![](https://berkeleyplaceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_3005.jpg)
Aaaaaah. Neal Adams. What a great run of artists we have had for Amazing Adventures–both halves, Widow and Inhumans. I just wish the stories were better.
After the doings of the last arc, Black Bolt locked Maximus in a chamber that looks remarkably like a coffin. Gorgon and Karnak, who are apparently anti-death penalty, open the container just to make sure Maximus is still breathing.
These two are always causing problems. They’re my favorite Inhumans. I love their relationship and their contrary power sets-Gorgon is big and strong and breaks everything, Karnak is lithe and touches only one pressure point.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_0205-1024x580.jpeg)
From there, Maximus escapes (naturally) and The Inhumans go on a world-wide manhunt, including landing at muscle beach in Los Angeles. The overmuscled body builders think it’s an invasion and fight The Inhumans, and Medusa beats one up with her hair.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_0206-482x1024.jpeg)
By all accounts, that’s awesome.
Thor guest stars, and The Avengers make an appearance.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_0207-829x1024.jpeg)
And goshdang it’s great to see Neal Adams draw them.
![](https://berkeleyplaceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_3007.jpg)
Only Thor can go after The Inhumans. Again, it’s great to see Neal draw him. And it’s even better to see Gorgon kick him.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/gorgon-kicks-thor.jpg)
Paul Levitz writes in again for issue #5.
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_0201-1024x162.jpeg)
![](https://earthsmightiestblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/IMG_0204.jpeg)
On the Black Widow side of this book, we start with a gratuitous shower scene.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/8bfb2a20d1b5e89f13d52d5fb4b0c3b1/tumblr_pr1scqVgm01y89b7no1_1280.png)
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/57aa09e3d08d78dd32119798a3d8234e/tumblr_pr1scqVgm01y89b7no2_1280.png)
And it is Christmas time.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/b067a39ccb6fe1877f1b1694e22d64b6/tumblr_pr1sfux9781y89b7no1_1280.png)
She spends these issues in street-level adventures beating up bad people and some of them die and so she wonders if she’s truly a “black widow.”
![](https://berkeleyplaceblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/IMG_3009.jpg)
But the whole concept doesn’t make sense. First off, she’s a spy and assassin who still runs missions for SHIELD. Surely she understands the need to kill. But at a more symbolic level, she doesn’t marry any of these people (hence, no “widow”) and she doesn’t eat them for food, either literally or figuratively (so she’s nothing like the spider).
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/d1dd6ccc263b0281fd5b9a814662d591/tumblr_pr1shtGd5o1y89b7no1_1280.png)
Ivan likes to make bad spider jokes.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/16d6c0a979d06d823e81140d5114bd6a/tumblr_pr1t90mjjb1y89b7no1_1280.png)
And of course, it’s not just thugs. There has to be a Russia connection, which comes in the form of a villain that is stupid.
![](https://64.media.tumblr.com/81b190c023e98c41e698c17b2a49579d/tumblr_pr1snxlxEO1y89b7no1_1280.png)
Also the art is by Don Heck, this ending the string of all-star pencilers for this comic.
This is Black Widow’s last story in Amazing Adventures. After thus, it becomes an Inhumans book for two issues and then a Beast solo book.
Inhumans: Roy Thomas and Neal Adams. B-, elevated significantly by the art.
Black Widow: Roy Thomas (#5-6), Gerry Conway (#7), Roy and Gerry (#8), Gene Colan (#5) and Don Heck (#6-8). C-