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Black Widow (2016) (Collected Editions)
Black Widow, Vol. 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Most Wanted
The first six issues of the acclaimed Black Widow series by Mark Waid and Chris Samnee is given the award-winning Artist's Edition treatment. Every cover, page, and layout is scanned from the original art.
Collecting the first six issues of the acclaimed Black Widow series, penciled and inked by Chris Samnee, and co-written with frequent collaborator Mark Waid. All pages have been scanned from the original art and are presented the same size as drawn. This volume will include a number of layouts by Samnee that show his creative process. As with all Artist’s Editions, this book appears to be in Black and white, but is scanned and printed in color, the better to see the subtle nuances that make original art unique.
Collecting the first six issues of the acclaimed Black Widow series, penciled and inked by Chris Samnee, and co-written with frequent collaborator Mark Waid. All pages have been scanned from the original art and are presented the same size as drawn. This volume will include a number of layouts by Samnee that show his creative process. As with all Artist’s Editions, this book appears to be in Black and white, but is scanned and printed in color, the better to see the subtle nuances that make original art unique.
146 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
46 people are currently reading
1110 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,206 books1,293 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
March 25, 2022
Have you ever picked up a comic that you weren't sure you wanted to read?
Usually, if I open it up and there's just a bunch of tedious word vomit all over the pages, I'll close it and never look back.
That was what was running through my mind when I swiped open the first page of this one.
Ok. I can work with that.
It's a pretty simple story, but it held my attention and made me want to come back for more.
Natasha steals something very important from SHIELD and makes herself an enemy of the state. We find out she's being blackmailed and had to do it, otherwise, this powerful villain would air her dirty laundry and make all her Avenger friends hate her.
Oh no!
Except. You never really know when it comes to the Black Widow, do you?
Recommended.
Usually, if I open it up and there's just a bunch of tedious word vomit all over the pages, I'll close it and never look back.
That was what was running through my mind when I swiped open the first page of this one.
Ok. I can work with that.
It's a pretty simple story, but it held my attention and made me want to come back for more.
Natasha steals something very important from SHIELD and makes herself an enemy of the state. We find out she's being blackmailed and had to do it, otherwise, this powerful villain would air her dirty laundry and make all her Avenger friends hate her.
Oh no!
Except. You never really know when it comes to the Black Widow, do you?
Recommended.
July 27, 2017
It was a typical day for the Black Widow at S.H.I.E.L.D. Hanging out with the accountants. Comparing notes about whether her electro-static Widow’s Bite bracelets are tax deductible, critiquing the latest season of Orange is the New Black, and discussing the international tax code developments in the Czech Republic, when:
Blammo!
And Shapoopzie!
Natasha is on SHIELD’s
Uh, why?
Because the use of body bags cannot be written off as a traveling expense according to SHIELD regulation MXVIII, Section 7, Subheading A, codicil iii…
No,
Somebody is playing the blackmail game with the Widow. Somebody from her Russian Spy School for Underaged Sociopathic Little Girls days.
She’s forced to steal stuff from SHIELD or secret stuff the Russkies have about her will be revealed to all.
Or something.
*yawn*
Bottom Line: This one starts off like gangbusters…
And
…but slows down to a muddled turtle crawl when the “plot” mechanism starts to play out. I love the Waid/Samnee combo, but the “pulse-pounding action and glorious spy smash up stuff” (note to Goodreads/Amazon: you have my permission (heh) to lift that excellent, yet misleading, quote out and put it anywhere on the interwebz you like) only carry this volume so far.
Bonus star for .
Cuz I’m in a good mood for a change, it’s a Skottie Young twofer:
March 16, 2017
Black Widow’s stolen something from SHIELD – get her!
Mark Waid and Chris Samnee reunite after their acclaimed Daredevil run to work their magic on Black Widow… and unfortunately it doesn’t take.
The opening issue is full of slick, fast-moving action as Natasha busts out of a SHIELD Helicarrier in full pursuit by SHIELD agents and escapes them all – barely. And then we’re into a very generic spy thriller storyline: blackmail, secrets, double-crosses, heists. It’d be interesting if the writing didn’t render it in such an unmemorable way.
And while there are other hi-octane action sequences, they end up feeling shallow and insubstantial against such a dreary story. Also, the blackmail reveal at the end was so unimpressive and esoteric – I couldn’t have cared less.
Samnee’s art is good and the action is awesome in a mindless way but Black Widow, Volume 1: SHIELD’s Most Wanted is very bland and reads like any action spy thriller - instantly forgettable stuff. If you’re after an inspired female spy comic, check out Ed Brubaker/Steve Epting’s Velvet instead.
