A comiXologist Recommends
Daredevil #252-273 by Ann Nocenti, John Romita Jr. and Al Williamson
One of the first comics I read monthly, and years later, still one of my favorites. Picking up Nocenti’s Daredevil for the first time as a kid was a revelation. Sure, the book had all the action you’d expect from a superhero comic, but it also had rich layers of ongoing story, resonant thematic content, social and political consciousness, thoughtful character development and one of the best rogue’s galleries (Typhoid Mary, Shotgun, Bullet, the Wildboys, Bushwacker) since the Flash met Captain Cold and the gang.
Nocenti’s fresh, contemporary take on the character was more than enhanced by John Romita Jr.’s pencils, which themselves were further enhanced by Al Williamson’s inks. As creative partners, Nocenti and Romita made perfect sense. Both were young, up-and-coming talents with unique, hip styles influenced by new wave 80′s. Williamson was more of a wild card. He was old school, coming up as an artist for EC Comics and spending much of his time prior to Daredevil working on more straightforward sci-fi comics, like Star Wars and Flash Gordon. And yet Williamson and Romita’s art meshes perfectly. As a great inker, Williamson understood what was special about Romita’s art and enhanced it.
The result was a creative team working perfectly in synch, coming to the exact right character at the exact right time. Nocenti’s Daredevil is not just one of the best, probably the best, Daredevil runs of all time, and not just one of the best superhero comics of all time, but, with its perfect blend of style and substance, off the wall action and moving emotional weight and the synchronicity its three creators brought to one anothers work and to the atmosphere of series as a whole, it’s one of the best comics of all time.
Harris Smith is a production coordinator, social media editor and creator outreach specialist at comiXology. He’s watching Daredevil season 2 as he writes this and having a pretty good time.
A comiXologist Recommends (The
Black Widow movie you always wanted – in a comic book)
Story by Chris Samnee and Mark Waid
Art by Chris Samnee, Colors by Matt Wilson
You know that adrenaline rush you feel at the movies when the protagonist has the thrilling chase scene, fighting through a building, leaping out of a window, pursued by agents, stealing a motorcycle, blowing stuff up, all with the finesse of a well choreographed ballet? That’s how you’ll feel after reading this heart-pounding, cinematic Black Widow book.
The premise in the first issue is simple, but it sets up what promises to be a deep, character driven intrigue. Natasha Romanoff has taken something important from SHIELD and Director Maria Hill cannot allow it. Catching the Black Widow, however, is not so simple. Light on plot and dialogue, the artwork for this action-packed extended chase actually tells us a lot about the new creative team’s take on Widow (new to the character, that is – you may recognize the Waid/Samnee/Wilson triumvirate from their recent Daredevil run). Their Natasha is resourceful, resilient, and maybe a little reckless. Her recklessness suggests that whatever all of this is about, it’s personal. Pity the agent who catches up with her…
Fans of the Black Widow have long made it known that what
they want is a Black Widow movie and when they want it is approximately five
years ago now. And while we’ll never
give up hope for a movie, this book is an excellent chance to continue
exploring the nuances of Natasha’s special skill set that makes her such a
captivating character. I highly
recommend reading this one in Guided View.
You can pretend you’re at the movies, plus it really enhances the action
and encourages close looking at the absolutely gorgeous artwork.
Tia Vasiliou is a Digital Editor at ComiXology. Her special skill set includes ballet and liking Bucky Barnes a whole lot, so I’m just saying… Has anyone ever actually seen her and Natasha Romanoff together in the same room…?
let’s bust Monday morning in the chops, Black Widow style
Captain Marvel and Black Widow are taking control! Get these two great series by Kelly Sue DeConnick ( @kellysue ), Dave Lopez, Nathan Edmondson, Phil Noto and other talented creators on sale for today only!