This is just the latest in a long line of volumes concentrating on characters from the Marvel Universe, but it's one of my favourites.
Like other volumes the book looks primarily at the Black widows comic book adventures, so fans of the movies may or may not be interested. If you are interested however, it's a great opportunity to get Natashas entire history in the palm of your hand, and is packed with interesting information and full colour images from over the years.
The thing I like best about this volume however is something I don't recall seeing in previous ones.
Typically these books tackle issues and stories as they occurred in the comic books, however this particular volume has taken the effort to untangle the complicated comic book continuity to present them in chronological order rather than order of release. For example, stories of Nat's childhood didn't occur in the comics until the 1990's - about thirty years after her debut - but in this volume those stories appear right at the beginning, which is a simple change but one that makes it much easier to appreciate the characters history.
It's a great book for new and old fans alike.
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![Marvel Black Widow: Secrets of a Super-spy by [Melanie Scott]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FwuHaPStL._SX260_.jpg)
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From the Publisher
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| Marvel Black Widow: Secrets of a Super-spy | Marvel The Way of the Warrior | Marvel Monsters | Marvel Myths and Legends | Marvel Black Panther The Ultimate Guide | Marvel Avengers Ultimate Guide New Edition | |
| Key Feature | Uncover the secrets of Black Widow’s past in this invaluable guide to the most secretive of heroes. | Learn about the skills, expertise, and classic clashes of Marvel's most lethal martial artists. | Get up close to the flora, fauna, and beasts great and small from your favourite Marvel comics. | Explore the spectacular sagas and mythic tales that define and underpin the Marvel Universe. | Find out everything you need to know about the heroic Black Panther, and his home of Wakanda. | Discover the key members and epic events from across the history of Earth’s mightiest Super Hero team. |
| Features artwork direct from the comic books | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Includes profiles and information on characters such as | Black Widow, Yelena Belova, and The Red Guardian | Shang-Chi, Iron Fist, Daredevil, Gamora, Psylocke | Groot, Fin Fang Foom, Man-Thing, Morbius | The Eternals, Thor, Doctor Strange, Namor | Black Panther, Shuri, Storm, Ulysses Klaw | Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Hawkeye |
| For adult Marvel fans | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| E-book available | ✓ | ✓ | - | ✓ | - | - |
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 June 2021
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 February 2020
The success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has breathed new life into the retinue of superheroes of yesteryear - some, in their modern incarnation have become much more visible and popular characters, and so it is with Marvel's Black Widow, the subject of this semi-eponymously titled tome. I should say at once that it is neither a Graphic Novel nor a Trade Paperback, you will find no comic strip format stories in here beyond some samples to illustrate the text where appropriate.
That's not to say that it doesn't have a high graphic content as it certainly does; illustrated with full colour images from the earliest to the most contemporary in the life of Black Widow, they predominate over text by about 4:1 ratio. And to do justice to the artwork inside, it is all printed on 200 pages of good quality glossy paper bound in hardback and replete with that wonderful "new book" scent. As Marvel have collaborated with the well-known publishers Dorling Kindersley that kind of quality is all but assured
As I mentioned, the contents are not in traditional comic strip form, and that is because this is not a story as such, but more of a biography of the character Natasha Romanoff. It is entirely "in-universe" and so does not deal with the real-world origins of the characters and the publication histories beyond the illustration credits. This is the comprehensive story of Natasha and where she came from, how she came to be an Avenger and how she got to be the Black Widow we know today.
Her tale is laid out in five major chapters, each dealing with a specific and significant part of her life, from her origins to her soviet spying days, through the tumultuous changes up to her current status.. Each of these chapters is divided into easily digested sub-sections, with the text woven in between a cornucopia of comicbook images from the relevant periods.
I was interested to note that not only was the book written by a woman (Melanie Scott), ten of the eleven editing/publishing team credited are also women. Well I thought it was interesting... however, at the end of the day the book stands or falls on its own merits, and I consider fans of Black Widow or The Avengers well-served by this book, with well-thought out content, intriguing narrative and good balance of contemporary images. A coffee table book for fans that is not light on content and of the quality we have come to expect from DK.
That's not to say that it doesn't have a high graphic content as it certainly does; illustrated with full colour images from the earliest to the most contemporary in the life of Black Widow, they predominate over text by about 4:1 ratio. And to do justice to the artwork inside, it is all printed on 200 pages of good quality glossy paper bound in hardback and replete with that wonderful "new book" scent. As Marvel have collaborated with the well-known publishers Dorling Kindersley that kind of quality is all but assured
As I mentioned, the contents are not in traditional comic strip form, and that is because this is not a story as such, but more of a biography of the character Natasha Romanoff. It is entirely "in-universe" and so does not deal with the real-world origins of the characters and the publication histories beyond the illustration credits. This is the comprehensive story of Natasha and where she came from, how she came to be an Avenger and how she got to be the Black Widow we know today.
