Scarlett Johansson suits up as Black Widow in Iron Man 2

SAN DIEGO – Although she was excited to join the “Iron Man” franchise as the Black Widow, actress Scarlett Johansson admitted it was intimidating to see the skintight costume.

“I had a freak-out moment, but then it only lasted about a half a day, and then it’s like, ‘Suck it up,’” said Johansson, promoting the film at Comic-Con.

She said in “Iron Man 2,” the Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow character is “a bit of a shape shifter.”

One side is demure and covert, while the other is aggressive and tough. “She does have a dark past, and I think that she is very seductive,” Johansson said.

Johansson wasn’t sorry to see the slinky cat-suit go at the end of filming, but said she looks forward to getting a chance to wear it again, perhaps bringing the character back in future installments.

“The character remains quite mysterious in this film,” Johansson said. “This movie is not about dealing with the Black Widow identity. Hopefully, if the character continues on, whether that be through ‘Avengers’ or something like that, we’ll be able to explore more of her past.”

In the comics, “The Avengers” is a team of superheroes including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and others. Black Widow has been a member of “The Avengers” in the comics, and Marvel currently has an “Avengers” film scheduled for 2012. Jon Favreau, director of “Iron Man 2,” is attached to “The Avengers” as an executive producer, and Robert Downey Jr., star of “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 2,” is likely to reprise his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man in “The Avengers” film. All of those are positive reasons for Johansson to return, she said.