Number 42 - Black Widow



Alter Ego - Natalia Alianovna "Natasha" Romanova
Team Affiliations - Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. & too many teams to list here.

Created by - Stan Lee, scripted by Don Rico
Illustrated by - Don Heck

Abilities
Slowed aging, Enhanced immune system, Abnormally superior athletic condition
Extensive military, hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, and espionage training
Hypnosis, and Enhanced psychological defenses.

Interesting Fact -  Spent some time with the KGB and once she was brainwashed, and trained in combat and espionage at the covert "Red Room" facility. There, she is biotechnologically and psycho-technologically enhanced—an accounting that provides a rationale for her unusually long and youthful lifespan.

Familiarity Rating - 7

Reason for Rank: Most seasoned superhero around and one of the most capable in hand to hand combat. Resourceful and Superbly agile and makes most of her ability. 

Number 41 - Black Cat



Alter Ego - Felicia Hardy
Team Affiliations - The Defenders and Special Attention to Spiderman

Created by - Marv Wolfman  
Illustrated by - Keith Pollard

Abilities
Probability manipulation, Grapnel hidden in sleeves, Expert martial artist with excellent gymnastic abilities, Expert burglar, and Superhuman sense of smell and night vision

Interesting Fact -  Her father Walter pretended to be a travelling salesman, but was a world-renowned cat burglar who, before his arrest, encouraged her to never settle for second best. If she loved basketball, she should work to become a basketball player and not just a cheerleader.

Interesting Fact 2 - The Black Cat is sometimes mistakenly considered an homage to DC's Catwoman, yet Felicia Hardy's signature low-cut black costume, cat burglar profession, and steady relationship to Spider-Man predate Selina Kyle's similar depiction in comics by almost a decade.

Familiarity Rating - 7

Reason for Rank: One of the coolest Marvel Superheroes around but unfortunately I never really got to know her quite well but I knew really well in the old animated cartoons that she was one of the key focus points in that show. Even so she was given a high familiarity rating - I regretted that I did not read much about her and this rank of number 41 is about the high I can go with a superhero that often associated with Spiderman. 

My thoughts exactly here ... mrp!

Number 40 - Black Bolt



Alter Ego - Blackagar Boltagon
Team Affiliations - The Inhumans

Created by - Stan Lee 
Illustrated by - Jack Kirby

Abilities
Superhuman physical attributes, Flight, Destructive hypersonic voice, and
Molecular manipulation

Interesting Fact -  Black Bolt is placed inside a sound-proof chamber and is tutored in the use of his powers. Reentering Inhuman society as a young man — having vowed never to speak — the character is attacked by his younger brother Maximus, who attempts, unsuccessfully, to goad him into speaking.

Interesting Fact 2 - Husband of Medusa

Familiarity Rating - 5

Reason for Rank: Leader of the Inhumans - His presence alone is awesome and powerful and yet so feared by his destructive hypersonic voice that can level a city. One of the most defined Marvel Character ever and one of my favorites in the Inhumans.

Another batch from the good Doctor, I see.  Let's dig in...

#42 Black Widow - Big discrepancy here, as I have her at #17 on my list.  Long-time member of the Avengers, member of the Champions, and former partner of Daredevil.  Ms. Romanov has had a long and celebrated career thus far, and her acclaim is only growing due to her prominence in the MCU.

#41 Black Cat - not in my Top 50, but maybe in my Top 100.  I like the character well enough, but I sometimes have a hard time categorizing Felicia as a "hero".

#40 Black Bolt - we're close on this one, as I have Blackagar Boltagon at #46 on my list. 

#39 Medusa - not in my Top 50, but definitely in my Top 75 and probably in my Top 60 or so.  Great look, unique ability, and long history get her there.

Thanks for sharing it.