Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
The cover of this book advertises Fury & Black Widow. I should have been suspicious, since the cover shows the Widow with a masked figure dressed vaguely like Sterenko's version of Nick Fury with the addition of an overcoat. It's not much a spoiler to say it's not - the Directory of S.H.I.E.L.D. performs his usual task of providing (limited) information and doing some manipulation behind the scenes.
The lion's share of this relatively short graphic novel centers around the Black Widow's return to the New Russia, where the government is elected by the people but organized crime controls what occurs in the country. Hey, this should actually be a good thing to me a comic focused on the unique character of Russian emigre / former (?) spy Natasha Romanoff.
Unfortunately, I never got into this story. The story didn't have the feel of having been tailored towards the Black Widow; rather, it seemed she was selected because of the Russian setting and her Russian background. This sounds great IF it had been used. Instead, I have to wonder if the story would have been significantly different had S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited Misty Knight & Colleen Wing, or Silver Sable, or even Captain America. Excepting perhaps for the tone of the final thoughts, the fish out of water aspect might have worked better than the returning child undercurrent. (Yes, Ivan also made an appearance, but his role could have also been filled by just about anyone, as well.)
Go ahead and give it a read like a midafternoon snack, it won't take long. But also like a midafternoon snack, you'll be past it and ready for something more filling shortly afterwards.
RATING: 2 1/2 stars, rounded up to 3 stars.
The lion's share of this relatively short graphic novel centers around the Black Widow's return to the New Russia, where the government is elected by the people but organized crime controls what occurs in the country. Hey, this should actually be a good thing to me a comic focused on the unique character of Russian emigre / former (?) spy Natasha Romanoff.
Unfortunately, I never got into this story. The story didn't have the feel of having been tailored towards the Black Widow; rather, it seemed she was selected because of the Russian setting and her Russian background. This sounds great IF it had been used. Instead, I have to wonder if the story would have been significantly different had S.H.I.E.L.D. recruited Misty Knight & Colleen Wing, or Silver Sable, or even Captain America. Excepting perhaps for the tone of the final thoughts, the fish out of water aspect might have worked better than the returning child undercurrent. (Yes, Ivan also made an appearance, but his role could have also been filled by just about anyone, as well.)
Go ahead and give it a read like a midafternoon snack, it won't take long. But also like a midafternoon snack, you'll be past it and ready for something more filling shortly afterwards.
RATING: 2 1/2 stars, rounded up to 3 stars.
