Black Widow & Hawkeye: Broken Arrow

by Stephanie Phillips, Paolo Villanelli (Illustrator)

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

136 pages, Paperback

Published December 10, 2024

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was OK but it felt unfinished, artwork and story both… also, I’m really getting tired of symbiotes. Enough, already!

[Gianfranco Mancini · Rating 3 out of 5]

☆☆☆1/2

[Khurram · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book with more questions than answers. The main main story I would have given 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. The two classic stories show me how far the comics have come along. I would have given them 3 stars so the round down it is.

Hawkeye has got himself into big trouble with both the Russian and American governments as well as their alphabet agencies and assassins. Of course, Natasha (Black Widow) is going to help him whether he wants it or not. There is no explanation about Black Widow's symbiote. I will have to read the Venom War to find out about this.

The artwork on the main story is great. The story is okay but is too rushed. I would have prefered an extra issue or two of the main story, than a reprint of the classic first meeting of Ironman and the Black Widow, and the first meeting of Ironman and Hawkeye (Hawkeye & Black Widow).

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably more interesting to me here were the two add on stories from Tales of Suspense (1959) showing Iron Man and first appearances of a very different Black Widow and Hawkeye.

[maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

missed my clint ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marvel, slowly but surely, are starting to retcon some back stories of key characters. This story here modernises the relationship between Black Widow and Hawkeye in their early days. It’s nothing new but it’s a decent read. Plus we get to see a symbiote bond with both Widow and Hawkeye. That’s fun.

3/5

[☮ morgan ☮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my favorite

[Subham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent book, its Widow on the hunt for Hawkeye after he assassinated a russian official and turns out there was gonna be a peace treaty and so he spoiled the plans so we follow him after the assassins are after him and Widow to his rescue, and we see their past encounter and how they always are playing that game. The romantic chemistry is well done here but the past scenes could have gotten more substance. We see how he did it in the past.. like fight Snapdragon and Damon Dran in the past to save her and the limits and laws he broke for her.

And how in the present its her and obviously how the symbiote adds to it or rather challenges the equation so yeah. And the return of the villain from the past and I was expecting a big fight scene but I guess they need a couple more issues to have that big fight and so it feels like a missed opportunity but still good moments between the characters and the reason why he did it makes sense. Good building of their bond amidst romantic tensions and the art was pretty good too. It makes for an interesting conclusion. I am interested to see where we go from here for Hawkeye next.

[Tyler Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad at all just had a hard time keeping up with the story between issues. Definitely going to be better when it’s collected together. I’m only recently finding interest in Black Widow and Hawkeye and that’s only because of how much I like them in the MCU. And the comics have shown me how much better Hawkeye is in the comics. He’s so much more fun! I don’t read much Venom stuff so I have no idea why Nat has a venom suit if her own, I knew about it because she’s had it for a minute now I just don’t know why. And Clint I keep up with when he appears in something else. The story is fun and takes you back to the first time they teamed up and helps remind us how deep their history is.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the stars!
We get a sorely missed story of political intrigue by the two characters in the MU that do it SO well...

Hawkeye is being blacklisted and hunted by the Russians and the US after having, allegedly, shot and killed an ambassador. Black Widow (now bonded to a Venom symbiote) runs to aid her BFF, and we see just how many times they've done this little dance of 'dropping everything' for the other.

Can the 'Venomized' Black Widow get to Hawkeye in time?
Does Hawkeye want to be saved?
IS THIS AN AWESOME STORY OR WHAT??
----
Bonus: They really need to go back and remind readers WHEN she got the symbiote. It's just been, 'oh. that? she's had it for awhile now.'

[Velhala · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pacing and scene changes were so so good, perfect for a spy/action thriller. The economy of words was super skilled also — Philips managed to put in 2 storylines, plus some flashbacks, and make it all fit into a 4 issue series in a way that didn’t feel at all cramped and told all aspects of the story thoroughly and well

Natasha and Clint’s characters, dynamic, and history together also got treated really really well. Thoroughly enjoyed reading, only wish Marvel would give this writer these two characters for a longer series next time. I’d love to see what kind of epic scale story she could come up w for them w even more time and pages to work w!

