"I've pulled out my own teeth... my own nails... my own hair. I've burned my own flesh with a blowtorch. I'm no Nazi harlot. And you are wasting my time."
Dorothy "Dottie" Underwood is a Soviet assassin and former Black Widow trained in the Red Room Academy. As an operative of the Leviathan, she participated in Johann Fennhoff's revenge plot against the American industrialist Howard Stark. She later adopted the persona of a small-town girl from Iowa and infiltrated the Griffith Hotel in New York City. While helping Fennhoff, she came in conflict with Peggy Carter, an SSR agent. During Fennhoff's try to kill the entire population of New York City on V-E Day, she was wounded but later managed to escape her pursuers. After the failure of her mission, she chose to stay in the USA and became a freelance operative.
A year later, she was hired to rob a bank vault containing one of the pins used by the Council of Nine, but she was captured by the SSR and Peggy Carter. Before she would be interrogated, the FBI arrested her, and she was put into a federal prison. However, Underwood was later freed by Carter herself so she could help her fight the Council and Whitney Frost, but Underwood would escape and go on the run shortly after.
Underwood was a part of a Red Room program, which trained its young female members to become elite assassins through indoctrination and desensitizing. Along with hand-to-hand combat and tactical skills, she developed many habits there that would persist into adulthood, such as handcuffing herself to her bed when sleeping or sharing bread with others. Here she learned exceptional discipline and skills that would make her a highly effective killer.
In 1937, Underwood appeared to strike up a friendship with Anya; together they watched American movies with subliminal messages while being taught English and they stole and shared bread together, seemingly enjoying each other's company. However, later, the two friends were put together in a sparring match where their fondness for each other was replaced with a desire to kill the other. Underwood managed to overpower her opponent and got Anya in a headlock. She looked at her tutor who gave Dottie a nod, and Dottie snapped her friend's neck, killing her instantly.[5]
In 1944, Underwood stood beside Fyodor armed with a machine gun as he greeted four prisoners, including Johann Fennhoff, who were chosen to join Leviathan. She removed the bags from the bound their heads so that they could see as Fyodor explained their situation and offered them the chance to leave. When Pasha refused to join Leviathan as he wished to return to his family, Underwood stabbed him in the jugular vein and toppled his chair with a kick. Seeing one of Leviathan's warnings, the rest of the men joined without hesitation.[3]
In December 1945, under the alias Ida Emke, Underwood dated Howard Stark, who took her to one of his vaults to impress her. There she saw that he owned the self-piloting airplane, among other inventions. Stark told Underwood that he had more inventions that would impress her if she saw the ones he kept in his mansion, giving her the information Leviathan needed to steal many of his weapons including Midnight Oil. Emke and Stark spent the weekend together until he left her and she was given a Stark Special Bracelet from Edwin Jarvis as a goodbye gift.[4]
"Oh, Miss Carter, Miss Martinelli, may I introduce you to our new resident Miss Dorothy Underwood." "Call me Dottie, nice to meet you. This place is pretty swell, huh? Seems like one big happy family."
Assuming the cover of "Dottie Underwood" from Iowa with aspirations to become a professional ballet dancer, Underwood came to the Griffith Hotel, moving into the room recently vacated by Molly Bowden. Miriam Fry was in the process of escorting her to her room when the pair happened upon Peggy Carter and Angie Martinelli. Underwood happily introduced herself to the two women.
Underwood awakes in her bedroom
During her time staying at the Griffith Hotel, Underwood kept the training she had learned in the Red Room Academy, which included handcuffing herself to her bed every night before she went to bed. Each morning would consist of waking up at the time she had decided before performing her morning workout of sit-ups to ensure that her fitness was kept at a maximum. Once her exercise was completed, Underwood would go downstairs to join the rest of the residents of the hotel for breakfast while maintaining her cover as a somewhat simple-minded guest of the hotel.
