Black Widow (USA) di M. Waid & C. Samnee

[Azrael]

When it comes to wordless storytelling, Chris Samnee may just be the best in the business. He's so good that even in an issue that would be considered "down" when compared to past works, engagement and immersion is never anything less than total. Issue #10 has a lot going for it, with a NBD trip to the moon, some welcome advancement and an explosive resolution to the Weeping Lion's tale. That said, the majority of the issue focuses on Nat reconnecting with Bucky, a focus that, while entertaining, doesn't linger long after. That leaves Samnee to fill in the rest, and he does so with his usual nuance and care. Most comics are lucky to have one or two "wow" spreads –this book has at least half a dozen, Samnee's multi-panel style expertly evoking every emotion, spoken or otherwise, he and Mark Waid's script demands. From Bucky's steadily increasing dread to a particularly uncomfortable death by younglings, every issue is a page turner with this team involved. -Jeff

Final Score:

8.0/10

[Azrael]

Preview: BLACK WIDOW #11



http://www.cbr.com/black-widow-11-3/

[Azrael]

Having spent the better part of the last arc focusing on various betrayals and hidden secrets, issue #11 lets Natasha do what she does best. The resulting read offers an electric display of the skill set Black Widow is known for, the one-woman army facing off against a bevy of similarly trained foes. While still technically part of a larger story, there's a wonderfully open feel to this chapter. Much of that comes down to Chris Samnee and Mark Waid's action oriented script. The duo does an excellent job of putting Natasha into a number of exciting situations, allowing the character to tap into her sizeable physical prowess and peerless cunning in equal measure. Samnee's leap-first approach carries over into his pencils, which make great use of dramatic angles and empty space to heighten the various instances. His exhilarating catwalk sequence, comprised of little more than carefully crafted silhouettes, is easily one of the series' best. -Jeff

Final Score:

8.7/10

[Azrael]

Preview: BLACK WIDOW #12



https://comicvine.gamespot.com/articles/exclusive-preview-black-widow-12/1100-156431/

[Azrael]

Black Widow #12 (Published by Marvel Comics; Review by Matthew Sibley; 'Rama Rating: 9 out of 10):

As this series comes to close, we must return to where we first began — praising Chris Samnee. Black Widow has continually been a book that allows for a spy story with some expected twists and turns, to then be bolstered by an outstanding art team. It happened with Daniel Acuna, then Phil Noto, and now Samnee and Matthew Wilson depict Natasha Romanov and Recluse's final fight. Keeping with earlier issues, the dialogue is kept to a minimum to emphasize the visual storytelling. The second page uses thin panels to control the time flow and add to the tension while later pages are opened up, allowing the pair to keep the book moving with a pace that only Samnee can convey. Wilson's colours are so sharp that this pace can be sustained by the book and let us keep up without needing to parse what's going on. Black Widow #12 is a phenomenal issue to cap off a phenomenal run that's a deserving candidate of an oversized hardcover in the future.

[Azrael]

It's a little depressing how rare it is to see a Big Two series last 12 issues with the same creative team. Black Widow has always thrived on the creative fusion between Mark Waid and Chris Samnee, and that's as true in the final issue as it was at the beginning. Wad and Samnee tie up all loose ends in this issue, while also giving the conflict the scope it deserves as Natasha literally races against the clock to save S.H.I.E.L.D. and stop Recluse. Perhaps everything wraps up a little too neatly and quickly in the end, but this issue still offers a satisfying look at a deadly agent trying to atone for the sins of her past. The final page in particular says a lot about the character with very few words. It looks incredible, to boot. As ever, Waid knows when to get out of the way and allow Samnee and colorist Matthew Wilson to do their thing. The confined setting allows the artists to toy with shadow and color to create what is easily the most moody and tense chapter of the series. -Jesse

Final Score:

8.7/10