The MCU Finally Remembered To Honor Black Widow's Endgame Sacrifice

Black Widow sacrificed her life in Avengers: Endgame, but her death wasn't properly honored. Here's how Ms. Marvel remembered her & if it's enough.

Warning: This post contains spoilers for Ms. Marvel.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe finally remembered to honor Black Widow's Avengers: Endgame sacrifice. Natasha Romanoff sacrificed herself so that Clint Barton (aka, Hawkeye) could secure the Soul Stone to defeat Thanos. Ms. Marvel is the first time the Avenger gets a proper tribute — three years after her death.

Ms. Marvel is the latest MCU series to debut on Disney+, introducing Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan, who unlocks superpowers after donning her great-grandmother's bangle. During the first episode of Ms. Marvel, Kamala and best friend Bruno attend Avenger Con, a fan convention that celebrates the Avengers and their many heroics, including their battle against Thanos. The event included Avengers memorabilia, a cosplay contest, and a general love for the superheroes who saved the world from Thanos and others over the years. The con wasn't just a celebration, however, as it also included tributes to those whose lives were lost in the fight. To that end, Kamala and Bruno pass by wall art that features Black Widow and Iron Man that reads, "Thank you for your sacrifice."

Related: Ms. Marvel Review: Iman Vellani Shines In Delightful & Engaging MCU Series

It's the first time that Black Widow's death has been acknowledged by the public and not just her teammates. However, it still doesn't feel like it's enough considering the tribute and funeral Iron Man received at the end of Avengers: Endgame and the importance he continues to play in the post-Endgame era — namely, in the Spider-Man films. Hawkeye and Yelena Belova, Natasha's sister who was first introduced in Black Widow, are the only ones before Ms. Marvel's tribute to even visit her grave or to fully acknowledge the gravity of her sacrifice. Now that the public is aware of the sacrifice Black Widow made, the wall art still feels like an afterthought.

The good thing about the wall art is that Black Widow's Avengers: Endgame death is now public knowledge. It's something the superhero can be fully honored for because the world knows what she did in the fight against Thanos; her actions will no longer be overlooked. Just like Ms. Marvel is passionate about Captain Marvel and her heroic efforts in Endgame, other characters might feel the same about Black Widow in the future. All that said, it still stings knowing Black Widow wasn't given a proper funeral by her own teammates. Considering the wall art in Ms. Marvel combines her sacrifice with Iron Man's, Avengers: Endgame could have done the same thing.

Despite everything, Black Widow's sacrifice continues to be remembered throughout the MCU, which means she isn't so easily forgotten or sidelined. Natasha still plays a role in Yelena and Clint Barton's lives; they’ve mourned her, fought each other in blame and anger, and bonded over their love of Black Widow. Now that it's been a few years since Avengers: Endgame, Ms. Marvel at least honors the superhero's sacrifice in a way that wasn't done particularly well before. A wall art shown in passing is not necessarily much in the grand scheme of things, but ensuring that the world knows what Black Widow did in the fight against Thanos — and that the sacrifices weren't just Iron Man's alone — is better than nothing at all.

New episodes of Ms. Marvel release every Wednesday on Disney+.

Next: Hawkeye Makes Black Widow's Sacrifice In Endgame Even Sadder