Review: Web of Black Widow #3 (of 5)

I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself.Â This is a mini-series of 5 issues, so the creators are pretty much locked in.Â Why then, am I still disappointed?

As you well remember, our Natasha is dead; the current model is actually a clone with embedded memories.Â Seems this is the way to go if you are either an assassin or a Cylon from the BSG reboot.Â With another Black Widow framing Natasha for murders she didn’t commit, Nat turns to another former Widow in the shape of also clone YelenaÂ Bolova.Â Together, the pair set of in search of information, which leads to a clarification of sorts.

I have an idea where this story is going and I hope I am wrong, otherwise writer Jody Houser is kind of eking out a very simple story over multiple issues.Â The flashbacks will have resonance to the present or else why else show them?Â With that in mind, Houser is leading the reader to an obvious culprit, so obvious that if it’s correct, I find it hard to believe that Nat is so far behind the pitch.Â Memories have always been difficult for Nat, going as far back as Marvel Team-Up #82, which was my first introduction to the Widow character.Â Houser’s use of this trope effectively gives her a blank slate for the seemingly not so super spy, practically giving this book and future clones a soft reboot every time.

The art is provided by Stephen Mooney, who manages to turn a silk purse character into a pig’s ear.Â Perspective, form, anatomy and facial elements all take a hike with a style in which the only consistency is ugliness.Â Heavy inks don’t help matters in the slightest, neither do the colors from Triona Farrell which are also heavy and dark, obscuring what ever lines were used to disfigure the characters so readily.Â I get that the spy world is murky, but surely it has to be entertaining as well?Â VC’s Cory Petit delivers a font scheme that you expect, giving the book a small element of readability.Â One saving grace is the fantastic covers; this time Junggeon Yoon pulls out all the stops for a painted style cover, that whilst has connection to the contents of the book, is gorgeous nonetheless.

With the House of Mouse pushing forward with its Black Widow movie, and the small nod to the previous Avengers movies with “red in the ledger” comments,Â I am confused as to how this book is so off brand that it actually damages the look and feel of the character.Â If strong female led books are your thing, I would seriously advise you to pick up the fun Black Cat or the smooth Invisible Woman books instead.

Writing – 2.5 Stars
Art – 2 Stars
Colors – 3 Stars
Cover – 5 Stars

Overall – 2.5 Stars

Written by; Jody Houser
Art by; Stephen Mooney
Colors by; Triona Farrell
Letters by; VC’s Cory Petit
Cover by; Junggeun Yoon
Published by; Marvel Worldwide Inc.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network