Black Widow: Bad Blood, Episode 1 and 2

What is this about?

In episodes one and two, we discover someone has targeted Black Widow, and she is out to find out just what the hell is going on.

What else is this about?

This is a Natasha for comics fans. It’s not the Natasha from the movies, which to be quite frank, is the only one I know. Readers need to know that going in.

Blurb

The Black Widow has been targeted. Now she must find the threat before they find her.

Someone has stolen the Black Widow’s blood. As Natasha Romanoff follows the trail across the globe, she discovers she wasn’t the only target. Whoever is responsible stole Bucky Barnes’ blood, too. And one thing is certain: anyone who wants the blood of the Widow and the Winter Soldier needs to be taken down, and fast. Despite a tangled web of shared history stretching back to their Red Room days, Barnes and Romanoff must join forces, confronting the demons of their past as they race to protect their future. A single drop of blood could be all it takes to save the world—or destroy it.

The first two episodes of Bad Blood were released last week, and while I have been looking forward to this for ages, there are things that surprised me.

Episode one of Bad Blood, called Blackout Protocol, introduces readers to Natasha at the end of a mission. She makes her way onto a research vessel on Lake Michigan. She’s on the trail of a biosmuggler who has been selling dangerous super-enhancements on the black market. When she finally meets him — and a body that has melded with that of a great white Shark — do we get to see the Black Widow in action.

So, a body of a man merged with that of one of nature’s greatest predators was unexpected to say the least and gave this a very comic book feel.

Episode One begins with a bang, to say the least, dropping us right into the middle of a mission for Natasha. It also brings us a more introspective Natasha, who might just mourn her cover of Melanie, the IT girl, who had friends, and a life in Chicago while Natasha tracked the biosmuggler.

After setting the scene in Episode One, Episode 2, Something Stolen, Something Red, finds Natasha waking up after a night out as Melanie, with memories of voices and faceless men who surprised her and subdued her and then things get fuzzy. She realises as much as she likes Melanie’s life, it’s way past time for her to leave and to figure out just what happened to her the night before.

It is in this episode that I realised that this isn’t the Natasha I know from the movies. And if that wasn’t clear, the way the authors have chosen to portray her relationships — and the characters themselves — with Tony and more importantly, Bruce makes that clear. Now, it could very well be early in the Avengers formation and she doesn’t trust anyone at all, I don’t know for sure yet.

I don’t know how I feel about this. I was looking forward to this book, wanting to see Natasha get the attention she deserves, but this isn’t the Natasha I enjoyed watching, and the one whose movie I am busting to see.

And, the Winter Soldier. Sighs. I suppose I know enough of the comics to understand they are linked but I am bringing  this up because I detest the movie character, but more importantly, I am bummed (any version) of Natasha has to share the limelight with anyone else. Reminds me too much of how long it took to get her own movie. That said, I have no idea how much he is in this, and it’s too early to tell. And maybe, if this is based on the comics character he might be more palatable than the movie character.

The difference between Serial Box’s Thor (link to my review) and Bad Blood, is that Thor was interacting with a new set of characters, aside from Loki so I got to enjoy a different side to him, and the book never mentioned the Avengers. It allowed that Thor to be any version the reader wanted, while still keeping his relationship with Loki consistent.

Does that mean the comics Natasha doesn’t deserve her time in the limelight? No, of course not, I just don’t know that character, and figured the version of Natasha most people know (look, more people watch movies than they read comics) would be the version in this book.

One thing, I did enjoy with Serial Box’s presentations is that they provide an audio and version to read: and right now, while I’m working from home, and we’re in a pandemic, it’s actually reading that soothes me more than listening to the audio. They are the perfect bite-sizes for me during the day (or ever Tuesday when it’s released). 

ETA: I did listen to the narration of the second chapter after all, and oh boy, is that addictive. The narrator or rather, Sarah Natochenny, gave me chills as Natasha, and I would happily listen to her narrate the phone book and be happy. Such is my technical discussion of how much I (and hopefully) you will enjoy her nrration.

So, the question is: am I determined to not enjoy this? No, I am just thrown this isn’t the Natasha I know. Thus far, I am enjoying the action-Black Widow that I am seeing, and I’m willing to see where this goes.