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Black Widow & The Marvel Girls #1-4
Black Widow & The Marvel Girls
She's the most efficient spy in the world and one of the world's deadliest women, but before there was ever a Black Widow, there was the Red Room, a brutal KGB training ground for assassins, undercover agents, and the most ruthless of spies. Now, tasked with removing a rogue weapon's dealer from an impregnable safe house, the Black Widow remembers her escape from the Red Room training facility, an escape only made possible with the aid of the most unlikely of allies, the Asgardian sorceress known as Amora...the Enchantress.
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
58 people are currently reading
295 people want to read
About the author
Paul Tobin
933 books407 followersPaul Tobin is the Eisner-award winning, New York Times-bestselling author of Bandette, Colder, and many other comic books and graphic series.
Bandette, drawn by Colleen Coover, was awarded the Eisner Award for Best Digital Series in 2013, 2016, and 2017; and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature in 2016. His original graphic novel I Was the Cat was nominated for an Eisner in 2015.
The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat , first in his five-book series of middle-grade books, came out in 2016 from Bloomsbury Kids. It was followed in 2017 by How To Outsmart A billion Robot Bees , and How To Tame A Human Tornado in March 2018.
Bandette, drawn by Colleen Coover, was awarded the Eisner Award for Best Digital Series in 2013, 2016, and 2017; and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award for Graphic Literature in 2016. His original graphic novel I Was the Cat was nominated for an Eisner in 2015.
The Genius Factor: How to Capture an Invisible Cat , first in his five-book series of middle-grade books, came out in 2016 from Bloomsbury Kids. It was followed in 2017 by How To Outsmart A billion Robot Bees , and How To Tame A Human Tornado in March 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
September 9, 2021
the wasp and bw together? yeah I won with this one ❤️
November 21, 2022
I finished this last week but put off reviewing because I didn't have the words to express how much this pissed me off but I have the words now so lets go.
When I read the title "Black Widow & the Marvel Girls" I thought it would be like a young comic, cute and fun with Natasha teaming up with young superheroes idk but no... this was just calling grown ass women "girls" for some stupid reason.
Each story was just her teaming up with a female superhero but all of the stories were so throwaway filler. Maybe if the stories (and art) had actually been good it wouldn't have mattered they were all one-shots but no, they were so basic, boring, and completely disposable.
Worst depiction of Natasha I've seen in a while tbh. This is just some stone-cold robot with no personality, no emotions. She is just hot lady with nothing else in there and its a disgrace to see my favorite character portrayed this way.
The art was TERRIBLE. In my fun time of reading Black Widow's comics I either come across her zipper being all the way down in the middle of combat- so practical!!! Or I get this terrible boob sock art where her bodysuit clings to each breast as a singular item despite the fact that isn't how clothes or breasts work??? Even a skintight suit does not work like that jesus christ. Unlucky for me, this comic had both boob sock and broken zipper.
It pisses me off endlessly when I see Natasha get drawn this way, with her titties out and no attempt to draw her like a human being, not a disproportionate sexy caricature. She can still be hot but drawn normal???
We are all bad at something!!! For this artist it was drawing women. For the writers it was writing.
When I read the title "Black Widow & the Marvel Girls" I thought it would be like a young comic, cute and fun with Natasha teaming up with young superheroes idk but no... this was just calling grown ass women "girls" for some stupid reason.
Each story was just her teaming up with a female superhero but all of the stories were so throwaway filler. Maybe if the stories (and art) had actually been good it wouldn't have mattered they were all one-shots but no, they were so basic, boring, and completely disposable.
Worst depiction of Natasha I've seen in a while tbh. This is just some stone-cold robot with no personality, no emotions. She is just hot lady with nothing else in there and its a disgrace to see my favorite character portrayed this way.
The art was TERRIBLE. In my fun time of reading Black Widow's comics I either come across her zipper being all the way down in the middle of combat- so practical!!! Or I get this terrible boob sock art where her bodysuit clings to each breast as a singular item despite the fact that isn't how clothes or breasts work??? Even a skintight suit does not work like that jesus christ. Unlucky for me, this comic had both boob sock and broken zipper.
It pisses me off endlessly when I see Natasha get drawn this way, with her titties out and no attempt to draw her like a human being, not a disproportionate sexy caricature. She can still be hot but drawn normal???
We are all bad at something!!! For this artist it was drawing women. For the writers it was writing.
November 3, 2012
Bizarre characterization of Natasha. Wasp and Storm were oddly frail and powerless, too. Enchantress was motivated solely by boredom? Really? Everyone was extremely flat and one dimensional, and the notion of Natasha being in the Red Room only ten years ago instead of 80 continues to break my brain. Some of the art was quite good, though, which is why I'm giving it 2 stars instead of 1.
eta: Hah, I totally forgot Carol Danvers was even IN this book until I looked back at the cover. I like Carol a lot, in general, but again there just wasn't much of HER on the page here as opposed to a generic female superhero. I don't think ANY of them really got a chance to play to their strengths and demonstrate their awesomeness. Stealing a Doombot isn't nearly as cool as dealing with Doom himself, you know. If Nat's the best, then we need to see her being the best, not merely bragging about it to people who could care less about her ego.
eta: Hah, I totally forgot Carol Danvers was even IN this book until I looked back at the cover. I like Carol a lot, in general, but again there just wasn't much of HER on the page here as opposed to a generic female superhero. I don't think ANY of them really got a chance to play to their strengths and demonstrate their awesomeness. Stealing a Doombot isn't nearly as cool as dealing with Doom himself, you know. If Nat's the best, then we need to see her being the best, not merely bragging about it to people who could care less about her ego.
September 24, 2012
I didn't like the characterization of Black Widow in this series. I understand the intention to write her as a bad-ass, highly-capable character (which is good) but I don't think she was ever meant to be an arrogant, tight-ass and humorless person (almost like some versions of Batman which I hate). I also think that the author tried to downplay the other characters in order to make Black Widow look stronger. Someone like The Wasp for instance, who was a founding member of the Avengers, shouldn't be made to look like a fumbling rookie.
If you're looking for good Black Widow stories, I think it's best to look elsewhere (in the pages of Secret Avengers or the Captain America stories featuring Bucky). I'm still a huge fan of the Black Widow character; just not this version.
If you're looking for good Black Widow stories, I think it's best to look elsewhere (in the pages of Secret Avengers or the Captain America stories featuring Bucky). I'm still a huge fan of the Black Widow character; just not this version.
May 8, 2019
Nice set of short stories.
July 9, 2021
I had hoped to gain more insight in the character of Black Widow, but my expectations were not in line with what is presented in this volume. The first story, involving the titular character trying to reach an arms dealer, had some nice twists and the backstory it provided was interesting, even if the Enchantress did feel a bit tacked on. The other stories focus on Black Widow teaming up with other powered heroines and taking on different villains. The DoomBot story was enjoyable, while the Storm team-up was dull. No one has much of a personality.
While this is a personal preference, I did not care much for the style of the artwork and the prevalence of the "boob socks" on all of the female characters.
While this is a personal preference, I did not care much for the style of the artwork and the prevalence of the "boob socks" on all of the female characters.
August 1, 2013
This book collects four Black Widow team-up stories in Marvel's all-age adventures along with a classic Spider-Man. The Storm and Ms. Marvel stories were both quite good, the former featuring Mole Man and the latter the legacy of The Red Skull. The first story featured The Enchantress, and while it was an interesting look at Natasha's very early years via flashback along with a neat contemporary locked-room puzzle, I didn't like the way The Enchantress was portrayed. The art is very well done in those three stories. The second story, an Avengers/Wasp team-up, was just bad on all counts. Janet was one of the strongest characters in Marveldom, and here she's shown as a petulant coward. I didn't like the art in that one, either; it's too cartoonish, and apparently the girls are just there to try to smuggle zeppelins out of Latveria. Black Widow was supposed to have been a former ballet dancer, but as she's drawn here it would have been difficult for her to even walk standing up straight. The Spider-Man is a Stan Lee/John Romita issue from 1970, and features the first appearance of Black Widow in her modern costume. Wow, I can still remember reading her in The Avengers with black hair in a bouffant-hairdo with a fish-net (maybe it was supposed to be spider-webbed) costume and a cape. She always wore a mask that looked like she had stuck one of Bruce Wayne's early bat-symbols on her face. Anyway, this was pretty much of a fun book; it would have been really good if they had left out that second story.
August 16, 2020
An Okay Collection, But Lacks Personality
I've never been a big Black Widow fan, as she lacks personality and has no cool powers to make up of it. At best, she's slightly more interesting than Hawkeye.
This collection doesn't do anything to shake my opinion. She generally does things because she's assigned them and doesn't have many feelings, if any, so might as well be following a robot around. Most the issues feature her and another "Marvel girl" (barf. They're all adult women; girls comes across as patronizing) doing something action related. They don't team up in an A Force type group, alas.
The stories are pretty forgettable. The Enchantress one had a lot of potential but was a letdown. The best team up was probably with Miss Marvel, as it had the most depth and the villain was interesting. The issue with the Wasp wins the award for having the most useless team up, as Wasp does Jack diddly.
I'm not exactly surprised that I didn't like this, but I am a bit disappointed. I want to like Black Widow, as she's one of the female big name Marvel heroes, but I can't enjoy someone without a personality.
I've never been a big Black Widow fan, as she lacks personality and has no cool powers to make up of it. At best, she's slightly more interesting than Hawkeye.
This collection doesn't do anything to shake my opinion. She generally does things because she's assigned them and doesn't have many feelings, if any, so might as well be following a robot around. Most the issues feature her and another "Marvel girl" (barf. They're all adult women; girls comes across as patronizing) doing something action related. They don't team up in an A Force type group, alas.
The stories are pretty forgettable. The Enchantress one had a lot of potential but was a letdown. The best team up was probably with Miss Marvel, as it had the most depth and the villain was interesting. The issue with the Wasp wins the award for having the most useless team up, as Wasp does Jack diddly.
I'm not exactly surprised that I didn't like this, but I am a bit disappointed. I want to like Black Widow, as she's one of the female big name Marvel heroes, but I can't enjoy someone without a personality.
May 29, 2014
Somewhat disappointing. It was okay. Readable, but not something I would recommend.
Initial thoughts:
1. Ms. Marvel & Black Widow was the only somewhat interesting arc
2. Didn't particularly enjoy Black Widow in this series. She came across as bossy and a total show off. Very unlikable character, not used to this version if Black Widow to the one I'm already familiar with. Disappointing, considering she's my favourite.
3. Not a huge fan of the artwork at all. Some of them were decent but they're not consistent.
Initial thoughts:
1. Ms. Marvel & Black Widow was the only somewhat interesting arc
2. Didn't particularly enjoy Black Widow in this series. She came across as bossy and a total show off. Very unlikable character, not used to this version if Black Widow to the one I'm already familiar with. Disappointing, considering she's my favourite.
3. Not a huge fan of the artwork at all. Some of them were decent but they're not consistent.
March 1, 2015
I found this to be an extremely refreshing read, appears to take place as Natasha transitions from being a Soviet spy to working for S.H.I.E.L.D.; You see the awkwardness she and her teammates go through with this transition. The book also seems to revolve around weakness and learning not only to embrace them but as well as overcoming them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2014
24th book read in 2014.
Number 252 out of 368 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlQJJ...
Number 252 out of 368 on my all time book list.
Follow the link below to see my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlQJJ...
October 4, 2020
This was an awesome graphic novel! I really enjoyed all of the great team-ups of Marvel heroines. ~ Koala ^-^
September 3, 2020
A collection of one-shot stories where Black Widow teams up with another female hero and their boobs create their own gravitational fields. It's impressive when the outright sexism in the decades-old Stan Lee comic snapshot is easier to stomach than the way these poor characters are twisted into bizarre sexual positions in most of the rest of the book. There's even a panel where Natasha is peering over a wall and, instead of just crouching like a normal human, she's in this odd face down/ass up situation. There's another one where she's 'out of shot' except for her boobs poking perkily into the frame. Add that to lacklustre stories where the other girls (sigh) barely have anything to do, and it's a no from me.
PS: the team up with Storm at the end gets a pass and a thumbs up because they are drawn like people instead of boobs with legs, and the Moleman/moloids plot was just the right balance of weird, fun and creepy.
PS: the team up with Storm at the end gets a pass and a thumbs up because they are drawn like people instead of boobs with legs, and the Moleman/moloids plot was just the right balance of weird, fun and creepy.
January 3, 2020
I didn't want to like this book, as its digest size annoys me. But it really won me over. The first story was great, as it took place super early in her career as a spy/assassin, with flashbacks to her Red Room days. I loved it. The second had her infiltrating Latveria with a really young version of the Wasp, and was great too. Then the third had a freaky Nazi robot and Natasha meeting/monitoring the newly introduced Ms. Marvel. Their camaraderie was good. The fourth story was the least good, Storm didn't contribute much to the story and the Mole Man was interesting, but weird.
The art was fine throughout, although the words especially did suffer from the smaller printing. Natasha's actual characterization throughout was a little stiff, but not too bad. Overall I enjoyed this book much more than I expected.
The art was fine throughout, although the words especially did suffer from the smaller printing. Natasha's actual characterization throughout was a little stiff, but not too bad. Overall I enjoyed this book much more than I expected.
February 25, 2020
I guess this wasn't what I was wanting/thinking it would be, and maybe it's unfair to knock down a star for that. But even if I had been expecting this I'm not sure I would find it really worth-while. It is a series of one shot stories that all revolve around Black Widow, with an additional Marvel female character thrown in. The final issue isn't another woman but Spiderman and shows the Widow's "classic" costume and I guess is supposed to show when/why it changed. It is a very dated comic, especially the way that the men speak about women and the way Black Widow talks/acts regarding sex and gender.
