Black Widow #11 reveals that the new team Natasha Romanoff has put together is in danger of falling apart because of her old habits.
WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for Black Widow #11, available now from Marvel Comics.
Natasha Romanoff has long thrilled readers with her superspy exploits as the Black Widow, often crossing lines from hero to villain and back again. Most recently, Natasha has embraced a new kind of heroic role as the head of her own new team of femme fatales. From the outside looking in, things couldn’t be better for Black Widow and her allies, but a closer examination reveals what might be the beginning of serious problems within the team. Letting go of old habits is difficult for Natasha, and the secretive nature instilled in her by years of espionage is beginning to cause problems with the smooth dynamic of her new team in Black Widow #11 (by Kelly Thompson, Rafael de Latorre, Jordie Bellaire and VC’s Cory Petit).
In the days since finally defeating the villainous Apogee and his cult of followers, Natasha and her allies have finally been able to breathe easy knowing that the worst of their troubles are over. There is still plenty of work to be done, however, and while the others are busy with their training, Natasha takes the opportunity to slip away. When she returns, Yelena Belova aka the White Widow questions Black Widow about her activities. When Natasha isn’t forthcoming with an answer, Yelena reminds her that she is an equal partner in the Widow’s Web they have formed, and not a mere employee.
Natasha and Yelena both know that keeping secrets is important in their line of work, but there is no good reason for them to keep secrets from each other, especially if they are supposed to be equal partners. With some prodding, Natasha finally relents that she is going to meet with one of her underground sources, putting Yelena’s mind at ease. If it weren’t for how difficult that information was to share in the first place, this might even be indicative of some personal growth for the Avenger. Unfortunately, this could signal the end for Black Widow’s latest endeavor without her even realizing it.
After meeting with her contact, Black Widow returns to the Web in preparation of her next move. It’s there that she is once more confronted by Yelena about her movements, and once more Natasha declines to provide any meaningful answers to the White Widow’s questions. Yelena is off put by her supposed partner’s flippant responses, but Natasha tells her they will have to circle back to the issue after they take care of the evening’s upcoming formal affair.
As understandable as Natasha’s reluctance is to share sources or specific details, she and Yelena have too much history between them for that to sit well with the White Widow. After having played such an instrumental role in freeing Natasha from the most recent machinations of her greatest enemies, nothing should be off the table, at least in Yelena’s mind, but her “partner” is having trouble accepting this.
Yelena has long been dedicated to helping Natasha whenever she needs it, despite the times that they have fought against each other. Natasha’s unwillingness to be upfront is disappointing, and potentially devastating for the team the Widows have built.
Losing Yelena would be a massive blow to the morale of the Widow’s Web, and an indicator that Natasha doesn’t have as firm a grasp on her undertakings as she would like everyone to believe. Hopefully she can overcome her old habits before they destroy her new team.
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