Black Widow #1 - Comic Review

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The Info Bit

Title: Black Widow #1

Genre/s: Spy/Superhero

Writer: Nathan Edmonson (The Activity, Grifter)

Art: Phil Noto (Ghost, Thunderbolts)

Letterer: Clayton Cowles (Avengers, Wolverine & the X-men)

Publisher: Marvel

Number of Issues: 1 (on-going)

Page Count: 20

Price: $3.99

The Review Bit

Black Widow is back for her 5^th self-titled series and I’m not going to lie, this one I had high expectations for going in. With the creative team of Nathan Edmonson and Phil Noto, how could I not? Both creators have proven their abilities in espionage/black ops comics with Noto on titles like Trigger Girl 6 and Edmonson, even playing espionage with red headed females before, writing comics like Dancer and the incredible Jake Ellis stories. Combined on the red headed Russian bomb shell of a spy, Marvel has once more put in the spotlight thanks to its Marvel movieverse, the series was sure to outshine its predecessors (including Greg Rucka’s great Black Widow mini-series). As expected, the boys don’t disappoint in this wonderful opening salvo of action and assassination.

Black Widow #1 dives right into the end of one of Natasha ‘Black Widow’ Romanova’s contract missions she does when not fighting alongside superheroes like the Avengers or working for SHIELD. In very badass form she walks right into a very explosive situation and defuses it like it was child’s play. Of course, we already knew Romanova was one hardcore gal. I mean, why else would a relatively powerless human get to fight alongside Earth’s mightiest defenders time and time again? Still, one can never begrudge such a great opening action sequence that can be placed up there with the first few minutes of so many beloved James Bond or Mission Impossible style films. But it is after the unrelated opening action that the story really starts up. We are transported to Berlin and then introduced to Isaiah, Natasha’s lawyer and unofficial financial manager. He harangues Natasha for not charging more for her services while giving her a new mission. Natasha counters that she’s not in this for profit, alluding to the money going to some unknown trust funds that will likely play a big role in this series later on. With that simple rebuttal, Natasha accepts the mission, an assassination contract, and heads towards Dubai.

In Dubai Natasha quickly finds her target in a major hotel and goes out of her way to secretly enter the hotel he’s staying in…only to exit it, scale the massive glass skyscraper, and enter through a window in true spy fashion. Seemed a little unnecessary to me, but it made for some fun visuals. Then the story gets a few bits of high end spy gadgetry and fighting, with a hilarious Rice Crispies reference in the sound effects. It won’t surprise many that Black Widow of course completes her mission, but the real surprise comes in what the mission actually was and how she fulfilled her contract. So far the story makes for a very nice done-in-one intro to Black Widow, but it is the aftermath of Natasha’s mission and the introduction of a furry friend that might one day outdo Hawkeye’s Pizza Dog that truly sets up the series itself.

Edmonson has always entertained me with his black ops/spy/rogue soldier-style stories, as he seems to really understand what fans want out of that genre and how to make the missions seem real. In Black Widow he’s yet to throw readers any challenging new socio-political facts or surprising new locations that might be common in this genre of story telling, but he has managed to fill the first issue’s 20-pages with action, twists, and a simple yet intriguing mystery that me glad I only have to wait two more weeks for the next issue. Furthermore, without delving into Natasha’s background, he really has introduced the character rather brilliantly in broad, yet defining strokes. We are not focusing on her super heroics or her past, let alone retconning further defining that past, but simply moving forward with good new stories. The likely to-be series spanning mystery of the aforementioned trust funds and why Natasha seems to be taking these missions for some kind of redemption might later deal with her past, but for now it doesn’t seem to be anything character altering, and I must say I like that in a period of new ‘secret origin’ and ‘zero year’ stories.

On art duties Phil Noto continues to take the shoulder shattering burden of doing pencils, inks, and colors. It never ceases to surprise me how much art this man can produce when he seems to be doing all of the art duties and producing stunning work on a monthly basis. His style continues to be unique and defining of Noto, with soft colors and a wonderful digitally painted appearance. He manages to make Natasha look cute but deadly in every panel she appears in while bringing great action and emotion to the book. I must particularly note his wonderful use of action lines that really help move the inanimate panels for my eyes and his very amusing facial expressions. There’s a particular panel of Natasha rolling her eyes that I couldn’t help but laugh at and then later return to stare at in its dazzling simplicity. My only complaint, and it is a minor one I only caught on the second read through, is that while Noto draws some magnificent backgrounds in some panels, most are rather lacking. Still, this comic has gorgeous artwork.

The lettering by Clayton Cowles looks great, with easily indentified caption and solid sound effects and titles done in a great series of solid white fonts. Some of the sound effect credits likely have to go to Noto as being part of the art, but I could be wrong there. In either case, the sketchy style of them looks delightful and gives the actions connected to them more of a nice pop.

The Rating Bit

Black Widow #1 is an excellent comic that lives up to the high expectations one might put on it based upon its creative team. Honestly, I find it an ideal opening issue that allows readers to walk away happy, yet will drive them back to the store as soon as the next issue hits stands. It disappoints me slightly that you’re only getting 20 pages for $3.99, but considering you get a free digital copy with purchase of this enjoyable story I can’t find myself too upset. I highly recommend picking up this series, giving it a 9 out of 10 for the opening issue. Black Widow #1 is in stores now (along with Edmonson and Noto’s other Black Widow tale in All-New Marvel Now Point One) and issue #2 isn’t far off, hitting stores January 22^nd.