Warning: preview images are ahead for Black Widow #13!
Over the course of her career, Black Widow has suffered many losses, and in a special preview for Black Widow #13, on sale in print and digital January 5th, she revisits her first loss at the hands of the Living Blade.
The Living Blade is the newest addition to Black Widow has quite a history with the Blade and she recounts in a preview for Black Widow #13. The issue is written by Kelly Thompson, illustrated by Rafael T. Pimentel, colors by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Cory Petit, with a cover by Adam Hughes.
The preview, told entirely in flashback, begins on the island nation of Madripoor, famous in the Marvel Universe for its corruption and vice. Black Widow, in one of her classic costumes is pursuing the Living Blade across the Madripoor skyline. The two are fighting with swords, and just as Black Widow thinks she has the advantage in the fight, she realizes the Living Blade actually cut her. She continues her pursuit, engaging the Blade once again, but it is clear the advantage has shifted in his favor. All the while, Black Widow reflects on her enemies, and how there are some who get under her skin—and the first of such for her was the Living Blade.
The preview ends there, giving readers a tantalizing glimpse of the Black Widow’s first true loss, and her first true experience with a worthy adversary. While readers do not see (at least in the preview) exactly how the fight transpires, they know from Black Widow’s narration it will not be an easy one to process, one that will take years perhaps to heal. Unfortunately, it would be the first of many defeats Yelana Bolova, Spider-Girl and the rest are forming a new team, one that will give Black Widow new purpose.
Black Widow is a survivor, and a preview for Black Widow #13 catches the super spy at a formative moment in her career, showing her first loss, at the hands of the Living Blade.