Her tale is laid out in five major chapters, each dealing with a specific and significant part of her life, from her origins to her soviet spying days, through the tumultuous changes up to her current status.. Each of these chapters is divided into easily digested sub-sections, with the text woven in between a cornucopia of comicbook images from the relevant periods.
I was interested to note that not only was the book written by a woman (Melanie Scott), ten of the eleven editing/publishing team credited are also women. Well I thought it was interesting... however, at the end of the day the book stands or falls on its own merits, and I consider fans of Black Widow or The Avengers well-served by this book, with well-thought out content, intriguing narrative and good balance of contemporary images. A coffee table book for fans that is not light on content and of the quality we have come to expect from DK.
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 February 2020
Marvels Black Widow, Secrets of a super-spy.
"From her early training in Russias infamous Red Room to becoming an Avenger and Agent S.H.I.E.L.D., to finally striking out on her own path, Black Widows history is as intriguing as it is labyrinthine."
From the beginning to the end. All of her momentary battles she faced and endured. How she became the Black Widow we all know and love, she is today.
All styled out like our favourite comics. Incredible, lucid illustrations in many styles. All detailed amazingly well, whilst the pictures tell their own story, you've a short passage alongside them too.
At the start of each individual story/chapter, is an Introduction page. This includes character illustrations, detailed information about the episode, the number of it, the month and the year. Also a brief sum up of previous events and an insight into what's to come.
Contents -
THE EARLY YEARS
• Child of steel
• First blood
• Department
• Love and marriage
SOVIET SPY TO SUPER HERO
• In enemy territory
• Choosing life
• Avengers ally
• The Red Guardian
A NEW LIFE
• The widow alone
• Daring to dream
• Champion of champions
• Agent for hire
• Avenger at last
• Widow vs Widow
• Secrets and lies
THE BATTLE WITHIN
• Americas most wanted
• A deadly path
• Picking sides
• Back with Bucky
• In her name
• Heat of battle
• Atonement
• Chaos and destruction
SOLO AGAIN
• Dark room
• Resistance
• Born again
• Web of horror
INDEX
Any Black Widow fans dream book!
This Black Widow book is incredibly detailed. Its actually way better than I considered it would be. I love the extra information before each episode. The illustrations are amazing and they genuinely give you that authentic comic book feel. I would definitely recommend this book for any Black Widow fan!
"From her early training in Russias infamous Red Room to becoming an Avenger and Agent S.H.I.E.L.D., to finally striking out on her own path, Black Widows history is as intriguing as it is labyrinthine."
From the beginning to the end. All of her momentary battles she faced and endured. How she became the Black Widow we all know and love, she is today.
All styled out like our favourite comics. Incredible, lucid illustrations in many styles. All detailed amazingly well, whilst the pictures tell their own story, you've a short passage alongside them too.
At the start of each individual story/chapter, is an Introduction page. This includes character illustrations, detailed information about the episode, the number of it, the month and the year. Also a brief sum up of previous events and an insight into what's to come.
Contents -
THE EARLY YEARS
• Child of steel
• First blood
• Department
• Love and marriage
SOVIET SPY TO SUPER HERO
• In enemy territory
• Choosing life
• Avengers ally
• The Red Guardian
A NEW LIFE
• The widow alone
• Daring to dream
• Champion of champions
• Agent for hire
• Avenger at last
• Widow vs Widow
• Secrets and lies
THE BATTLE WITHIN
• Americas most wanted
• A deadly path
• Picking sides
• Back with Bucky
• In her name
• Heat of battle
• Atonement
• Chaos and destruction
SOLO AGAIN
• Dark room
• Resistance
• Born again
• Web of horror
INDEX
Any Black Widow fans dream book!
This Black Widow book is incredibly detailed. Its actually way better than I considered it would be. I love the extra information before each episode. The illustrations are amazing and they genuinely give you that authentic comic book feel. I would definitely recommend this book for any Black Widow fan!
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 February 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 March 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 February 2020
This is a beautifully made and excellently illustrated book. Packed so many amazing scenes into this book along with informative chapter's . I've really enjoyed looking through this repeatedly and find it very inspiring. Overall Black widow is definitely one of my favourite arty books and informative, pleasure to own and look through repeatedly.🤩
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 April 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 February 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 February 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 February 2020
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2020
