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Marvel Graphic Novel #75
Daredevil/Black Widow: Abattoir
In Abbatoir, Natasha Romanov—the Black Widow—begins investigating the murders of former psychic agents for SHIELD. These telepaths had been disappearing at an alarming rate, and already forty were known to have been slaughtered. It was not long before she picked up the trail of the murderer—a huge, sadistic simpleton of a man. What she had not counted on was falling into the clutches of the murderer’s companion, a sadistic telepath named Rose, whose greatest pleasure was inflicting pain. Matt Murdock—Daredevil—began searching for Natasha as soon as she too went missing. But could even this legendary crimefighter save his partner before she became the next victim of this psychotic duo?
Paperback
First published July 1, 1993
4 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Jim Starlin
1,334 books443 followersJames P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters Thanos and Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu. Death and suicide are recurring themes in Starlin's work: Personifications of Death appeared in his Captain Marvel series and in a fill-in story for Ghost Rider; Warlock commits suicide by killing his future self; and suicide is a theme in a story he plotted and drew for The Rampaging Hulk magazine.
In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).
When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (
In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.
In the mid-1970s, Starlin contributed a cache of stories to the independently published science-fiction anthology Star Reach. Here he developed his ideas of God, death, and infinity, free of the restrictions of mainstream comics publishers' self-censorship arm, the Comics Code Authority. Starlin also drew "The Secret of Skull River", inked by frequent collaborator Al Milgrom, for Savage Tales #5 (July 1974).
When Marvel Comics wished to use the name of Captain Marvel for a new, different character,[citation needed] Starlin was given the rare opportunity to produce a one-shot story in which to kill off a main character. The Death of Captain Marvel became the first graphic novel published by the company itself. (
In the late 1980s, Starlin began working more for DC Comics, writing a number of Batman stories, including the four-issue miniseries Batman: The Cult (Aug.-Nov. 1988), and the storyline "Batman: A Death in the Family", in Batman #426-429 (Dec. 1988 – Jan. 1989), in which Jason Todd, the second of Batman's Robin sidekicks, was killed. The death was decided by fans, as DC Comics set up a hotline for readers to vote on as to whether or not Jason Todd should survive a potentially fatal situation. For DC he created Hardcore Station.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 3, 2016
Creepy, weird and more horror/adult oriented than usual Marvel Graphic Novel.
Chiodo's art is just amazing, but you just already know how the story is going to end.
Chiodo's art is just amazing, but you just already know how the story is going to end.
May 9, 2022
This was extra dark and bloody, almost goreish!
While I'm a fan of both Daredevil and Black Widow, I am not overly fond of them as a couple, so I was waiting before reading this one, but in the end I really enjoyed it. If you consider the story as a pure little horror outlet it works quite fine and personally I always enjoy this kind of old comic book art styles, with all the paintend layers and that bold use of colors, minus the excessive sexualization of the female bodies, of course.
Adding a star for the art!
While I'm a fan of both Daredevil and Black Widow, I am not overly fond of them as a couple, so I was waiting before reading this one, but in the end I really enjoyed it. If you consider the story as a pure little horror outlet it works quite fine and personally I always enjoy this kind of old comic book art styles, with all the paintend layers and that bold use of colors, minus the excessive sexualization of the female bodies, of course.
Adding a star for the art!
Read
February 1, 2021the art was beautiful and so different but the sexualization of natasha was so.... :/ the artist somehow took an already skin tight suit and made it so tight it looked like it was her skin.
September 18, 2019
This was an older comic. Depending on the author and the artist that can either be a horrible thing or a good thing. Thankfully, Jim Starlin's work tends to fall into the latter category. The artist also deserves praise for a very cool, painted style that is far above and beyond the usual 90's dreck that passes for comic book art.
Starlin pens a dark tale of a serial killer who is taking out SHIELD agents who have psychic abilities. Black Widow's friend has been killed and now she is working with SHIELD to figure out what's going on. In the process of the investigation, BW finds herself trapped. Fury works with Daredevil to try and find her. That's the gist.
As I said this story leans very dark (it is about serial killers after all) and the character of Rose does have some mitigation to her psychosis, due to her awful past. While neither DD nor BW come off as all that competent, the story is rather unique. The definately enjoyed the artwork and though both DD and BW were a wee bit incompetent, this is still a good story.
Do you like the older works? A fan of Jim Starlin? Or just like dark and violent stories about serial killers? If any of those work for you, then you will like this blast from the past. Nothing amazing, but not bad at all either.
Starlin pens a dark tale of a serial killer who is taking out SHIELD agents who have psychic abilities. Black Widow's friend has been killed and now she is working with SHIELD to figure out what's going on. In the process of the investigation, BW finds herself trapped. Fury works with Daredevil to try and find her. That's the gist.
As I said this story leans very dark (it is about serial killers after all) and the character of Rose does have some mitigation to her psychosis, due to her awful past. While neither DD nor BW come off as all that competent, the story is rather unique. The definately enjoyed the artwork and though both DD and BW were a wee bit incompetent, this is still a good story.
Do you like the older works? A fan of Jim Starlin? Or just like dark and violent stories about serial killers? If any of those work for you, then you will like this blast from the past. Nothing amazing, but not bad at all either.
March 24, 2025
4.5 Stars
I thought this was pretty awesome. Don't be fooled, this isn't a superhero story; this is a horror story. Joe Chiodo rarely does this type of sequential art, so it was cool to see an entire graphic novel painted by him. This is a slasher story set in the Marvel Universe, and is much more mature and graphic than you would normally see in a Marvel story that's not under the MAX imprint. I would recommend it for any Daredevil and Black Widow fans, but also for any horror fans. A different type of Marvel story.
I thought this was pretty awesome. Don't be fooled, this isn't a superhero story; this is a horror story. Joe Chiodo rarely does this type of sequential art, so it was cool to see an entire graphic novel painted by him. This is a slasher story set in the Marvel Universe, and is much more mature and graphic than you would normally see in a Marvel story that's not under the MAX imprint. I would recommend it for any Daredevil and Black Widow fans, but also for any horror fans. A different type of Marvel story.
January 16, 2024
Not my art style.
January 23, 2021
A very dark tale that pits Daredevil & the Black Widow against a serial killer who's targeting telepaths. While DD gets top billing, this is really a Black Widow story. While it’s nice to see a story that doesn't hold back and shows a darker side to the Marvel Universe, a lot of what makes this story interesting is lost in what was a trend of the 1990s to make superheroes as dark and twisted as possible. The seeming need to plunge into the dark inner crevices of the human psyche in order make comics relevant had become an obsession with many writers and artists from that era. The reaches of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Watchmen drove the industry for 20 years to just add violence and degeneracy for the sake of titillation. There is some good stuff in here, but there are also layers of cliche and easy shots that haven’t aged as well. In any case, this is still an entertaining story and the art works pretty well, and was certainly something special for its time.
February 10, 2016
Good team-up story. Nice art and plot. Recommended
March 14, 2021
Solo por el dibujo vale la pena comprar este libro. La historia es regular, es como si fuera un fascículo de la edad de plata que comienza y termina ahí mismo, pero tomado mucho más en serio.
La historia y su resolución no me ponen tanto a filosofar como otros títulos, es una historia de superhéroes con tonalidades maduras. Se enfoca más en la Viuda que en Murdoc, y la verdad no veo por qué no se enfocó simplemente en ella.
El dibujante tuvo la oportunidad de ser realista y abstracto. Pero dentro de lo abstracto, el coloreado tiene una crudeza y belleza que lo hace trascender a homólogos de su época y hasta de esta misma. Es algo que no se hace en uno o dos meses y aún así es criminalmente barato.
La historia y su resolución no me ponen tanto a filosofar como otros títulos, es una historia de superhéroes con tonalidades maduras. Se enfoca más en la Viuda que en Murdoc, y la verdad no veo por qué no se enfocó simplemente en ella.
El dibujante tuvo la oportunidad de ser realista y abstracto. Pero dentro de lo abstracto, el coloreado tiene una crudeza y belleza que lo hace trascender a homólogos de su época y hasta de esta misma. Es algo que no se hace en uno o dos meses y aún así es criminalmente barato.
August 23, 2025
This odd little genre mash-up finds the two title heroes joining forces to track down a brutal serial killer. Written by Jim Starlin, who's best known for his epic "cosmic" Marvel storylines, like The Infinity Gauntlet and The Death of Captain Marvel. Abattoir, on the other hand, is lean and gritty, with a surprising amount of graphic violence. A little bit underwhelming, but worth checking out for the weird mix of superheroes and horror.
September 13, 2017
SHIELD is very careless with its Psi-operatives. 40 are missing or killed. Natasha Romanov tries to find answers and all too quickly she finds those answers. and they find her. Soon Black Widow is missing and her erstwhile partner/lover Matt Murdock aka Daredevil joins the hunt.
August 2, 2025
Gorgeous, gorgeous artwork to go with an incredibly grim dark edgelord story. I met Jim Starlin at Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC, and he was really not into talking to me (dressed in my Daredevil costume), but I appreciate that he had this curio of the 90s for sale.
October 28, 2020
Not bad. Pretty dark.
Art is neat even though Nat's poses began to bug me.
Overall it made me remember that I've been wanting to explore more of these characters together.
Art is neat even though Nat's poses began to bug me.
Overall it made me remember that I've been wanting to explore more of these characters together.
March 17, 2021
Düştük çizgi roman batağına, biri bittiğinde direk diğerine başlıyorum 🤭
January 3, 2022
Gross, shlocky horror with all the subtlety of a Cannibal Corpse album cover.
January 13, 2023
4,5 estrelas
October 28, 2023
Pretty good, Rose was an interesting antagonist. More violent than one would think a Marvel work would be.
Art? Stunning. Need to look up this artist’s works.
Art? Stunning. Need to look up this artist’s works.
February 1, 2024
Great art by Chiodo dressing a mediocre story by Starlin.
July 6, 2024
Art is amazing.
September 27, 2014
Más diestro en tramas de corte scifi, Starlin impacta con esta violenta historia sobre un psicótico y su espiral de violencia, en una exposición descarnada e implacable. Una de las aproximaciones más adultas a ambos personajes.
July 4, 2021
Adults only-graphic scenes of torture.
Marvel comics and Prime freebie. Suitable for adults only, contains torture. Many of the marvel graphic novel series were for adults only. Good color artwork. Black widow leaves retirement to track down a serial killer.
Marvel comics and Prime freebie. Suitable for adults only, contains torture. Many of the marvel graphic novel series were for adults only. Good color artwork. Black widow leaves retirement to track down a serial killer.
June 23, 2013
Not bad, reminded me of Grell's Longbow hunters, but not as good.
September 7, 2015
Well, that was fucked up. D:
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews