REVIEW: ‘Black Widow,’ Issue #6

Black Widow #6 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Kelly Thompson, art by Rafael de Latorre, colors by Jordie Bellaire, and letters by Cory Petit. With her family delivered to safety by Bucky, Natasha Romanov must now attempt to move on with her life. Luckily though, she’s not alone. This is particularly fortuitous since life is about to throw some sizable problems in front of her.

They say when life throws you from the saddle, the best thing you can do is get right back up on the horse. It seems Natasha would agree with this as this month’s issue opens to find her going toe to toe with a suitably imposing-looking opponent. But unfortunately for this opponent, she is the Black Widow, and you need to be more than imposing to put her down.

While Natasha manages to dispatch her enemy, the victory comes with a cost. As our hero catches her breath, Black Widow #6 jumps us back in time to a chance encounter Natasha has with a young thief that proves she has a significant amount of skill, even if she is still a bit rough around the edges. While exactly how this moment and Natasha’s current troubles are linked is not clear, what Thompson chooses to show here has me interested in learning more.

After this interlude, our story returns to the present as we witness Natasha utilize her most formidable weapon, her mind. Thompson’s writing always pushes the focus to her protagonist’s mental and emotional aspects over the physical. Highlighting the truest core of what separates the highly skilled or simply super-powered from the superheroic. In Black Widow #6 Thompson takes these aspects of Natasha and puts them squarely in the limelight. You love to see it.

During last month’s story, we got a sample of what guest artist Latorre could deliver with Black Widow. This month the artist gets to take the full reigns for the issue, and the job that is delivered is awesome. The gorgeous single panel sequential combat moments that Casagrande established in earlier issues of this run are alive and well here. Natasha’s battle prowess is on full display here.

While the combat captures the eye first and foremost, Lattore doesn’t fail at delivering Natasha’s personality either. As she maneuvers her way through the issue’s obstacles, Lattore’s art does a great job of capturing the cold calculatory side of Natasha.

Also, to reiterate my statement from the last issue, I love the design of Nat’s new costume.

Black Widow #6’s art is further bolstered by Bellaire’s wonderful colorwork. Both sides of this issue’s story are bathed in colors that skillfully augment the scenes while also providing wonderful contrast and balance between the two stories of the book.

Rounding out this book”s presentation are Petit’s letters. The letter work always places the book’s dialogue in a way that flows along smoothly while also keeping clear of each panel’s focus points.

When all is said and done, Black Widow #6 delivers a strong start to what could be the beginning of something new for Natasha. While I’m not an expert on the character, if Thompson and company are heading her down the path I think they are, it should be exciting new territory for the Spy Supreme. (Author’s Note: Not a real Marvel title, but it should be.)

Black Widow #6 is available now wherever comics are sold.