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Black Widow (2016) (Single Issues)
Black Widow #1
S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Most Wanted! The Eisner Award-winning team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee are taking Black Widow on the lam! Natasha has spent years gathering secrets, and when some of the darkest ones begin mysteriously going public, no one is safe. With her betrayed former confederates at S.H.I.E.L.D. on her heels and a lifetime of training and ingenuity at her disposal, Natasha's out for answers in a knock-down-drag-out tale of action and espionage! Hidden enemies, old friends and unusual allies collide, and all eyes are on Black Widow. The chase is on!
22 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
2 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,202 books1,291 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 47 reviews
August 3, 2017
Natasha A.K.A Black Widow has stollen a top secret thing from S.H.I.E.L.D.
This issue have more action than dialogue. I liked it.
This issue have more action than dialogue. I liked it.
September 9, 2020
One of the sickest escapes ever. After watching the trailer, I can already tell the upcoming movie is taking a lot of inspiration from this run, rightly so. Not a fan of the big title in the cover though.
March 10, 2016
Holy shit.
I was laughing out loud by the end of this, simply shocked by its audacity. It's just so much fun. So much fun.
I feel like I was just transported into the opening, pre-credits scene of a great action movie. In fact, if Black Widow ever does get a movie, it would be a sin to not start it like this comic. Wow.
I came to this comic for the creative team - Waid, Samnee, Wilson - fresh from a fantastic run on Daredevil. So far, I enjoyed this one issue more than any from their entire Daredevil series. Nice.
Highly recommended to fans of action-packed comics, the latest Daredevil run, and the art of Fraction and David Aja's Hawkeye.
There isn't much story to speak of yet, but what a fun ride, and I have confidence that this team can keep it going and make this opening worth it.
This is a perfect first issue for a guns-and-explosions superhero series.
I was laughing out loud by the end of this, simply shocked by its audacity. It's just so much fun. So much fun.
I feel like I was just transported into the opening, pre-credits scene of a great action movie. In fact, if Black Widow ever does get a movie, it would be a sin to not start it like this comic. Wow.
I came to this comic for the creative team - Waid, Samnee, Wilson - fresh from a fantastic run on Daredevil. So far, I enjoyed this one issue more than any from their entire Daredevil series. Nice.
Highly recommended to fans of action-packed comics, the latest Daredevil run, and the art of Fraction and David Aja's Hawkeye.
There isn't much story to speak of yet, but what a fun ride, and I have confidence that this team can keep it going and make this opening worth it.
This is a perfect first issue for a guns-and-explosions superhero series.
July 15, 2016
Having recently finished Nathan Edmondson's 20 issue Black Widow series, I can't help but compare the (extremely exciting, highly anticipated) first issue of Black Widow by Mark Waid to it. One thing is clear to me about both writers: they love Black Widow. They love her as a character, and they respect her. Natasha Romanoff is a badass, a force to be reckoned with, and these men don't try to make you think otherwise. (Joss Whedon, this is where you should be taking notes. You know what you did. The Internet has provided sufficient evidence for your crimes.) Edmondson and Waid both do Natasha well; they just write her differently. Edmondson's Natasha was badass and skilled, yes, but she was also extremely complicated. She had trust issues and unpaid debts and blood in her ledger, and the series was about those issues as much as it was about her bringing down CHAOS. Edmondson's Black Widow spent a lot of her time being Natasha Romanoff, which I did enjoy.
But Mark Waid's Black Widow? She IS the Black Widow. She is all cocky confidence and perfect ballet style flips off buildings onto motorcycles. She is fierce and she is badass and she will not be shocked. Even the agents sent to capture her have to admire her style. She is actually just that good. I love how she's drawn in this book. It reminds me of the style of the Hawkeye comics. I just love her smirk and how the action looks. Edmondson's comics were thoughtful and nuanced, but Waid's series is going to be insanely fun and thrilling. I love having both series. I love having the fun and the introspective. I love living in a world where I can read two different Black Widow series. Maybe this is a sign. Anyone smell a Black Widow movie yet? No? Me neither. I'm looking at you, Marvel.
Unfortunately, I have to wait until next Wednesday to get issues #2 and #3 (my store only had #1 and #4 in stock), but I have high hopes for this series. I hope Waid does not disappoint me.
But Mark Waid's Black Widow? She IS the Black Widow. She is all cocky confidence and perfect ballet style flips off buildings onto motorcycles. She is fierce and she is badass and she will not be shocked. Even the agents sent to capture her have to admire her style. She is actually just that good. I love how she's drawn in this book. It reminds me of the style of the Hawkeye comics. I just love her smirk and how the action looks. Edmondson's comics were thoughtful and nuanced, but Waid's series is going to be insanely fun and thrilling. I love having both series. I love having the fun and the introspective. I love living in a world where I can read two different Black Widow series. Maybe this is a sign. Anyone smell a Black Widow movie yet? No? Me neither. I'm looking at you, Marvel.
Unfortunately, I have to wait until next Wednesday to get issues #2 and #3 (my store only had #1 and #4 in stock), but I have high hopes for this series. I hope Waid does not disappoint me.
August 12, 2017
You always want to give your story a hook near the beginning so that the reader is drawn in and sticks around. This is especially true with comics where often the reader is purchasing the story one chapter (issue) at a time and might not come back for the next.
This comic succeeds with flying colors at creating that hook. We are immediately drawn into the action as Widow makes her escape. If we have no previous knowledge, then at the very least we know that SHIELD is a very large and powerful organization and that Widow is an insanely well trained force to be reckoned with. This is important when it comes to getting new readers. But for people like myself it lets us revel in just how amazing we already know Widow is. And it is stunning.
I can't wait to dive further into this series. Consider me officially hooked.
This comic succeeds with flying colors at creating that hook. We are immediately drawn into the action as Widow makes her escape. If we have no previous knowledge, then at the very least we know that SHIELD is a very large and powerful organization and that Widow is an insanely well trained force to be reckoned with. This is important when it comes to getting new readers. But for people like myself it lets us revel in just how amazing we already know Widow is. And it is stunning.
I can't wait to dive further into this series. Consider me officially hooked.
August 18, 2016
A great start for the series! I loved Waid's Daredevil, and I am very happy to see its whole creative team, including the genius colourist Matt Wilson, back together on this title.
April 19, 2020
“She turns a 40,000 foot fall into a ballet...”
February 28, 2017
Letto nell'edizione Panini Comics.
March 6, 2016
Crazy non-stop action for Natasha that shows how intensely talented she is with a great mix of brutality and sexiness that we all love about Black Widow. She's stolen something very important from S.H.I.E.L.D and has made herself Enemy #1. While not enough plot occurs to make this a 5, I'm confident that this level of intensity will lead to an amazing series!
June 19, 2016
action packed kickoff that makes you ponder why other comic books stick to convention. There is little to no dialogue as the black widow escapes SHIELD for an undisclosed reason. The book throws up more questions than answers and that is okay when you have faith it will be explored along the way.
May 4, 2016
Excellent. Damn, I missed this creative team. So many first issues drown you in exposition, this remembered that comics are primarily a visual medium.
March 4, 2016
Not much happened in this issue. However, I won't give up - looking forward to reading the next one!
Natalia is so amazing, I'll never stop loving her.
Natalia is so amazing, I'll never stop loving her.
March 5, 2016
Dude this shit was like reading a great Nick Fury comic from the late 60's. This is a killer first step. Can't wait to see where the team takes this.
September 4, 2016
Black Widow..... Do I even need to say more?
September 7, 2025
8/10
The art in this issue is incredible. Director Maria Hill comes over the loudspeaker at SHIELD headquarters to announce Natasha Romanoff is an enemy of shield. She says she must be stopped at all costs and cannot exit the facility. She begins fighting off many agents. She gets cornered but tosses a bomb and escapes through the window. It is revealed she has stolen something. She gets in a car and speeds off. She begins fighting an agent in the air and kisses his helmet, then pulls his parachute to get away. She recovers her motorcycle as shots are fired at her and she is warned this is her last chance to stand down. The explosion leaves her in severe pain. She is approached with a gun to her head. She quickly takes the gun away and pins it on the agent. The agent says he hops whatever she took was worth it. She says she hopes so and proceeds to cut his heart out of his body and escape.
Very little dialogue but awesome art and escape!
The art in this issue is incredible. Director Maria Hill comes over the loudspeaker at SHIELD headquarters to announce Natasha Romanoff is an enemy of shield. She says she must be stopped at all costs and cannot exit the facility. She begins fighting off many agents. She gets cornered but tosses a bomb and escapes through the window. It is revealed she has stolen something. She gets in a car and speeds off. She begins fighting an agent in the air and kisses his helmet, then pulls his parachute to get away. She recovers her motorcycle as shots are fired at her and she is warned this is her last chance to stand down. The explosion leaves her in severe pain. She is approached with a gun to her head. She quickly takes the gun away and pins it on the agent. The agent says he hops whatever she took was worth it. She says she hopes so and proceeds to cut his heart out of his body and escape.
Very little dialogue but awesome art and escape!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2017
Really fun issue, very action-packed. There's not a lot of dialogue which forced me to focus on the art a lot more. I'll admit that at first glance I wasn't that much of a fan (partially a reason why it took me so long to read this) but the more I read this issue the more I started to like it. I guess I'm kinda biased though because the first comic series I ever read was Edmondson and Noto's run on Black Widow in 2014 (which, by the way, has an amazing story and incredible art). I saw from other reviews that Waid's Black Widow isn't as heavy as Edmondson's, so I will try not to compare the two series content-wise. Rather, I hope that 2016 BW blows me away as much as 2014 BW.
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October 7, 2019Apparently, there's no point in picking this up if you haven't read the comics about the Avengers (like me) because you won't understand a thing. I'm disappointed that this can't stand on it's own, but it also makes sense. Natasha's backstory felt unclear and confusing, yet I'm not going to rate this before reading whatever this if a follow up of.
Aside from that, the illustrations disappointed me. A lot of them didn't feel half dynamic as they should have been and some were just straight out confusing in terms of what's happening in them.
Aside from that, the illustrations disappointed me. A lot of them didn't feel half dynamic as they should have been and some were just straight out confusing in terms of what's happening in them.
January 15, 2018
This graphic novel was a must read for me and i was impressed of the colors and how they had a view of black widow's story as an a avenger as well. She really is a inspiring hero and it will make young women feel powerful . Mark Waid shows that Black Widow does not need another hero to work with but herself and is independent. For marvel fans and Black Widow fans this is a must read
July 2, 2018
I'm a big fan of Black Widow in the MCU and wanted to take a look at what she's like in the comics. Starting here it was a lot of action and not a lot of relevant dialogue. And I'm totally okay with that! Can't wait to keep reading!
December 31, 2016
Really good drawings and very interesting story :) I love Black Widow, she's on of my favorite Avengers.
June 7, 2017
Likes: The creative team, mad action.
Dislikes: Damn I'm sick of SHIELD.
Dislikes: Damn I'm sick of SHIELD.
November 13, 2018
this has more action than dialogue and I love it.
July 12, 2019
Mi primer comic!!!! No se como sentirme ya que es el primero, y por el momento el único que lei. Es entretenido, y fácil de leer, que era algo que me daba temor.
January 3, 2021
has some of the most iconic scenes from her apparence in the comics!!
July 6, 2021
Explosive start!
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October 26, 2022elas erao tao amigas odiei
March 13, 2016
I absolutely loved this team when they worked on Daredevil and I loved their run of Daredevil probably the best out of all the others. I also happened to absolutely adore Nathan Edmundson and Phil Noto's run of Black Widow, so when a new run was announced with this team I was super, super excited and anxious to see how this book was different from Edmundson/Noto's. I wasn't disappointed!
I devoured this issue pretty easily - it's relies more heavily on the graphic part of comic book storytelling than it does the dialog, but I think that's appropriate for how much action and movement there is happening. It certainly feels like a James Bond-esque movie opening where the viewer/reader is immediately thrown into the midst of an event without any idea as to the surrounding context of that event.
I really loved how this felt similar to their run of Daredevil, while also feeling completely separate. I'm anxious to know what Natasha's got herself into and to read the next issue.
I devoured this issue pretty easily - it's relies more heavily on the graphic part of comic book storytelling than it does the dialog, but I think that's appropriate for how much action and movement there is happening. It certainly feels like a James Bond-esque movie opening where the viewer/reader is immediately thrown into the midst of an event without any idea as to the surrounding context of that event.
I really loved how this felt similar to their run of Daredevil, while also feeling completely separate. I'm anxious to know what Natasha's got herself into and to read the next issue.
June 11, 2016
I was so so so excited to read this and to be honest I'm a little disappointed... There was some amazing, kick ass action sequences, Natasha is so badass, but I don't know... I couldn't really get into the art either. I think it's because I was just so used to the art on the previous volume. It was strange though because some panels I loved the art, but then others just didn't do it for me. I hate criticising art because I couldn't draw a stick figure, but I just didn't have a connection with it. I know it's only the first issue so I'm trying not to judge it too much. I just don't feel like it lived up to the first issue of the previous volume. I adore Natasha, so I'm obviously going to keep reading. I fully realise that I'm in the minority, but the connection just wasn't there. I really hope the rest of the volume gets better and I'm sure it will.
May 18, 2016
Mark Waid, of course, is a great name by itself - he is author of most of my favorite comic books out there (legendary Daredevil run, for instance), but Waid and Black Widow? To be honest, he is not the only writer for the series, the old Daredevil crew is all on board for thise ones als - I am talking Samnee and Wilson.
What you get is Black Widow, being blackmailed by a villain, not loved by S.H.I.E.L.D. also a lot of suspense and unknown things. We get to see Natasha going back to Russia in nr3, so this promises us more backstory, that would be perfect, considering, that Black Widow seriously lacks backstory in one book. What I have seen this far - great art, a lot of action, references to Natasha's past and her passion/talent in ballet.... this run is worth to check out.
What you get is Black Widow, being blackmailed by a villain, not loved by S.H.I.E.L.D. also a lot of suspense and unknown things. We get to see Natasha going back to Russia in nr3, so this promises us more backstory, that would be perfect, considering, that Black Widow seriously lacks backstory in one book. What I have seen this far - great art, a lot of action, references to Natasha's past and her passion/talent in ballet.... this run is worth to check out.
May 9, 2016
I just went to my first comic book store for Free Comic Book Day 2016 and this comic was recommended to me. I like Black Widow from what I know about her from movies (still not too much), but have never read a comic about her before. I thought this comic had great action, flowed well, and had great art, but as a complete comic-newbie I felt like not much happened with the plot. Maybe this is normal?
I might check out the next issue, but wasn't hooked like my other recommendation, Power Man and Iron Fist #1.
I might check out the next issue, but wasn't hooked like my other recommendation, Power Man and Iron Fist #1.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews