The most incredible thing about the issue, much like the opening of Steranko's iconic debut, is an early page-turn that dramatically pulls the rug out from under readers, subverting expectations and broadening the scale of what this comic could be in a shocking, awe-inspiring way. It's a sequence that has to be seen to be believed and serves as well as a jaw-dropping action sequences as a statement of intent from its creators. Hold on tight, it's going to be an incredible ride. Read Full Review

With these brilliant visuals surrounding Waid's smattering of intermittent(but expertlyplaced) dialogue, and excellent sense of pacing, Natasha doesn't need to uttera single word: her feet and fists do all the talking for her, speaking loudly in onomatopoeian kraks, faks, whumps, and choks. Between the sound effectsin the fights, the explosions, the screaming car chases, not to mention a headbutt or two, Joe Caramagna outdoes himself with the lettering. The entire comic is a seamlessly smooth yet exciting read — an exercise in creative mastery, really.It cements Natasha as one of the most capable characters in the entire Marvel U"even if she might be on the wrong side of the law now and then. I cannot wait to see where this comic goes next. Read Full Review

Highly recommended! Read Full Review

I wasn't sure what I was expecting in this first issue, but I can definitely say this wasn't it. Waid seems to have redefined a first issue giving us one that's worthy of being the opening sequence on the big screen. Comics are supposed to be fun, and Samnee and Waid have nailed it. Read Full Review

All-New, All-Different Marvel has had some pretty sweet successes, and this is definitely another one on that count. Waid, Samnee, Wilson, and Caramagna are the best of the best at what they do, and, in the case of Black Widow #1, what they do is make gorgeous, thrilling, enjoyable comics. Read Full Review

Black Widow is off to a blisteringly great start that is simple but highly effective. More comics should take notes from the team of Samnee, Waid, Wilson and Caramagna to focus on utilizing each member of the creative team to make for a truly fun and exhilarating read that couldnt possibly turn people away from picking up the next issue. There hasn't been anything this fun and confident from issue one since perhaps Matt Fraction and David Ajas Hawkeye. If there is some kind of poetic way to sum up Black Widow #1, it would have to be something directly taken from one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as he chases after Natasha once she escapes from the helicarrier: she turns a 40,000 foot fall into a ballet. Read Full Review

This is a creative team perfectly in sync. The creative bonds that were forged by their time on “Daredevil” have solidified so that they can come out of the gate guns blazing with “Black Widow” #1. This is a comic that holds no prisoners. From the word go, it takes off running and expects the reader to keep up with ever escalating chase sequence. It's a perfect showcase of the versatility of the superspy character of Black Widow, acting as the James Bond cold open to the series with the promise of a dark mystery to be unfolded. Until that time, though, you should already have this issue and you should already be spending all your time pouring over each gorgeous panel until your eyes melt so, honestly, I don't even know who's reading this right now. I'm going to stop writing now and go back to re-reading “Black Widow” #1. Read Full Review

Samnee's artwork got me thinking the homie should do stunt choreography " he has Natasha doing so many tricks that seem so invisible that you find yourself going back to see where Natasha set up the action up two panels prior. The maneuvers look flawless and almost out of nowhere by the final panel. Samnee makes Natasha look like a master of the prestige. Samnee and Waid did great creative tag-team when they had Daredevil flourish with the revamp during their run; I expect nothing less with their run of Black Widow and it's even a funny coincidence that they jump to Natasha's title as she and Daredevil used to share a series back in the day (but you know what we say about coincidences around here). Natasha's first issue delivered glory and left me sitting her like "TELL'EM WHY YOU BAD, BLACK WIDOW! TELL'EM WHY YOU BAD!" Read Full Review

At this point,if you can't get behind this title, with creators at their absolute peak, an intriguing set-up, and a main character that has never been more interesting or cool, then you're just not getting enough excitement in show business. Some might complain that this issue is all action and no story, but I think it's deliberate. This is meant to rocket this series out of the gate, and intrigue you enough to buy issue two. If the series remains this action-heavy, that could become a flaw, but at this point I can't see that happening. If there is a flaw, it's only in that this is just the first issue, and it remains to be seen if the quality can continue to be this high. But with this team, chances are you're about to get another classic run. Read Full Review

