Web Of Black Widow #2 - Marvel Comics

WEB OF BLACK WIDOW No. 2, December 2019

Featuring an opening scene which is somewhat reminiscent to that of Angelina Jolie’s 2003 action-adventure film “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life”, there’s a lot of mounting tension to enjoy with this comic’s depiction of Natasha Romanoff stealing on board a gigantic cruise liner whilst it glides through international waters. Indeed, many fans of the Russian assassin possibly may even have felt that Jody Houser’s portrayal of the deadly spy infiltrating the luxurious Collins Financial Bindbucks launch party provided this twenty-page periodical with the perfect beginning, especially as the titular character seemingly uses almost every trick in the secret agent’s book to pass through the seafaring vessel’s overt security. 

Lamentably though, all of this well-penned spy-fi atmosphere is quickly ruined by the abrupt appearance of Bucky Barnes, who astonishingly materialises in the bedroom of the Black Widow’s target having apparently been pre-warned by his “masters” that she “might be stopping by.” This debatably contrived confrontation between the two former lovers does admittedly swiftly provide this publication with some debatably needed high-octane action, courtesy of Stephen Mooney pencilling the pair swapping all manner of punches and kicks with one another.

Yet none of these forceful fisticuffs can possibly make up for the American author literally crowbarring the Winter Soldier into her narrative on the happenstance that “Collins got wind you [Romanoff] were coming” and so “relocated the computer setup.” In fact, by the time Natasha’s fight has seen the deadlocked duo crash through the cabin’s double-doors and spill out into the corridor right in front of two gun-toting guards, it is seemingly clear that any pretence of this story being an edgy thriller has disappointingly dissipated; “Please make your way to the lifeboats in a calm and orderly fashion.”

Similarly as perplexing, albeit in a good way, is the sudden inclusion of an unknown killer who appears capable of impersonating the Black Widow and committing cold-blooded murder whilst wearing so convincing a ‘digitally-created disguise’. This antagonist clearly knows much about the “web of deceit” encircling Stan Lee’s co-creation, having fleetingly featured at the very end of this mini-series’ first instalment, and resultantly provides a tantalising hook for any perusing bibliophile to pick up Houser’s next issue of “Web Of Black Widow”.

The regular cover art of "WEB OF BLACK WIDOW" No. 2 by Junggeun Yoon