The artwork, as ever, stands in testament to the strength of this teams collaborative efforts. Noto is an accomplished storyteller with an amazing sense of pacing and design, creating a slick visual narrative that brings Edmondsons script to the page with energy and grace. His color choices are thoughtful and affective, but what I found myself most enjoying this issue was the introduction of Tori Raven. Tori's allusion to classic Bond Girl aesthetics is spot-on, a flirtatious pop of color in Natashas very serious world. Overall, Black Widow #5 is another strong issue from start to finish. Read Full Review

If this book doesn't make our top ten books of the year then someone should come and find me and hit me round the face with a Kipper. If you've picked up this book let me know your thoughts below and if not then seriously go grab it. Read Full Review

And when it comes to the art, I'm really not sure what I can add. I mean, the art is awesome as always, no criticism comes to mind. Phil Noto has been spectacular and this is a continuing trend. If I had to stretch, and a stretch this is so keep that in mind, I'd say that some of the scenes with Natasha and her French contact are not coloured “properly”. By which I mean that their faces are too white. Or just pasty white. Or something. Point is, their faces aren't coloured “realistically”. Read Full Review

Black Widow #5 is another strong issue in what has been an excellent series so far. It isn't the strongest issue yet, but that certainly doesn't mean it should be overlooked by anyone. This story gets more gripping the deeper Natasha is dragged into this web of intrigue, and I can't wait to see what these talented storytellers have lined up for us next month. Read Full Review

This book is one of the best examples of crafting the story you want to tell in the framework of a superhero comic, and its something that both Marvel and DC are starting to explore more and more. If you took the name Black Widow off of it, you wouldnt even necessarily put together that its a Marvel property, and I think thats amazing. Its a great look at how superhero books can change to reach much wider audiences and its an absolute FEAST visually. Read Full Review

The further I get into this series, the more it becomes clear that while I enjoy espionage material, the individual issue format and placement within the Marvel Universe really makes it hard to connect with. The main appeal for me right now is still Phil Noto's artwork as it really brings a great sense of atmosphere to it all, properly claustrophobic in places and oppressive in general, but also with some great stylized moments that definitely makes it a pleasure to read through. The story itself is simply proving harder because it's got a lot to do, but has to work in the tricks and sleight of hand aspects that it feels ill defined and too uncertain. Natasha has a lot of potential but I'm just finding the book too cold in general, though I'm holding out hope for it in the long run. Read Full Review

Black Widow #5 continues to do unexpected and ambitious things with the Hawkeye model and makes a monthly case for being Marvel's best-looking title. Read Full Review

But all in all, this was definitely the issue that I disliked the most since the beginning of this run. It wasn't bad, but it had absolutely nothing special " if the very first issue had been like this, I wouldn't have continued reading. Read Full Review

Edmondson and Noto have done a solid job keeping this series valid in the initial full-court press of double-shipping issues. Quality has been topnotch and the stories have been substantial. Edmondson might be trying to stay out of Noto's way a bit, but the two really do a fine job collaborating. Five issues in, however, it feels like the story is just wheeling to the runway for take off now. The cliffhanger leaves me anxious for Natasha and looking forward to "Black Widow" #6. Read Full Review