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Black Widow (2010)
Black Widow, Vol. 2: Kiss or Kill
Collects Black Widow (2010) #6-8 and Iron Man: Kiss and Kill. A senator is seduced and assassinated, and his journalist son follows the trail to a fatally sexy Soviet agent. This deadly "woman in black" moonlights as a high-class escort to lure powerful men into her web of blackmail and death. But Nick Crane believes he's finally found his father's murderer, and he's about to expose...the Black Widow! Plus: Tony Stark gets his spy on, and the Black Widow proves she's an Iron Man's best friend, when the Armored Avenger goes undercover to take down a foe using his own decommissioned tech!
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 27, 2011
66 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Duane Swierczynski
524 books917 followersDuane Swierczynski is an American crime writer who has written a number of non-fiction books, novels and also writes for comic books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 8, 2016
Black Widow’s been working a US Senator and now he’s dead. His journalist son goes hunting for answers – except Natasha’s been framed! Black Widow goes after “Black Widow” in Kiss or Kill!
I wonder why it’s taken Marvel so long to make a Black Widow movie given the popularity of Bond and Mission: Impossible. This story has political intrigue, espionage, assassination, conspiracies, fast-moving action set in exotic locations, sexy ladies, ‘splosions, even characters wearing elaborate plastic skin costumes – it basically IS Mission: Impossible and Bond with a female protagonist! And while it reads like a Black Widow story, it also has just enough superhero pizzazz to remind you you’re reading a Marvel comic.
At three issues, Kiss or Kill is a very short story arc even by comics collections standards so Marvel tack on an unrelated Black Widow/Iron Man comic at the end to beef up the page count. Tony Stark decides to get into the spy game for reasons, undergoes elaborate facial surgeries (also just like Mission: Impossible!) only to mess up and get bailed out by Natasha. And of course, this being Marvel, time-travel gets worked in somehow too! It’s not a great comic and reads like the filler it is.
Manuel Garcia’s art, like Duane Swierczynski’s script, is neither bad nor great. Black Widow: Kiss or Kill is an enjoyable enough read but like most action romps its story is very shallow and ultimately not that memorable.
I wonder why it’s taken Marvel so long to make a Black Widow movie given the popularity of Bond and Mission: Impossible. This story has political intrigue, espionage, assassination, conspiracies, fast-moving action set in exotic locations, sexy ladies, ‘splosions, even characters wearing elaborate plastic skin costumes – it basically IS Mission: Impossible and Bond with a female protagonist! And while it reads like a Black Widow story, it also has just enough superhero pizzazz to remind you you’re reading a Marvel comic.
At three issues, Kiss or Kill is a very short story arc even by comics collections standards so Marvel tack on an unrelated Black Widow/Iron Man comic at the end to beef up the page count. Tony Stark decides to get into the spy game for reasons, undergoes elaborate facial surgeries (also just like Mission: Impossible!) only to mess up and get bailed out by Natasha. And of course, this being Marvel, time-travel gets worked in somehow too! It’s not a great comic and reads like the filler it is.
Manuel Garcia’s art, like Duane Swierczynski’s script, is neither bad nor great. Black Widow: Kiss or Kill is an enjoyable enough read but like most action romps its story is very shallow and ultimately not that memorable.
October 20, 2019
Titties out in this like readcomicsonline ads
August 25, 2013
This volume is fun because it's Black Widow and she kicks a lot of ass, but there's also entirely too much of her tits and ass. And I say that as someone who can appreciate that kind of fan service as much as any hormonal teenage guy could. But while The Name of the Rose showed Natasha's feelings and relationships with other characters while she went around kicking ass, this one felt more like ass kicking with an eye to the best way to present a series of bubble butt poses. There's no feeling here.
January 11, 2022
Can't even pay attention to the story because on her first appearance it's all tits out and that's it. The difference between this and literally the comics in the issues prior is hilarious like they didn't even TRY. Once the last creative team left whoever tf went after really said you know what this badass super spy needs? Giant tits out. Choke. Also the story was boring bye.
May 20, 2020
Oh well, not every collection is going to be great. This was just so-so. Only 3 actual issues of Black Widow, #6 to #8. Then it leaves us with an on-going story that continues in the Widow-Maker series. Which is not free on Comixology Unlimited. Time for me to move on to another collection, either Black Widow or Star Wars among others. I did not care for the filler one-shot stories they used to pad the length of this collection.
May 28, 2024
'What did he say?'
''Shut up.''
'Hey, don't get mad at me. I was only ask--'
We finally have it, my first 1-star read of the year (which I totally saw coming, LBR).
I really cannot figure out why Marvel decided to name this volume 2 despite it having nothing to do with Marjorie Liu's take on Black Widow in the previous volume. Like what do you expect from a completionist that despite knowing that, I went ahead and read it anyway? Happy to report that it didn't diminish my love for Liu's take in any way, but it did piss me off in several departments.
First off, the art. I usually talk about it last but god, the boobs galore in this had me rolling me eyes every other page. Yes, every other page. Entirely unimpressive. Also, not that I'm good at art myself, but it looks like every single face is melting pretty much. So the art, just not fun look at in any way, TBH.
Second, the story reads like what the author *thinks* every Black Widow fan wants to read but it very much is wholly uninspired. (Much like how authors keep reverting Laura Kinney back to her old X-23 status every now and then). But yeah, whatever happens in this just makes Black Widow looks very stupid and not at all what she usually is like.
Third, the way the dude Black Widow is trying to save is hating her one minute and coming onto her so hard the next, I wanted to punch the daylights out of him. Him wanting to hate bang Black Widow was such a focal point of this, I'm genuinely surprised that we didn't get a panel of that actually happening. 🙄🙄
Fourth, what the hell is that last panel basically signaling readers to check out some other run for continuation? What is even the damn point? Godddd, I'm so tired.
Lastly, the story only really lasts for issues #6 to 8, which comes up to about 80 pages and then Marvel decided to tack on two largely unrelated Iron Man one-shots at the end? The first one at least has Black Widow but ehhh, the story was terrible, TBH. Like what was the point? They just be doing anything sometimes no effort whatsoever, sigh.
''Shut up.''
'Hey, don't get mad at me. I was only ask--'
We finally have it, my first 1-star read of the year (which I totally saw coming, LBR).
I really cannot figure out why Marvel decided to name this volume 2 despite it having nothing to do with Marjorie Liu's take on Black Widow in the previous volume. Like what do you expect from a completionist that despite knowing that, I went ahead and read it anyway? Happy to report that it didn't diminish my love for Liu's take in any way, but it did piss me off in several departments.
First off, the art. I usually talk about it last but god, the boobs galore in this had me rolling me eyes every other page. Yes, every other page. Entirely unimpressive. Also, not that I'm good at art myself, but it looks like every single face is melting pretty much. So the art, just not fun look at in any way, TBH.
Second, the story reads like what the author *thinks* every Black Widow fan wants to read but it very much is wholly uninspired. (Much like how authors keep reverting Laura Kinney back to her old X-23 status every now and then). But yeah, whatever happens in this just makes Black Widow looks very stupid and not at all what she usually is like.
Third, the way the dude Black Widow is trying to save is hating her one minute and coming onto her so hard the next, I wanted to punch the daylights out of him. Him wanting to hate bang Black Widow was such a focal point of this, I'm genuinely surprised that we didn't get a panel of that actually happening. 🙄🙄
Fourth, what the hell is that last panel basically signaling readers to check out some other run for continuation? What is even the damn point? Godddd, I'm so tired.
Lastly, the story only really lasts for issues #6 to 8, which comes up to about 80 pages and then Marvel decided to tack on two largely unrelated Iron Man one-shots at the end? The first one at least has Black Widow but ehhh, the story was terrible, TBH. Like what was the point? They just be doing anything sometimes no effort whatsoever, sigh.
March 13, 2023
I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.
I don't know if its because the first volume of this run was SO good, or if it just fell flat on its own, but I'm less inclined to this volume. In the first volume, we see Natasha Romanoff dealing with her friends thinking she betrayed them and becoming an enemy of the state (again). In this volume, we see her meeting even more people who want her dead, we get a story with Tony and Logan randomly enough, and overall, this story didn't feel as cohesive with the first volume as I would have liked.