Through her investigation into Howard Stark's stolen weapons, Underwood learned that Leet Brannis had hidden them on a ship. When Jerome Zandow, the man guarding the weapons was arrested, Underwood followed Ray Krzeminski who was driving him to the New York Bell Company Office to be interrogated. As Krzeminski waited for a red light, she bumped her car against his. When he got out, Underwood quickly killed him with a suppressed pistol. Underwood then killed a pleading Jerome Zandow before leaving the scene.[1]
Sometime later, Underwood ate supper with the other tenants as Peggy Carter, Angie Martinelli and Carol stuffed their purses with food. They began discussing the different methods that could be used to transport food to their rooms, with one of the women claiming Gloria, the woman sitting next to Underwood, had a pocketbook that had a compartment for holding a cup of gravy. After proving this claim, Underwood asked Gloria if she could build one for her, "to hold pickles", to which Gloria agreed.[6]
Later that evening, Underwood stumbled upon smuggler Otto Mink, who had come to assassinate Peggy Carter. Acting confused, she asked him if he was lost. Mink ordered her to return to her room and, when she did not comply, threatened her with his Automatic Pistol. Observing the weapon, Underwood said she wanted it for herself and, abandoning her harmless country girl persona, attacked the shocked Mink. Using a set of acrobatic moves, she snapped his neck before he could retaliate, following which she confiscated the firearm.
Having ensured that no one had witnessed the murder, Underwood dragged Mink's body in her room and hid it under her bed. Underwood later posed with her newly-acquired weapon in front of the mirror, before being called down by Angie Martinelli for dinner, keeping her calm and harmless persona to the rest of the household, Underwood replied that she would be right now. Mink's corpse remained under her bed where it could not be discovered by any of the other residents.[6]
Meeting up with Peggy Carter at the L&L Automat the following morning, Underwood expressed her desire to see the city, marking several prominent locations like Central Park and the Empire State Building on a map. In response, Carter stated they were "tourist traps" and recommended Underwood start with Brooklyn instead, to get to know the city's people. Underwood then "accidentally" caused Carter's purse to fall off the table - she quickly picked up the items that spilled out, but also swiftly pocketed the key to Carter's room.
After Carter had gone to work, Underwood entered the agent's room using the key and began thoroughly searching it. Discovering a hidden compartment in the wardrobe, she pulled out a box that contained photos of Howard Stark's recovered inventions. Taking one of the pictures, Underwood then put back the box, placing everything exactly as it originally was, and moved to the vanity, where she observed a photo of pre-serum Steve Rogers. After briefly assuming Carter's bearing and accent, Underwood exited the room, carefully placing the string that Carter had in the lock as she closed the door.[5]
The next day, Underwood took a sniper rifle concealed in a suitcase and traveled via the subway to a dentistry office across the street from the New York Bell Company where she knew the Strategic Scientific Reserve were secretly based and were currently questioning Johann Fennhoff about his knowledge of Leviathan. Underwood went into the building and searched for an empty office to aim her rifle at the SSR's offices so she could locate Fennhoff.
Underwood found one office that appeared to be empty until Seth Honicky working there appeared, assuming she was there for an interview. Underwood claimed this was true and she was invited in. During the interview, Honicky claimed to be looking for an assistant who was willing to go the extra mile before touching her leg and indicating he wanted a sexual favor from her. Underwood responded by twisting Honicky's arm before killing him by drilling into his eyeball.
Underwood aims her sniper rifle
With the dentist dead and no one else coming into the office to disturb her, Underwood then assembled a high-powered rifle in his office window. Underwood aimed her rifle at the office window of Roger Dooley as he interviewed Fennhoff. As Fennhoff opened and stood by the window, she sent beams of light for him to see so that he would know she was watching him. Fennhoff secretly sent back a coded message by tapping his fingers on the window ledge that Underwood translated; Peggy Carter was to be killed immediately.
Underwood knocks out Carter with a kiss
Underwood returned to the Griffith Hotel as Jack Thompson and Daniel Sousa were leading a raiding party to capture Carter. She saw Carter as she trying to leave the building. Underwood pretended to be worried for Carter's safety and as Carter tried to go past, Underwood kissed her on the lips. The coating of Sweet Dreams Lipstick on her lips knocked Carter unconscious. Underwood pulled out her switchblade to kill Carter but got interrupted by Thompson and Sousa, causing Underwood to claim that she found Carter like that.
Underwood watches Carter being arrested
Underwood came outside and watched as Carter was taken away by the SSR along with the other residents of the Griffith Hotel. Just as Carter was put into the car by Thompson, she regained consciousness. Underwood kept eye contact with her enemy as she was taken away. Underwood abandoned her room at the Griffith and escaped before Carter could name her to the SSR. Afterwards, Angie Martinelli entered her room to announce a meeting that Miriam Fry was holding; Underwood had abandoned it.[3]
Post Exposed[]
Underwood buys a baby pram
"Shall we proceed to the next phase?" "Not yet, it has been in storage for quite some time, we must test it." "But they know about us now."