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tasha and Clint have had an unhealthy bond since they first teamed up in the 60s and maybe it's time to take some accountability. I was surprised to see Nat had a symbiote, I have clearly Missed Some Things. I like their relationship and always have, so I'm interested in where they go. But what I really loved was seeing their first team up from the 60s included here. Hawkeye shot Iron Man with a suction cup arrow that had a rusting agent on it! And Tony freaked because rust is his weak point, the one thing he can't fight against. lolol

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I've been reading too many (wonderful) indie graphic novels, because this felt very: run, fight, banter, capture, banter, rescue, fight, banter... but the banter was fun, it featured some great moments between two of my favourites, and an interesting acknowledgement of the characters' relationship being stuck in a cycle. (Shame that realisation doesn't also seem to have happened here in terms of storytelling cycles!)

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a Venom or symbiote fan at all, much trepidation going in - but I had to 'cause......Hawkeye.
It was better than I feared.
The story seems to regurgitate other Widow/Hawk-eye stories but that is the point.
A big negative is that they padded the story out with reprinting the first appearances of the main characters - I have these multiple times already. Either make the story longer (it could have been) or the book shorter and cheaper.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun quick read before the weekend. Loved seeing Natasha and Clint, they're always fun to read about. I like their back and forth. Natasha's symbiote is an interesting twist, this is the first comic I've read with it so I think I need to go back and read when she picks it up.

So glad I have this in my collection, was a fun time.

[hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

i know this was just meant to celebrate sixty years of black widow & hawkeye existing in the marvel universe, but the plot was so boring? like i loved all the natasha content as always, but there was literally no need for everything that happened

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story & art, but for Vol. 1 I definitely felt like I was missing some information when the story started (i.e. when did Natasha get the Venom symbiote?) Since this only collects the first four issues, they've also added an old 1960s comic with the Black Widow and Iron Man.

[Allysa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise but the true star is the relationship between Natasha and Clint. The devotion to each other, the lengths they will go to to protect and save each other. It’s the heart of the story and what makes me want to read more.

[Timo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite good Marvel U fun. Not sure when Black Widow caught the Venom, but that is quite a good idea.

[Dean · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.

[Mateusz Nowowiejski · Rating 3 out of 5]

2024

[Jennifer Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read. Every hero should have a venom symbiote. The dialogue is very fun.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the way Natasha and Clint interact; their friendship is special. But I'm not a Venom fan or a fan of the "alien symbiote" concept. It's too weird/creepy for me: and, in this, it's an all-too-convenient remedy for injuries and other problems. The plot in general was nothing special and not enough to make me interested in a volume 2.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Charlie Hernandez]

symbiote clint barton was unreasonably hot.

[Jacob Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐'s

[Rocio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any story with Clintasha is a good story in my books

[:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

clintasha lives on

[Rachel's Comics · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough story, pretty short! I loved that it explored the concept of Nat and Clint’s endless cycle of being willing to sacrifice themselves for one another. Also loved that this edition included Black Widows first appearance at the end, finally got to see her origin! My criticism is that I don’t love symbiote Natasha - I don’t think she needs that to kick ass.

[Jaye Berry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loveeee seeing my girl Natasha but this was lowkey ass. 💀 I actually really hate the idea of her having a symbiote simply because it's stupid as hell. She doesn't need that and hers wasn't even necessarily COOL. The suit yes but otherwise why are we doing this?? Get it OUT.

The best part of the story for me was the flashback of original Black Widow & Hawkeye- mostly because their suits were so vintage. I can't say I've ever even seen Natasha's OG look in a comic but it was giving. The way that original look holds no bearing to any of her other looks is hilarious like where did that even come from and where did it go?

Clint is on the run from assassins and Natasha comes to save him but then the ending was so abrupt too, without an actual ending just a "see you in so-and-so issue".

Art was great though.