Review - Black Widow Volume 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Most Wanted

Faced with the exposure of her darkest secret, Black Widow makes a deal with the enigmatic Weeping Lion to keep it hidden. Under this pact, she’s tasked with stealing intel from S.H.I.E.L.D. and becomes persona non grata in the process. As a result of her actions, a wayward agent from S.H.I.E.L.D. makes it his mission to bring her down. An increasingly desperate Black Widow must decide between ruining her reputation as a hero to keep her secrets safe or dealing with the consequences of crossing the Weeping Lion.

Black Widow Volume 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Most Wanted collects Black Widow #1-6 by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid.

This collection features an arc that uses the same old premise that just about every solo Black Widow adventure seems to have – she did something awful in her past and now it’s come back to bite her in the ass. Ordinarily I’d be annoyed by the fact that, once again, the creative team on a Black Widow series focuses on the past rather than the present. However, the work that Samnee and Waid do on this book is nothing short of impressive. The plot hinges on a secret from Widow’s past, something so horrible that she’s willing to betray S.H.I.E.L.D. in order to keep it from getting out. By becoming the Weeping Lion’s pet mercenary, she ultimately agrees to go on a mission to Russia and learns of an offshoot of the Red Room program that trained her to become a spy. Before she can accurately process these new developments, she’s forced to deal with the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent that’s been trailing her since her attack on the organization.

The plot that the creative team came up with was satisfactory yet it was remarkably light on dialogue and there was just about no insight into Black Widow’s character. She remains fairly impenetrable throughout. It’s not really necessary for her to be such a darned riddle when she’s the lead of this book. What makes up for the shortcomings with the writing is the art, which is absolutely sublime. Samnee’s art is moody and sets a very unique tone for the book. His action sequences are spectacular. Each one is creatively choreographed and pops off the page with a kinetic energy. He also takes great care to give certain scenes their own vibe. Flashbacks especially take on a very hazy, red-hued. It’s brilliant and colorist Matthew Wilson needs to be commended for his contributions. I’m also willing to say that Samnee’s take on Black Widow is quite possibly my favourite version of her visually so far. I love that she’s not drawn to be in this painted-on oil slick of an outfit that’s zipped down to her navel. Given that she’s a character that’s more grounded, it’s necessary (and more in character) for her to have a look that’s practical. The construction of her suit seems tactical and the lack of sheen to it implies that it’s potentially padded for protection. I love the visible soles on her costume and the holsters around her shoulders. The cropped hairstyle is also super chic and is reminiscent of the hairstyles she’s worn in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Widow Volume 1: S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Most Wanted is probably the best start to a Black Widow series that we’ve ever had (not that her series get to last that long in the first place). The art was really engaging and some of the best I’ve seen in mainstream comics for a while. The story was a little predictable and followed the same path most other writers do when they write a Black Widow story, but the twist towards the end of what her dark secret is was admittedly quite unexpected. It connected her with another character’s origins, which further complicates their relationship. Overall, it’s a surprisingly enjoyable read that manages to offer progression for the character while also taking a look back at her past.

RATING: A-