Exclusive Preview: BLACK WIDOW #8

@kleo_94: You're absolutely right! As you said, WS is now in the same realm of popularity as Loki thanks to the films, and deservedly so, and Marvel needs to really seize the opportunity like they've done with the aforementioned trickster. Like you said, comic fans are patient- we can wait- and you may be right- waiting might be the best thing if the Cap/Bucky ball is in Remender's court. Better for him to have moved on & have a talented writer & creative team handling Bucky, with respect as to what came before with Bru, but continuing the saga of James "Bucky" Barnes in creative new ways that still remain true to the character. And waiting may also be good with all the events that could draw away attention or catch the book up in crossovers, too, where Bucky could get caught up in continuity conundrums (kinda like Original Sin, lots of wth moments with Bucky there) and be mishandled by writers outside the series. Interruptions like that can really hurt or kill a book as badly or as quickly as a poor creative team. Hopefully Marvel is waiting too, biding their time and planning something like that...hopefully.

@winter_kills: All you've just said, and this especially:

I'd just be happy to see him show up and fight beside Steve again in Captain America- there is a divide between them that Marvel has made that I don't understand, and kinda sucks since they are like brothers.

That's what I meant. They've never been so far from each other like they're now. It's just weird.

I can only hope that Marvel will open their eyes before it's too late. I mean, not for the comic book fans, 'cause we're always there, just waiting, but for the movie fans. Let's be honest. Winter Soldier is now all popular as Loki was (not long ago, actually), and he'll stay popular: but for a time. The sooner Marvel will realise that, the better. Or they'll miss their opportunity. They should be using this very time, not long after TWS premiere, and still some time before DVD release, to push the character in comics. Instead, they decided to keep him as a background character, for most of the time. I still can't get it.

Either way, as I said, comic book fans will wait patiently. Maybe it's better to wait and get a good run on Bucky rather than get something as bad as Remender does.

@war_killer: @kleo_94:

I understand & agree with everything you guys have said, and it's awesome to meet other Bucky fans that share the same views & know exactly where I'm coming from. I've read Captain America for years- been a Cap fan since I could read- and I loved Bucky even when he was "dead" and not as "cool" as Brubaker showed him to be, before he was the Winter Soldier, Guess that's part of how I got the nickname Bucky, as well as the fact that I have similar stature, and I'm a scrappy lil' guy- he's always resonated with me, somehow. Anyway, I've followed Cap before Bru's run & since, and Brubaker's run remains not only my favorite Cap run, but one of my favorite comic runs of all time. For me, this run doesn't just include both his Cap volumes, but the Winter Soldier series, too.(I'm re-reading them right now in order for the umpteenth time, right now I'm in the middle of the Man Without a Face- this entire run never gets old or fails to entertain.) He brought Bucky back in an organic way I thought no one ever could accomplish, showed that Bucky was cool and kick-ass back during WW2 and made me become so invested in his character- he not only made me love Bucky as much as Steve, he turned Bucky into my all-time favorite comic character. He has a fanbase, these stories are fondly remembered, and people are even more interested since the awesome movie- this year should be the year of the Winter Soldier, and like you guys, I want Marvel to give Bucky the proper respect he deserves- the demand is definitely there, there's more than a large enough audience to sustain any Bucky-related project. As you guys said, I'd just be happy to see him show up and fight beside Steve again in Captain America- there is a divide between them that Marvel has made that I don't understand, and kinda sucks since they are like brothers. I'd just prefer it to not be written by Remender- he just doesn't seem to get Cap or Bucky, IMHO.(With Steve temporarily out of commission, I would've thought that would be a perfect opportunity for him to stand in for him- but no, Remender's using Falcon instead- what the hell? Another squandered opportunity with Buck. He's the only other person I'll ever accept as Captain America.) And kleo, I even like your idea of a WW2-era series with Cap & Bucky- like you guys I love Bucky in all his incarnations; WS, Cap, & just plain Bucky. I'd buy a series like that in a heartbeat. Or if he was in Secret Avengers, he'd be a perfect fit for a team like that. But really, there's no reason he shouldn't have his own series, with all the things that make him unique- his history, things both told and untold- and his unique status as the premiere "ghost operative" of the MU. Bucky is severely underutilized & right now Marvel is missing many opportunities with a fantastic character that can have many stories written about him in many different ways. Maybe after events like Original Sin & Axis get out of the way, we can get a series like that from a competent writer- I'm hopeful, at least. One day Marvel's gotta open up their eyes and ears & see & hear out we Bucky fans & see the opportunities they're missing.

