Black Widow by Kelly Thompson

Black Widow (2020) #1-3

by Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande (Illustrator), Marvel Various (Illustrator)

Kelly Thompson turns the Black Widow’s world upside down in her complete, Eisner Award-winning run!

Natasha Romanoff has been a spy almost as long as she’s been alive. And she’s never stopped running, whether she was working for the good guys or the bad. But now she is…retired? And enjoying a perfect life she never dreamed she could have. But if you scratch the surface, you’ll find something very wrong lurking beneath this new world — and a woman like Nat just can’t help but scratch. As her happy existence ends in heartbreak, Nat must make a fresh start! Back in San Francisco, she finds new allies…and dangerous enemies, including the scheming Apogee and the enigmatic Twins. But worst of all is the Living Blade — the one skeleton in the Widow’s closet that she hoped would never come back out!

Black Widow (2020) 1-15

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Superheroes

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 2024

About the author

KELLY THOMPSON has a degree in Sequential Art from The Savannah College of Art & Design. Her love of comics and superheroes have compelled her since she first discovered them as a teenager. Currently living in Portland, Oregon with her boyfriend and the two brilliant cats that run their lives, you can find Kelly all over the Internet where she is generally well liked, except where she's detested.

Kelly has published two novels - THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE KING (2012) and STORYKILLER (2014) and the graphic novel HEART IN A BOX from Dark Horse Comics (2015). She's currently writing ROGUE & GAMBIT, HAWKEYE, and PHASMA for Marvel Comics and GHOSTBUSTERS for IDW. Other major credits include: A-Force, Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps, Jem and The Holograms, Misfits, Power Rangers Pink, and the creator-owned mini-series Mega Princess.

Kelly's ambitions are eclipsed only by her desire to exist entirely in pajamas. Fortunately pajamas and writers go hand in hand (most of the time). Please buy all her stuff so that she can buy (and wear) more pajamas.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Natasha aka the Black Widow has disappeared and when found back by her friends Hawkeye and the Wintersoldier she is perfectly happy, has a fiance and a son. Which is somewhat baffling as she has been missing for 3 months. Somebody want serious revenge on the Black widow, want her perfectly happy before taking his revenge.
But as Natasha regains her memory this mysterious opponent discover that a Widows revenge is much worse than he/she could ever imagen as she now has a son who she'll defend like only moms wiĺl do.
As I only know the Black Widow from the movies or the occasional guest-starring in other titles this was essentially a new character for me. But unlike Spiderman, Wolverine or Batman her character speaks less to me, it is a decent comic but one I'll pass to the daughters who undoubtely Will like her much better.
Decent storyline, good art and a nice story arc over 15 installments.

[Paz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

Oh man, it's been a while since I've read anything Marvel and well, I should've picked another title cause this was not for me.
The art style was great. I really loved Natasha's design, I also really enjoyed the cast of characters, every time I get to see Clint I'm having fun. That being said, I was not a fan of the story. Fifteen issues, three story arcs. I only really enjoyed the first one and not enough either.

I'll try to review this better later, but oh well, this was disappointing.

[alibraryofalana ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 stars) oh okay

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5, half a star off for the Living Blade because meh, I mean the conclusion was good but that guy was lame. But the rest of this is fantastic and devastating. I mean there's the obvious devastation, but then Nat's relationships with Bucky and Clint, together and separately, destroys me. And Y E L E N A. Somehow comic relief light of my life Yelena, oh god I love her. I would like to keep Craig, and I even warmed up to the girls after a while.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the different black widow storyline. Art is basic but the storyline is intriguing. Features mostly all female main characters!

[Derek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly Thompson does it again! Every time I read on of her works I am thoroughly entertained.

The way she blends in humor, drama, and the occasional tragedy is quite sublime. And she does it without using words like "sublime".

Okay, okay, to the book itself; just wow. From the first issue to the last panel is a roller-coaster ride of emotions with fantastically penciled splash pages of action. Every thing you would want from the Marvel Universe's greatest spy.

The only downside of this book is that it ends. I would have loved to see more to this Black Widow and the small crew she has gathered by the end of this run for another 10-15 issues. Alas, it isn't meant to be. Sometimes in life we want things, but that doesn't mean we can have them.

[Nicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing so much about this run I don't think it disappointed.

The artwork throughout is superb, particularly from Casagrande; the other artists do a good job so that I didn't feel that the series lost consistency in quality and that was greatly helped by Bellaire's colours. One minor quibble is that although I loved the spreadpages that use a technique that I like, the name of which I can't remember, I did find that some of the flow in them didn't quite work.

Thompson's writing throughout is also superb. I love the mystery, the revelations, the insight into the characters' psyche, the interplay between the characters and the heart, always the heart.

