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Marvel Fanfare (1982) #10–13
Black Widow: Web of Intrigue
It's been a long, lively life for Natasha Romanova, the former Russian spy known as the Black Widow - fighting side-by-side with the Avengers, the Champions, S.H.I.E.L.D., and elsewhere. But could it end with the Widow surrounded by international assassins? Old enemies and new are using Natasha's instructor, her mentor, and her ex-husband against her - or so it seems - but who and what can be trusted in a spy's landscape of lies? Guest-starring Nick Fury, Jimmy Woo and other espionage experts!
Collecting: Black Widow: The Coldest War & material from Marvel Fanfare 10-13, Bizarre Adventures 25
Collecting: Black Widow: The Coldest War & material from Marvel Fanfare 10-13, Bizarre Adventures 25
172 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
57 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
George Pérez
1,501 books210 followersGeorge Pérez (June 9, 1954 – May 6, 2022) was an American comic books artist and writer, known for his work on various titles, including Avengers, Teen Titans and Wonder Woman.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 10, 2024
Cringeworthy mashup of espionage and superheroics that is only partially redeemed by George Perez’s artwork… and even that is labouring under subpar inking.
January 10, 2021
Some of the stuff in this collection is rather average faire, but the stuff with art by George Pérez really brings it up a notch. His art is always gorgeous and this is no exception.
Bizarre Adventures #25: From Marvel’s black & white magazine experiment. This is a stunning and gorgeous looking story with art from Paul Gulacy, unfortunately the story itself suffers from too many espionage cliches to be really effective.
Marvel Fanfare #10-13: A much better story, very reminiscent of classic SHIELD stuff and the spy era stuff featuring Shang-Chi. Artist George Pérez delivers some really nice art in these issues. Yeah, it’s all rather typical espionage comics of the time, with an over reliance on “super-heroics,”but then it is a comic book. And Pérez makes it look sooo nice. Nick Fury and Jimmy Woo (a favorite of mine) also appear in this story.
The Coldest War: Originally published as a Marvel Graphic Novel, this one gives a nice overview of the Black Widow’s complicated past, but does not really go into much detail. Unfortunately, the story gets bogged down in more typical spy-thriller cliches. And again we’re left with what the vast majority of Black Widow solo adventures deal with: Russia desperately trying to get revenge on the Black Widow. Over and over. Basically it comes down to “Oh, I’ve got this really great Black Widow story that deals with Russia trying to get revenge.” Wow, really original. Not heard that one before.
Bizarre Adventures #25: From Marvel’s black & white magazine experiment. This is a stunning and gorgeous looking story with art from Paul Gulacy, unfortunately the story itself suffers from too many espionage cliches to be really effective.
Marvel Fanfare #10-13: A much better story, very reminiscent of classic SHIELD stuff and the spy era stuff featuring Shang-Chi. Artist George Pérez delivers some really nice art in these issues. Yeah, it’s all rather typical espionage comics of the time, with an over reliance on “super-heroics,”but then it is a comic book. And Pérez makes it look sooo nice. Nick Fury and Jimmy Woo (a favorite of mine) also appear in this story.
The Coldest War: Originally published as a Marvel Graphic Novel, this one gives a nice overview of the Black Widow’s complicated past, but does not really go into much detail. Unfortunately, the story gets bogged down in more typical spy-thriller cliches. And again we’re left with what the vast majority of Black Widow solo adventures deal with: Russia desperately trying to get revenge on the Black Widow. Over and over. Basically it comes down to “Oh, I’ve got this really great Black Widow story that deals with Russia trying to get revenge.” Wow, really original. Not heard that one before.
March 20, 2024
Temos neste encadernado da Viúva Negra que traz suas principais histórias dos anos 1980 e 1990 três tramas de diferentes teores. A primeira é uma história boa, divertida, sobre a Natasha Romanoff envolvida em uma trama de espionagem envolvendo seu passado. Foi publicada em Marvel Fanfare. Na segunda, temos uma história bonita, mas complicada de entender, com ótimos desenhos de Paul Gulacy, encontramos Natasha em uma trama de espionagem envolvendo o seu passado. Foi publicada em Bizarre Adventures. Na terceira, temos uma graphic novel da Viúva Negra com desenhos esquisitos e roteiro também esquisito numa trama de espionagem envolvendo o seu passado. Muita criatividade envolvendo a Viúva Negra porque todas histórias dela, e até mesmo hoje em dia, revolvem o seu passado. Este encadernado, então é assim, vai de bom a pior. Ou lá pelas tantas a gente perde a paciência de reviver o passado de Natasha Romanoff pela terceira vez e acha que está remando no mesmo lugar sem parar.
September 4, 2017
This is a very nice collection of three Black Widow stories. The first and best was originally published in Marvel's Fanfare in the early '80s. It's a nicely written complex spy story in the spirit of 007, with very pleasing art that's far more colorful and detailed than you find in these computer-generated times. The second one, from 1981, was also written by Macchio and is a black-and-white story from the little-remembered Bizarre Adventures. It's very nicely illustrated by Gullacy in a style that reminded me of Steranko. It's a kind of dark tale that one was more apt to expect from DC in those days. The last one was written by Gerry Conway and is another version of an origin/development story. I didn't care for the art in it; it had something of a Hal Foster vibe, but none off the characters looked as I pictured them, and they all mostly lacked eyes. All in all, a good volume for Widow fans.
June 22, 2022
Another earlier collection of stories for the Black Widow. I have tried to complete my collection of her individual stories (Not her appearances in Avengers or Defenders or in team-ups).
This collection hits early on, after her stint in Amazing Adventures (Also, I don't have her run in Tales to Astonish with Hawkeye - can't seem to find those stories) But it was fun to read the Web of Intrigue and her black & white story from Bizzare Adventures #25. The Coldest War one of Marvel's Graphic Novel series was a decent story, but the art for me just didn't work as well as so many of the others of Natasha's artists. The style was cool, but just hit wrong so many times.
George Perez's art was perfect for the three issue run of Web of Intrique though and the Black & White art was beautiful as well.
Read on people.
This collection hits early on, after her stint in Amazing Adventures (Also, I don't have her run in Tales to Astonish with Hawkeye - can't seem to find those stories) But it was fun to read the Web of Intrigue and her black & white story from Bizzare Adventures #25. The Coldest War one of Marvel's Graphic Novel series was a decent story, but the art for me just didn't work as well as so many of the others of Natasha's artists. The style was cool, but just hit wrong so many times.
George Perez's art was perfect for the three issue run of Web of Intrique though and the Black & White art was beautiful as well.
Read on people.
December 3, 2017
Three distinctly different stories in this collection and all are good for different reasons. First is the Marvel Fanfare stuff with art by George Perez at his best and fun story only marred by too much exposition in the first issue explaining backstory. Second is a story for a black and white magazine with art by Paul Gulacy. The art is very good, but it ends a little to neatly. And rounding out the collection is an example of an early Marvel graphic novel with an adult-themed story with some nice art and beautiful colors. Why did I like this? I guess it's nice to see early Marvel write for an older audience with themes that are more than just superheroes fighting costumed bad guys with stupid motivations.
June 25, 2017
A bunch of Black Widow reprints, but pretty much all good ones. They include the Marvel Fanfare stories - it's too bad they didn't reprint Marvel Fanfare as graphic novels - I have some in comic form.
Natasha, Natalia - always different, always the same. Different art, slightly different writing. The costume never seems to make all that much sense. The power set never completely clear. And some of the time the idea is clearly to get her naked or close to naked.
There's only hints of who she is on the inside in this one. Probably not the best book unless you are already a huge Black Widow fan.
Natasha, Natalia - always different, always the same. Different art, slightly different writing. The costume never seems to make all that much sense. The power set never completely clear. And some of the time the idea is clearly to get her naked or close to naked.
There's only hints of who she is on the inside in this one. Probably not the best book unless you are already a huge Black Widow fan.
April 13, 2020
Good series of stories.
Most of the artwork was in color. The bizarre adventures one was in black and white and dealt with adult, for the time, themes of murder and betrayal. Worth the price?
Most of the artwork was in color. The bizarre adventures one was in black and white and dealt with adult, for the time, themes of murder and betrayal. Worth the price?
July 26, 2021
The second Black Widow volume from the Marvel Premiere Classic line is worth the purchase for the art alone. I mean you get George Perez's beautifully detailed artwork for the Marvel Fanfare story, Paul Gullacy's cinematic black and white Steranko influenced art for the Bizzare Adventures and finally George Freeman's early 90's art from the Coldest War OGN in one package. Yes the stories are kinda silly and all over the place, they were written for teenagers but they're still very entertaining if you know what to expect. These are the stories that laid the groundwork for Natasha in the Marvel universe and in my opinion they should be on the shelf of every Black Widow fan out there. 4 stars for the art, 2 for the stories.
August 10, 2020
This book had three separate stories and all were below average.
The first started off good, a spy thriller. Then it went all Austin Powers, complete with evil island lair. This at least was normal in the late ‘70s.
The second was a Maltese Falcon wannabe in black and white, complete with a Humphrey Bogart character. Cheesy and difficult to follow .
The last was a weird story with androids and Black Widow as a late 80s Annie Lennox style action hero. Just strange, the lot of them.
The first started off good, a spy thriller. Then it went all Austin Powers, complete with evil island lair. This at least was normal in the late ‘70s.
The second was a Maltese Falcon wannabe in black and white, complete with a Humphrey Bogart character. Cheesy and difficult to follow .
The last was a weird story with androids and Black Widow as a late 80s Annie Lennox style action hero. Just strange, the lot of them.
June 6, 2021
A very mixed bag. The Perez story was fun, but not great. The Gulacy story started well but finished weird. But both had elements that made them stand out at the time. The final story was a sprawling mess with truly horrible art, even by the standards of the time. Rare to have a paperback collection 60+ page filler story, but that is what we got. Four stars without the final story, which was a 1 star story by itself
December 27, 2020
Aww come on guys! I remember reading the first part of this book when I was 15 and really liking it, till the end where it gets messy. The other stories collected here do not redeem it either. The various writers are not sure how to treat her, a super hero or a spy. A widow or vamp. Too many inconsistencies and fumbled plots.
September 21, 2025
(THIS REVIEW IS ORIGINALLY FROM STORYGRAPH, FROM 3RD MAY 2025.)
One of the featured issues in the collection was great; The Coldest War; but the other featured issues didn't grab me. However that final issue justified for me reading the book. I would rate that individual comic a 4/5, but for the book as a whole, I stick with this low rating.
One of the featured issues in the collection was great; The Coldest War; but the other featured issues didn't grab me. However that final issue justified for me reading the book. I would rate that individual comic a 4/5, but for the book as a whole, I stick with this low rating.
June 28, 2020
Some good backstory
For the most part it is just filler. The art is great at the beginning but the story is just so so and it ends with terrible art but a better story. If you are interested in the widow or just want to read free marvel on prime, it's fine.
For the most part it is just filler. The art is great at the beginning but the story is just so so and it ends with terrible art but a better story. If you are interested in the widow or just want to read free marvel on prime, it's fine.
November 8, 2018
A member of a secret organisation battles various baddies.
This was a very mixed affair – the majority of stories were beyond me and there was only one that I thought was reasonable.
This was a very mixed affair – the majority of stories were beyond me and there was only one that I thought was reasonable.
November 12, 2020
Cool story sadly the inkers butchered Perez's pencils
August 10, 2023
Features more of the grittier runs while still staying relatively young reader-friendly (minus The Cold War portion). Despite the 3 very different art styles, it was great to witness more examples of how deep Natasha's loyalty can go regarding the people in her life.
