Graphic Novel Review - 'Black Widow, Vol. 1: The Ties That Bind' by Kelly Thompson (Writer), Elena Casagrande (Artist)

'The Ties That Bind' - a different and unusual 'Black Widow' comic, to say the least.

I won't reveal anything substantial about it, content wise, as it is best to go in blind. I'll just tiptoe and pointe around it like a ballerina in a high security facility.

(For the record I'm not a ballerina, let alone a good one, so I may stumble and fall flat on my face when constructing this review)

This newest 'Black Widow' title might seem like it's showing a Natasha Romanoff that is "soft", "feminised" and "maternal". Except that it isn't. It might seem like it's telling a story that is morally questionable in many areas, and morally and ethically screwed up with some heavy yet ignored implications. Except that it isn't. For the most part.

All I'll say is that 'Black Widow, Vol. 1: The Ties That Bind' is less a Black Widow action comic and more a Natasha character study, but it is still undeniably both a 'Black Widow' story and a Marvel book. For Natasha, it is about a version of "what could have been" and "remaking oneself", unwillingly and willingly. It is about adapting to changes, internal and external, resulting from the consequences of "remaking oneself", "what could have been", and "what was, and is". Our Marvel heroine is at her most vulnerable, caring and human here, in a 2020 run - unsurprisingly she gets violated and traumatised all over again, as keeps happening to her - written by none other than Kelly Thompson.

'The Ties That Bind' is a tragedy. A sad, twisted spy mystery that nonetheless has heart and humanity harmonised into it. It is well paced and structured, and so full of emotion - and catharsis.

Despite everything, Natasha retains the best traits we know and love her for: smarts, quick thinking, quick on-your-feet action, determination, altruism, the need to simply scream and release, and putting others and their safety before herself.

Black Widow remains unkillable. And breakable, but decisive and persevering.

Go read it. You might be surprised. You might also be curious as to how Natasha could feasibly recover from this, and where she could go from here.

Another plus: There is a mix of female and male villains at work in this title. Also Yelena Belova is in it.

A big minus: Flitting in and out of the shadows and background is the presence of a love triangle. Black Widow is paired up with a lot of Marvel superheroes, isn't she?

Final Score: 4/5

P.S. What is that pose that Black Widow is in on the cover? What is that facial expression? Seriously.