Black Widow #7

Black Widow #7 works as a transitionary issue moving the comic further from the opening arc and setting up a new group of fierce females (despite Black Widow consistently telling Yelena Belova that she's not interested in starting their own version of the Red Room). While offering Lucy, AKA Marigold, sanctuary, Widow hits up Anya Corazon to infiltrate Apogee.

We don't learn much more about Apogee here, other than its members are referred to as the Olio whose ceremony the Widows crash only to see their target disappear (literally). We also see first-hand that the power boost they offer to their flock can have dramatic, and permanent, side-effects.

Spider-Girl is an unexpected, but welcome, addition to the title. Her glee at being tapped by Natasha for an undercover mission is almost too cute (almost). And the comic continues the solid action we've seen over the course of the first arc and beyond. With mysteries still to be uncovered, it appears Anya is sticking around for at least another issue, perhaps even longer?

[Marvel, $3.99]

• Title: Black Widow #7
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Kelly Thompson
• Artist: Rafael de Latorre