Comic Vine Review

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Black Widow #20 - January: Part Two

5

The world is about to end but Natasha is trying make amends for the sins from her past.

Let's take a moment and reflect on these last twenty issues.

Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto have done wonders on the series. Besides showing us that Natasha can kick all sorts of ass, they've also shown how deep of a character she is with all her layers. These final issues have shown her looking back upon her past. The things she's done have always been a burden upon her. While in the Red Room program, she had to do some bad things. What exactly does that mean? We can imagine what this might mean but seeing some of the events leaves you with a sinking feeling. It's no wonder why Natasha could be distant at times. She's been carrying a heavy wait over the years and who knows what else her past holds.

That's the other problem with this series ending. As great as it is to see her current day adventures, it's been a blast delving into her past. I would have loved to see the balance continue with more revelations.

Along with the heavy stories, Noto's art has been breathtaking. There's a haunting innocence, at times, in the expressions he depicts. I've always felt the way Noto draws eyes simply exudes emotion. You can feel the weight on Natasha's shoulders. There are two pages towards the end with virtually no dialogue just really felt like a punch in the gut. I'm going to miss this creative team on this series.

It's unfortunate that this series is ending. Given this final story, we get a slightly sad but satisfying ending. Edmondson and Noto have done a consistent and remarkable job throughout the entire twenty issues. All good things come to an end and this is a prime example. I can't wait to re-read the entire run.