White Widow (2023-) #1

by Sarah Gailey

Yelena Belova returns! Superspy. Rogue agent. Shadow of the Black Widow. Yelena Belova has been many things, but striking out as a hero in her own right is new to her. Now that she's finally free to choose her own path, who will she become? Sarah Gailey (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Eat the Rich) joins forces with Alessandro Miracolo (Obi-Wan, Yoda) for a groundbreaking new chapter in the life of one of Marvel's most enigmatic antiheroes.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels

30 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2023

Reviews

[Heather | Nerdy By Nature Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5

Yelena is so fun.

[marisdreaming · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seems like they're completely ignoring Black Widow's 2020 run, so I'm not sure what Yelena's been up to according to this comic—obvious MCU synergy with her finding Kate Bishop funny, but that doesn't mean much.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked the story, disliked the art.

[Hollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Watching how Yelena slowly changed her ideas over the course of the story and realised what she loved at the end was a nice touch.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Está claro que el personaje de Yelena nunca logró tener verdadera entidad ni popularidad tras su arco argumental de presentación a inicios de siglo hasta presentar a su contraparte live action con la presencia de Florence Pugh en la película individual de Viuda Negra. Si tocaba intentar darle una cabecera propia en estos años, esa energía más fresca de esa versión tendría que trasladarse. Y aunque este número inicia recordando que Yelena es la mejor super espía asesina, debido al abandono de su hermana de profesión Natasha Romanoff de esa vida encumbrándose como Vengadora, Campeona y superheroína en general. La premisa propuesta por Sarah Gailey está en tratar de hacer encajar a este personaje en una vida más "apacible" que le evite estar implicada en esas misiones que deben terminar liquidando a objetivos (por muy cuestionables que sean). Así que Yelena está en una urbanización de anuncio inmobiliario... Pero una gran amenaza se cierne sobre el lugar... la gentrificación financiada por una misteriosa organización de tecnología militar por lo que la White Widow tendrá que seguir demostrando sus habilidades de combate aunque sea en esta escala reducida.

Está claro que esta propuesta será muy de agradecer a quien viene embelesadx por la versión audiovisual. Se trata de ofrecer un cómic divertido y respirando en nuestros días. El dibujo de Alessandro Miracolo comparte esta sintonía. Y habrá que ver si la trama de fondo lleva a un punto interesante para el lector avezado de Marvel o se queda en este contexto lúdico y de tratar de mantener esta sinergia con el UCM.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trying to be something irreverent and different..and partially achieving it?

This has Nextwave vibes to it (maybe with a little bit of Deadpool's irreverent tone). The White Widow lays low in a small suburb town named Idylhaven. She's learning to be less of assassin and more average citizen consumer. She even starts offering guidance to the next generation of assassins and helps train them remotely. Things are looking good. She's making lists. Learning what she likes and dislikes.

Turns out, she DISLIKES sneaking organizations (Armament) that are slowly taking over her town for their own nefarious needs. She also DISLIKES her new friends (and even her assassin trainees) getting targeted by Armament. She decides to dig deeper and try and get to the bottom of it all.
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Bonus: Dislike? Beets! (taste like basement)
Bonus Bonus: workshopping weapon names mid story is hilarious...

[Alan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand the profit aspect of aligning your print characters with they way they are portrayed in television/movies.

And Gailey does make Yelena's sense of humor work in this story. It comes down to two things.

I much prefer how Greg Rucka wrote the character (he was her co-creator). A very serious, very efficient operator. If you met her in real life she was scary. The other, I feel this would be more fair to Gailey, is that if we're going to try and move Yelena into a more normal life outside her days as a operator/assassin then the company should give her more than four issues to make the journey.

[Ya Boi Be Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 with the weakest of round ups I've given to memory. Part girl trying to save small town from corporatization and part Assassin action comic. Just as specific for audience enjoyment as it sounds. It works but it's also very much a honed in title. It knows what it wants to do and it delivers that. But if you don't prefer that deal it wont go against your normal feelings towards its deal. The final issue had a good reveal of who was behind it all while tying all the fun flashbacks used to introduce each issue when she was in full-assassin mode against the Best family.
Alessandro Miracolo inks all volumes. Some parts are ok others parts are more awkward with the slightly clunky look they go for. Never outright bad. Action (while sparse in really getting to pop off) is nicely drawn and is part of the draw. But in those other parts that are more slice of life-y I think the time crunch deprioritized and suffers more.
Also this is an insanely expensive trade for what you're getting. 16 dollars for 4 issue is pretty insane. This already is a bit of a flopped series so I'm sure picking up the issues is actually cheaper.

[Caden Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good little mini series here - I really enjoyed it. Yelena is actually funny, and her attitudes about assassination and her work are hilarious (I mean, she runs a telephone assassination mentoring program). And, the whole bit of her forming opinions on things? Also pretty entertaining. The plot was mediocre (certainly not bad), the supporting characters were average, and the villain's outfit simply defied gravity, but overall I still really enjoyed this one. It was just lighthearted and fun.

[Jon Allanson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable start to this new series. The writer captures Yelena's character, blending details from previous comics and movie appearances. The art is good: traditional comics art, but with enough nods to movie looks and previous comics appearances to be unique. This issues sets up an interesting locations and it's denizens, and then begins and intriguing tale that upsets the current idyllic balance. Just what you want to kick off a story. Looking forward to where this goes.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the movies focus on Yelena Belova over Natasha Romanov the comics are starting to follow. However Yelena is oddly written here. She’s portrayed as having a rich past with some notable guest stars but is somehow then speaking/ acting like a much younger person. It makes for a mish-mash of tones and sadly at 4 issues does not really do anything for the character. I hope to see more Yelena as her character gains popularity, I just want it to be a little more consistent.

2/5

[grace ⧗ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i know this is a very divisive series and i completely understand why, but i'm having fun! this is more MCU yelena, which i get some people have very negative opinions on - but as a fan of both comic and MCU yelena, i will give anything yelena related a chance and go in with an open mind! i love the kate bishop mention so much, as i'm always yearning for more of her and yelena (i just love their dynamic!) very excited to see where this goes!

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute, reminded me a lot of Florence Pugh's Yelena but it was like she just wanted excuses to fight someone which was HILARIOUS. The storyline was compelling and the side characters were fun to get to know.
Could we see more Yelena in the comics?? Please?

[Matt Mulvihill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first issue of the series excited to read the rest

[ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

so good. i love how yelena is written. this is a good direction for her

[Jennifer Zeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captures the tone of perfectly of Yelena Belova from the movie Black Widow and the Hawkeye series. It was definitely a fun read.

[Timo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good fun, some thee-hee-hee-moments and some good action. Could read more of this series.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Faith Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, art was also good!

[Alex Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Bishop mention

[LilaGrace Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

why is this so fucking good