As part of her orders given to her by Leviathan, Underwood traveled to a store and purchased a baby carriage, telling the salesperson that she needed it for herself and ordered a pink blanket to go inside, acting like an eagerly anticipating mother to be with a large smile on her face. The salesperson remarked that she must not be far along in her pregnancy, because she was not showing; Underwood silently quipped that she had an arrival coming soon.
Underwood translates Morse code
Underwood then returned to Seth Honicky's Dentistry Office to continue her communication with Johann Fennhoff and get updates on their mission. Fennhoff informed her through a Morse code message that she needed to prep for evacuation as he was planning his escape shortly due to there being too many disruptions at the SSR and before his true intentions could be discovered. However, their communication was disrupted when Roger Dooley asked Fennhoff to step away from the window as he claimed it was getting too cold in his office.
Leaving the office, Underwood spotted Daniel Sousa inspecting various offices in the building searching for whom Fennhoff was communicating. She tried to walk silently past him carrying her rifle in its briefcase, but she was discovered and ordered to raise her hands. Underwood did as instructed but, as soon as Sousa walked too close to her, she kicked the gun from his hand. The pair fought a brief battle, with Sousa relying on his cane to defend himself until Sousa reclaimed his gun and held her at gunpoint.
Running to the stairs, Underwood was able to dodge Sousa's gunshots before she leaped down the stairs, jumping from banister to banister of the stairwell to jump down ten flights to the bottom floor before Sousa had a chance to follow. Once she landed on the bottom floor, Underwood was seen by another Strategic Scientific Reserve agent holding a gun. Smiling at the bewildered agent, Underwood swiftly disarmed and killed Corcoran waiting there for her and escaped with Jack Thompson calling for reinforcements.[7]
Having made it clear of Seth Honicky's Dentistry Office, Underwood procured a car and met with Johann Fennhoff outside the New York Bell Company Office where he had just escaped while carrying the Midnight Oil. Fennhoff greeted Underwood and informed her that the Midnight Oil would need to be tested as it had been lying in storage for so many years. Underwood asked if that was wise as the SSR were now aware of their plans, but Fennhoff assured her they would be too busy with the inevitable death of Roger Dooley to worry about the two of them.
Learning that the Midnight Oil needed to be tested after its long dormancy, Underwood placed it in a baby carriage and walked it into a movie theater. Upon seeing the baby carriage, one member of the audience rudely complained about the idea of a baby crying throughout the entire movie; however, another tried to comfort Underwood by telling her to ignore him. Underwood then activated the Midnight Oil and left the cinema with Fennhoff, locking the audience inside to brutally massacre each other.[7]
Underwood and Johann Fennhoff drove in the car while they discussed the city. While Fennhoff was impressed by the city, Underwood considered it like any other. Pike stopped them as Fennhoff told her not to attract attention. Using her innocent persona, Underwood managed to convince the officer not to give them a ticket. As the officer prepared to leave, he got informed over the radio to search for a woman matching Underwood's description and the car she was driving. As he went for his gun, Underwood quickly held him at gunpoint and captured him.
Fennhoff and Underwood drove to a warehouse of Howard Stark where they were greeted by a guard. Underwood politely stepped from the car and greeted the man with a smile before she quickly and effectively knocked him to the ground before shooting him twice in the back of the head. When Underwood went to collect Fennhoff, he revealed to her that he had learned of the return of Stark and told her they will go back to the New York City with a new plan to exact their revenge on Stark.
As Howard Stark attended a press conference, Underwood installed a rigged rifle to shoot at Stark. She then killed the two police officers at his car and Fennhoff hypnotized the captured cop to drive Stark away. Underwood later killed the hypnotized cop and she and Fennhoff took a captured Stark away by car. Underwood reminded Stark that they spent a weekend together. Stark tried to remember her name but was unsuccessful; when he called her the wrong name, Underwood hit him with the butt of her pistol.
At the warehouse, Underwood tied him to a chair and beat him while he kept trying to come up with her name. Fennhoff confronted Stark and told him how his Midnight Oil had killed countless Soviet Armed Forces soldiers during the war by sending them into a murderous rage, including his brother, while Fennhoff could only watch helplessly. Fennhoff then hypnotized Stark to make him believe he had found Captain America and flew towards him. However, in reality, he was flying a plane and was preparing to spread the Midnight Oil.[4]
Johann Fennhoff and Underwood stayed in contact with Stark over the radio as he flew the plane towards New York City. They were suddenly interrupted when Peggy Carter entered with a shotgun and confronted them, ordering Underwood to throw away her gun. However, Underwood quickly disarmed Carter with a kick and knocked Carter down. Underwood then attempted to kill the SSR agent with her switchblade; however, Carter was able to disarm her with a sheet and they continued to fight.
