Warning! This article contains spoilers for Black Widow #13
John Wick. Throughout her comic career, Black Widow has been a Soviet assassin, a S.H.I.E.L.D. spy, and an Avenger, and with each team she has been d with she has almost never missed her mark. However, in her latest comic adventure, Black Widow is faced against Marvel Comics’ version of John Wick who proved to be too much for her to handle.
In Black Widow #13 by Kelly Thompson and Rafael T. Pimentel, fans are taken back in time to a mission Black Widow was on in Madripoor. Black Widow was on a Black Widow is able to get away, though she stumbles upon something far more disturbing than even her own certain death. Black Widow finds a group of women being trafficked by a criminal organization, so even with life-threatening injuries, Black Widow incapacitates the captors and frees them all. After she lets the women go, Black Widow is once again face-to-face with The Living Blade. Instead of finishing the job, however, The Living Blade lets her go because of her heroic act.
The Living Blade is clearly inspired by John Wick in nearly every aspect of his character. Firstly, when Black Widow introduces him to readers, she first describes him as “the Boogeyman” before revealing his name. John Wick is regularly called “the Boogeyman” by those who fear him film. Secondly, The Living Blade looks like John Wick (minus the beard) with his slicked-back hair and black suit to match. Plus, The Living Blade is more than proficient in hand-to-hand combat while also being a weapons expert, with the sword being his weapon of choice. While John Wick is more partial to guns (and pencils) than a sword, he proved to be more than capable of wielding a blade in the film John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.
Not only is the killing expertise the same between John Wick and The Living Blade, but Marvel’s version also shares the original’s gentle heart and penchant for mercy when the situation calls for it. The Living Blade let Black Widow go after he saw her rescuing a group of helpless captives, proving he isn’t just a cold-hearted killer. John Wick proved that he is the same way with his love for animals, but he also showed the same kind heart towards people. In John Wick: Chapter 2, John is assigned to kill the leader of a criminal enterprise. Instead of relishing in her death, John speaks with her first and allows her to end her life as she saw fit, showing as much comion as he could until her final breath.
From comion to killing ability, as well as their shared stoic demeanors, The Living Blade is the spitting image of John Wick in the Marvel Universe. While the two share a lot of the same qualities, the aspect of The Living Blade that makes him worthy enough to be called "Marvel’s John Wick" is the fact that he was able to beat Black Widow, a feat not easily accomplished by any stretch. Plus, if this Marvel edition of John Wick can beat Black Widow, then unfortunately she wouldn’t stand a chance against the original, proving that Black Widow is no match for John Wick.