I don't know if its because the first volume of this run was SO good, or if it just fell flat on its own, but I'm less inclined to this volume. In the first volume, we see Natasha Romanoff dealing with her friends thinking she betrayed them and becoming an enemy of the state (again). In this volume, we see her meeting even more people who want her dead, we get a story with Tony and Logan randomly enough, and overall, this story didn't feel as cohesive with the first volume as I would have liked.
March 7, 2023
Jesus christ this was bad
June 13, 2022
Well, that was…something. The tone change from Name of the Rose to this was genuinely one of the weirdest things I’ve ever read. Natasha feels very ooc, and the plot is kind of stupid (if you ask me). The over sexualizing of all women characters just put me off as well. It doesn’t seem like Marjorie Liu is a writer on this addition, so it makes sense why this is so bad. Men writing women never goes well. Anyways, stan Name of the Rose.
November 3, 2015
Meh. Total meh.
March 6, 2021
There were spelling errors that took me out of the story. I didnt enjoy the art in this one, and the story arc was confusing. This one wasnt for me.
August 5, 2024
Accidentally read this and was so not interested I was surprised by it
January 2, 2021
Good stuff
An exciting action packed story. Duane S. did a great job with this story about spies and superheroes. The art fit perfectly for the story too. Great stuff.
An exciting action packed story. Duane S. did a great job with this story about spies and superheroes. The art fit perfectly for the story too. Great stuff.
July 17, 2015
So Marvel just gave up and then pushed this crap out as a collected edition, huh?
This book comprises the last issues of the 2010-11 Black Widow series, issues 6-8, plus some unrelated, also terrible, material from a related title.
The main storyline here, holding together the three issues of the series, is write-by-numbers espionage, with no character development--other than the typical: BW is very beautiful and enjoys sexual innuendo--that never should have been used in a regular series, much less in the first year of that series. It reads like pure filler, although the author is clearly (very clearly) going somewhere, pulling off one layer after another of the conspiracy until we get to the final reveal.
The rapidity with which the various conspiracies were undone makes me think wither the creative team knew the book had a short shelf-life and was so trying to get through a convoluted story as rapidly as possible--think of the way the last season of Joss Whedon's Angel TV series went. Either that, or they have no sense of pacing whatsoever. Which isn't incredible to think, given the stilted dialogue, constant rescues be deus ex machinas, and lack of characterization.
The team also seemed really desperate to create a whole list of weapons for the Black Widow, and this was a bad idea: her widow's kiss and widow's bite made her seem like a character out of the 1960s' Batman TV series. Indeed, as with too much of the writing around Black Widow, she seemed like a bad fantasy character from the 1960s--where's Boris Badninoff? For (very stupid) reasons, the action of the story is forced into Poland, of all places, simply so Natalia can (yet agin) do battle with Cold War villains. Make it stop, please! The Cold War is a quarter century in the past. Think of something new to do with the character!
The very worst, though, is the ending. Even if the creative team could hear the series' death knell, they never had time to get to the big unveiling: we only see the boots of the big baddie at the end of issue eight . . . and then nothing.
The book skips, like a bad record, to a whole different song, throwing in material from Iron Man: Kiss or Kill, To the extent one is involved in the very superficial story at all, the change is still like hitting a brick wall. It doesn't help that the Iron Man story is even worse--all the same problems as above (characters, motivations, ridiculous plotting) but it doesn't even make a whole lot of sense and is mostly jerry-rigged for the contrived ending.
Completing the mess is the art, which was terrible throughout: the people did not look like people, and it wasn't because they were stylized, just malformed: What was up with Tony Stark's jaw? Natalia was almost a different character from one page to the next in some cases, the there was, of course, a gratuitous use of cheesecake perspectives. The variant covers collected at the back were horrible, the "vampire" one making BW look like a drugged out prostitute slumped over in an alleyway, the other making her into jailbait, with the face of a 12 year old.
Bad. Bad, bad, bad.
This book comprises the last issues of the 2010-11 Black Widow series, issues 6-8, plus some unrelated, also terrible, material from a related title.
