Black Widow & Captain America by Waid & Samnee Omnibus

Black Widow (2016) (Collected Editions) #1-2

by Mark Waid, Chris Samnee (Illustrator), Leonardo Romero (Illustrator)

The award-winning creative team who breathed fresh life into DAREDEVIL work their magic on two iconic Avengers!

Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow, stars in a knockdown, drag-out tale of action and espionage! The world’s greatest superspy has a lifetime of secrets — and when some of the darkest ones are made public, nobody is safe. As S.H.I.E.L.D. turns on its once greatest asset, the Widow seeks out her own answers. But will Natasha’s hunt for the Weeping Lion send her back to the one place she never wanted to go? Then Steve Rogers is back in shield-slinging action as Captain America, on a journey across the nation he loves to restore his tarnished reputation. But the dangers he encounters require more courage than ever! When he faces the all-new Swordsman, strap yourselves in for a sword-vs.-shield duel unlike anything you’ve ever seen! And in the far future, Cap faces his worst nightmare as a man out of time once again!

Black Widow (2016) #1-12, Captain America (2017) #695-704

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

536 pages, Hardcover

Published March 24, 2026

About the author

Mark Waid is an American comic book writer widely known for shaping modern superhero storytelling through influential runs on major characters at both DC Comics and Marvel Comics. Raised in Alabama, he developed an early fascination with comic books, particularly classic stories featuring the Legion of Super-Heroes, whose imaginative scope and sense of legacy would later inform his own writing. He first entered the comics industry during the mid 1980s as an editor and writer for the fan magazine Amazing Heroes, before publishing his first professional comic story in Action Comics. Soon afterward he joined DC Comics as an editor, contributing to numerous titles and helping shape projects across the company. After leaving editorial work to focus on writing, Waid gained widespread recognition with his long run on The Flash, where he expanded the mythology of the character and co-created the youthful speedster Impulse. His reputation grew further with the celebrated graphic novel Kingdom Come, created with artist Alex Ross, which imagined a future DC Universe shaped by generational conflict among superheroes. Over the years he has written many prominent series, including Captain America, Fantastic Four, Daredevil, and Superman: Birthright, bringing a balance of optimism, character depth, and respect for comic book history to each project. Waid has also collaborated with notable artists and writers on major ensemble titles such as Justice League and Avengers, while contributing ideas that helped clarify complex continuity within shared superhero universes. Beyond mainstream superhero work, he has supported creator owned projects and experimental publishing models, including the acclaimed series Irredeemable and Incorruptible, which explored moral ambiguity within the superhero genre. He later took on editorial leadership roles at Boom Studios, guiding creative direction while continuing to write extensively. In subsequent years he expanded his involvement in publishing and digital storytelling, helping launch online comics initiatives and advocating for new distribution methods for creators. His work has earned numerous industry awards, including Eisner and Harvey honors, reflecting both critical acclaim and enduring popularity among readers. Throughout his career Waid has remained a passionate student of comic book history, drawing on decades of storytelling tradition while continually encouraging innovation within the medium. His influence extends across generations of readers and creators, and his stories continue to shape the evolving language of superhero comics around the world today through enduring characters imaginative narratives and thoughtful reinventions of familiar myths within popular culture and modern graphic storytelling traditions.

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty on-the-nose read for 4th of July, and one I mostly enjoyed.

Not all the stories worked for me but for the most part this was spending one-on-one time with two beloved Marvel characters who still have relevance in today's divided/divisive world.

That, and Samnee drawing them both kicking butt is well worth the price of admission (which was $0 for me- thanks, Oakville Public Library/Hoopla!)

[Evan Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Widow half was really good (though it stains her continuity/timeline a bit much. Only the first half of the Cap issues were entertaining; the last for time travel stories-- not so much

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Original August 23rd, 2025 Review

Do not buy this book

This is a review of the format and or the printing. Not the story / material itself.

This has got to be one of the greediest and most disingenuous attempts Marvel has ever made to bleed your wallet dry, and given their history of failing to financially compensate their writers and artists who have made them billions, I do not say that lightly.

This omnibus is marketed as Black Widow by Mark Waid & Chris Samnee
The materials included are:
1. Black Widow, Vol. 1: SHIELD’s Most Wanted
2. Black Widow, Vol. 2: No More Secrets
3. Captain America: Home Of The Brave
4. Captain America: Promised Land

Black Widow Vol. 1 & 2 (the stuff that this book is advertised as and marketed on) can be found in two individual volumes that cost 24.96 each, and or a complete collection which should cost you $38.99. Do not spend $125.00 on it.

One might say, well the price is increased because of the inclusion of the other comics. And fair point. However, neither Captain America comics includes the titular Black Widow, and the second one isn’t even drawn by Chris Samnee

This marketing is an intentionally misleading and an overpriced waste of your money.

In summary
- Black Widow, Vol. 1: SHIELD’s Most Wanted (Not enough material for an omnibus & usually priced $24.96)
- Black Widow, Vol. 2: No More Secrets (Not enough material for an omnibus & usually priced $24.96)
- Captain America: Home Of The Brave (Not including Black Widow)
- Captain America: Promised Land (Not including Black Widow & not drawn by Chris Samnee)

Omnibuses & Compendiums are supposed to be cost effective singular collections of large comic book runs. Not two volumes and other unrelated stuff that barely counts as an omnibus.

I don’t mean to be a hater, but I don’t want anyone to waste over a hundred dollars when things are as expensive as they are.

You’re much better off purchasing Black Widow By Mark Waid & Chris Samnee: The Complete Collection from a second hand bookstore.

January 21st, 2026 Edit:
Call me Atticus Finch cause these bitches saw my autistic rant and changed the cover from “Black Widow by Waid & Samnee Omnibus” to Black Widow & Captain America by Waid & Samnee Omnibus. Sometimes not taking your medication can be a good thing.

[FrontalNerdaty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t need another edition of Black Widow by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee but here I am with another edition. Their take on Black Widow will always be the most bittersweet to me. It’s an excellent series full of all the things that make Widow work but it’s frustratingly short. There’s always been rumours that Marvel wanted Samnee and Waid off of the title which is a real shame because I was hoping this was a long form take on the character similar to what they did with Daredevil. As brief as it is it is also fantastic. Easily 5/5
The Captain America side of this omnibus is no where near as good. It doesn’t really offer anything new and Samnee isn’t on the art for all that’s collected here. It’s a real shame.

[Randy Lander · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are both very odd runs, done by a creative team who did some of the best work of their career on Daredevil, which made it a peak run for a character who has had a ton of great runs.

The action in these, especially in the Black Widow half, is spectacular. And for all that Waid says he was unsure about Black Widow at the start, he and Samnee had a great take on her, an espionage/action run that is of a piece with the work done on her in her solo movie.

The Captain America run starts with a really strong moment of purpose, when Waid has him lay down "the strong protect the weak" as a central premise. The rest of it is odd, a pair of time-travel stories that are about Steve Rogers as an icon, not a person. In fact, he's not even really in the second one. Seeing what Captain America means in a fallen future America is interesting, but the stories are all a little short, and the apocalyptic worlds that are built up feel like the kind of thing Stan Lee or Jack Kirby would have put together, without too much thought about if it makes any kind of consistent sense. It all appealed to me, but it wasn't as ground-breaking and amazing as their previous work, or even as strong as Waid's previous Captain America work.

Still... beautiful omnibus, glad I bought it.

[Zachary Shaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection is well worth it just to collect the Black Widow run in hardcover but my goodness was this Captain America run awful. Love Samnee's art and Mark Waid is a fav of mine but Waid really phoned it in on Cap in my opinion.

[Lodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

动作画面很有张力