Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1, available now from Marvel Comics, showcases characters appearing in the Marvel Cinematic Universe Black Widow movie. Writing this action-packed issue is Devin Grayson, co-creator of one of the main stars Yelena Belova. Taking on the art duties is Michele Bandini, with Elisabetta D’Amico assisting in inking. Erick Arciniega provides some illuminating colors, while Cory Petite brings great placement for lettering.
For Mother Russia
Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1 is a good way for Grayson to show how far her creation has gone. That being said, it’s probably best to avoid going into Yelena’s convoluted history in the more recent Black Widow series unless you’re into the whole cloning plot. Who needs that when Grayson displays Yelena’s everyday life and motivations that most readers would relate towards. Because who doesn’t want to be a capable spy who can stick it to corrupt rich people? At such, James Bond levels of action even.
Then there’s Alexei, the original Red Guardian. He’s the kind of character you don’t know whether to love or hate. Alexei is both a loyal soldier willing to help out someone he barely knows and a loyalist to a regime that has a higher body count than the Third Reich. This creates some rather interesting and complicated characters who would inevitably clash with the greater Marvel Universe. The kind of clashes that get readers questioning whom to root for.
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Art
The primary artist of Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1, Bandini, makes dynamically eye-catching illustrations. Whether it’s characters, backgrounds, or objects, Bandini fills the page with enough detail to show what’s going on. She’s also quite good with action scenes making them rather comparable to Chris Samnee’s Black Widow.
A noticeably great effect in the issue is the use of illumination. Arciniega makes good use of spotlights to guide readers towards plot directives. They often accompany supplementary captions from Petit that, in turn, guide readers through panels. This makes them as dynamic as the action scenes taking place. Readers are bound to get excited when they find wordmarks of gunshots accompanying fast movements.
Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1 Will Make You Want Black Widow
Whether as a standalone or a companion piece to Black Widow material, Widowmakers: Red Guardian and Yelena Belova #1 will excite people. The artwork will get your blood pumping with how it pushes the characters through intense action. With Red Guardian and Yelena Belova who could go in any direction in this espionage action setting, readers will want more.
