MARVEL KNIGHTS BLACK WIDOW #1-3 (2001)

Yelena Belova shows up and decides she wants to be Black Widow.

It makes Natasha question whether she is anything other than her code name.

Devin Grayson and Greg Rucka’s dialogue is excellent. It pays homage to Black Widow’s history, particularly with Daredevil, but brings her out as the central character here. Widow had had starring roles before, but for me this miniseries was the first one that really captured her depth and scope.

She was more than just a hot chick hero in black leathers.

We also see her claim her space as a “senior” level hero in the 616.

The back-and-forth with the future White Widow is excellent.

There’s an overlaid “nuke threat” storyline, but the real tension in this series is with Natasha trying to prevent Yelena from becoming an assassin.

The characters end up disguising themselves as each other so that Widow can expose the truth about the people seeking to turn Yelena.

This is the first of several Rucka-written Widow books. Can’t wait to read the next one.

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