Comic Info
Comic Name: Black Widow (Volume 2)/All-New Marvel Now! Point One
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Nathan Edmondson
Artist: Phil Noto
# of Issues: 7
Release Date: 2014
Black Widow (2) #1 Variant
Reprints All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1 and Black Widow (2) #1-6 (March 2014-July 2014). Natasha Romanoff has a dark past that she has tried to put behind her for years. As an Avenger, Black Widow has saved the world on multiple occasions, but finds she still cannot save herself from her regrets. Now, Natasha’s on a secret mission to atone for her sins and this means acting as an agent to balance out the wrong she’s done…but sometimes picking the right side can be difficult.
Written by Nathan Edmondson and illustrated by Phil Noto, Black Widow Volume 1: The Finely Woven Thread is the first volume in the second Black Widow continuing series. The volume also contains the introductory story presented in All-New Marvel Now! Point One #1 (March 2014) and Black Widow (1) #1 was also included in A-Force Presents—Volume 1.
Honestly, I’ve never been that big of a Black Widow fan. Despite years of trying to develop the character, I’ve never seen her as much more than a generic femme fatale turned good guy and more of supporting character. I also have never understood the “gun girl” on a team of characters made up of superhuman powers and abilities…but I do think this series works.
Black Widow (2) #6
The series doesn’t elevate Natasha into a character I love, but it does help. I still think the writing is rather typical with Natasha atoning for her sins…like other vigilante characters in the past. I think the series most resembles Elektra (especially the ’90s version) which has her trying to turn over a new leaf. Here, Natasha has been good for years, but she’s just trying to give back (and doing it badly). It is a solid read, but I don’t think the character is faulted enough when compared to other characters in the Marvel Universe that have been explored in better ways.
What does really work here is Phil Noto’s art. His drawing are rich and textured and unlike a lot of comics with highly stylized art, the comic is still pretty bright and not over-inked. The characters are in great detail and much of the background visuals are simplistic and are minimalistic.
Black Widow 1: The Finely Woven Thread is on the verge of being good. The art is tip-top, but I believe the story could be developed even more. With so much pressure on Marvel and comic book makers to provide equal opportunity for female characters, there unfortunately can’t be any mistakes or faults because people could dismiss the work as a whole. I like the mystery being developed, but I just can’t get into Black Widow herself. Black Widow 1: The Finely Woven Thread is followed by Black Widow 2: The Tightly Tangled Web.
