Graphic Novel Review - 'Black Widow: No Restraints Play' by Jen Soska (Writer), Sylvia Soska (Writer), Flaviano (Artist), Veronica Gandini (Colour Artist)

This 'Black Widow' comic is dark. Very dark, in every sense of the word. I almost gave up on liking it rather quickly in its beginning and middle. The adult and "edgy" themes and hot button issues are here: bloody violence and crime, prostitution, the dark web and torture-for-profit websites, child abduction, child pornography, graphic injury and trauma detail on children, the sick and seedy overbelly of the worst cities in the world, the evil of the capitalist society, cancel culture, and much more.

'Black Widow: No Restraints Play' is among Marvel's most horrifying and twisted titles, full of the heights of human depravity...and it works. I got more into it the further I read, for there is a well written story and mystery playing out in the murky, vile scum waters.

Black Widow is very angry, violent and deadly, after being killed and brought back as a clone in a previous storyline. But her morality is in check, when it comes to saving children. She clearly sees herself in these brutalised, traumatised little girls, but really, anyone with anything resembling a soul would go on a killing spree to hunt the men - the monsters, the rabid dogs - who would do such abominable things to girls, and revel in them. Ethics exist for a reason; why would anyone want to go down these paths? Oh, right: money, power, ego, and the privilege to hide it and get away with it.

Natasha Romanoff is like a female Punisher in 'No Restraints Play'. She's an avenging angel and a scary force to be reckoned with; she's proven again and again that she's unkillable. Not unbreakable, mind you, but showing vulnerability is never bad - it's human - and she always snaps back. She's an Avenger for a reason, and she's not holding back this time. Not her emotions, and not her screams of rage. Of release.

Natasha is aided by female cohorts in this comic, including Tyger Tiger, 'The closest thing Madripoor has to law and order, which makes her someone you do not $%#£ with.' (Yeah, Marvel censored the big swearwords even in a comic like this one, bizarrely). The mystery is excellent, lending itself to a twist at the end I did not see coming. Cleverly foreshadowed, cleverly played.

'Black Widow: No Restraints Play' is a hard-ass, cutthroat feminist comic about fighting the patriarchy's darkest, sickest unchecked tentacles, and capitalism. It is an obelisk in adult superhero comics with female leads.

Reality and real life issues are execrably and inflexibly fucked up. There are rotten and monstrous people in the world (thanks to capitalism). But anyone can help to change it. You don't need superpowers to be a hero. You can survive. You can thrive. You can fight.

You can live.

Final Score: 4/5