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loyse_nl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amyjoy's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good conclusion to Edmondson's run on Black Widow. I loved the Natasha we got to know, and I would like more of this characterization to carry over into other media (*coughAvengersmoviecough*). Noto's art is phenomenal. I liked Edmondson's story, but the art really elevates the entire thing into something really beautiful and masterful. This series is truly a feast for the eyes.
_forestofpages's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lifeamongpages's review against another edition
4.0
This the final volume in the Edmondson and Noto's arc of Black Widow. This was my first forray into the realm of Marvel/ Black Widow comics, and I was left fairly satisfied.
The art style was spectacular, I was drawn in by the incredible line work and colouring, you can really tell a lot of time and love when into these.
Overall some of the issues were better than others (like most things) I really enjoyed getting a little insight into Natasha's past, which is something I have often found myself intrigued by.
Overall I enjoyed all three volumes for different reasons, but for fans who want to get to know Natasha without having to cross-reference a multitude of comics this is probably for you. Especially if you're trying to ease yourself into the world of comic books.
The art style was spectacular, I was drawn in by the incredible line work and colouring, you can really tell a lot of time and love when into these.
Overall some of the issues were better than others (like most things) I really enjoyed getting a little insight into Natasha's past, which is something I have often found myself intrigued by.
Overall I enjoyed all three volumes for different reasons, but for fans who want to get to know Natasha without having to cross-reference a multitude of comics this is probably for you. Especially if you're trying to ease yourself into the world of comic books.
pacinocorleone's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars. Reading this entire 20-issue run was an otherworldly experience. Particularly this issue. Love Natasha. Love the ending - the ambiguous closure we are left with and her flashbacks as not only a young girl training in the Red Room, but as a newly recruited Black Widow operating in espionage and doing whatever it takes to prove her worth and loyalty as an asset to the KGB. Her past is mysterious and enthralling, and although it is addictive to learn more about it, as guaranteed by the assassin herself, "No one will ever know my full story."
hadas's review against another edition
5.0
"Last Days" wasn't perfect, but it was still fucking good.
Overall, I think this run had a weak story-line, mostly regarding the mystery / villain. I couldn't care less about Chaos, and the Prophet wasn't that interesting.
However, in addition to the great action and stunning art, it presented Natasha as an interesting and super-complex character. I could feel Natasha's hurt, her loneliness. This volume exceeded the previous two in that aspect, thanks to the beautiful flashbacks to Natasha's backstory.
I could feel the little girl inside who wanted justice, the young woman who obeyed without mercy, and adult woman who wants to be someone else, but not always sure how. The writing and art perfectly carried these feelings of heaviness and loneliness in a very film noir style.
It's really a shame in my opinion that the run didn't continue. Sometimes (well, a lot of times) I don't understand Marvel.
Overall, I think this run had a weak story-line, mostly regarding the mystery / villain. I couldn't care less about Chaos, and the Prophet wasn't that interesting.
However, in addition to the great action and stunning art, it presented Natasha as an interesting and super-complex character. I could feel Natasha's hurt, her loneliness. This volume exceeded the previous two in that aspect, thanks to the beautiful flashbacks to Natasha's backstory.
I could feel the little girl inside who wanted justice, the young woman who obeyed without mercy, and adult woman who wants to be someone else, but not always sure how. The writing and art perfectly carried these feelings of heaviness and loneliness in a very film noir style.
It's really a shame in my opinion that the run didn't continue. Sometimes (well, a lot of times) I don't understand Marvel.
mcacev's review against another edition
3.0
And unfortunately the trend continues.
Last Days is the appropriately named last volume of Edmondson and Noto's run on Black Widow. I would love to tell you all that it ends as strongly as vol 2, but unfortunately, it very much doesn't and it's quite disappointing.
First off, it collects 8 issues instead of 6, and the last 2 issues are completely unnecessary. They are a self contained story set in the past, and tie up the loose end of Natasha's childhood friend Marina and it takes place in Cuba, during Castros' rise to power. It's a sad, but good story, that by itself would probably get 4 stars. It feels a little too real, but that's a good thing; during the cold war these things happened, and even now they continue to happen.
The rest of the volume ties up the lose threads left of the story with Chaos. The first 3 issues are really good, 5 star reads. We follow Natasha on the hunt, tracking down all of Chaos' accountants thanks to information from Tori and Isiah, while SHIELD tries to find her and help her off the books. There are several good moments, especially with Isiah who has become my favorite character in this series. My favorite one was hos conversation with Clint, though I feel like Edmondson doesn't really understand Clint's character. Why is Clint defending Maria Hill and SHILED? Clint hates SHIELD, he was loyal to Cap through and through, he lead the New Avengers during Norman Osborne's time as director, and he sure as hell would never play by the rules of politics. That really annoyed me a lot.
Another thing that annoyed me was Chaos. I won't spoil the reveal here, because I don't want to, but it's really, really underwhelming. I hoped it would be an agency that's maybe lead by someone from Natasha's past, maybe isn't centralized, anything other than what we got. And the way she beats Chaos is super lame as well. And, to top it all of, it doesn't even end! That thread is left to the wayside, to pick up, and from what I've read of Natasha's follow up series, it doesn't get picked up.
Was at least Natasha's character arc tied neatly? Maybe? I'm not really sure. On the one hand I liked where she ended up, but on the other, it felt very rushed. The avengers were never really a part of this series, and the relationships that Natasha built were mostly with Isaiah, Bucky and Tori, who don't factor in the ending (well Isaiah sort of does, but not enough).
There is another moment that really annoyed me, which is this vision of the possible future that Nat gets with Matt? Why? I'm not a shipper, I don't really have her in an OTP with anyone, but it contradicts what this very series set up! Both times Nat interacts with Mat here, they are hostile to each-other and Matt tells her to leave! The times Nat interacts with Bucky (which are numerous), he is supportive, loving and caring. He helps her twice blatantly and spends the majority of this volume searching for her. Their relationship has been established since the very run by Greg Ruck when Bucky took over Cap's costume, and every previous solo series for Nat since.
Honestly, I'm not asking for that much, just deliver on what you promised. I would give this an even lower rating, but the last story is good (even if it doesn't belong here) and the first 2 issues are especially still high in quality. But the combination of the unsatisfying conclusion of the Chaos plot and wildly out of character turns by Clint and Nat at the end, really make it impossible for me to say this volume is anything other than average at the very best.
Last Days is the appropriately named last volume of Edmondson and Noto's run on Black Widow. I would love to tell you all that it ends as strongly as vol 2, but unfortunately, it very much doesn't and it's quite disappointing.
First off, it collects 8 issues instead of 6, and the last 2 issues are completely unnecessary. They are a self contained story set in the past, and tie up the loose end of Natasha's childhood friend Marina and it takes place in Cuba, during Castros' rise to power. It's a sad, but good story, that by itself would probably get 4 stars. It feels a little too real, but that's a good thing; during the cold war these things happened, and even now they continue to happen.
The rest of the volume ties up the lose threads left of the story with Chaos. The first 3 issues are really good, 5 star reads. We follow Natasha on the hunt, tracking down all of Chaos' accountants thanks to information from Tori and Isiah, while SHIELD tries to find her and help her off the books. There are several good moments, especially with Isiah who has become my favorite character in this series. My favorite one was hos conversation with Clint, though I feel like Edmondson doesn't really understand Clint's character. Why is Clint defending Maria Hill and SHILED? Clint hates SHIELD, he was loyal to Cap through and through, he lead the New Avengers during Norman Osborne's time as director, and he sure as hell would never play by the rules of politics. That really annoyed me a lot.
Another thing that annoyed me was Chaos. I won't spoil the reveal here, because I don't want to, but it's really, really underwhelming. I hoped it would be an agency that's maybe lead by someone from Natasha's past, maybe isn't centralized, anything other than what we got. And the way she beats Chaos is super lame as well. And, to top it all of, it doesn't even end! That thread is left to the wayside, to pick up, and from what I've read of Natasha's follow up series, it doesn't get picked up.
Was at least Natasha's character arc tied neatly? Maybe? I'm not really sure. On the one hand I liked where she ended up, but on the other, it felt very rushed. The avengers were never really a part of this series, and the relationships that Natasha built were mostly with Isaiah, Bucky and Tori, who don't factor in the ending (well Isaiah sort of does, but not enough).
There is another moment that really annoyed me, which is this vision of the possible future that Nat gets with Matt? Why? I'm not a shipper, I don't really have her in an OTP with anyone, but it contradicts what this very series set up! Both times Nat interacts with Mat here, they are hostile to each-other and Matt tells her to leave! The times Nat interacts with Bucky (which are numerous), he is supportive, loving and caring. He helps her twice blatantly and spends the majority of this volume searching for her. Their relationship has been established since the very run by Greg Ruck when Bucky took over Cap's costume, and every previous solo series for Nat since.
Honestly, I'm not asking for that much, just deliver on what you promised. I would give this an even lower rating, but the last story is good (even if it doesn't belong here) and the first 2 issues are especially still high in quality. But the combination of the unsatisfying conclusion of the Chaos plot and wildly out of character turns by Clint and Nat at the end, really make it impossible for me to say this volume is anything other than average at the very best.
frantically's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5