Book Review: Black Widow Vol. 3 by N. Edmondson et al.

Black Widow Volume 3: Last Days written by Nathan Edmondson and art by Phil Noto

For my review of the first volume, go here, and for the second volume here.

Black Widow continues her search for redemption and to find out who is behind the enigmatic yet ever-present Chaos. Her lawyer/money manager has been shot and is slowly recovering in the hospital. She's been outed as having a very black past by a cable news network. She decides to lay low when she sees even her apartment is covered by news vans. But she won't stay on the sideline for long. She fights her way through the Chaos organization to reach a final conflict with The Prophet, a man possessed (maybe literally) by a vision of a better future. Black Widow doesn't buy it even though he offers her an easy life.

This book finishes the storyline for Edmondson. The ending is satisfying, creating an interesting character arc for Black Widow and a solution for the ongoing plot. The art as usual fits the story nicely. It is refreshing to read a book about a female character who isn't treated visually as a sex object. She doesn't even treat herself like a sex object. 

Recommended.

Book Review: Black Widow Vol. 2 by N. Edmondson et al.

Black Widow Volume 2: The Tightly Tangled Web written by Nathan Edmondson and illustrated by Phil Noto and Mitch Gerads

For my review of the first volume, go here.

Natasha Romanov (aka Black Widow) runs through a bunch of international assignments, trying to earn money to pay back to people she has hurt. In this issue, she teams up with various other heroes (including Daredevil, the Winter Soldier, the Punisher, Hawkeye, and X-23). "Team up" is too strong a word for some of the situations. The issue with Punisher is paired with the same story told from the Punisher's point of view in his book, making a fun contrast. Her ongoing story is her relationship with her lawyer (not Daredevil) who is kidnapped by an enemy who wants chaos to rule.

The book has a subdued art style that fits with the (mostly) serious storytelling. The action is fun and Black Widow, even though she has turned to good, still struggles with her harsher inclinations. The book is entertaining and I will definitely read the next volume.

Recommended.

Book Review: Black Widow Vol. 1 by N. Edmondson et al.

Black Widow Volume 1: The Finely Woven Thread written by Nathan Edmondson and art by Phil Noto

Natasha Romanov, former KGB-trained assassin now known as Black Widow, is trying to make up for her past sins. In addition to working with the Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D., she does free-lance assignments. She has an accountant to manage the finances and get the jobs. The money goes to families she hurt in one way or another. The stories here mostly focus on her free-lance work. The jobs are varied and very shady, often requiring the killing of evil people (which she is okay with). Sometimes plans go south or the target isn't exactly what she was told, so she has to improvise. A couple of times improvisation costs her the fee, which the accountant balks at because of all the expenses they have to maintain an international spy. These stories are stand-alones and work to give some character depth to Black Widow. They also have fun action sequences. And there's a bit of Black Widow's home life, dealing with a neighbor and a stray cat trying to become her pet.

The last half of the book is devoted to a job she does for S.H.I.E.L.D. An embassy in America is blown up, which could be construed as an act of war, but really the target was one person in the embassy. Black Widow has to follow a trail of clues across the globe which pits her against an extremely difficult opponent. This story was more interesting to me than the first half's stories.

The art looks more like water colors than like typical comic book art. The shift suits the more somber mood of the book. Happily, Black Widow herself is not drawn as some pin-up girl who doesn't know how to zip up her shirt (though two of the alternate covers in the back of the book do treat her that way). She is much more realistic and thus easier to take seriously as a character. She does bleed and she doesn't always win but she always does what she thinks is right. I look forward to more of her  adventures from this creative team.