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Black Widow (2016 series) #5

Sep 2016 on-sale: Jul 20, 2016

Chris Samnee
writer
 |  Chris Samnee
penciler

Black Widow (2016 series) #5 cover

Story Name:

(No title given)


Synopsis

Black Widow (2016 series) #5 synopsis by reviewer Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Black Widow sits in a Paris café, waiting to contact Weeping Lion’s agent. She is spotted and recognized by various Lion agents but they don’t recognize the man approaching her. The Lion understands and merely says, “Keep me informed….”

Natasha spots Agent Elder and, taking him for Dmitri, Lion’s courier, suggests they move away from the café as they are being tailed by a SHIELD Agent. They walk through the streets, Natasha talking about the need for secrecy when she hands the package over. They enter a parking garage—and then Elder is shot by a sniper across the way. Nat pushes him behind cover, revealing that she knew he was a SHIELD Agent and was trying to keep him safe. A gas bomb goes off. She breaks into a car, using a key device to start the vehicle and take off with the wounded Elder. [Weeping Lion’s agents report their failures to their boss and he is not pleased, strangling one of his minions with his bare hands.] There is a frantic car chase around the garage, the enemy shooting at them but Elder doesn’t have a gun. Cornered, Nat smashes the car over the edge, firing a cable to hook on the roof and falling onto one of the floors, dragging Elder along. Two of the Lion’s men seize Elder, and boast of their leader’s power, demanding Nat turn over the files. Elder pleads with her to prove she is still on his side and walk away. Instead she hands the files to the bad guys who says she didn’t want to give up the files so she is on Elder’s side. To which Elder replies, “If we can’t have it, no one can” and he detonates a grenade, the fiery blast killing the three men, hurling Natasha against a parked car, and destroying the files….

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At his lair, the Weeping Lion states that, as Black Widow failed to turn over the information, breaking their deal, he will now reveal her darkest secret which will be quite devastating to many, starting with Tony Stark….

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Characters
Good (or All)
BLACKWIDOW  
Black Widow
(Natasha Romanoff)
IRONMAN  
Iron Man
(Tony Stark)


> Black Widow (2016 series) comic book info and issue index



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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Chris Samnee
Chris Samnee
Matthew Wilson
Chris Samnee (Cover Penciler)
Chris Samnee (Cover Inker)
Matthew Wilson (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Joe Caramagna.
Editor: Jake Thomas. Editor-in-chief: Axel Alonso.



Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Black Widow (2016 series) #5 Review by (April 1, 2026)

Review: A claustrophobic chase scene occupies much of this issue which has Natasha verbally sparring with Elder, hinting at her loyalty to SHIELD while not giving away that she knows who he really is. And then everything goes crazy, with more violence and, for a surprise ending, the series main McGuffin, the Red Room personnel files, are destroyed, demonstrating the worthlessness of the McGuffin after all, and hurling us into the deep dark secret Natasha has been hiding. So what is it? Is it darker than the previous volume’s revelation that Natasha killed her best friend on orders from the Red Room? This should be good. Plus they are bringing in the superheroes, broadening the usual Black Widow sneaky spy stuff. As Curly said, “I can hardly wait!”

Comments: Mark Waid credited as co-scripter. Weeping Lion’s agents note that Natasha has a very recognizable face, a liability for a spy if not for a superhero.





Thor

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