Mark Waid and Chris Samnee reunite after their acclaimed Daredevil run to work their magic on Black Widow… and unfortunately it doesn’t take.
The opening issue is full of slick, fast-moving action as Natasha busts out of a SHIELD Helicarrier in full pursuit by SHIELD agents and escapes them all – barely. And then we’re into a very generic spy thriller storyline: blackmail, secrets, double-crosses, heists. It’d be interesting if the writing didn’t render it in such an unmemorable way.
And while there are other hi-octane action sequences, they end up feeling shallow and insubstantial against such a dreary story. Also, the blackmail reveal at the end was so unimpressive and esoteric – I couldn’t have cared less.
Samnee’s art is good and the action is awesome in a mindless way but Black Widow, Volume 1: SHIELD’s Most Wanted is very bland and reads like any action spy thriller - instantly forgettable stuff. If you’re after an inspired female spy comic, check out Ed Brubaker/Steve Epting’s Velvet instead.
December 30, 2018
Waid and Samnee are at it again. If you're expecting their Daredevil run, this is completely different. Black Widow is a LeCarre spy novel as a comic book. Stretches of the book are completely silent, letting the art tell the story. Black Widow is on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D. and forced to work for a criminal overlord who knows her darkest secrets. It's a fantastic series with great art.
April 8, 2018
The Black Widow's past comes back to haunt her when the Weeping Lion blackmails her into getting some files for him in exchange for not revealing her darkest secrets. Will the Widow do what he asks? Will she let the Weeping Lion live when she does?
Since Mark Waid and Chris Samnee on Daredevil was some of the best comics I read in years, I decided to take advantage of my Marvel Unlimited subscription and check out their Black Widow run. Coming off the glacially paced Infamous Iron Man, I was pretty pleased with the first volume of Black Widow. While still decompressed, each issue was a satisfying morsel in its own right.
Samnee's art is as crisp as ever, equally at home portraying action, landscapes, or two characters talking. His Black Widow drawn to resemble Scarlet Johansen and he does a great job. The limited color palette makes the book pop, much like his work on Daredevil.
Waid takes the Widow through all sorts of locales, like the SHIELD helicarrier, a cemeterary, and the Red Room, the place where the Widow was originally trained. I liked how the story explored parts of the Widow's past. I also liked how the Black Widow seemed very deadly and not just the girl on the Avengers.
The blackmail part of the plot was a little weak, particularly when the dirt on the Black Widow was revealed. The ending of the arc lead into the next one but I'm not sure I'm interested enough to follow.
I loved the art on SHIELD's most wanted but the story was average. Three out of five stars.
Since Mark Waid and Chris Samnee on Daredevil was some of the best comics I read in years, I decided to take advantage of my Marvel Unlimited subscription and check out their Black Widow run. Coming off the glacially paced Infamous Iron Man, I was pretty pleased with the first volume of Black Widow. While still decompressed, each issue was a satisfying morsel in its own right.
Samnee's art is as crisp as ever, equally at home portraying action, landscapes, or two characters talking. His Black Widow drawn to resemble Scarlet Johansen and he does a great job. The limited color palette makes the book pop, much like his work on Daredevil.
Waid takes the Widow through all sorts of locales, like the SHIELD helicarrier, a cemeterary, and the Red Room, the place where the Widow was originally trained. I liked how the story explored parts of the Widow's past. I also liked how the Black Widow seemed very deadly and not just the girl on the Avengers.
The blackmail part of the plot was a little weak, particularly when the dirt on the Black Widow was revealed. The ending of the arc lead into the next one but I'm not sure I'm interested enough to follow.
I loved the art on SHIELD's most wanted but the story was average. Three out of five stars.
December 10, 2021
•Read as individual issues.
•Re-read in hardcover omnibus (italian edition by Panini Comics)
Eisner Award-winning team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee is back for good.
Initially I was not impressed at all reading this new start of Natasha's adventures, it seemed just a comic version of MCU Black Widow with the usual Dark past/Red room/S.h.i.e.l.d. and old/new mysterious enemy on the hunt, with great amazing art as a bonus.
So glad the second part of the story is far better than the first, and Waid throw in your face some very good references to the OLD Marvel Comics Black Widow that can just make happy and smile aged Marvel zombies like me. :D
A more than good first volume and can't wait to read next one, .
•Re-read in hardcover omnibus (italian edition by Panini Comics)
Eisner Award-winning team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee is back for good.
Initially I was not impressed at all reading this new start of Natasha's adventures, it seemed just a comic version of MCU Black Widow with the usual Dark past/Red room/S.h.i.e.l.d. and old/new mysterious enemy on the hunt, with great amazing art as a bonus.
So glad the second part of the story is far better than the first, and Waid throw in your face some very good references to the OLD Marvel Comics Black Widow that can just make happy and smile aged Marvel zombies like me. :D
A more than good first volume and can't wait to read next one, .
February 21, 2017
When I heard the creative team from the best Daredevil run EVER (suck it, Miller fans! Bendis, Schemdis...) were doing a new Black Widow series, it almost cheered me up enough to stop crying about them leaving DD. Almost.
It didn't disappoint. Issue one was one of most jaw-droppingly amazing first issues I've ever read and the rest of this first volume was like a masterclass in visual storytelling. Samnee's artwork is just stunning.
The actual plot did occasionally dip into by-the-numbers espionage territory (which would have been fine for virtually any other writer but I hold Mark Waid to a higher standard) and I was just starting to think 'man, haven't we had enough of 'Tasha's past coming back to bite her in the arse' when the final issue delivered a revelation and a twist like a one-two double punch from a heavyweight champ and my faith was restored. I can't wait for the next volume!
It didn't disappoint. Issue one was one of most jaw-droppingly amazing first issues I've ever read and the rest of this first volume was like a masterclass in visual storytelling. Samnee's artwork is just stunning.
The actual plot did occasionally dip into by-the-numbers espionage territory (which would have been fine for virtually any other writer but I hold Mark Waid to a higher standard) and I was just starting to think 'man, haven't we had enough of 'Tasha's past coming back to bite her in the arse' when the final issue delivered a revelation and a twist like a one-two double punch from a heavyweight champ and my faith was restored. I can't wait for the next volume!
March 23, 2022
Very much reliant on the visual aspect, Waid and Samnee collaborate to bring an action packed Black Widow story with minimal words, and yet a lot to say. The sparingly used dialogue lends well to Natasha's role as a master spy and assassin, with the art alone being enough to carry the fights and stealth panels which take up a significant amount of the pages. A pleasant surprise and an extremely enjoyable read.
July 5, 2022
I had asked for recommendations about great or even very good Black Widow comics series and Rod and Francois recommended I check out this series by Mark Waid and Gregory Samnee, and I liked it very much, though I see it is only a two volume series, so not sure what happened. I have now read three Black Widow series first volumes, and liked this one best. The other two are good, establishing a contemporary feel with a focus on establishing her making a kind of expiation about past sins.
The main attraction of this series for me is the art. I like wordless panels/pages in comics, and this has several pages of action sequences telling the story. Samnee gets equal authorship credit here, and the way I see it that is deserved, in that the tale is very much image-driven. So this is less contemporary and psychological and more action-driven, with a bit of a throwback feel to the art, and I think it is great throughout.
This one also refers to Natasha’s evil past, but reveals there is a justification for it; she was one of several children trained to be assassins in and through The Red Room. There’s a few other aspects worth mentioning: S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to see her as their “enemy” at the moment, and for apparently good reason, and there seems to be a set of secret files on her past that could damage her rep with them permanently, and there’s a Bad Guy named Weeping Lion, but all that’s less interesting to me than the discovery of another Red Room grad and assassin, Recluse, who may function as some kind of doppelganger. Certainly a villain, though maybe all the psychologically abused Red Room kids have some kind f healing in their futures.
I liked it especially visually--bravo Samnee--and I’ll check out the second volume and try to figure out what happens/happened.
The main attraction of this series for me is the art. I like wordless panels/pages in comics, and this has several pages of action sequences telling the story. Samnee gets equal authorship credit here, and the way I see it that is deserved, in that the tale is very much image-driven. So this is less contemporary and psychological and more action-driven, with a bit of a throwback feel to the art, and I think it is great throughout.
This one also refers to Natasha’s evil past, but reveals there is a justification for it; she was one of several children trained to be assassins in and through The Red Room. There’s a few other aspects worth mentioning: S.H.I.E.L.D. seems to see her as their “enemy” at the moment, and for apparently good reason, and there seems to be a set of secret files on her past that could damage her rep with them permanently, and there’s a Bad Guy named Weeping Lion, but all that’s less interesting to me than the discovery of another Red Room grad and assassin, Recluse, who may function as some kind of doppelganger. Certainly a villain, though maybe all the psychologically abused Red Room kids have some kind f healing in their futures.
I liked it especially visually--bravo Samnee--and I’ll check out the second volume and try to figure out what happens/happened.
April 2, 2019
3.5 stars
Krak! Fak! Whump!
With those onomatopoeias our briefly dialogue-free title character begins an impressive, issue-long pursuit / big damn action sequence. Getting her Bond & Bourne on, deadly Natasha Romanoff leaps - sans parachute - from a SHIELD helicarrier with several agents on her tail, and continues the fight from mid-air to the New York City streets below. It was an exceptional opening to this volume . . .
Except the rest of the book, though good, can't quite sustain the momentum and settles into the standard and sometimes predictable spy thriller territory. Expect flashbacks, blackmailing, double-crosses, and more violence than you can shake a stick at . . . and then expect to get beaten severely with said stick. Still, it's great to see the strong and shrewd Black Widow carry the lead here with nary a Hulk or Thor in sight. This is definitely one lady you'd want to have your back in a bar fight.
Krak! Fak! Whump!
With those onomatopoeias our briefly dialogue-free title character begins an impressive, issue-long pursuit / big damn action sequence. Getting her Bond & Bourne on, deadly Natasha Romanoff leaps - sans parachute - from a SHIELD helicarrier with several agents on her tail, and continues the fight from mid-air to the New York City streets below. It was an exceptional opening to this volume . . .
Except the rest of the book, though good, can't quite sustain the momentum and settles into the standard and sometimes predictable spy thriller territory. Expect flashbacks, blackmailing, double-crosses, and more violence than you can shake a stick at . . . and then expect to get beaten severely with said stick. Still, it's great to see the strong and shrewd Black Widow carry the lead here with nary a Hulk or Thor in sight. This is definitely one lady you'd want to have your back in a bar fight.
August 17, 2022
This was so good omg!
I love how fast-paced and action-oriented it is and so reads quick! I appreciate the fact that Waid lets the art shine through for the first few issues as we see Nat on the run and lets say a pariah from SHIELD now and then doing work for someone called the "Weeping lion" and she has to retrieve some info from Red room, so go back to her past and beginnings and going against her teacher and her daughter "Anya" and we see the relation between them and their childhood flashbacks and its a fun battle and then we learn of Widow's earlier missions like Kidnap Ho Yinsen and thus Iron man vs Nat maybe is what happens next!
Its filled with tension and is like a spy-thriller movie and it deserves to be made into one tbh but regardless the action is amazing and I love the fast-paced nature like I mentioned and I also like how they give exposition but the momentum doesn't stop and a fun encounter with the "Weeping Lion" in the end and a good BW moment too which leads into 2nd volume really well!
So yeah a must recommend from me.. this volume! It reunites Mark and Chris after their epic Daredevil run and I have fond memories of reading it when it was coming out and this reminded me again why! So yeah a definite recommend!
I love how fast-paced and action-oriented it is and so reads quick! I appreciate the fact that Waid lets the art shine through for the first few issues as we see Nat on the run and lets say a pariah from SHIELD now and then doing work for someone called the "Weeping lion" and she has to retrieve some info from Red room, so go back to her past and beginnings and going against her teacher and her daughter "Anya" and we see the relation between them and their childhood flashbacks and its a fun battle and then we learn of Widow's earlier missions like Kidnap Ho Yinsen and thus Iron man vs Nat maybe is what happens next!
Its filled with tension and is like a spy-thriller movie and it deserves to be made into one tbh but regardless the action is amazing and I love the fast-paced nature like I mentioned and I also like how they give exposition but the momentum doesn't stop and a fun encounter with the "Weeping Lion" in the end and a good BW moment too which leads into 2nd volume really well!
So yeah a must recommend from me.. this volume! It reunites Mark and Chris after their epic Daredevil run and I have fond memories of reading it when it was coming out and this reminded me again why! So yeah a definite recommend!
August 18, 2016
Mark Waid's and Chris Samnee's Black Widow reminds me a lot of Nathan Edmonson's and Phil Noto's run — beautiful art, very meh story.
But it started out so good! The first issue is brilliant. Almost completely silent, full of action, explosions and fun. But then, of course, we had to have some lame plot about Natasha stealing some key to a file to another file with some awful, awful secrets about Nat's past. I mean, come on. By now everyone knows about her past. She did bad things, she regrets doing those things, she's a different person now, yada-yada-yawn. Of course, there is also a big, big bad guy with a terrible, terrible russian name who loves to give long, looooong evil speeches. God, am I tired of those.
And by the way, a rant for all non-russian writers, be that of comics, movies, TV shows or whatever: please, do not try to incorporate russian words into your english dialogue and especially into the names of your characters. You never do that right, and it always sounds and reads horribly. You want your russian dude to have the name "Weeping Lion"? For fuck's sake, just call him that. Do not call him "Plach Liev". This is idiotic. This actually translates like "a cry lion", and it isn't even transliterated correctly. And also, russian curse words do not look good in a comic that is rated 13+. Now, look, I know that most people won't notice those things. There are probably like five of us russian geeks who will even read this comic in english, and most of us are probably grown-ass people who can handle a bit of cussing in a book. But you never know! So why not avoid this situation altogether? Just don't use those words in a book. It's not a big deal, but it just doesn't sit right with me.
Boring plot and some bad linguistic choices aside, the artwork is definitely this comic's biggest strength. Chris Samnee and Matt Wilson are well-known for their collaborations with Mark Waid on Daredevil, and their art looks just as good (if not better) in this book. Samnee draws some kick-ass action scenes in this one. They're fast, yet easy to follow, and generally feel as if you're watching a great action movie. Honestly, if this was just six issues of punching, kicking, shooting and explosions, I wouldn't even complain and would likely give this book a higher rating. The first two or three issues are mostly that, and they're delightful to read. And then there's Matt Wilson's colours. I will keep praising the guy forever. He deserves an Eisner. He just makes every comic look so much better.
Still, great art couldn't save this mediocre story. With each issue, there was less and less silent action, more and more expository dialogue, and by issue #6 I just wanted to be done with this plot already. It was too long and felt pointless. The cliffhanger was really weak, too, so I am not even sure I want to continue with this series despite the strength of its creative team. Yes, Mark Waid is a very hit-or-miss writer for me, with great books like Daredevil and Superman: Birthright, and terrible books like Kingdom Come or Princess Leia. I assumed Black Widow would be more like Daredevil because of the talent involved, but no, it wasn't even close. Overall, a disappointing book.
But it started out so good! The first issue is brilliant. Almost completely silent, full of action, explosions and fun. But then, of course, we had to have some lame plot about Natasha stealing some key to a file to another file with some awful, awful secrets about Nat's past. I mean, come on. By now everyone knows about her past. She did bad things, she regrets doing those things, she's a different person now, yada-yada-yawn. Of course, there is also a big, big bad guy with a terrible, terrible russian name who loves to give long, looooong evil speeches. God, am I tired of those.
And by the way, a rant for all non-russian writers, be that of comics, movies, TV shows or whatever: please, do not try to incorporate russian words into your english dialogue and especially into the names of your characters. You never do that right, and it always sounds and reads horribly. You want your russian dude to have the name "Weeping Lion"? For fuck's sake, just call him that. Do not call him "Plach Liev". This is idiotic. This actually translates like "a cry lion", and it isn't even transliterated correctly. And also, russian curse words do not look good in a comic that is rated 13+. Now, look, I know that most people won't notice those things. There are probably like five of us russian geeks who will even read this comic in english, and most of us are probably grown-ass people who can handle a bit of cussing in a book. But you never know! So why not avoid this situation altogether? Just don't use those words in a book. It's not a big deal, but it just doesn't sit right with me.
Boring plot and some bad linguistic choices aside, the artwork is definitely this comic's biggest strength. Chris Samnee and Matt Wilson are well-known for their collaborations with Mark Waid on Daredevil, and their art looks just as good (if not better) in this book. Samnee draws some kick-ass action scenes in this one. They're fast, yet easy to follow, and generally feel as if you're watching a great action movie. Honestly, if this was just six issues of punching, kicking, shooting and explosions, I wouldn't even complain and would likely give this book a higher rating. The first two or three issues are mostly that, and they're delightful to read. And then there's Matt Wilson's colours. I will keep praising the guy forever. He deserves an Eisner. He just makes every comic look so much better.
Still, great art couldn't save this mediocre story. With each issue, there was less and less silent action, more and more expository dialogue, and by issue #6 I just wanted to be done with this plot already. It was too long and felt pointless. The cliffhanger was really weak, too, so I am not even sure I want to continue with this series despite the strength of its creative team. Yes, Mark Waid is a very hit-or-miss writer for me, with great books like Daredevil and Superman: Birthright, and terrible books like Kingdom Come or Princess Leia. I assumed Black Widow would be more like Daredevil because of the talent involved, but no, it wasn't even close. Overall, a disappointing book.
July 12, 2017
Damn, this was good! Black Widow is badass. The writing was on point and the artwork was so gorgeous, I soaked it all in with my eyes. The palate is darker with a motif of red. Her hair is so brilliant and the artists make the most of it in this book. Those who really appreciate Black Widow from the Avengers movies will find themselves gratified with this book. I'm not a huge fan of Scarlett Johansen. She does a good job in the movies, but she's not my ideal Black Widow.
In this book, Natasha becomes an enemy of SHIELD for a very good reason. She has to go back in her past and where she was trained. The flashbacks were beautifully rendered, and the reader has a rare view into the enigmatic Black Widow and what makes her tick.
The action is incredible. Natasha can more than handle herself. Not only a highly trained operative and fighter, but extremely cool-minded and quick thinking. It's impossible to out-think her by too far ahead. It makes me wish for a Black Widow movie (but I wouldn't want ScoJo as the character, sorry!). Even cooler would be a show with her on Netflix. Pretty please.
I'm planning out an art piece with Black Widow and this book was very helpful. I had to download the ebook and the second in the series. Also because I loved it so much.
I highly recommend this.
In this book, Natasha becomes an enemy of SHIELD for a very good reason. She has to go back in her past and where she was trained. The flashbacks were beautifully rendered, and the reader has a rare view into the enigmatic Black Widow and what makes her tick.
The action is incredible. Natasha can more than handle herself. Not only a highly trained operative and fighter, but extremely cool-minded and quick thinking. It's impossible to out-think her by too far ahead. It makes me wish for a Black Widow movie (but I wouldn't want ScoJo as the character, sorry!). Even cooler would be a show with her on Netflix. Pretty please.
I'm planning out an art piece with Black Widow and this book was very helpful. I had to download the ebook and the second in the series. Also because I loved it so much.
I highly recommend this.
May 10, 2020
This is stylish and cool with a strong focus on action. If you're a fan of spy movies, this basically hits all the beats that you love. My only complaint is that the artist might not know how to draw children well. Within a flashback scene it's hard to pin down the age of Black Widow because her appearance seems to shift between elementary age and teenage. Other than that though, the art is really attractive.
June 17, 2017
3.5 stars.
So, this didn't get really good until the last 2 issues. I'm really finicky about the way Natasha is portrayed. She's one of my all time favorite characters and it really sucks that her solo books are usually awful (Itsy Bitsy Spider) or fantastic (Name of the Rose). This one was just kind of bland until the last 2 issues. I'm not Waid's biggest fan - I've yet to find something I love by him aside from the Archie series.
I commend this book for using silence well. Natasha isn't a character that should be quipping a lot and it makes a lot more sense to dial back the speech bubbles for this series. She's a highly trained assassin on a mission. Most of this storyline is told visually or through Natasha listening to other characters giving exposition. I think that was really smart.
The storyline itself is kind of bland. There were two interactions (with Anya and Tony) I kinda side-eyed because they were not only unbelievable but they were mighty convenient.
I like the art, especially in the action sequences. I think Natasha is characterized well here. I wish the first four issues were as good as the last 2. I own every issue of this series but this is the first time I'm actually reading them. I think the next six will be better.
So, this didn't get really good until the last 2 issues. I'm really finicky about the way Natasha is portrayed. She's one of my all time favorite characters and it really sucks that her solo books are usually awful (Itsy Bitsy Spider) or fantastic (Name of the Rose). This one was just kind of bland until the last 2 issues. I'm not Waid's biggest fan - I've yet to find something I love by him aside from the Archie series.
I commend this book for using silence well. Natasha isn't a character that should be quipping a lot and it makes a lot more sense to dial back the speech bubbles for this series. She's a highly trained assassin on a mission. Most of this storyline is told visually or through Natasha listening to other characters giving exposition. I think that was really smart.
The storyline itself is kind of bland. There were two interactions (with Anya and Tony) I kinda side-eyed because they were not only unbelievable but they were mighty convenient.
I like the art, especially in the action sequences. I think Natasha is characterized well here. I wish the first four issues were as good as the last 2. I own every issue of this series but this is the first time I'm actually reading them. I think the next six will be better.
January 7, 2017
Artwork: 3.5 stars, loved the 'bonus' drawings (guess you could call em that)
Story/Writing: Part one - 3.5 stars, Part two - 2.5 stars
---
Xmas gift from my friend David :)
~~~
The story itself... fell more on the like side than 'in love' with but was still enjoyable.
It does a good job of sucking you in and getting you invested in what Natasha is up to and how everything will play out.
Despite all that, mental red flags kept popping up for me... (I'm fairly new to Marvel graphic novels/comics but what I've come across so far (Ms. Marvel) I've enjoyed. ) I kept feeling like I was 'missing' something...
The second part of the story started to lose steam for me and give off a 'been there, done that' vibe... so-so writing and it seemed rushed near the end and forced in certain points.
The conversation between was the highlight of the second half for me, way too short *pouts*
Will I read the next volume? Maybe... might just wait for the library to get it though, or put it on my amazon wishlist for later on *shrugs*
April 12, 2020
I’m genuinely surprised how good this was. Makes me want to read volume 2.
I thought it would be full of cliches and predictable story like all the captain marvel crap.
Kept me engaged the whole way.
I thought it would be full of cliches and predictable story like all the captain marvel crap.
Kept me engaged the whole way.
August 29, 2016
While the art is very very good, the story takes a little while to get going. The second half is much better than the first. It's when it seems to get into the spy espionage side of Natasha more.
Read
February 24, 2017Spies spies spies spies spies
If the previous series was more LeCarre, this is Bournelike, but in a manner I find far more persuasive than Bourne himself. Great read. Well done.
If the previous series was more LeCarre, this is Bournelike, but in a manner I find far more persuasive than Bourne himself. Great read. Well done.
December 25, 2017
I thought I would give comics another try and this time chose a character that I knew I liked, and I am so glad I did. I got this comic from Santa today and had a lovely Christmas afternoon reading it.
This is only the second comic that I've ever read, so this probably wont be the best review. I really liked the plot and was surprised quite a few times by the twists. If I hadn't seen all the Marvel films then I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I wouldn't have known as many of the characters mentioned. Another one of the Avengers appeared, which was great, so I can't wait to read the next one and see what happens with them.
The art was gorgeous and I didn't find the change between text and art as jarring this time. I am really glad that I gave comics another chance!
This is only the second comic that I've ever read, so this probably wont be the best review. I really liked the plot and was surprised quite a few times by the twists. If I hadn't seen all the Marvel films then I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it as much as I wouldn't have known as many of the characters mentioned. Another one of the Avengers appeared, which was great, so I can't wait to read the next one and see what happens with them.
The art was gorgeous and I didn't find the change between text and art as jarring this time. I am really glad that I gave comics another chance!
November 30, 2016
After their award-winning (and rightly so) run on Daredevil, Mark Waid and Chris Samnee team up again to tackle Black Widow, fresh off of a great run by Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto.
Unfortunately this one doesn't hit the ground running as well as I'd have hoped. The first two issues barely feature any story besides Natasha running around or punching people (which is fine, but not how I'd have picked to launch a series), and then the final two issues shove in characters and plot twists one after another. I feel like sometimes the artwork is left to do a lot of the storytelling (and Chris Samnee is an amazing artist so I can see why that would be the choice) but it often sacrifices the momentum of the story in favour of another extended action sequence.
There's something missing here, and I'm not sure what it is just yet. These six issues set up what could be an intriguing new status quo for Natasha, but it does it at the expense of other important story beats. In particular, I don't feel like this is something new for Natasha; being the one everyone doesn't trust comes with her territory as a spy, so this just feels kind of like a Tuesday for her rather than a big challenge.
I'll stick with it, because Waid and Samnee have built up a hell of a lot of goodwill with me, but I'm wary going forward.
Unfortunately this one doesn't hit the ground running as well as I'd have hoped. The first two issues barely feature any story besides Natasha running around or punching people (which is fine, but not how I'd have picked to launch a series), and then the final two issues shove in characters and plot twists one after another. I feel like sometimes the artwork is left to do a lot of the storytelling (and Chris Samnee is an amazing artist so I can see why that would be the choice) but it often sacrifices the momentum of the story in favour of another extended action sequence.
There's something missing here, and I'm not sure what it is just yet. These six issues set up what could be an intriguing new status quo for Natasha, but it does it at the expense of other important story beats. In particular, I don't feel like this is something new for Natasha; being the one everyone doesn't trust comes with her territory as a spy, so this just feels kind of like a Tuesday for her rather than a big challenge.
I'll stick with it, because Waid and Samnee have built up a hell of a lot of goodwill with me, but I'm wary going forward.
October 19, 2020
Много може да се дудне, и то никак не ласкаво, за работата на Анна Дудко, упомената като преводач. Спокойно можеше да се тури надпис: преводач - Франц Йозеф Ох - главен архитект на гугъл транслейт. (заб. не знам дали баш така се изговаря, ползвах гугъл транслейт :) :) :) )
Стилът на рисуване на Крис Самни обаче доста ми допадна, с уточнението, че хич не разбирам от комиксов арт, а говоря за лично чисто визуално усещане.
Историята - низ от шпионски клишета и яростен екшън - доволно ми се вслади.
Крайна оценка 3,5.
Стилът на рисуване на Крис Самни обаче доста ми допадна, с уточнението, че хич не разбирам от комиксов арт, а говоря за лично чисто визуално усещане.
Историята - низ от шпионски клишета и яростен екшън - доволно ми се вслади.
Крайна оценка 3,5.
January 26, 2018
This was ok. Nothing special.
January 26, 2021
За първи път чета комикс за Черната Вдовица и не съм особено впечатлена. Беше интересно, но някак доста хаотично и връзката с миналото не я разбрах напълно.
September 16, 2017
NATASHA ROMANOFF: The female-Jason-Bourne.
Black Widow is on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D. Reading the first issue, I thought she resembled Scarlett Johansson!
Black Widow is on the run from S.H.I.E.L.D. Reading the first issue, I thought she resembled Scarlett Johansson!
October 29, 2020
Артът е як, историята е скучна.
December 3, 2019
A solid spy actioner with lots of intrigue and double-crosses. It’s not as good as Velvet, Vol. 1: Before the Living End, which is as about as good as it gets, but it’s decent. The art is crisp if not perfectly easy to follow every moment. My only real complaint is that it has a soggy middle, but the start and finish are quite nice. It’s cool to see Black Widow being a full-on badass.
October 26, 2020
Черната вдовица е интересен персонаж, и би могъл да е запонящ се такъв, ако е представен още малко по-пълнокръвно от типичния анти-герой. Сюжетът е ок, но е напукан повече и гербаджийски асфалт. Най-хубавото в него е, че е относително по-сенчест - не характерния за западните суъпергеройски комикси черно-бели детинщини. Артът ми хареса - доста по-различен от този в предишните две книги от поредицата, но е доста добър. Преводът е кофти, редакцията също, а корекцията е само идея над тях.
3,5
3,5
December 22, 2017
I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Edmondson's take, but it was still enjoyable. A very quick read for being six issues, the first one especially so.
April 11, 2020
An enjoyable and accessible comic book introduction to Black Widow. This is perfect for MCU-Black Widow fans, though it's far from the first Marvel book I'd recommend to a new reader.
Samnee and Wilson are an art team to be reckoned with - the simple lines, newspaper-y textures, and red-washed flashbacks are beautifully modern and nostalgic all at once. I loved the number of dialogue-less pages, as Waid (rightly) trusted the art team to move the story along visually. It's also true to Natasha's character, the opposite of quippy Peter Parker. This book is worth reading just for the art.
Waid's story is so-so. This is a straight spy story that tangentially ties into Natasha's past in Russia. Even with a few flashbacks, like the rest of the world, the reader isn't let in much to Natasha's world. One could argue this is part of her character, but it's also a missed opportunity to become more invested in her. Sometimes Natasha's hard shell felt like an excuse to forego more character development. While the "big reveal" of Natasha's worst secret fits nicely into continuity, the story was kind of forgettable overall. There are also some real bad "show don't tell" violations at the end, particularly with the Weeping Lion, that feel beneath Waid.
A good introductory run, but not *so* good that the second volume jumps to the top of my pile.
Samnee and Wilson are an art team to be reckoned with - the simple lines, newspaper-y textures, and red-washed flashbacks are beautifully modern and nostalgic all at once. I loved the number of dialogue-less pages, as Waid (rightly) trusted the art team to move the story along visually. It's also true to Natasha's character, the opposite of quippy Peter Parker. This book is worth reading just for the art.
Waid's story is so-so. This is a straight spy story that tangentially ties into Natasha's past in Russia. Even with a few flashbacks, like the rest of the world, the reader isn't let in much to Natasha's world. One could argue this is part of her character, but it's also a missed opportunity to become more invested in her. Sometimes Natasha's hard shell felt like an excuse to forego more character development. While the "big reveal" of Natasha's worst secret fits nicely into continuity, the story was kind of forgettable overall. There are also some real bad "show don't tell" violations at the end, particularly with the Weeping Lion, that feel beneath Waid.
A good introductory run, but not *so* good that the second volume jumps to the top of my pile.
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