Underwood ordered Fennhoff to go as she continued to fight Carter and quickly overpowered her. Carter attempted several times to gain control of the radio to speak to Howard Stark, but Underwood kept pulling her away to continue the fight. Underwood began beating Carter brutally with a baseball bat and mentioned that she used to be jealous of girls like Carter, but now she could be anyone she wants and even claimed to be disappointed in Carter, as she had believed she would have been a better opponent.
Underwood after being thrown out of a window
Underwood prepared to finish Carter off with a baseball bat, claiming that she planned to become an SSR agent only to mock Carter. However, before the finishing blow could be struck, Carter managed to duck the blow and kicked Underwood out a broken window. Underwood fell and hit her head hard on a plane below and kept lying down while bleeding. Underwood survived the fall, however, and made her escape unnoticed. After Fennhoff was arrested, Carter looked for Underwood, but she had disappeared, leaving only a pool of blood where she had hit her head.[4]
Found and Captured[]
Bank Robbery Intercepted[]
Underwood robs a bank
"I'll need the key to safety deposit box number 143... Turning that handle to the left sets off the bank alarm, for a pittance you'd risk your life to protect someone else's fortune? Pull it to the right."
A year after taking part in Johann Fennhoff's plan, Underwood resurfaced. Taking part in a bank robbery, Underwood sought to acquire the bank account of a powerful figurehead. With a team of male accomplices at her command, Underwood took the workers and customers of the bank hostage while aiming her gun at the cashier and demanding a withdrawal.
Underwood ordered the bank teller to open the bank's safe for her and unlock a specific safety deposit box. The bank teller tried to turn the safe's handle the wrong path trying to activate the bank's alarm, but Underwood pushed her gun onto his spine and warned him to open it the correct way. However, once the door was opened Peggy Carter was revealed to have been hiding inside, armed with a shotgun. Carter demanded that Underwood surrender while the bank teller also revealed his own gun.
Elsewhere in the bank, the hostages were revealed to be SSR agents led by Jack Thompson, who took Underwood's accomplices hostage. Carter demanded that Underwood put down her gun; however, as she did, she kicked the bank teller's gun away and engaged Carter in a brutal fight. Underwood continued to mock Carter as she attempted to kill her until she was eventually knocked out when Carter struck her over the head with a bag of money. Underwood was then finally apprehended and taken into SSR custody.[8]
"Now that I have your interest, what will you give me?" "I'll give you a beating you won't forget." "If you want more from me than a sore throat, this needs to be an exchange. Peggy would have known that."
Underwood was taken to the New York Bell Company where she was handcuffed to a table and questioned by Peggy Carter, who demanded to know the names of her handlers in Russia and her current mission. While Underwood mocked Carter's efforts, Carter reminded her that she was not afraid of her and therefore Underwood could not win. Carter then revealed the one item in the safety deposit box, a pin, and demanded to know what it was, but Underwood would only say that it was a lot more valuable than money.
Carter was pulled away from the interrogation and replaced by Jack Thompson. Thompson told Underwood about how he and the former Chief, Roger Dooley, had their own routine for interrogation where Dooley would speak, and he would remain silent before beating on the suspect. He explained that she and Johann Fennhoff had killed Dooley and made it clear he was willing to beat her into submission. When Thompson uncuffed Underwood, she threw over the table and pinned him to the ground, mocking his efforts until she was pulled away by other SSR agents.
Thompson and Underwood began their interrogation again and he asked her from whom she had stolen the pin and why. Underwood refused to answer and instead demanded a deal which Thompson refused to give her, although she agreed to swap the electric chair for prison. They were suddenly interrupted when the FBI agents burst into the room and broke off Underwood's handcuffs. Vernon Masters explained that the FBI was taking over her case and took her away, as Underwood asked Thompson to say goodbye to Carter for her.[8]
Unexpected Prison Break[]
Underwood is locked in prison
"You came here in disguise, not in official SSR capacity. That means you don't want this visit on the record, which means you're probably going behind someone's back. How naughty."