January 15, 2021
Highly disappointed in this comic. For starters the stories were pretty bland. And finally when I got to the story featuring Storm, I was pissed off.
Why does the one story that involves a black character, a.k.a. storm from X-Men, have to be about a gang war??!😡 Why? Why? Why? All of the other Anglo Saxon characters were given other storylines about fighting actual evil villians, but the one black girl’s story involves defeating a gang? Major side eye 😒😒😒
And the Spider-Man feature was misogynistic af -_-.
Why does the one story that involves a black character, a.k.a. storm from X-Men, have to be about a gang war??!😡 Why? Why? Why? All of the other Anglo Saxon characters were given other storylines about fighting actual evil villians, but the one black girl’s story involves defeating a gang? Major side eye 😒😒😒
And the Spider-Man feature was misogynistic af -_-.
May 10, 2020
2.5 stars, there wasn't anything wrong with this one, but it was just okay. In each chapter Black Widow interacts with another female Marvel character, including The Wasp, Storm, Ms. Marvel, and the Enchantress - some stories were better than others, but none of them really wowed me. For hardcore Marvel fans, or maybe those who want to compare how much better ScarJo plays Black Widow in the MCU vs. how she is most often depicted in the comics.
December 19, 2017
I really like Paul Tobin and the Black Widow and I wish I liked this more. It's four separate stories, set in Marvel's history, each featuring another one of Marvel's female heroes. I'm not sure I think Tobin has a good handle on the Widow, and the other women are barely part of their stories....the Widow always takes center stage.
April 12, 2020
A collection of black widow teamups.
The cover is somewhat misleading ? Black widow is not leading an all girl team. This is actually a collection of short stories . Most are team ups with.The black widow, one is a battle with Spider-Man to show off a New costume and launch a monthly mag.
The cover is somewhat misleading ? Black widow is not leading an all girl team. This is actually a collection of short stories . Most are team ups with.The black widow, one is a battle with Spider-Man to show off a New costume and launch a monthly mag.
April 28, 2020
Quite disappointing. Art is wonky, characters are portrayed rather weirdly, and some of the storylines just don't make sense. Admittedly, I haven't read many Marvel comics, so in some places I may just have lacked the preexisting knowledge needed to understand. Definitely not a great introduction to the Black Widow in comics - and one I won't recommend or revisit anytime soon.
May 12, 2021
Old school
Fun to see the older Widow story lines, especially with Storm and Wasp, but ultimately, I don't think Widow has been this Widow in decades. She's near-robotic, not just spy-like, and she struggles to be appealing enough to capture her audience. It's clear that was still a side character at this point in her narrative.
Fun to see the older Widow story lines, especially with Storm and Wasp, but ultimately, I don't think Widow has been this Widow in decades. She's near-robotic, not just spy-like, and she struggles to be appealing enough to capture her audience. It's clear that was still a side character at this point in her narrative.
November 20, 2020
I enjoyed it.
I liked the team-ups, art style and word-play. I got some insight on characters I knew. Fears, behaviors. All intriguing; Along with a look at a classic comic I didn't have available to me before.
I liked the team-ups, art style and word-play. I got some insight on characters I knew. Fears, behaviors. All intriguing; Along with a look at a classic comic I didn't have available to me before.
November 16, 2021
fun action But not required reading
Good light reading.
while called team ups, Natasha does all the heavy lifting in theses stories. still fun to see her impact through out the Marvel universe.
Good light reading.
while called team ups, Natasha does all the heavy lifting in theses stories. still fun to see her impact through out the Marvel universe.
June 25, 2023
This comprises of different short stories where Natasha meets and teams up with female Marvel characters. There is even a bonus throw back issue where she fights with Spider man. I thought this was okay.
February 20, 2018
Not what I was expecting, but it was OK. There were a couple of different sections, stories with each character, the stories were fun and entertaining but like I said not what I was expecting.
July 23, 2018
Meh.
There's really no reason for these stories. They seem like filler for something.
There's really no reason for these stories. They seem like filler for something.
September 15, 2019
4 stories with Black Widow team-up. Good graphics
September 28, 2020
Uh, this was a joke. Nothing new on continuity. Just a marketing gimmick to cash in on the movies.
November 8, 2020
Wow this was bad.
January 16, 2021
Fantastic
Kept me engaged, the team ups were marvelous.
Vintage Black Widow. Loved it. Excelsior, thank you Stan Lee. You are missed.
Kept me engaged, the team ups were marvelous.
Vintage Black Widow. Loved it. Excelsior, thank you Stan Lee. You are missed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews