Black Widow is getting a new ongoing comic series. On Monday, Marvel announced Natasha Romanoff will be getting a bigger spotlight in the comics with an all-new series that will see her take on a group of familiar and unfamiliar enemies.
Black Widow has seen an uptick in popularity following her role in The Avengers. With an upcoming solo movie on the way, Marvel has steadily released a few Black Widow-led miniseries last year including Jen and Sylvia Soska's Black Widow and Jody Houser and Stephen Mooney's The Web of Black Widow. A new miniseries from Ralph Macchio and Simone Buonfantino was also recently announced. The character's longest ongoing series was 2014's Black Widow by Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto, which ran for 20 issues.
The upcoming Black Widow series will be written by Kelly Thompson (Captain Marvel) with art from Elena Casagrande (Catwoman). Thompson discussed the new book with IGN.com, where she revealed she wants to make an accessible, standalone book that is "unlike any store we've ever seen for her before." Thompson said Natasha's softer side will be explored as well as the duality of the character.
The book will feature the Red Guardian as well as fellow Black Widow Yelena Belova. The series will also have some "high profile guest stars" and "impressive villains." Those villains will form an alliance to take down the Black Widow. Thompson said unlike many Black Widow stories which featured a look back at her past, her run will focus on the present and future.
We’ve all seen it before a bunch of times – in great stories and less great stories – I see no need to go there again. This story does play with memory and the very fabric of who Natasha is… but I think we’re doing it in a twisty new way that’s going to be a real emotional (and physical) journey for her and at the end of our first arc expect to see her left in a very different state than where she began…and I believe a bit of a different role than we’ve ever seen for Natasha before. It’s risky but I’m excited and with the incredible team we have on board I’m feeling confident we can pull it off. This is a story I’ve had in mind for Nat for years – it’s the kind of story - as fan - that I’ve always wanted to see.
For fans of Black Widow, the announcement is great news. Thompson is one of Marvel's most talented storytellers and she seems to have a passion for the character. Black Widow has been featured heavily in Marvel Comics for a while, but getting her own ongoing title is huge. It's exciting to see the character get more of a focus ahead of the Black Widow solo film.
- Black Widow #1
- Written by Kelly Thompson
- Art by Elena Casagrande
- Cover art by Adam Hughes
- Bestselling Eisner-nominated writer Kelly Thompson (CAPTAIN MARVEL; DEADPOOL) and rising star artist Elena Casagrande (CATWOMAN) launch a new BLACK WIDOW series that changes everything! Natasha Romanoff has been a spy almost as long as she’s been alive. And she’s never stopped running, whether she was working for the good guys…or the bad. But Natasha’s world is about to be upended. Beyond San Francisco’s Golden Gate lies a mystery that only the Marvel Universe’s greatest spy can solve. Don’t miss the heartbreaking thrill ride of 2020!
- In comic shops April 2020.