Book Description
The deadliest agent in the Marvel Universe has finally gotten out of the spy game, and she's not asking for much, just a life of her own. When a sudden assassination attempt provides a harsh reality check, the former Soviet agent tracks a string of international killings that will lead her back to a Russia she can barely recognize. Collects Black Widow #1-6.
Customer Reviews:
An old favorite meets a new favorite.......2005-12-09
The old favorite is Marvel Comics, which I devoured during my formative years. The new favorite is Richard K. Morgan, whose work I've been reading ever since he published his first novel, _Altered Carbon_.
The combination is terrific. Natasha Romanova (the Black Widow) has always been a comparatively minor character in the Marvel lineup, and her treatment hasn't always been consistent. Here she finally gets the focused treatment she deserves.
Frank Miller and Alan Moore pretty much spoiled me for other comic-book writers (oops, "graphic novelists"), so it takes a lot to please me. Morgan isn't quite Miller, but his handling of Black Widow is at least in the same ballpark as Miller's run on _Daredevil_ and comparable in flavor to Miller's _Batman: The Dark Knight Returns_. The quality isn't quite there -- most notably because Morgan has a tendency to make his protagonist spout militant-feminist cliches a little too often -- but the approach is similar.
The story here is most definitely told on Morgan's own turf. I won't spoil anything for you, but be prepared for some revelations about Natasha's backstory that will satisfy both Marvel fans and readers of Morgan's noir SF. (Marvel readers may be pleased to know that Nick Fury is around as well -- and although Daredevil isn't, you'll at least spot Matt Murdock's name on Natasha's cellphone. Other readers have objected to the treatment of the relationship between Nick and Natasha, but I don't share their objections.) And yes, Morgan has cranked Natasha's brutality up several notches. I think that's a good thing all around, but your mileage may vary -- at least if you prefer your Cold War-era spies warm and cuddly.
The art by Bill Sienkiewicz and Goran Parlov is magnificent, of course -- consistently fine throughout, and some of the compositions are downright stunning. (And unlike Miller on Daredevil, Sienkiewicz and Parlov don't sometimes forget which body part they're drawing and make somebody's left leg sprout a right foot, or double the length of someone's sideburns between one panel and the next and then add a mustache in the panel after that.) Dan Brown's colors are every bit as magnificent.
And more good news: apparently Morgan has an ongoing relationship with Marvel and has been doing some further work on Black Widow. I don't subscribe to any of the monthlies, so I'm looking forward to reading it when it's published in book format.
And hey, while we're rescuing second- and third-string Marvel characters whose potential hasn't previously been fully realized -- can we get somebody busy on Iron Fist, please? (As with Black Widow, there's been a movie in the works on and off for several years; a graphic novel like this one might be a big boost.)
Female Empowerment? Nah, Just Routine Male Bashing..........2005-06-16
Good fiction has a venerable tradition of subtly weaving relevant social commentary into the strands of its plot and character development. Sadly, what writer Richard Morgan has given us instead in "Homecoming" is an oversimplified, tired, and in-your-face message: Women are superior and they're victims, men are inferior and they're predators. And by virtue of her superiority and victim status, the Black Widow apparently has the moral justification to play judge, jury, and Punisher-with-extreme-prejudice to every man who wrongs her or another woman -- which, as it turns out, is EVERY major male character in this book! One reviewer praised this collection for not being misogynistic; but if fairness and equality truly mean anything, how can Morgan's swing to the opposite extreme be any better?
On page one a woman speaking at an abortion rights rally is brutally murdered. This story involves a conspiracy to kill all the women who went through the U.S.S.R.'s top secret Black Widow program. So of all the settings Morgan could have chosen, why this one? Because Morgan wants the reader to believe that people who don't share the feminist viewpoint must be small-minded, intolerant savages. So by contrast, are all of Natasha's acts of violence committed purely in self-defense with no hint of being judgmental? Well... not exactly.
Our heroine stabs a man who attacks her in the desert. When he won't talk about who sent him, she lets him bleed to death. She takes another man into the bedroom, ostensibly for some bondage love-play, and then threatens to castrate him if he doesn't talk. She sees two neanderthal-type truckers chase and grab a young woman; when they refuse to release her, Natasha, convicting them both as rapists, kills one and cripples the other. But she never hesitates to fall back on the sweet but helpless female stereotype -- that is, if she can use it as a weapon against a man.