August 10, 2024
Um sólido 3,5.
A primeira história, mais longa, saiu em capítulos na Marvel Fanfare em 1981. Foi executada por Macchio e Perez e me lembrou algumas tramas do período clássico do Mestre do Kung Fu. É um tanto mais ingênua e simples do que o padrão das histórias da Viúva Negra de lá para cá, mas é divertida e vale pelos desenhos do George Pérez. (3,5/5)
A segunda, de 1985, assinada por Macchio e Gulacy, já é bem mais séria, parecendo um esboço de uma trama de um John LeCaré, ou seja, vai mais fundo no tema da espionagem, onde nada é o que parece e não se pode confiar em ninguém. Gosto bastante da arte do Paul Gulacy, que aqui está toda em preto e branco. História bem curta, mas que dá muito do tom do que seria feito com a personagem nos anos seguintes (4/5)
A terceira história saiu na Graphic Marvel "A Guerra mais Fria" de 1991 e tem o argumento de Gerry Conway e arte de George Freeman. Nessa, a personagem precisa lidar com questões do seu passado na então URSS e apresenta o seu visual anos 80, que parece ter sido baseado na atriz Briggitte Nielsen. A história é redondinha, um bom feijão com arroz. A arte é um tanto polêmica, mas cumpre o seu papel. (3/5)
A primeira história, mais longa, saiu em capítulos na Marvel Fanfare em 1981. Foi executada por Macchio e Perez e me lembrou algumas tramas do período clássico do Mestre do Kung Fu. É um tanto mais ingênua e simples do que o padrão das histórias da Viúva Negra de lá para cá, mas é divertida e vale pelos desenhos do George Pérez. (3,5/5)
A segunda, de 1985, assinada por Macchio e Gulacy, já é bem mais séria, parecendo um esboço de uma trama de um John LeCaré, ou seja, vai mais fundo no tema da espionagem, onde nada é o que parece e não se pode confiar em ninguém. Gosto bastante da arte do Paul Gulacy, que aqui está toda em preto e branco. História bem curta, mas que dá muito do tom do que seria feito com a personagem nos anos seguintes (4/5)
A terceira história saiu na Graphic Marvel "A Guerra mais Fria" de 1991 e tem o argumento de Gerry Conway e arte de George Freeman. Nessa, a personagem precisa lidar com questões do seu passado na então URSS e apresenta o seu visual anos 80, que parece ter sido baseado na atriz Briggitte Nielsen. A história é redondinha, um bom feijão com arroz. A arte é um tanto polêmica, mas cumpre o seu papel. (3/5)
July 10, 2012
Tres historias disimiles enfocadas al completista. Si "Web of Intrigue" se sostiene únicamente en los lápices de Pérez (en tres de los episodios), la labor de Gulacy en Bizarre Adventures da más relieve al guión de un Macchio que se supera tras la aventura que da título al volumen. "Coldest War" pudo ser mejor, pero Conway termina aflojando en las páginas finales y queda a medio terminar. Insisto: Sólo para completistas.
May 17, 2013
Bought it for the Marvel Fanfare issues. Always good to see some early Perez.
The middle story was horrible...super convoluted plot.
The last story wasn't bad even though it seemed that years were bouncing back and forth between 1987 and 1988.
The middle story was horrible...super convoluted plot.
The last story wasn't bad even though it seemed that years were bouncing back and forth between 1987 and 1988.
May 15, 2012
The George Perez story is pretty great but the second half of this volume is dreadful filler.
April 24, 2015
Some of the stories were ok, but most of the drawing was really bad. Black Widow looked nothing like what she should.
November 14, 2015
Quattro stelle meritate per questa raccolta dove i disegni perfetti di george Perez la fanno da padrone. Una ottima lettura d'annata, seguita dalla prima GN dedicata alla Vedova.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews