REVIEW: MARVELS BLACK WIDOW PRELUDE #2 (OF 2)

“I’m always picking up after you boys.” – Natasha Romanov

Synopsis:

The World Security Council has met to discuss the fate of Natasha Romanov, the Black Widow. Black Widow is an Avenger and former Russian spy, but now a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Secretary Ross is looking to capture the Avenger but Councilwoman Hawley, who was once saved by Romanov, is reluctant to go along with capturing her. The council reviewed her controversial past and shaky present, but they only uncovered half of the story…

The Creative Team:

Peter David begins this issue with an expositional catch up for anyone who missed the last issue, via a conversation between Ross and Hawley. After the obligatory catch-up, we’re treated to a flashback scene from the first Avengers film, where Black Widow first confronts Bruce Banner. Then the action begins. I love how David displays Natasha Romanov in action against the enemy. He even manages to capture the essence of Scarlett Johanson’s performance incredibly well. Peter David is one of the best writers in the comic book field and his talent is on strong display here. He has intertwined the events of the Avengers movies into a compelling narrative and brings the conflict that the movies entertained into this title in a grand way. Great stuff includes how the scenes from the Avengers movies blend in with the current narrative and the tension between Ross and Hawley.

C. F. Villa has the daunting task of rendering the characters in this issue to resemble the actors that played them on screen and also to resemble their comic book counterparts. Villa has succeeded and does an exceptional job of it. Black Widow does resemble Scarlett Johanson but also takes on the expressions and version of the comic book original. Bruce Banner was done even better since Mark Ruffalo doesn’t resemble the comic book version of Bruce Banner at all, but Villa has been able to recreate the character in a way that resembles both. Highlights include the splash with Hulk and Black Widow and the reconstruction of the final battle in the Avenger’s first movie.

In Conclusion:

Peter David and C.F. Villa have constructed an amazing prequel to the Black Widow solo movie. They’ve taken information that we already knew and incorporated it into an amazing two-parter that will whet any Marvel fan’s appetite and make us anticipate the upcoming movie even more. Here’s to hoping that we don’t get just one Black Widow movie and that the comics will bring her back to amazing life as well. *** (8.4 rating)

SCORE: 3/5 

Writer – Peter David
Art – C.F. Villa
Colors – Chris Sotomayer
Letters – VC’s Travis Lanham
Publisher – Marvel

Author Profile

Kevin Given

Kevin Given has studied with “ Longridge Writers Group ” and “ Writer’s Boot Camp ” a speech/communications major from the University of Maine Presque-Isle/Orono sites. He has created the “ Karl Vincent Vampire Hunter ” franchise which includes novels and comic books. They can be found on amazon, Indyplanet and Kindle. For a limited time you can get digital copies of “ Karl Vincent: Vampire hunter ” # 1 and “ Files of Karl Vincent ” # 1 for free on Indyplanet. Kevin is producing the third novel in the series “ Dracula Rising ” (working title) and developing “ Foul Blood ” into comic book form. Don't forget to check out the YouTube show " Comics: Let's Talk " hosted by Kevin Given

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