The main storyline here, holding together the three issues of the series, is write-by-numbers espionage, with no character development--other than the typical: BW is very beautiful and enjoys sexual innuendo--that never should have been used in a regular series, much less in the first year of that series. It reads like pure filler, although the author is clearly (very clearly) going somewhere, pulling off one layer after another of the conspiracy until we get to the final reveal.
The rapidity with which the various conspiracies were undone makes me think wither the creative team knew the book had a short shelf-life and was so trying to get through a convoluted story as rapidly as possible--think of the way the last season of Joss Whedon's Angel TV series went. Either that, or they have no sense of pacing whatsoever. Which isn't incredible to think, given the stilted dialogue, constant rescues be deus ex machinas, and lack of characterization.
The team also seemed really desperate to create a whole list of weapons for the Black Widow, and this was a bad idea: her widow's kiss and widow's bite made her seem like a character out of the 1960s' Batman TV series. Indeed, as with too much of the writing around Black Widow, she seemed like a bad fantasy character from the 1960s--where's Boris Badninoff? For (very stupid) reasons, the action of the story is forced into Poland, of all places, simply so Natalia can (yet agin) do battle with Cold War villains. Make it stop, please! The Cold War is a quarter century in the past. Think of something new to do with the character!
The very worst, though, is the ending. Even if the creative team could hear the series' death knell, they never had time to get to the big unveiling: we only see the boots of the big baddie at the end of issue eight . . . and then nothing.
The book skips, like a bad record, to a whole different song, throwing in material from Iron Man: Kiss or Kill, To the extent one is involved in the very superficial story at all, the change is still like hitting a brick wall. It doesn't help that the Iron Man story is even worse--all the same problems as above (characters, motivations, ridiculous plotting) but it doesn't even make a whole lot of sense and is mostly jerry-rigged for the contrived ending.
Completing the mess is the art, which was terrible throughout: the people did not look like people, and it wasn't because they were stylized, just malformed: What was up with Tony Stark's jaw? Natalia was almost a different character from one page to the next in some cases, the there was, of course, a gratuitous use of cheesecake perspectives. The variant covers collected at the back were horrible, the "vampire" one making BW look like a drugged out prostitute slumped over in an alleyway, the other making her into jailbait, with the face of a 12 year old.
Bad. Bad, bad, bad.
October 21, 2012
'Black Widow: Kiss or Kill' collects Black Widow #6 through #8 and includes the Iron Man collaboration 'Iron Widow'. 'Kiss or Kill' got off to a great start with issues #6 and #7 really hitting the spot (excluding the ending of #7 where super villains Fantasma and uber robot Crimson Dynamo make an appearance - it served only to derail the Bond-like plot and feel of Swierczynki's 'Black Widow' and make it more kid super hero and bad guy). The story was full of espionage, intrigue, mystery and two femme fatales in Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff and Fatale battling it out to secure the target in Nick Crane - son to a recently deceased senator who's on the hunt for answers and the mystery woman at the forefront of a possible sex scandal prior to his fathers death.
Had the plot been hatched and collected over more instalments than this arc delivered, 'Kiss or Kill' could've really been something. However, after issue #8 the story was left incomplete and with more questions than answers. 'Kiss or Kill' doesn't read or feel like a complete book. Adding to the cobbled arc is the tacked on tale featuring Iron Man. Not only was this a deviation from the theme of the Black Widow comics collected here but wasn't all that enjoyable to read.
I'm rating this a 3 for the following: the concept of Black Widow in this particular setting was well executed. The battle aboard a speeding train between Black Widow and Crimson Dynamo was pure action - both story and art conveyed the mood perfectly, the two fatales with a common goal was entertaining and left me wanting more, and the pacing overall was good across the three Black Widow instalments. The downfall lies in the unfinished story, Iron Man segment and the overall feeling of being cheated - as I mentioned earlier, 'Kiss or Kill' left me with more questions than answers.
Had the plot been hatched and collected over more instalments than this arc delivered, 'Kiss or Kill' could've really been something. However, after issue #8 the story was left incomplete and with more questions than answers. 'Kiss or Kill' doesn't read or feel like a complete book. Adding to the cobbled arc is the tacked on tale featuring Iron Man. Not only was this a deviation from the theme of the Black Widow comics collected here but wasn't all that enjoyable to read.
I'm rating this a 3 for the following: the concept of Black Widow in this particular setting was well executed. The battle aboard a speeding train between Black Widow and Crimson Dynamo was pure action - both story and art conveyed the mood perfectly, the two fatales with a common goal was entertaining and left me wanting more, and the pacing overall was good across the three Black Widow instalments. The downfall lies in the unfinished story, Iron Man segment and the overall feeling of being cheated - as I mentioned earlier, 'Kiss or Kill' left me with more questions than answers.
July 4, 2019
Natasha's look is aiming for skilled AND sexy this time around. There's a fight a minute with barely any breathing room which is just the way I like it. The spy setting from the first volume is pretty much gone in favor of action, so this is a much lighter read. This is probably the reason it has an inferior score to the first volume.
Journalist Nick Crane has discovered from an anonymous source that Natasha was involved in the scandal that resulted in his father, presidential cadidate Whit Crane, taking his own life. She and other no-nonsense characters want to make Nick reveal his source, but it's tough getting it out of him.
Journalist Nick Crane has discovered from an anonymous source that Natasha was involved in the scandal that resulted in his father, presidential cadidate Whit Crane, taking his own life. She and other no-nonsense characters want to make Nick reveal his source, but it's tough getting it out of him.
April 16, 2015
I believe this book follows The Name of the Rose by Marjorie Liu (which I liked quite a bit more than this one), but I'm not sure because Marvel isn't very good at all explaining the chronology of their graphic volumes. (They should take a look at how DC does it.) There are three sections that are quite enjoyable with good dialog by Duane Swierczynski and art by Manuel Garcia that tell a cohesive story, but then that ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger and a final story that's neither drawn nor written very well, reprinted from Iron-Man, is tacked on. I thought the cover art was really far below the level of Garcia's pencils; the cover they used for this graphic novel edition makes Natasha (you can call her Natalia if you want to; I know better!) look like Gerald Way playing Rocket Raccoon dress-up.
August 25, 2012
I really want to like the Marvel comics, because I like the films so much. But there are so many storylines and reboots and no one ever stays dead, and I haven't been able to find a comprehensive guide to who/what/where/when. So I checked out a few random ones from the library, including this. It's a collection of a few Widow comics and an Iron Man issue that features Widow. Fun to flip through, but not a complete story, which is kind of annoying, and features the ridiculously stereotypical comic depiction of women's bodies. Eyeroll.
March 19, 2021
What the heck was this, Marjorie Liu's previous volume was amazing and then this had nothing to do with that and was unnecessary. What was the point of switching writers in the middle, plus this was only 3 issues, not even a full story. Also why were all the women drawn like that...
June 11, 2012
This is kind of like Black Widow's Mission Impossible movie--frothy, entertaining, best enjoyed at face value.
March 7, 2021
Son of a politician searches to find answers after his father dies in scandal and the Black Widow is implicated in the death. A chase to find answers ensues around the Europe and the America. Also black sites, lots and lots of black sites because Murica. The final issue, a stand-alone story, with Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) really lowered the rating for me and my general enjoyment. It was too messy and chaotic even for me. Overall, the issues weren't particularly strong in terms of plot but there was plenty of action and I did enjoy the copious amount of fight scenes.
There was nothing particularly wrong with the volume but it just wasn't a standout read for me. The pacing was a bit awkward for me as well as the plot direction. I would have liked a bit more urgency in the characters because there was an apathy that took away from the agency of the situation. An underwhelming sequel volume but I think I will still be continuing with the series.
There was nothing particularly wrong with the volume but it just wasn't a standout read for me. The pacing was a bit awkward for me as well as the plot direction. I would have liked a bit more urgency in the characters because there was an apathy that took away from the agency of the situation. An underwhelming sequel volume but I think I will still be continuing with the series.
August 15, 2024
ISSUE #6
oh no they changed the art style
"every parry and blow seems to be hard wired into her nervous system -- like shes not even thinking about it. "
"i now i should be scared or something... but in a strange way im relieved. finally, i have conformaton shes real.
ph shes real all right. real and deadly as they come."
ISSUE #8
i was about to say they ended it abruptly but this is prefacing the widowmaker run
this run was about a president killed and a fatale blonde character
weaker drawing style
i would recommend the name of the rose run till issue 5 and then dont read the kiss of kill run #6-#8 because it's a downgraded transition to set up the widowmaker run
unless youre doing a reading marathon in order and you want to read widowmaker after this
oh no they changed the art style
"every parry and blow seems to be hard wired into her nervous system -- like shes not even thinking about it. "
"i now i should be scared or something... but in a strange way im relieved. finally, i have conformaton shes real.
ph shes real all right. real and deadly as they come."
ISSUE #8
i was about to say they ended it abruptly but this is prefacing the widowmaker run
this run was about a president killed and a fatale blonde character
weaker drawing style
i would recommend the name of the rose run till issue 5 and then dont read the kiss of kill run #6-#8 because it's a downgraded transition to set up the widowmaker run
unless youre doing a reading marathon in order and you want to read widowmaker after this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2018
what the hell. . .
this was good and all but. . . where’s the rest? where’s the beginning?
i have more questions than i did before i opened this. the plot was decent, i’ve read better. nick was cute and so was fatale.
but.
like.
what happened at the end? i don’t mind the beginning of the scandal not being divulged to us but i want to know what happened at the end.
overall, this was good but i wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t wanna sit and wonder why iron widow was included and not more on the legitimate series.
this was good and all but. . . where’s the rest? where’s the beginning?
i have more questions than i did before i opened this. the plot was decent, i’ve read better. nick was cute and so was fatale.
but.
like.
what happened at the end? i don’t mind the beginning of the scandal not being divulged to us but i want to know what happened at the end.
overall, this was good but i wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t wanna sit and wonder why iron widow was included and not more on the legitimate series.
May 20, 2020
2.5 & rounding up for this one. I didn't notice that Vol. 2 of the 2010 run of Black Widow was by a different writer until I started reading this one. Its also shorter (only 3 issues instead of the usual 5) and the first two issues are one story with the third its own story. I liked the second story better, but the art was not the best in these issues (characters looked inconsistent within issues). I think I'll pause on reading any more Black Widow until the fall when her movie is *currently* scheduled to be released.
September 13, 2021
Great art and the plot has enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. The author weaves in some factual spy scenarios to give some verisimilitude. The downside here is the plot doesn't completely wrap up. Another quibble is Natasha Romanov is stabbed through the shoulder in the first few pages and not only is it never mentioned again it doesn't seem to hinder her at all--maybe she has Wolverine's healing factor?
May 15, 2022
This seemed like a parody entitled, "How not to write an interesting Marvel spy book in five easy steps!" It was so very cliched. None of these characters introduced here will seen again because there is nothing of value to them. Natasha is portrayed as a competent badass so the writer got that part right. The art seemed very rushed and there were some laughable panels. Overall, definitely not worth the time.
July 10, 2021
É o tipo de leitura boa, mas esquecível. É tão esquecível que a trama não acaba no arco e nem é sobre a Viúva Negra, é sobre um filhinho de papai que aprende que a moral americana é falível. Final é meio vergonhoso, mesmo com a boa ilustração de Manuel Garcia e como Duane sabe usar bem recordatórios.
January 16, 2022
this was basically your average spy thriller, it was not very memorable, and the ending was underwhelming.
I already wasn't totally hooked by the first volume of the run and since I liked this one a bit less I won't read the sequel to this (which is called the Widowmaker mini-series if you are wondering)
hopefully the next Black Window run I read hooks me
I already wasn't totally hooked by the first volume of the run and since I liked this one a bit less I won't read the sequel to this (which is called the Widowmaker mini-series if you are wondering)
hopefully the next Black Window run I read hooks me
November 4, 2019
The story line with Nick working along side BW was cute - it lightened the tone of this book, which I enjoyed, since most BW stories tend to be extremely dark. Its a shame this run was so short and rushed, it could have been awesome.
November 10, 2020
🤷♀️ I guess I don't get the appeal of this character. I do love ScarJo's portrayal of her on the screen, but I didn't find myself very engaged in the storyline. It's probably an " it's not you, it's me" sort of deal.
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