Having been taken away from the SSR, the FBI had Underwood locked away in a prison cell with no windows and a solid locked door, with her only human contact coming from the guards and the psychiatrists who would try to interview her. During her time there, she developed a reputation with the guards for being a handful to deal with.
One day, Underwood was informed that Doctor Katherine Wexford was coming to give an evaluation on her. However, once the door was opened, she learned that Wexford was in fact Peggy Carter in disguise. Once they were alone, Underwood noted that Carter was clearly in a great deal of pain and quickly deduced that as Carter clearly had not come officially, she must need her help. They discussed the Council of Nine and Carter explained she would break Underwood from the prison in exchange for her help, offering her the chance of deportation in exchange.
Although Underwood did not believe Carter's promises, she still took the chance and was given a small device which Carter promised would help her in her escape. Carter then left, recommending that she turn right once out of the building. When Underwood was alone, she discovered the device was magnetic and allowed her to unlock her cell door where she found her guard was knocked out by Carter, although his gun had been stolen. Once outside, Underwood ran to the left where Carter and Daniel Sousa were waiting and shot her with an electronic net rifle, knocking her out.
Underwood is prepped for her mission
Underwood eventually woke up in Howard Stark's Estate where she had been reclothed in a party dress and with her hair under a very loud blowdryer. Agent Carter explained that Underwood would be fitted with a choker that included both a tracker and a deadly toxin. Edwin Jarvis arrived, questioning with what gun he would be armed with, but Carter noted that Jarvis had already been robbed of his watch by Underwood, who would undoubtedly steal his gun too. While Carter and Jarvis argued about weapons, Underwood's blow dryer was turned on so she would not hear their argument.
Carter explained to Underwood that her target would be Whitney Frost, although Underwood became distracted when flirting with Jason Wilkes. Carter told Underwood that they needed her to obtain a blood sample from Frost while she and Sousa monitored their progress from outside, giving Underwood a hat with a recorder inside. As Wilkes left the room, Underwood tried to touch him only to discover that her hand passed straight through him, although she did not mention this to Carter.[9]
Underwood danced with Edwin Jarvis while they attended Calvin Chadwick's fundraising party; they soon spotted Whitney Frost alongside Chadwick campaigning. Underwood also spotted Jack Thompson was unexpectedly attending. The pair stood to one side and discussed what they should do, with Underwood asking if she could kill Thompson, even making a quick attempt. Peggy Carter ordered Jarvis to distract Thompson while Underwood retrieved the blood sample from Frost.
Once Jarvis had given her a fierce pep-talk, Underwood continued her mission and followed Frost into the bathroom where she deliberately crashed into her and took the sample of her blood, saying that she had caught her with her pin. Underwood deeply apologized as she claimed it had been an accident, although Frost claimed that she had not felt a thing before quickly walking from the room. Having obtained the sample as promised, Underwood decided to ignore Carter's and Daniel Sousa's orders and instead left her hat behind before walking through the MacArthur Grand Hotel alone.
As Underwood walked through the building, she encountered the Council of Nine who were walking towards a meeting. With nowhere else to go, Underwood hid inside a cupboard and watched the meeting from there. Underwood stood in silence as she witnessed Chadwick present Frost to the Council as they discussed her research into Zero Matter. Frost then absorbed a rat into her skin before being betrayed by the Council. As Underwood watched, she saw Frost use her powers to kill the guards, Council-members and even her husband before taking command of the Council.
Underwood continued watching as Frost gave Hugh Jones and Mortimer Hayes their tasks to complete, to which they agreed without question as they feared for their lives. Once Frost and the surviving Council members had departed, Underwood stepped outside the cupboard and confirmed that the sample she had obtained from Frost was indeed a sample of Zero Matter. However, as she was walking out, she encountered Vernon Masters who she mockingly greeted with a smile; when she ran, Masters ordered the guards with him to capture Underwood and bring her back to him alive.
When Underwood was cornered, she managed to throw one of the guards through a window to his death, where he fell hard onto Carter's and Sousa's van. Before long, Underwood had managed to defeat the second guard and knocked him out due to her fighting skills; however, when she momentarily hesitated, she found Thompson aiming a gun at the back of her head. Although she attempted to fight him, Thompson hit Underwood with the butt of his gun and captured her. Underwood awoke hours later in a small box and realized that she had been handed over to Frost.[9]
"What is Peggy Carter looking for?!" "Look at you. You're trying to act ruthless but you're terrified, afraid of that pretty blonde monster holding your leash."
Underwood was taken to the Chadwick Ranch where she was tied to a chair in the basement where Vernon Masters prepared to torture her, showing off his many tools and telling tales of interrogating Ilse Koch. Underwood remained confident and even moved Masters for clearly being terrified of Whitney Frost, so Masters lost his temper but decided to use a Truth Serum to break Underwood.
As the drugs took hold, Underwood was able to fight the effects and continued to mock Masters' failed efforts to get information from her. Changing his tactic, Masters spoke to Underwood about her time working with Johann Fennhoff after falling for his powers, noting that Leviathan viewed it as an embarrassment and Joseph Stalin would never forgive her betrayal, making her an assassin without a country who pathetically believed that Peggy Carter was her ally. The questioning was interrupted when Joseph Manfredi came down the stairs to tell Masters that Frost wished to speak to him.
Frost replaced Masters, who came down with her Zero Matter scars in full view. Underwood mocked Frost for her scars, noting that it would damage her acting career, but Frost remained unaffected, claiming that the tracking device in her necklace had been disabled. With Underwood helpless, Frost used her Zero Matter powers to cause her unbearable pain as she was ripped apart from the inside. Underwood broke straight away and revealed that Carter wanted her blood to save Jason Wilkes, explaining that Wilkes was now a ghost. Frost congratulated Underwood, telling her that she was still useful.[10]
Whitney Frost activated Underwood's tracker to trick Peggy Carter and Edwin Jarvis into attempting to rescue her. It did not take long for Carter and Jarvis to be captured by Manfredi Crime Family men and tied up beside Underwood. While Carter, Underwood, and Jarvis attempted to free themselves, they discussed where Frost was, with Underwood telling her how Vernon Masters had questioned her, claiming that the SSR was corrupted while also denying that Frost had even spoken to her.
Underwood admits her part in tricking Carter
Eventually, Jarvis managed to free himself just before the Jitterbug activated and knocked out the guards, allowing them to escape. Still in pain from her torture, Underwood tried to deny anything more had happened other than Masters' interrogation; however, Carter became suspicious why Frost was not at the Chadwick Ranch to question them. Carter deduced that Frost had tortured Underwood and forced her to admit Frost's plan was to distract Carter so they could capture Jason Wilkes from Howard Stark's Estate. Believing his wife to be in danger, Jarvis took a gun and ordered Underwood to move.
Underwood prepares to make her escape
Underwood was handcuffed inside Jarvis' car as they rushed back to Stark's Estate in an attempt to rescue Wilkes and Ana Jarvis. As they drove along, Underwood observed that for the first time she could see the fear in Carter's eyes. By the time they arrived at the Estate, however, Frost had just shot Ana and was escaping with Joseph Manfredi and the kidnapped Wilkes. Underwood was locked in the boot of the car as they rushed Ana to Waverly Memorial Hospital; however, once Carter had left with the Jarvis', Underwood was able to break free, kill a policeman and escape before Carter could stop her.[10]
Personality[]
"What are you doing here?" "Awww, Peggy. I'll always be in your head."
Underwood is a cold-blooded operative. She is able to assume the guise of a harmless and innocent woman while completely hiding her true nature. Trained from a young age to be a ruthless killer and a spy, Underwood kills her targets without doubt or any regard for human life having been forced to kill a friend at a young age in order to survive. Any genuine attempt at forming attachment was considered weakness. She is able to fake multiple emotions to deceive her victims before striking; she was even able to befriend and trick Peggy without raising any suspicion. She mentioned that she used to be jealous of girls like Peggy Carter but no longer as she now could be anyone she wanted. Underwood enjoys to playfully taunt and mock Carter in order to throw her off balance.
Underwood often takes her targets' weapons for herself, having taken the Automatic Pistol from Otto Mink and the Sweet Dreams Lipstick from Carter. As time passed, Underwood gained respect for Carter, not as an enemy, but more as an equal competitor. When she saw Carter in pain, she refused to fight her until she was healed; she advised Carter that her strategies against the Council of Nine were not wise and would result in getting her killed. Underwood would allow no one to interrogate her but Carter, citing that anyone else was unworthy of her time, much to the annoyance of Jack Thompson who had been questioning her.
Despite this though, Underwood is capable of showing fear deep down if she is hurt enough. This was shown as despite her high resistance to regular forms of torture, she couldn't bear the pain brought by Frost's Darkforce powers which nearly killed her.
Underwood received extensive training in hand-to-hand combat, which, coupled with her acrobatic prowess, allowed her to easily kill Otto Mink before he had a chance to fire at her with his pistol. During her fight with Peggy Carter, she was able to disarm and quickly overwhelm her but was ultimately defeated. Underwood has a highly nimble and precise fighting style. Even when held at gunpoint, Underwood's speed and agility allow her to disarm or move away before her opponent is able to fire their gun. As part of a way to train Underwood, she was pinned against her friend at the Red Room Academy and eventually bested Anya, killing her.
Master Marksman: Underwood is skilled in the use of firearms, killing both Ray Krzeminski and Jerome Zandow with a pistol. She also liked firearms a lot, killing Otto Mink as she wanted his gun and also using a sniper to send signals to Johann Fennhoff.
Master Acrobat: Underwood was a skilled acrobat, capable of building up momentum for an attack by jumping up against walls, and landing skillfully once the attack had been completed. She used the railings and banisters of a staircase to jump down ten flights of a building to avoid capture from the Strategic Scientific Reserve.
"No one knows Dottie like I do. We used to live next door to each other." "Yeah, and you had no idea she was a spy."
Master Spy: Trained to be a spy, Underwood convincingly assumed the guise of a harmless and slightly naive girl from Iowa, managing to fool even Peggy Carter, a highly-skilled spy herself. Aiding her in her deceptions was her ability to fake emotions and adopt various accents, and many skills that she learned over the years, such as dancing, with skills that Edwin Jarvis described as "phenomenal". She posed first as Ida Emke, a woman who flirted with Howard Stark to learn the location of Midnight Oil for Johann Fennhoff, and as Dottie Underwood, a girl from a small town in Iowa in order to closely watch Peggy Carter. Dottie can blend with the crowd and pickpocket people in a moment's notice. Her harsh upbringing and training allowed her to withstand most torture techniques and the truth serum easily, with only yielding when tortured with Zero Matter.
Master Assassin: Underwood was trained since childhood to be an efficient killer, with a method that involved even killing other students that she might have considered her friends. This allowed her to kill any number or type of people that she chose to fulfill her or her superiors' objectives.
Expert Tactician: Underwood is highly skilled in tactics and is able to outthink her opponents. Hence, she was able to abduct Howard Stark from a heavily guarded press conference by creating a distraction.
Bilingualism: Underwood is fluent in her native Russian, as well as English.
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
Switchblade: Underwood usually carried a switchblade for covert killings. She used it to kill Pasha when he refused to be recruited by Leviathan, and she also took it to kill Peggy Carter, but did not get to use it because of the arrival of Daniel Sousa and Jack Thompson.
Walther PPK/S: Underwood's weapon of choice is the same one used by Peggy Carter. She used it to threaten Officer Pike when he discovered she was a fugitive and to kidnap Howard Stark at gunpoint. Underwood was forced to drop it when Peggy Carter managed to get her by surprise inside Howard Stark's Warehouse, as Carter was pointing at her at short range with a shotgun.
A customized rifle with a scope and a flashlight that Underwood used to communicate with Johann Fennhoff in Morse code from the building in front of the New York Bell Company.
PPSh-41: The standard assault weapon used by Leviathan operatives. Underwood carried one when a group of individuals including Johann Fennhoff were recruited by force into the organization.
Red Room Academy: Underwood was brought into the Red Room and trained at their Academy, where she was regularly handcuffed to her bed and had to share food and kill other trainees.
Griffith Hotel: While undercover, Underwood moved into the Griffith Hotel to get close to Peggy Carter. She killed Otto Mink while living in the hotel and stole his gun, and would handcuff herself to the bed each night. She maintained an unimposing personality until Carter was being hunted by the Strategic Scientific Reserve, during which she kissed Carter while wearing Sweet Dreams Lipstick to incapacitate her, leading to Carter's arrest.
Prisons[]
New York Bell Company: Underwood was briefly imprisoned in this facility and interrogated by multiple SSR agents when she was caught by Peggy Carter in a failed bank robbery.
Rosemary's: Underwood was imprisoned here when the FBI took over her case. She later broke out with help from Carter, in exchange for her help in a mission.
Chronologically, Underwood was the first Black Widow, which although was never specified in the series, showrunners Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters confirmed it.[2]
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