@war_killer: I know they can't hang out together in public. But as you mentioned, that doesn't mean they cannot go on some missions together. Heck, I miss them together, I really do. It's not like they can't be the characters on their own, but seeing them together... You know. That's their relationship that is so great about Captain America and Bucky stories. If they interact in any way, not just going on one mission and then see Bucky disappearing without even saying goodbye (yes, All New Invaders).

Concerning the WWII stories, I don't see why these wouldn't be entertaining. Remember "Captain America & Bucky" (2011)? It was pretty good, actually. Ongoing isn't possible on this kind of the flashback stories, but a mini-series, I wouldn't mind it.

It's Black Widow preview, and we're talking about Bucky. But that only proves that Marvel should go and get a really good writer and run an ongoing about Winter Soldier asap.

@kleo_94: Yeah, I think the main reason we've seen little interaction between the two is because Bucky is supposed to be "dead" to the world and hanging around Steve, who is a high profile character, would risk drawing attention to Bucky. So at least there it makes sense we've seen little of them together. But even so, there a ways for them to interact without being in public, there a plenty of missions that Cap probably has to go on that aren't that "public" and having Bucky tag along to assist would a great team-up. Not to mention that Bucky could also come over and play some poker with Steve and some of the Avengers who know he's alive, like Wolverine and Hawkeye.

Agreed. The spy-corner of the Marvel Universe is one that's been touched on very little over the years. Every now and then, like with Black Widow's current series, we get a nice glimpse into that corner of the world, but there is so much of it that we've yet to see and would make a great setting for a new Winter Soldier series.

Personally I wouldn't mind a mini-series or something, but I feel an ongoing wouldn't have the same feel. The problem with doing flashback stories is that its hard to create any sort of suspense due to us, the readers, already knowing that Cap and Bucky survive to the present day. Personally I liked how Brubaker incorporated WWII flashbacks in his run on Captain America when needed, but didn't throw them in there just because. Any time we got to see a flashback of their time at war, it usually added something to the story in the present, even if it was just Cap or Bucky remembering something that happened to them back in the war.

@war_killer: I actually miss Bucky & Steve, they're not so close with one another right now. But why, again? They were partners during WWII, they're friends, they're like brothers. And now, they appear together only in All-New Invaders, and, let's be honest, it was nothing like what they've had before. I'm still waiting for them to meet in Original Sin. And this time, I hope, it'll be something more than "hello, and bye again". If he's to appear in the Secret Avengers, I hope it won't be just a few panels and WS as the background character, just because he deserves better.

And I totally agree with Winter_Kills, there's so many stories that can be told, so many possibilities with the Winter Soldier, that I'm still surprised he doesn't have his next ongoing right now.

And, even though I love Bucky both as Cap [I still cry knowing that he won't be Cap anymore T^T] and as the Winter Soldier, I'd love to see another series about Bucky & Cap during WWII. I love Bucky as Bucky so much. The first comics with Bucky I've read was Captain America v5, starting from #1, and I've decided to read it because I knew TWS was in the cinemas, and I just wanted to read the original story first. After this I completely fell in love with the character, and with Captain America Comics, The Invaders, and, well, all Golden Age comics with Bucky. So I'm used to seeing Steve & Bucky together, their friendship and brotherhood, which is now diminished in all the current runs.

@winter_kills: Oh dude, the first comic book I ever read was an old Captain America comic, when I finally started reading comics I started with Captain America #33, the issue right before the one where Bucky becomes Captain America. I grew up with Bucky as my Captain America and have been with the character as he returned to the shadow as Winter Soldier. Bucky, whether as Cap or Winter Soldier, is my all-time favorite comic book character and I just wish he'd get some more love.

Yeah, back when they relaunched Secret Avengers after Fear Itself it was teased that Bucky would eventually join the team as Winter Soldier. He even appears on the cover of the first issue and even made a cameo appearance in later issues, further the idea that he was going to join the team...but for whatever reason he never did and since then he's been placed on the back-burner. Original Sin is the most love he's really gotten this year, in the comics at least, and yet even then that's not much.

I'd love for him to get his own series, though I'm not sure who would even be able to write it. Since Brubaker left no ones really been able to capture Bucky quite like he did, seeing as modern Bucky is really his character. But even if he didn't get his own series, I'd still love to see him in a more spy-based black ops type series like Secret Avengers or something tied to S.H.I.E.L.D. Heck, at this point, I'd love to see him just appear in Captain America, maybe work alongside Steve on a mission or two. Anything than what he's getting now would be an improvement at this point.

Take my money!!!!!

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@war_killer:

I agree completely! I love Bucky, whether he's in the shadows as Winter Soldier, or as Captain America, and I want to see him handled right. Heck, even my nickname is Bucky- my mom calls me "her Bucky". And when Brubaker brought him back in Winter Soldier, he brought me not just back to Cap, but to comics again period. I became invested in Bucky, his history, and his character. I want him to be alive and kicking butt in the MU. After all the great stories and work Bru did through his Cap run & WS, I want to see Bucky treated right & with respect. Especially after the greatness of the movie that showed how cool he was to people outside the comics community. I want to see him handled right, and he's a popular character, even moreso now, with so much potential, with history spanning WW2 to present, and has a unique place as the premiere "ghost operative" of the Marvel Universe. That alone makes him unique, gives him a special function in the MU- more than enough to sustain a series, especially combined with the interest in espionage-themed tales, and the types of stories that could be derived from real Cold War era events (like Project: MKUltra, Russia's "Dead Hand" Program, Russia's "zombie" experiments, etc.) and told through the Marvel lens, to the Brubaker/Steranko-style espionage tales. There's definitely an audience for this, & with the past successes of stories with the character & the recent film, I would imagine they would want to capitalize on that in a constructive way- and I hope they will at some point, maybe when Original Sin is over. I agree- Bucky is severely underutilized, especially in books like Invaders, and I agree he would fit in much better in Secret Avengers, in a more covert setting that let him do what he does best. I saw a sketch of a Secret Avengers cover with him on it, and thought it was so cool and wished he was in the book. I hope that Marvel does come back to their senses that they have this great character/property in their hands that is being poorly utilized- and can only be properly utilized with an ongoing series by a competent writer that takes him back to the "ghost ops" espionage roots Brubaker intended. This years should be the year of the Winter Soldier, and could be if Marvel played their cards right.

@winter_kills: The Bitter March should have just been called "Ran Shen: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." as he's literally the main character. The only reason it has Winter Soldier in it and why his name is in the title is because the series came out around the time the movie did. But despite that, Remender is simply using the book to establish HIS own character and is simply using Bucky as a means to draw in a crowd. It's just disappointing that Bucky is being used as a ploy.

Honestly I've yet to really care for All-New Invaders. For me The Invaders have always been the Golden Age Avengers, being America's first official superhero team during World War II. But with The Avengers having become the big superhero team in the present day, there's really no reason for The Invaders to exist. The only reason I even read the series is for Bucky, who in all honesty would fit better in Secret Avengers because it fits with his character, yet Marvel apparently doesn't understand this and despite having teased the possibility of Bucky joining that team, he's yet to actually do so...which is a bummer.

I like Bucky as Winter Soldier and don't really mind him working in the shadows, I just wish he'd get more love and at least get his own series are appear in a team book where he can actually make a difference.

@war_killer:

I totally agree with all of this. I had high hopes for The Bitter March, but that was snuffed out quick; Remender has totally disappointed me with everything he does. He just needs to stay away from all things Cap & Bucky. The concept had a lot of potential, but like you said, he's like a secondary character in a book that has HIS name on it. And I had hope for All-New Invaders, but he's just...there. And though I love he's a central character in Original Sin, I HATE how the other characters react towards him. I mean, he fought alongside most of them as Captain America, for Kirby's sake! And like Kleto said, the Widow has a book, but why not Bucky? He's an extremely popular character, especially after the movie, and the Brubaker stories are still fresh on everyone's minds. He needs a book stat, there's so much history with him and still an unlimited amount of stories to be told, and I know there has to be a talented writer(not Remender) out there who can do it. With the way Remender's writing Cap, I miss and long for Bru's Bucky Cap days. As much as I love Steve, I'd rather have Bucky as Cap than the Cap that Remender is writing. C'mon Marvel, give Buck a series & the respect he deserves, and you know he deserves!

I am so excited for this!! I hope that Bucky has a good appearance, and is written in-character, and that I'm not disappointed- but I'm optimistic. I love Bucky & Natasha, and both of them together was great. I knew "Black Widow Hunt" couldn't be the total end of their relationship, and I hoped that Natasha's memories are restored because of "Original Sin" and a lot of the stuff that happened during "Black Widow Hunt" and after can be resolved. Bucky/Natasha ftw! I can only hope that Marvel gives Bucky his own series by a talented writer after this & Original Sin. There's so much history, so many stories yet to be told, and being able to pick up a solo book for both him & Natasha respectively would be absolute bliss for this fan.I just hope that this book is everything I hope it to be- got my fingers crossed! (And toes, too!)

@war_killer: I feel you. And I also wonder why Marvel isn't pushing Bucky's character, considering the fanbase after TWS? I'm much more into comics, and mostly ignore MCU fandoms, but they're so big that you'd thing Marvel's gonna use that. I would love another Winter Soldier solo series. This time, something more than mini-series with Bucky appearing in a few panels, something long and ongoing. Hell, Natasha has her series, and Winter Soldier hasn't? Just... Why not, Marvel?

HELL YEAH HELL YEAH HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Must ... resist ... reading preview ... don't want to spoil ... best book of the year

Sweet!

@cap10nate: I absolutely LOVE Black Widow Hunt. My favorite Marvel couple, bar none...

In the final arc of Brubaker's Winter Soldier series. Another sleeper solder like Bucky exacted revenge on him by completely wiping her mind of any knowledge of him.

Superb art. Great series so far.

When did a madman mess with her mind so she forgot the relationship?

Phil Noto. Absolutely fantastic as always.

That tends to be how Marvel's been using him lately...you'd think after how successful Captain America: TWS was that they'd want to capitalize on that, but instead he's reduced to a mini-series with his name on it, in which he barely even appears; he's randomly in the new Invaders book, yet is treated as a background character due to him being "dead;" and while he's gotten more panel time in Original Sin, most of the characters in the story hate him and act completely out-of-character towards him. :(

this series has been amazing so far. Completely turned me into a BW fan... i never found the character appealing before this run.

hmm Black Widow looks like Moon Knight with that gear on.

Love the art.

Watch Bucky not be in the issue 'till the very end! lol...

Great series. I've enjoyed every issue.

lol Hopefully Widow remembers their relationship sometime in the future. It seems like they left that window wide open,and they aren't ones to waste opportunity.

Never thought I'd love a Black Widow series as much as I do. This is fantastic.

the art is pretty snazzy, i like.

@jonny_anonymous: yeah

Marvel is against LTRs!

This is one of the best books that I have ever read. I swear to god.

It sucks that their relationship ended,though :(

Cannot wait for their interaction. Edmonson and Noto are doing a fantastic job on this series and I hope they give my favorite comic couple some good moments.

@fallschirmjager: Notice how she interacted with DD in the last issue, will be interacting with Bucky in this issue and Hawkeye will be turning up in a future issue

That is an amazing cover. Just love Phil Noto's art!

Awesome! I've been looking forward to his inevitable appearance.

awesome