The first issue of the new run onBlack Widow is an excellent display of a creative team at the top of their game. These folks know how to bring out the best in each other, and it shines in this book. Marvel needs to stop putting out so many books that I can't stop reading. Pick this up at your local comic book shop or digital comics app now! Read Full Review

Overall, I wasn't expecting to love Black Widow as much as I did. Coming off such a successful run, I was honestly expecting the two to stumble a bit or not live up to the hype, Waid and Samnee however take a sledgehammer to the hype wall and keep on sprinting past (on jet packs). While I was a little thrown off to not see Waid's usual character work on display, I realized while reading that he shows a defter approach to the character by stripping out unnecessary monologues and plot complexities and focusing on pure visual spectacle. It's like The Revenant but for comics (that's my current references quota met). The comic shows exactly what the Black Widow is capable of and exactly the sort of thrills that are in store for the series, something that should make readers very excited. Do yourself a favorite and pick this up, it's the truest form of a pure action comic and I'm super pumped to see what comes next. Read Full Review

Those hoping for a deep, complex narrative may be disappointed with the first issue of Black Widow. But when a comic looks this good and takes such full advantage of the medium's storytelling possibilities, who needs pesky words? This issue will almost certainly be looked to as a teaching tool for up-and-coming comic artists. Not a bad start to this new series. Read Full Review

Though it has little semblance of plot and is almost completely devoid of pathos, Black Widow #1 brings to the table some of the most exciting action that comics are capable of for an impressive debut. Read Full Review

This creative team really comes together to tell a fantastic spy story that leaves you on the edge of your seat. It is nice to see Natasha Romanoff front and center as the lead for this spy drama and really showing what a formidable super spy she is. Samnee and Waid come together and showcase their talents to tell a great story with all art and few words. With this first issue starting this new series with such a bang, it is exciting to see what more we can expect from this creative team and Black Widow. Read Full Review

"Black Widow" #1 kicks off with a figurative bang, followed shortly thereafter by a literal one. As co-writers, Samnee and Waid demonstrate a slightly different kind of synergy, but it's a strong one that bodes well for the remainder of the series. Read Full Review

Waid and Samnee provide a near perfect first issue to get readers hooked. It's action packed and sets up enough mystery to keep readers excited. Read Full Review

As good as the comic is getting me interested in a stand-alone Black Widow comic, it's impossible not to compare it to Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting‘s Velvet (about the world's best female spy on the run from her own organization) which likely inspired it. Under that high standard Black Widow #1 isn't great, but it's still quite good. Worth a look. Read Full Review

Add to the pull box. This is what comics are supposed to be. Read Full Review

With this being a first issue, you'd be mistaken for thinking that the content ofthe book may be lackingin the story department. However, with this book and it's actionbased formatthe issue works. Hopefully, under the guidance of Waid, later issues will addto the action, otherwise, set action pieces on top of more set action pieces can get a bit repetitive, regardless of how well it is done. Read Full Review

If you're looking for a team that is consistently great with their work, you'd be hard-pressed to name many people who do what Samnee and Wilson do, particularly on a month-to-month basis. Read Full Review

This first issue definitely makes a statement, and it does its job of kicking off this new series, but I fear it was just too slight of an issue. Waid and Samnee don't fail to entice, setting up a mystery about what Widow stole, and giving her plenty of action moments. But the issue was over way too quickly for my tastes. Read Full Review

So do I recommend this issue, and want to continue reading? Absolutely! But at the same time, I'm fully aware that there are fans out there who are going to feel gypped because it takes so little time to read. So based on that and that alone, Black Widow #1 gets one half of a burrito less than it probably deserves. But make no mistake, this is still a damn good comic book. Read Full Review

Overall: Black Widow #1 was an unsatisfyingdebut issue. I finished the issue and had the feeling of wanting so much more for my money. I love action as much as the next reader. However, I also like some character work and interesting plot lines, too. I do not feel that I am asking for too much by wanting more substance and content to a debut issue of a new title. Black Widow #1 felt lacking in so many ways. The fact is that Black Widow #1 is a $4.00 comic book. That is a lot of money and I expect more than just an issue that reads like a prelude. I would only recommend Black Widow #1 to diehard Black Widow fans or extreme action fans. For all other readers, Black Widow #1 simply does not deliver enough content to justify the $4.00 price of admission. Read Full Review

Black Widow 1 jumps right into the middle of another mess Nat has gotten herself into. Apparently Natasha stole something very valuable from SHIELD, and they want it back no matter the cost? Throughout the whole issue, Samnee draws beautiful action and chase scenes of Natasha and a variety of SHIELD agents. Waid May have just wrote the origin of a very intriguing villain, SHIELD agent Elder, who’s protege got killed in the battlefield due to Natasha going rogue. All this awesomeness, and Natasha only has 1 one line this entire issue. 1. Great job Waid

A very solid piece or art and coloring. Samnee and Wilson do a great job. The lining and the coloring is a perfect fit for the moody environment. The story is a little of a throw away because it is very action heavy. But that only leaves you wanting more and the motives that made it such an action oriented first issue. Overall a solid first issue.

I never really had an interest in black widow and I have not heard good things about Waid’s recent work, so I was unsure about this seres

This issue immediately hooked me on the character and showed me why she’s more that just “the avenger who kicks a lot”

Very excited to read the rest of the series

But I will say Samnee’s art is a little Amateurish for my taste, please don’t hate me

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Comix4fever - Oct 12, 2018

Kingdom Come is considered his best.

The-MJP - Oct 13, 2018

I said waifs RECENT work

The-MJP - Oct 13, 2018

Waid’s

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Mark Waid's new Black Widow comic really kicks off with a bang. The first page gives us our conflict and then the rest of the comic is composed of a high stakes chase. Its a great set up for an arc as they still have so much story to tell but Waid gave us some cool action to get us hooked right off the bat.

It's like a snort of coke in comic form. One long action sequence, expertly executed, you don't really need to know much more than that. I don't expect all the issues to be like this, that would be a lackluster series, as an opener though, this works great. Props to Samnee.

It was a giant action scene with no substance whatsoever -- I expect this to get better given its Waid/Samnee but the first issue was basically all fluff and no meat.

45 wonderful seconds of entertainment.

I mean, I liked it - was a fun read. But it was just all action. Barely any story or dialogue. Not the best #1 comic for new readers.

Can we please get something original, other than BW fighting the very system she was part of once?

This book doesn’t feel like an issue one, but more like a zero issue. The artwork is stellar, but the story really felt like a missing component that Natasha should have tried to steal back from S.H.I.E.L.D. so it can find it’s way into this issue. I just felt like this issue FLEW by, and that I didn’t get anywhere near as much story as I would have wanted from a new number one Black Widow story. I am sure that there is a lot more story coming from this series, I just wasn’t impressed by what I got in this first issue. I think that Chris Samnee’s art is stellar, but that is definitely nowhere near enough to save this book from suffering as a number one issue. we don’t get much of any real dialogue, which for me, is where the pacing of this book feels like it is moving at 100mph the whole time, because this book feels like it ends before it’s even really gotten started. I think the next issues will be better, because they can slow their pace down and really dive into the character, and give her an opportunity to talk, for a story to build and for things to happen in a calm, orderly fashion (except with lots of punches, kicks and probably some stabby/shooty stuff too). But this first issue just fell flat for me. more

A decent issue on it's own but it does not work as a first issue at all. The story is quite simply that SHIELD are chasing Black Widow. That is quite literally it and there is nothing else to it. Samnee's art carries the issue, and while he does a phenomenal job there is nothing in the issue for me to care about the character(s) and/or plot of the book. This is the kind of issue you do after you've already started the series. The issue is all style but no substance, and that is simply unacceptable for a first issue.