Samnee and Waid Reunite in an Ongoing Black Widow Series

She was a spy working for the Russian government who defected and became one of the most important S.H.I.E.L.D. agents to ever be a part of the program — now she has support from one of the strongest creative teams in modern comics. This morning via Entertainment Weekly Marvel announced the next project for interior artist Chris Samnee and author Mark Waid, the creative team who collaborated on the publisher’s highly acclaimed Daredevil series. The two will be crafting a Black Widow ongoing title as part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel Universe. The new comic is shipping in 2016, and features colors from Matthew Wilson (Thor) and letters from Joe Caramagna (Daredevil.) The book is being edited by Jake Thomas (Punisher).

The team noted that they wish to honor what Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto crafted in their previously acclaimed Black Widow series, but tell a story that newcomers will be able to enjoy.

“It’s similar to way we approached Daredevil,” said Waid to EW. “It’s a little bit of both, It’s similar to way we approached Daredevil, in that we’re not picking up specifically from the end of the previous issue or specifically from any one moment. But we’re acknowledging that, and making use of the fact that what happened in the previous series happened, and using some of that stuff as a springboard. And it is, by Marvel time, at least eight months later. It’s not the next day, anyway. Especially in issue 2 in particular, we’re sort of spring boarding off of some of the previous events, but not so specifically that anyone should feel like they’re missing anything if they didn’t read the previous run.”

Daredevil #18, published just last month was a thrilling conclusion to the saga the Waid had been crafting years. Samnee showed once again that he understood the nuance and emotion that came from the Waid’s script in the issue — leading us to believe that their new Black Widow series could be something special from the publisher. Hopefully this new creative team will mean that Black Widow can live long and prosper as an ongoing series as well, not having a ‘monthly’ title that ends after a measly five issues.

Editor Jake Thomas elaborated on the sense of craft present on the new series via EW; “I think people are going to go out of their minds for this first issue, because this first issue is essentially just one big chase scene. The book hits the ground running and is unrelenting. Chris turned in the last of the pages an hour ago, and they’re incredible. It’s such a fun, crazy, balls-to-the-wall action set piece.”

Finally, Samnee mentioned that the team has been working on a brand new adversary to introduce into Natasha Romanov’s world; “We’ve started coming up with a new Big Bad for Widow — she’s had a few big opponents over the years, but I think this is the biggest threat to her.”