & Anime". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
34. Ashford, Sage (2019-07-27). "10 Coolest Alternate Universe Iron Man Armors". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
35. C. B. R. Staff (2018-09-21). "Everyone Who Has Ever Been In The Iron Man Armor, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
36. Young, Paul (2016-07-13). "20 Characters Who Have Worn Iron Man's Armor". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
37. New Exiles #3-4
38. Mark Millar (w), Bryan Hitch (a). Ultimates 2, vol. 1, no. 4 (May, 2005). Marvel Comics.
39. Bailey, Caleb (2019-06-16). "5 Avengers That Were More Powerful In The Ultimate Universe (& 5 That Were Weaker)". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
40. Coggan, Devan (July 20, 2019). "Black Widow hits Comic-Con with first details of Scarlett Johansson film". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
41. Campbell, Jacob (July 21, 2019). "Rachel Weisz Reveals She Is Playing Iron Maiden In 'Black Widow'". Full Circle Cinema. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
42. Kile, Meredith (July 20, 2019). "Scarlett Johansson Ushers in the MCU's Female Future With 'Black Widow': 'It's Pretty Explosive' (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
43. Knox, Kelly (December 12, 2019). "Black Widow: Rachel Weisz's Character Explained – Who Is Melina Vostokoff?". IGN. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
44. "Black Widow Advance" (PDF). Disney Media and Entertainment Distribution. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 20, 2021. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
45. Amin, Arezou (December 26, 2023). "'What If...?' Season 2 Episode 5 Recap: The Man in the Iron Suit". Collider. Archived from the original on December 26, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
46. Amin, Arezou (December 23, 2023). "'What If...?' Season 3 Episode 1 Recap: Invasion of the Hulkzillas". Collider. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
47. Perine, Aaron (January 27, 2024). "Marvel's Thunderbolts Reportedly Has Surprise MCU Returns". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2024. Retrieved January 27, 2024.

External links

• Iron Maiden at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe