Black Widow: Deadly Origin

Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1-4

by Paul Cornell, Tom Raney, John Paul Leon

Before she steals the world's heart in Iron Man 2, get caught in the wicked web of Marvel's sexiest and deadliest super-spy! She's been everything from a Russian espionage agent to a Champion to an Avenger, now a skeleton from Natalia Romanova's past is reaching out for those she's loved and lost...and the Black Widow has many victims to choose from! From the frozen streets of Moscow to the upper stratosphere, writer Paul Cornell (CAPTAIN BRITAIN and MI13) and artists Tom Raney (DARK REIGH: HAWKEYE) and John Paul Leon (THE WINTER MEN) deliver a globe-hopping, bone-breaking, high-tech thriller that reveals how Natalia's shadowy past threatens all she now holds dear. Guest-starring the Winter Soldier and Wolverine!

COLLECTING:

Black Widow: Deadly Origin #1-4

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

112 pages, Paperback

First published March 17, 2010

About the author

Paul Cornell is a British writer of science fiction and fantasy prose, comics and television. He's been Hugo Award-nominated for all three media, and has won the BSFA Award for his short fiction, and the Eagle Award for his comics. He's the writer of Saucer Country for Vertigo, Demon Knights for DC, and has written for the Doctor Who TV series. His new urban fantasy novel is London Falling, out from Tor on December 6th.

via Wikipedia @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Cor...

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two and a half stars rounded up.

This mini-series was written to coincide with the release of Iron Man 2, when the Black Widow, as played by Scarlett Johansson, was introduced into the Marvel cinematic universe. This volume functions as a get-to-know-you for fans not familiar with the character. There’s even a Marvel Universe entry at the end of the book if the reader is really, really interested.

In a nutshell, the Black Widow’s old Soviet guardian/mentor turns up dead, which sets in motion a plot to destroy everyone that was close to her at one time or another. Via flashback, we get to see the pivotal moments in her life, including the highlights of her time in Marvel comic’s continuity. Of interest is that as a character, she’s been around since the late 1930’s, having come in contact with Wolverine and some of the WWII era Marvel heroes. After meeting Joseph Stalin, she’s recruited into the Soviet school for assassins and it’s when her mentor is mortally wounded and the Winter Soldier offers both of them a cut rate version of Nick Fury’s Infinity Formula (“the first one is free”) does the story devolve into creepiness.

Decent art and some humor can’t help wash away the sour taste of a crappy resolution and some of the worst dialogue ever.

Not terribly impressive, but a decent gateway for comic readers who want to know a little more about the Widow.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why does it all have to be about sex? Jesus christ, is that the breadth of imagination male comic writers have when it comes to female characters? She's gotta sex everyone to death! That's the plot! WTF.

[Sam Quixote · Rating 2 out of 5]

Paul Cornell tells Natasha Romanova’s origin story in Black Widow: Deadly Origin - and it’s a pretty boring one. Though a short book, it manages to feel padded out with filler because there isn’t much to Natasha’s story: she got the Soviet version of Cap’s super soldier serum, hence why she was born in the 1920s yet somehow manages to look youthful 100 years later, and at some point in the late 20th century she switched sides to work for the ‘muricans. She’s been superheroing since.

Parts of the first half were quite entertaining. The book opens on a fun 007-ish scene and Cornell writes Natasha well giving her snappy dialogue and a smart, no-nonsense demeanour that helps barrel the plot along nicely. And you do get all the background you could want on the character - how she came to be who she is - even if a lot of it isn’t terribly interesting.

And then it kind of spins out in the second half into a creepy story of unrequited love from a father figure in Natasha’s past, ending with silly OTT action in spaaaaaace. The plot about ex-lovers being targets (and Natasha is quite the player too - Bucky, Hawkeye, Daredevil, Iron Man, and Hercules? Alriiight girl!) never really came together well either. The Adi Granov covers are cool but I didn’t really like either Tom Raney or John Paul Leon’s interior artwork.

Maybe there’s a better origin story for Black Widow but maybe there isn’t - and I’m not sure if there even needs to be one given that she’s just not that compelling a character really. Or at least her past isn’t, to me anyway - who she is now and what she’s doing as the Black Widow are more interesting than how she got her start. If you’re going to give this one a shot anyway to read up on the character, don’t expect much from Black Widow: Deadly Origin.

[literaryelise · Rating 1 out of 5]

begging marvel to hire women to write and illustrate black widow. begging.

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 2 out of 5]

@ Frigga, let me read a great marvel book soon

It’s been 84 years

Everything done in this book was pretty much covered in Black Widow: The Name of Rose and done 100% better. This is just a book of a creepy man being unable to take "no" for an answer.

Covering all of Natasha's past loves, she was given a nanobyte virus transmitted through contact by a man who raised her but secretly always wanted to bone her. It's gross and the character deserves better.

The only parts I latched onto were Natasha's closeness with Tony and her lack of identity.

Definitely not a recommend. Just read The Name of the Rose.

[David Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

So-so. I did pick up a few things. Like the reason the Black Widow appears to never age (very convenient). Otherwise, not so much as action as a spy for BW. Her list of former lovers did appear to be pretty long: Tony Stark, Hawkeye, Winter Solider, Daredevil, and Wolverine (?). But if you are as old as the Black Widow, it just seems like a long list of ex-lovers.

[Jaye Berry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fuck you fuck you fuck you. This was not only awful it was fucking disgusting and I'm so steamed right now. This is some half ass attempt at Black Widow's origin story but other people have done this before but better. Read Black Widow: The Name of the Rose instead, I beg you.

I should have known going into this I'd get some super gross man fic because they couldn't keep Black Widow boob off the covers but this really took the bullshit to another level. Funny enough, the art was not super terrible with her zipper all the way down. No, it was the actual story that has made me see red.

Natasha has been infected with a nanobyte virus which has infected her past lovers and then people they were in contact with as well. Why has she been infected? Oh her father figure has unrequited love and is mad she's dated all these superheroes and not him. Are you serious?? A fucking "nice guy"?? Why is the last issue in space like none of this makes any rational sense. Besides it just being a bunch of dudes being uncreative to a character who is a literal superspy that does not age.

So we go down the list of all her exes (and ofc it's a long list because Black Widow is sex and nothing else apparently) as she meets up again to save them. Ofc ofc to save Hawkeye's girlfriend Natasha has to kiss her when she does that for no one else and a kiss was completely unnecessary. I guess the men writing this were storyboarding with one hand only because the other was busy if you get my drift. I have a free hand that I will use to smack them for all of this fuckery tho.

The fact that the plot was nothing else besides haha Black Widow STD really is my 13th reason. Is that the best these men can fucking do? Nasty predator shit and Natasha is just an ex girlfriend with no personality? Screw actually learning about her past because we get barely any of that. The action? Where?

I already had a stomach ache before reading this but it totally made my stomach ache worse. I love Black Widow and to see her used like this made me sick. You come into my house and shit in my bed like this??? The audacity.

I wanted some Buckynat and at least I got tiny scraps but it really wasn't worth this torture. Also I wrote this review on my phone which was annoying as hell but I guess that just fits the energy.

[Trisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Black Widow, but Cornell’s sloppy writing in this miniseries downgrades her demeanour and ruins my favourite character! Read this if you’re interested in knowing Natasha’s longgg list of ex-lovers and her creepy guardian Ivan.

Rounding off my rating since there is a decent background of her origin and how she was recruited to be a black widow.

2.75/5🌟.

[Adrienne K · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art was amazing and I did like how the story included historical figures.
The story was ok but I did get lost in where it was heading a few times. However, I didn’t hate it and it was a good introduction to Black Widow, a character I have never read anything about before.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good reading. Plus it was free.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I could not read this graphic novel without the "Black Widow" song running through my head.

She's a redhead! That alone gives her 3 stars.

I knew nothing about this superhero when I picked up this book, other than the name.

It wasn't bad. I was a bit confused until I read the end notes about the history of Black Widow. That helped explain the comic to me. Apparently, she got around - she seems to have had a relationship with most of the other superheroes in the Marvel universe - Daredevil, Hawkeye, Ironman, Hercules. . . .I kept wondering - is she good, is she bad? Apparently, she used to work for the Russians. (She IS Russian.) But now she's on our side and one of the Avengers.

My husband picks this up and glances at it. His comment - "She apparently likes the girls, too. She's kissing this girl."

Then me - "Well, it had to do with the antidote to the nanobots implanted in her lips. It was the only way she could save her from dying. Okay, so some comic writer thought that would be kinda cool."

This story line had flashbacks to her origins, plus a current story line about the death of Ivan and how she needs to save all of those she's ever loved.



I'm gonna love you
Until you hate me
And I'm gonna show you
What's really crazy

[Lashaan Balasingam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This too-short-to-be-relevant graphic novel misses the mark incredibly. Sure, you'll get the historical background of her character and how she becomes a super-spy superhero, but this story strangely went on to focus on her love life, and, let me tell you, this femme fatale went on to sleep with A LOT of well-known superheroes, leaving you with a cringy impression of the character. The oddest part of this story is its story that also looks into the unrequited love that her father figure had for her and what he'd do to get his hands on her... I think there are better places for an origin story than this one.

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

[L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story started off with potential but when it's all boiled down it is simply about sex. Black Widow must get in contact with all her previous lovers to warn them about a metaphorical STD she may have infected them with. The motivation behind the plot is somebody's not gettin' some, therefore the world must pay. This is an origin story of Natasha Romanoff but concentrates solely on her love life and all the men that have come and gone. I wish there was more Black Widow in Black Widow.

[Dreximgirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Urgh what a way to ruin a character. This whole graphic novel was plot what plot and really did nothing to show the amazing kick ass character Natasha is. Definitely not one I will be reading again or keeping.

[Nessa [October Tune] · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I kind of hated the time jumps and while it explained a lot about the actual story it pulled me out of the story every time. Also, there were so many different art-styles it was kind of annoying tbh. Also, Tasha dear, zip up your suit your tits are cold.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I own this book.

Have I ever mentioned that I love comic Nat? No? Well I do. This story follows Nat as she finds out that someone from her past has implanted her with a neurotoxin that she has passed on that makes people attack and try to kill the people she loves or has loved in the past. We see her unravel her own history, from her being signed up to the Red Room, to leaving, to falling in love time and time again. She revisits her old loves; Alexei, Clint, Bucky, Logan and Ivan. Ivan was her father figure her whole life, but he always wanted more from her, and that ultimately led to them losing contact. However, it's Ivan's murder that uncovers this whole plot against her. The thing I enjoy most about these comics is that it really paints how everyone is connected. I would never have known Logan and Nat go as far back as they do, which I really liked, and how they bonded over not knowing who they are.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rip Natasha, avresti amato essere scritta e sceneggiata da donne.
Comunque in generale ho apprezzato.

[Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was honestly kinda bad. I didn't dislike it because it did actually have some interesting ideas and characterization, but the execution fell flat in most areas. The dialogue was straight up awkward and some scenes left a bad taste in my mouth due to the poor use of sexualization. There are many ways to incorporate sexuality in good taste, especially considering the Black Widow's namesake, but Paul Cornell's way of doing it felt shallow and creepy. I do feel like I understand the Black Widow better, but I did have to look up a lot of things referenced in the flashbacks because the book didn't explain them well enough, nor did it pace them coherently in the slightest.

One of the only saving graces was the amazing art by John Paul Leon used for the flashbacks, which reminded me a bit of Phil Noto's art. The art for the present day sections handled by Tom Raney was quite awful and the coloring was just as bad. If it wasn't for those redeeming qualities I mentioned earlier, this would get 1 star. I don't know if I'd recommend this to anyone getting into the character as there are probably better places to start.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I could say I loved this book, as I'm a huge fan of Black Widow - her cunning, her mythological level of prowess as a spy and fighter, and not least of which her red hair. Somehow though the book's story felt cheapened, rushed by the constant revolving door of old characters and conflicts that were instantly resolved with no real dilemma or challenge. It felt like we were just drifting along a play-by-play without learning anything new about the woman (even if we were supposedly seeing a new angle on all the events of BW's life over the years).

[Mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo estuve releyendo un poco y me gustó mucho más que antes.
La cosa es así: la historia en sí mucho no me gusta, pero está bueno para saber un poco más sobre Nat. Además, aparece James varias veces y para mí eso suma bastante (pero esa soy yo - Buckynat es una de mis parejas favoritas).

[Clarissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

So brief history of Black Widow = history of past lovers and creepy uncle Ivan?

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great layered origin story

Like the good old-fashioned Marvel stories of old, This is a great story which adds depth and shade to the events we already know.

The central conceit of using two artists for flashback and modern day effectively shows the progression of the Black Widow. From her earliest days in the 60s in Tales to Astonish and her conflicts with Iron Man and Hawkeye, through the 1970s and her liaisons with Daredevil and Hercules in The Champions, and more recently, her conflicted days torn between Tony Stark, Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers during Civil War.

Paul Cornell has paid respect to the continuity of the character, discarding nothing, and adding much. If you’ve come to this via the MCU, there’s going to be a slight jarring, but nonetheless this is an excellent read.

[nanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nessa HQ vemos um pouco mais sobre a história da nossa incrível Natasha Romanoff, quem ler essa hq pega um pouco de spoilers sobre outras edições e histórias, mas como são "spoilers" que a gente ver nos filmes não é tão ruim assim. Gostei das ilustrações da HQ e de como a história foi se encaminhando. O fato mais engraçado que Nat se casa com Alexei na hq, mas no filme ele é tipo um """""pai""""" pra ela 😂😂. Recomendo muito esse volume!!

[LONELY TOURIST · Rating 1 out of 5]

you know, i've read A LOT of black widow comics since ... whenever it was i got interested. maybe a year ago? and with tons of them i just took one look at the cover and thought "yeah, this should not be a priority". this was absolutely one of them, and i've gotta say: i knew it! i was right! it's pretty gross! not in a cool way!

[☮ morgan ☮ · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Kid, don’t trouble yourself with the future. For people like us the future’s just another bad day.”

it was so cool when the man who basically raised her decides he wants to have sex with her, and when those advances are rejected he plots a way of destroying her life! gross!

[Dlmrose · Rating 2 out of 5]

2+

[Desa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Puff, que mal contado todo y que desenlace mas cutrecillo...Nat deserves better

[Tomungo X · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha is such a great spy. She crossed paths with so many marvel big timers its crazy to even realize. Also the top elites of the avengers all had some entanglement with her. But this story arc really delves deep into what type of character she is and she is bad A!

[Millie · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed it for the most part but it could be a bit hard to understand at some points, there are lots of time switches. it also has a very sudden end but overall it was quite good :)

[Chad Jordahl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very mixed feelings about this one. The "current day" art by Tom Raney is not good. Specifically: the faces are all so similar, and proportions are pretty rough. The Ivan super villain is the stupidest design. And I just don't like the style. The "flashback" art by John Paul Leon is very good!