Three quibbles regarding the design of this collection: first is the choice of front cover that does not reflect the artwork inside, choosing one of the regular killer covers from Hughes would have better, especially #11; second the choice of back cover images that potentially spoil the final issues! Good thing I didn't look carefully or it would have completely ruined one of the issue cliffhangers; third the font size on the spine, it's way smaller compared to other collections and looks a bit odd next to the Waid.

Anyway, I really enjoyed it and it's nice to have next to my Waid complete collection!

[evesav · Rating 5 out of 5]

They can never make me hate you Natasha Romanoff

[Anneliese Last name (optional) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trying to get people to ignore the cover art because the actual art style of the book is genuinely stunning like guys it’s way less sexualized trust 🙏 I love you Natasha Romanoff. This book was actually so intriguing and heartbreaking, and perfectly blends humour into the tragedy of it all. Everyone’s so cool and the fight scenes are so incredibly drawn and executed! Love the mostly female cast of characters, Spider Girl and Lucy are awesome. If you don’t like this but like other superhero stuff you hate women I’m sorry someone had to say it. Genuinely when are they gonna give my girl a break tho like can’t Nat be happy for one minute without someone trying to kill her? Dress and costume designs are really cool. As a feminist, the sexualization of Black Widow is icky gross. As a girl lover? Meow. Enough said.
Ive seen the movies but these was the first marvel comic I read, and the franchises are pretty different, but I like both, and obviously I love every version of Natasha.
Come back Natasha….Natasha come back….please 😭
That #9 Captain America Variant by Mark Brooks is absolutely stunning. Can we make a Marvel universe where every character is Natasha romanoff?
Solid, fun, action packed graphic novel with heartfelt characters and mysterious plotlines.

[Riley Pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly Thompson has become one of my favorite comic writers, and so when I heard about how she wrote Black Widow I was stoked. Black Widow is a character I've grown to love recently, and my love has grown even more after reading this run. Kelly's strength is humanizing, and relatability in her character writing.

This is exactly what she did with Natasha, and to me, made her such a compelling character. Her having a fun supporting cast, and being much more fun was great. The first half of this book with Natasha's "fake" family was so interesting, and one of the few times a "character loses memory" was actually done well. The tragedy of it was heartbreaking, and seeing that human side of Natasha added so such nuance to her as a person. She grieves her "husband" and "child" that she could never have. I love how that permeates throughout the rest of the run, and how she always thinks of them/grieves. That is only the first arc, and look how much I said about it? Yeah this book is amazing.

Highly recommend checking this one out if you haven't. Perfect for new readers, and Natasha is written so well. Just wish it was longer than 15 issues.

[Jace Beleren · Rating 5 out of 5]

c'est vraiment dommage qu'un comics qui montre Black Widow comme un personnage complexe, bataillant entre ses envies d'une vie normale même si factice et ses obligations de super héroïnes avec les liens qu'elle a créé au fil des années utilise une couverture droit sortis d'un fantasme adolescent
alors que le dessin à l'intérieur plus réaliste avec des découpages innovants similaires à des pellicules de films ou plus nerveux et fluides à certains moment, sert l'aura de badassitude du personnage
surtout que la galerie de couverture alternative ne manque pas d'idée
mais c'est le seul défaut
comme quoi quand une autrice s'empare d'un perso de comics féminin c'est tout de suite mieux

[Jonah Maple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the admittedly pretty bad front cover, this series shows off Kelly Thompson at some of her absolute best. The premise, characters, and high-octane feel of this series sets it apart from other Big 2 comics, even the spy ones. This series was ended way too early.
The art from Casagranda, Bellaire, and others is also fantastic.

[BC Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more, but this omnibus consistent of 3 separate, 5-issue storylines, none of them well-paced or developed. I wish this run had just been the first one involving BW as a mother and wife because that had real emotional depth to it. I heard this got cancelled prematurely due to editorial shenanigans. Maybe that explains it. Still, it could've been a lot better.

[Rebekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

First ever comic read and found it hard to follow.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first story arc (first 5 issues) was incredible and carried the other 2 arcs. Incredible art!

[Savage Spawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting this. A fascinating and touching story with some WTF moments. I'll definitely read this again in a few years.

[Grace]

Volume 1- 2022, 5 stars

Currently reading: Volume 2

[K · Rating 1 out of 5]

Proof that women can write and draw comics that are just as misogynistic as the men.

[ana (taylor’s version) ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“But Nat, if that had been it-“
“But it wasn’t. Because we always come back to one another. Always.”

[Enigmaticblue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. The art, Natasha's emotional arc, the banter, all of it was just *chef's kiss*.

[Caitlin Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Literally all of my favourites popped up in this one. A great story, I was hooked.

[Louisa Cornilea · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is NOT my natasha

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fully fleshed, complex character who loses a family and gains another.