Well, it’s about time, Marvel. Note to the reader: that was my reaction when I first heard of this young adult novel, Black Widow: Forever Red. Tell me there aren’t millions of people, youngsters and adult-ish types, who aren’t jonesing for this Avenger who fights alongside some legendary heroes, without having one iota of superpower or magic or billions of dollars of tech. Black Widow rolls in with guns and an overwhelming amount of badassery. So, yeah. When I saw this book was coming out, I definitely felt it was overdue.
Bestselling author Margaret Stohl penned this book and captured a version of Natasha Romanov to which most comics only eluded. Deeply focused and not a little broken, the reader gets inside the mind of this unstoppable assassin only to find she’s not exactly what you might expect. Whatever her past holds, she is a dedicated and diverse woman who seeks justice and, at times, revenge. This isn’t the movie version of the character; she’s not all sarcastic quips and nonchalant attitude, though there is a fair amount of both. The Black Widow is, above all else, driven. And Stohl goes above and beyond to explore as many nooks and crannies as she can in Natasha’s psyche.
Students of the Unusual™ comic cover used with permission of 3BoysProductions
The Mercuri Bros.™ comic cover used with permission of Prodigal Son Press