In case anyone has missed the point, the sloganeering dialogue drives it right into the earth's core. "Like most men... he underestimates me," "What happened to the latest blonde? Silicone leak?" "...are you going to do the man thing and let me down?" "...I don't like guns... they're more than a little symbolically suspect" (so I guess we should ignore the cover image), "...you're not a woman. You're under no pressure to care about your looks or appearance," "...I was perhaps encouraged by irresponsible men to risk the damage," "The thought of a genuinely powerful woman as an active independent agent... well, you can imagine the reaction," and "It's what most women are up against. If you want to succeed, you've got two choices... pole dancer or hard-faced harridan." Hey Richard, I've known plenty of women who are successful who don't fall into either one of those categories, and they did so without ever sacrificing any of their feminine strengths or gifts.
Morgan catalogs every anti-female behavior perpetrated by evil men that you can imagine. The men lear at women, tell degrading jokes about them, and call them "baby," "sugar," and "bitch." They lie, cheat, steal, brainwash, assault, rape, torture, and murder. They give alcohol to underage girls and give dangerous drugs to women of all ages. They threaten to take away a woman's right to choose, take away a woman's ability to reproduce, and deny women equality in the work place and everywhere else. Yup, "All men are scum." And that's not me reading between the lines, that's right out of the script. The problem is not that Morgan is portraying things that don't go on every day -- any reasonable person would agree that they do -- but that every single man in Natasha's world is guilty of at least one of these crimes, whether he's an enemy, an informant, or a so-called ally. In one scene, Ms. Romanov admonishes her reluctant male assistant to "stop looking at my ass." She is bent over in front of a mirror, putting on make-up, and wearing nothing but lacy, skimpy, black lingerie -- all rendered beautifully by Bill Sinkiewicz. Is she kidding?
You might think that the ultra-steadfast Nick Fury would be exempted from the Black Widow's team testosterone hit list... but you'd be wrong. He's in on the whole brainwashing thing, in a totally ludicrous and implausible way. Look, I'm not a continuity freak: any writer who has a legitimate and interesting reason for doing revisionist history on some characters should be allowed a free hand. But Nick and Nastasha have covered each other's backsides for decades. They've always done what was right for each other, whether or not it was easy or consistent with orders. They've had a mature professional and personal relationship based on mutual trust, respect, and loyalty. And yet there's not a single male-female relationship in "Homecoming" about which the same can be said. What creative reason did Morgan have for doing away with all of that? None, he just wanted to push an agenda: treat all people as unique and valuable indivduals and never make sweeping judgments about a person based on membership in a group... except for men. There's nothing unfair about saying they're all the same, right?
Suppose there was an Iron Man story in which Tony Stark learns that Whitney Frost has hacked into various male-run computer mainframes, including his own, and stolen a number of classified schematics for weapons systems. Using the designs, Whitney and a small army of women -- all of whom are gossipy, vain, and sneaky -- set out to blackmail a handful of nations in Europe. While organizing a defense, Tony tries to confide in some of his lady friends, but they're all too busy crying, shopping, or being gold diggers. Iron Man eventually saves the day and to insure that Madame Masque never builds another weapon, he breaks every bone in her left arm and hand. No due process for this she-demon! As offensive as this sounds, Morgan's efforts are even more so -- because he indicts 98% of the book's audience based solely on gender. Thankfully, the days of Lois Lane being an annoying snoop and a simpering hostage are long over. There's no need to replace those stories with stories that are equally objectionable and just as unlikely to build any bridges between the sexes.
Fangs, yes. Scruples, no. Fans who want some decent femme fatale action that demeans neither gender would do better to check out Devin Grayson's Black Widow, Gail Simone's Birds Of Prey, or even the Powerpuff Girls. Richard Morgan, on the other hand, should go write for Desperate Housewives.
Surprisingly solid Black Widow story.......2005-05-21
As a previous reviewer mentioned, the Black Widow has been one of the lesser known and mishandled characters in the Marvel Universe. In the hands of novelist Richard K. Morgan, he has taken to the character back to the roots of her origin, focusing more on action, espionage, and story rather than exploiting a sexy drawing for adolescent boys to slobber over. The story concerns Natasha being thrown back into the spy game (as if she ever really left) after an assassination attempt on her life. Soon, along with her male sidekick, she's kicking butt and taking names, all the while unraveling a conspiracy which evolves into the best Black Widow story Marvel has ever published. This TPB's only flaw is that it wears a bit thin towards the end, but the art by the great Bill Sienkiewicz is worth giving this a look at alone. All in all, if you've been looking for a mature and action packed mainstream comic, give this a look.
Not too shabby.......2005-05-21
I am relatively new to the graphic novel/comic scene so I have not read any of the old incarnations of this character. I enjoyed this book. It was easy to follow and her actions seemed to make sense. I was surprised that this was written by Richard Morgan. Morgan wrote one of the worst books ever written "Fallen Angels". Honestly If I had noticed that he was the author of this I never would have read it. Kudos to him for better writing this time around.
The art is very well done as well. Nice bright colours and good lines etc....
I look forward to more in this series (there will be more?)
Scott
Morgan's Widow has fangs!.......2005-05-09
Over the years Natasha Romanov, the Black Widow, has shown up time and again, often working with The Avengers and Daredevil. Despite the efforts of more recent Widow scribes such as Jim Starlin, Devin Grayson, Greg Rucka and Bendis, she's long been a laughingstock character -- little more than a sex object, "the bike of the Marvel Universe." But now novelist Richard Morgan (ALTERED CARBON; WOKEN FURIES; etc.) has teamed up with artist Bill Sienkiewicz (ELEKTRA: ASSASSIN) and utterly outdone all previous incarnations of this superspy. While keeping to established continuity, Morgan has updated the Widow, making her a much more human, respectable character, and the book much less misogynstic than it often has been. He's scripted a tight, mean, intelligent and topical comic book, aimed at adults rather than adolescent boys, that any fan of espionage fiction, superhero comics or plain ol' good storytelling should enjoy. Anyone picking up this book looking for exaggerated female bodies in kinky poses will be disappointed, but if you're looking for a very fine comic book, look no further. Do yourself a favor, even if you don't think you care for this particular character, and pick up this book. The Black Widow finally has her fangs.
Average customer rating:
- Very Good
- Trilogy
- fantastic
- The best of Nora Roberts
- Great read
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Black Rose (Book Two of the In the Garden Trilogy)
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio Unabridged
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Red Lily (In the Garden)
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Spellbound
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Face the Fire (Three Sisters Island Trilogy)
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Heaven and Earth (Three Sisters Island Trilogy)
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Morrigan's Cross (The Circle Trilogy, Book 1)
ASIN: 1593556136
Release Date: 2005-05-31 |
Book Description
A Harper has always lived at Harper House, the centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis. And for as long as anyone alive remembers, the ghostly Harper Bride has walked the halls, singing lullabies at night...
At forty-five, Rosalind Harper is a woman whose experiences have made her strong enough to bend without breaking - and weather any storm. A widow with three grown sons, she survived a disastrous second marriage, and built her In the Garden nursery from the ground up. Through the years, In the Garden has become more than just a thriving business - it is a symbol of hope and independence to Roz, and to the two women she shares it with. Newlywed Stella and new mother Hayley are the sisters of her heart, and together, the three of them are the future of In the Garden.
But now that future is under attack, and Roz knows they can't fight this battle alone. Hired to investigate Roz's Harper ancestors, Dr. Mitchell Carnegie finds himself just as intrigued with Roz herself. And as they begin to unravel the puzzle of the Harper Bride's identity, Roz is shocked to find herself falling for the fascinating genealogist. Now it is a desperate race to discover the truth before the unpredictable apparition lashes out at the one woman who can help her rest in peace...
Customer Reviews:
Very Good.......2007-08-06
Another of Nora's books that grabs you within the first 10 pages, but this book is a little slower than the Blue Dahlia.
Trilogy.......2007-07-19
This was a very good trilogy. It will keep you interested to the last page!
fantastic.......2007-04-12
All three books in the trilogy will go on my keeper shelf forever. I love books that are connected through women who become close friends.
Saving Graces is another favorite of mine, although there all three heroines get their stories within one book.The Saving Graces: A Novel
And I just started a new 4 book mini series that feature 4 women who are thrown together in adversity and end up friends as they fight for their lives. Secret Contract (Harlequin Intrigue Series)
The best of Nora Roberts.......2007-02-15
This is my favorite Nora Roberts book. I am an avid gardener, so the setting of the garden center, and details of the business was an added bonus. The characters in all her books seem real, but never more than in the In The Garden series. I love the balance of personalities, and their wonderful interaction. I felt as if I knew these people! When I started reading Black Rose it was like visiting old friends. Black Rose is my favorite, I think, because it is centered on Roz. She is such a strong woman, but does not let her strength take away from her warmth and femininity. I usually pass on my paperbacks to the library, but will not give away the In The Garden series. I have read them several times and enjoyed them each time!
Great read.......2007-02-09
Nora Roberts has done it again. The way she brings characters to life is enchanting. I loved reading this part of the trilogy and following the lives of the women involved. I especially loved the plot line of the Harper Bride. Needless to say, the gardens were an intricate part of this book and their descriptions were just lovely.
Book Description
When the body of 45-year-old Glen Harrelson was found in his Denver home, police tried to contact his wife, but soon they made a startling realization. She had played the part of grieving widow once before: her previous husband also had died a mysterious accidental death....In a true story as shocking as any fiction, The Confessions of an American Black Widow is the amazing account of Sharon Lynn Nelson, a wild, beautiful preacher's wife who couldn't get enough-enough sex, enough money, or enough of her rugged "Mountain Man" lover, Gary Adams. Nelson was so consumed by greed that she convinced Adams to killed two of her three husbands in order to cash in on their insurance policies.Here is a compelling portrait of a woman driven by the darkest forces to mate, then kill--an American black widow who ultimately got snared in her own twisted web....
Customer Reviews:
"She Sat Like A Homecoming Queen Gone Bad....".......2007-02-19
Sharon Fuller Nelson Harrelson is the epitomy of an American Black Widow. This oversexed beauty-queen-wannabe wrapped her finger around men's hearts so that she could sneak into their wallets. And when she had sucked the monetary life out of them, she had them killed by her on-again-off-again lover, Gary Adams. But in the end, the Nepho rolled over on her Mountain Man...and I don't mean she didn't it in the bedroom!
I am a huge fan of Gregg Olsen's work. He is number one on my list of my favorite true crime writers. What I particularly enjoy about this work is that he is able to make a story "a story." His books do not subject me to repetitious recounts taken straight from Court transcriptions, but puts those same aspects into an interesting story that is easily read and understood without lulling you into sleep (or skimming, as I so often do.)
Black Widow is particularly interesting to read as the whole book is a storilized form of Sharon Harrelson's confession to police about the deaths of her husbands, Perry Nelson and Glen Harrelson. From front to back, this is simply a story filled full of interesting recalls from Sharon herself and those who, unfortunately, knew her and was affected by her in some shape, form or fashion.
To date, this is my favorite true crime story. Excellent job, Gregg Olsen!
A truely great book.......2007-01-22
Another great book by Gregg. This women stops at nothing to get what she wants. She jumps from man to man just to get what she wants. All they mean to her is what she can get out of them. And each and every one of those men knows it and are willing to take her back no matter what she's done to them. One in particular is even willing to kill for her.
Don't you just want to slap her??.......2006-12-01
Another great read Gregg!! How this woman could persuade men the way she did is astounding. These men were intelligent and still fell under her spell. She left a path of destruction in a lot of lives.
Amazing!.......2006-11-04
It's amazing what humans are capable of doing to each other....and the lengths they will go to to get their dirty deed done too.
This book is classic Olsen, and won't disappoint you, just as his others won't either.
The author writes with an uncommon clarity and a complete understanding of what a readers needs to SEE in writing to be able to picture the subjects.
Makes his books really a true joy to read regardless of the subject...and in this case it's murder for greed.
Confessions of an American Black Widow.......2000-12-28
This is a very fascinating true story of Sharon Nelson Harrelson, who was not only a Black Widow, but also a serial killer. Sharon would stop at nothing (money, sex, material possessions, etc.) to get what she wanted even when it meant murder. Sharon Nelson is a woman w/o any values, principles, or class; she used sex to get whatever she wanted. Everything about Sharon oozes sex. Sharon always put herself first, even ahead of her own children. Sharon is what you call a husband stealer, husband killer.
This is the second true crime book by Gregg Olsen that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. I've also read 'If Loving You is Wrong' and found that very fascinating. Olsen does such a wonderful job with his research from Sharon's upbringing to her three marriages (preacher, doctor, and fireman), to the murders of her doctor and fireman husbands, to her confessions. We learn a lot about Sharon Nelson and the type of person she is from her sister, Judy, her neighbors in Weston, family members and friends of the victims, and Perry Nelson's secretary.
Confessions of an American Black Widow is a must read.
Book Description
poetry & prose, from the author of INDIAN KILLER
Customer Reviews:
Marvelous, powerful, original! Alexie is a brilliant star of formidable powers!.......2007-08-25
Sherman Alexie, a poet whose work is inscribed with joy, sacredness, laughter, and tears, issues in The Summer of Black Widows a vivid song of vicious and systemic harm, rageful lament, and finally the hearty buoyancy of creatively encountering the world. Face to face, skin to skin, Alexie's profound sense of tenderness gives weight and authority to the justice he speaks. An original voice, he gifts American life with a touch that heals blindness. Winner of the PEN/Hemingway award for his fiction, A Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, and a multi-year winner of the World Heavyweight Poetry Bout, Alexie is known to have read at age 3 and devoured Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath at the age of 5.
weak collection.......2002-03-02
the poems in this collection range from merely mediocre to bad. the major theme is being indian and the wrongs done. but if you are familiar with alexie's worth than that won't surprise you. and his sister's death by fire makes an appearance in several poems. the problem is alexie never says anything new in this book. you could pick any five poems at random and that's all you need. the other poems say the same thing. there is one bright spot, the first section of his poem "Inside Dachau", but it completely falls apart after that first section. i hope that one day alexie will select his best 10 poems and the best of his short stories and put out a selected poems and prose, that way instead of having so many mediocre books, maybe we can get one book that is really good.
abstract.......2000-11-28
This book seems the most abstract of Alexie's works to date. Containing the same insightful, introspective and powerful images and descriptions as his past works, this one differs in that it is slightly less "in-your-face". Keeps the reader thinking, wondering what the underlying meaning of the work could mean. This is not a spoon-fed collection of easy to read poems. Keep this one around awhile for study and contemplation. Truly inspired.
admiration and awe.......1998-11-10
This collection of poems is woven beautifully together. Like his other books of poetry and novels this book is thought provoking, humorous, disturbing and wonderful. Once again I am left breathless at the end of one of Mr. Alexie's book wanting more. I found myself weaving in and out of the book, reading one poem then returning to a previous poem because of the way they interconnected. A truely wonderful experience and cannot wait for the next release be it novel, poetry or film by this young talented writer.
admiration and awe.......1998-11-10
This collection of poems is woven beautifully together. Like his other books of poetry and novels this book is thought provoking, humorous, disturbing and wonderful. Once again I am left breathless at the end of one of Mr. Alexie's book wanting more. I found myself weaving in and out of the book, reading one poem then returning to a previous poem because of the way they interconnected. A truely wonderful experience and cannot wait for the next release be it novel, poetry or film by this young talented writer.
Book Description
Her attempt at seduction the night before his marriage had nearly been his undoing. Wealthy businessman Damon Asteriades had pushed aside all thoughts of brash Rebecca Grainger for years, until circumstances forced him to bring her back to his family's estate. There was no reason for him to become further involved with the woman society had dubbed the black widow bride…save the intense passion that still burned hot between them.
That, and a three-year-old secret she was protecting.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic debut book by Tessa Radley.......2007-05-25
Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
Rebecca Grainger would have done anything to stop her best friend from making a huge mistake by marrying Damon Asteriades. In fact she did do anything, even going so far as to try to seduce him the night before his wedding. However when her attempt fails, she leaves town never planning to come back.
A few years later she's a widow, her best friend is dead, and Damon's mother begs Rebecca to come back and pick up her wedding planning clipboard again. Rebecca reluctantly returns, but only after she sees no way out. After all, she has no desire to be that close to Damon again, especially considering the three year old secret she's keeping. Love though, will always find a way when it wants to....
Who would have thought Tessa Radley could pack so much emotion into such a short book as Black Widow Bride? She succeeds quite well and I could not put the book down once I started it. Good thing I had selected it for my poolside read one weekend where there was nothing to disturb me. I didn't have to feel guilty about brushing everything off to see what twist Tessa would throw in next.
There is a surprising amount of depth to Rebecca and Damon (even if Damon was a little too alpha for a beta lover like me) considering the limited word count of the Silhouette Desire line. By the end of the story we can completely understand what drove Rebecca to the desperate act of trying to seduce Damon that night. Then the added factor of The Big Secret makes Rebecca an even more sympathetic character.
I knew what the big secret was immediately but Tessa is so skilled at dropping red herrings that I found myself doubting my first thoughts many times. For me the excitement was more about the journey to the revelation of the secret than the actual secret itself. I love Tessa's style and if I hadn't known better, I never would have imagined this was her very first book. I am happy to say I enjoyed Black Widow Bride so much that I had to rush out and buy her next book, Rich Man's Revenge, as soon as it became available.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2007. All rights reserved.
Multi-layered romance exceeds debut label!.......2007-04-25
Tessa Radley's romance far exceeds the debut label. Black Widow Bride is a complete with passionate emotions, complex multi-layered characters, an intriguing plot and a magnificent surprise ending. The passion sparks between the two main characters with an electricity on the edge of exploding. They hate each other! Tessa Radley transforms that electricity into a depth and passion not just of the bodies but of the soul, a love born from the past deep sadness within her characters. The emotions are passionate, the betrayals deep and the past histories complex. Radley creates rich characters not often found in short romances by balancing the immediate emotion with complex character histories. She reveals the past layer upon layer as the plot develops, building the suspense through her characters.
The scenes between Rebecca and her son T.J. are some of the best kid scenes I have read and so integrated into the plot. Radley creates a portrait of a mother's deep love and a child's curiosity without any of the sappy or overplayed sentimentality or cuteness I see too much elsewhere, especially on television. Very nice indeed!
The ending was a nice surprise. I expected one thing --- it just had to be that way ---- that is the typical formula... but I was wrong! Such a nice and welcome complication!
Book Description
"One of the most exciting literary revival series since the rediscovery of Jim Thompson's novels" (Playboy), Old School Books "is subtly transforming the landscape of post-war black fiction" (Bomb).
"Mama Black Widow" is the nickname of Otis Tilson, a comely and tragic black queen adrift with his brothers and sisters in the dark ghetto world of pimpdom and violent crime. His story is told in the gut-level language of the homosexual underworld--an unforgettable testament of life lived on the margins of a racist and predatory urban hell.
Customer Reviews:
A punch in the gut..........2007-07-23
Not for the weak at heart. Beck is much more graphic than he was in "Pimp..." in this tale of the tragic fall of a black family in the Chicago ghetto of the 30's as told by the youngest child who is fighting a losing battle against his own homosexuality. This one gave me a few sleepless nights but I couldn't resist coming back for more.
Rough Stuff.......2006-07-20
Wow. What dude went through was rough. Abused since he was a youth. It just wasn't right. Great book. Nuff said.
A tear jerker. FOR A MAN THAT REFUSED TO CRY!.......2006-06-24
THIS BOOK CAUGHT ME BY SURPRIZED. I SAW ICEBERG SLIM AND THOUGHT A ANOTHER, GREAT BOOK ABOUT PIMP HUSTLER'S. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND IT TAKES PLACE IN A CHICAGO, IL. IN A NIEGHBORHOOD, I CURRENTLY LIVE IN. A SAD AND TEAR JERKING BOOK. FOR MAN THAT REFUSED TO EVER CRY. SADLY THIS BOOK IS SAID, TO BE A BOOK ABOUT HOMOSEXUALS. I STRONGLY DISAGREE. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BLACK FAMILY. A MOTHER WILLING TO SELL HER OWN CHILDS SOLE FOR FANCY CLOTHES AND LATEST GOOD'S. THIS BOOK HAS MADE ME LOOK AT THE WAY I TREAT PEOPLE I DONT KNOW. FORCE ME TO LOOK AT MY COMMUNITY WITH NEW EYE'S. THANK YOU ICEBERG SLIM. - PARIS. CHICAGO.
Gritty as all get out.......2006-04-12
This is a very graphic and gritty novel but not for the squeamish, faint of heart or those who want a happy ending because a happy ending you're not going to get. A friend told me to give this a try and I must say it was probably one of the most nailbiting page turning protrayals of inner city 1930s black urban life. I seriously could not put it down as much as I wanted to at some points.
The story is about Otis Tilson, otherwise known as Sally or Tilly by his cross dressing pals or Sweet Pea by the arachnoid mother of the title.
The Tilsons, a cotton picking family living on a plantation in the South, come into a windfall from a family member "up North" and pack up their bags and move to a 1930s Chicago ghetto where racism, drugs, prostitution, violence and police brutality run rampant and unchecked.
Told from the perspective of Otis at the age of ten we watch as the once happy and moderately successful family slowly unravel and fall into ruin because of Mama's obsession with money. As a result, Papa becomes a broken shell of a man, sister Carol falls in love with the wrong suitor with tragic results, sister Bessie turns to prostitution with a bleak outcome, brother Junior turns to a life of crime and murder and even Otis, grappling with his homosexuality,comes to his own unfortunate end.
Definitely on the order of Hubert Selby Jr's novels, Mama Black Widow tells a story of down and out people living in a private hell with no where to go but down. Like Selby's Requiem for A Dream, Mama Black Widow would make a compelling, gritty and heart wrencHing movie.
The only complaint I had about the novel were the excessive amount of typos even to the point where whole sentences were left out. It did add an extra gritty realism to the novel and seeing that my copy was an original pressing from 1969, I can only hope the typos were corrected in more recent pressings. I can't wait to get my hands on more Iceberg Slim.
You will never forget it this book.......2006-03-28
Its 2006 and I just suggested this book to someone because I can never forget this book. In fact, everyone that I have recommended this book to, still comes to me for book suggestions. However, anything that I've suggested doesn't compare to this page-turner. Let's just put it out there - its grimey, plain and simple. You keep reading because you can't actually believe this has happened to someone. When my bookclub read this book, one of the participants suggested we read a happier book next time. This book is not for someone looking for a "happy" book.
Book Description
Hot on the tail of Richard K. Morgan's searing comics debut comes the further dark exploits of Natasha Romanova, the original Black Widow. Some say she's a traitor, some say she's a murderer... and what most say about her isn't even printable. But nobody denies that the former Cold War spy is a force to be reckoned with. The last man foolish enough to send killers after her paid the highest price, but his friends on Capitol Hill will ensure that Natasha doesn't get off easy... and not even Col. Nick Fury can protect her this time. Meanwhile, the survivors of Natasha's last tirade start coming back to haunt her... and they're beginning to join forces. Also featuring a guest appearance by Daredevil! Collects Black Widow: The Things They Say About Her #1-6.
Customer Reviews:
Still liking Morgan's run on BW.......2006-10-03
I'm surprised no one else has reviewed this one yet. Well, let's get started.
Me: Marvel reader from way back, huge fan of Richard K. Morgan's SF. Loved his first six issues on BW.
The next six, collected here, don't bring any major new revelations about Natasha or anything/one else, but the story (of which I won't reveal any details here) remains solid throughout. And Daredevil's appearances are handled well, which is nice -- always liked ol' DD, and Morgan's writing is in the same ballpark as Frank Miller's. I'd give Morgan four and a half stars for his own part of the project.
Not quite as thrilled with the art, though. Bill Sienkiewicz is still around, but he's not handling the layouts any more -- and while Sean Phillips does a nice job on the whole, his work here strikes me as pretty uneven, running the gamut from inspired to amateurish. There really are some magnificent layouts here (the very first page of Part 6, for example, is just stunning), but there are also too many panels saved by the colorist (Dan Brown, still flawless). This one just doesn't have the consistency and detail of _Homecoming_. (And that _cover_. Natasha's pert, shiny rear end as she aims a pistol at Daredevil's crotch . . . Gaaaaah.)
Excellent on the whole, and strongly recommended to fans of _Homecoming_. But too much of the artwork is sketchy and murky for me to give the whole project five stars -- especially since it's intended to be read after _Homecoming_, which didn't suffer from those flaws.
Book Description
Natasha Romanov, a.k.a. the Black Widow, has always led an exciting life. First as a Soviet spy, fighting on the Cold War front-line, followed by her defection to the West and eventual work in the Avengers. She has earned a reputation over the years as a consummate professional, coldly efficient and as deadly as her namesake.
Now, her time as Black Widow has come to into doubt. Yelena Belova, the new Russian Black Widow, seeks to reclaim the mantle she feels was stolen from her Motherland. Trained in the arts of espionage and combat and anxious to prove herself and eliminate her namesake, Belova will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. The two will battle on an international stage, from the deserts of the Middle East to the New York`s Upper West Side. When the smoke clears, will either woman be left standing?
This title embodies all the tension and action of traditional espionage novels. From the steps of the Kremlin to the lowest levels of the Pentagon, this is a story of blurred identity in a confused, post-Cold War arena.
Customer Reviews:
Comic Book Bliss!.......2005-10-24
This is everything a comic book should be. Awesome story---non-stop action---and beautiful artwork. Let me rephrase that. Art work that makes Jim Lee's stuff look like "Dick, Jane and Spot".
Why J.G. Jones isn't the most overused artist in the industry is beyond me. I honestly don't think I've ever seen better artwork in my life.
In the first tale, "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider", Devin Grayson spins a wonderful tale of espionage and intrigue---all while managing to make Matt Murdock the most annoying, pompous a-hole in the Marvel Universe.
The second story, "Breakdown" really isn't that great at all. Scott Hampton's pencils are pretty crappy, and Greg Rucka basically rehashes everything covered by Grayson in the first storyarc---while giving it a touch of the "Face-Off" treatment.
Regardless, and I assure you, this book is worth buying today. Now. Three seconds after you're done reading this.
It's fast-paced. It's heart-pounding. And like I said---it's a complete return to why we all started reading comic books in the first place. The ONLY reason this doesn't get 5 stars--is because of the lack-luster "Breakdown" story-arc. "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" alone gets 6 stars, easily.
The Female James Bond.......2005-04-03
I really enjoyed this one. Check it out!
This book has two complete stories in it:
Part One - "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" - It's the story of two Black Widows duking it out for their right to claim the name, and a great bio-weapon/spy story. The writing has a great forward motion to it, and the artwork is sexy without being crass.
Part Two - "Breakdown" - This is more about the two Black Widows, with a story similar to the movie Face-Off. There's a major stylistic shift in the artwork here, more of a painted look. It works well. Great appearances by Nick Fury and Daredevil too.
This book is a fun read, but definitely not for little kids. Black Widow is a great character, and this book does her justice. I'm looking forward to her next TPB coming out in the spring.
One of the Best Comics Trade Paperbacks Ever! Get This!.......2003-09-11
This is one of my all-time favorite comics stories. It was originally a mini-series of three monthly issues, collected here, all together, for one price.
The writing by Devin Grayson, with artwork by J.G. Jones are career high points for both creators, in this book. This is also my favorite story concerning both of the Black Widow characters in this book; who have never looked so good, never in a smarter, more intelligent tale than in this book.
This book is about two different, Soviet trained secret agents. The original, old school Black Widow, (who left the Soviet Union a generation ago), is competing with the self-proclaimed new "Black Widow," who just happens to have a chip on her shoulder towards upstaging and outdoing the original Black Widow.
The way that each Black Widow takes care of business is also an analogy of the different viewpoints between comic book stories from the 1960 & 1970's (when heroes were goody-good, and won with little bloodshed, few casualties), versus the comic book story styles of the last decade of the 1990's and later, (when heroes are borderline homicidal maniacs, shooting everything in sight, and get the job done at any cost). With that in mind, we see that each approach has its pros and cons.
The old style Black Widow shows more experience, patience, and is harder to outsmart; while the new style Black Widow gets to the point faster, and is more unpredictable, but often realizes that she may have bit off more than she can chew in various situations.
The story is fast-paced, with lots of surprising twists, and intriguing developments, and the artwork is realistic and beautifully rendered, almost "photo-quality" at times. You can't go wrong with getting this book!
Wonderful.......2002-01-22
Not only is the artwork great, the women gorgeous, the action non-stop and the plot compelling, what distinguished this graphic novel was its human story. It would have been easy for the authors to create a good girl/bad girl scenario. But by making it a good girl/good girl situation, they've doubled the suspense. You want Natasha to win, but you can't help but worry about naive young Yelena. A terrific read.
Sexy..........2001-12-18
I always looked at the Black Widow as one of the sexiest comic heroes out there. There's a hiddent mystery in her that just seems to mesmerize. That long red hair, that skin-tight, S&M leather costume of hers and that amazing perfect figure. The name, Black Widow, truly gives her justice. You fall in love with her and she kills you with every look.
In this book, written by the team of Devin Grayson and Greg Rucka (on loan from the Batman books, it would seem), weave an intricate web of story, where epsionage and betrayals are key and we're taken back to the days of the cold war. Natasha Romanoff is pitted against someone who might be her better who claims to be the Black Widow herself. We have a fiery cat fight between two beauties. I don't think anyone would mind that this lasts for eternity.
The character is true to her origins, being very cold and inanimate at times of great danger, but you just can't let go of the way she looks or the way her body moves. The person to thank for this would be JG Jones. Jones's Widow is sexy, anything else is just not an adjective to describe the character. Hampton's work, on the other hand, though appealing doesn't do the Widow justice when it comes to beauty. There's no detail that you get to see in Jones's rendition, especially the folds of leather on skin.
If this team is out to make another Black Widow story, then it's going to be a definitive winner. Girls can go head over heels for James Bond, we, guys, have the Black Widow to satiate out appetite.
Average customer rating:
- A good history ot the P-61 with excellent illustrations.
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P-61 Black Widow in Action - Aircraft No. 106
Larry Davis , and
David Menard
Manufacturer: Squadron/Signal Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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B-25 Mitchell in Action - Aircraft No. 34
ASIN: 0897472489 |
Customer Reviews:
A good history ot the P-61 with excellent illustrations........2000-04-05
The appeal of the "In Action" series has always been their wealth of photos, multi-view drawings and artwork, combined with a reasonably detailed history of the subject. This book certainly follows that pattern in its treatment of the P-61. All variants are covered--with excellent illustrations of details and entire aircraft. Two revelations come from the text. In P-61s built without the gun turret the wiring for the turret was still installed, and the P-61E may have been envisoned as a B-29 escort to Moscow (as well as Japan). Even though this book is currently out of print it is well worth the extra effort to obtain it.
Book Description
The Northrop P-61 was the first airplane designed form the start to be a night fighter. With its advanced radar and electronics, high speed, maneuverability and heavy armament, it was as deadly as its namesake: the poisonous Black Widow spider. Northrop P-61 Black Widow uncovers the complete history of this once-secret warplane. The result of over 26 years of original research, this book brings you astonishing detail on all the P-61 variants, from the first XP-61 prototype through the final long range escort and photo-recon versions. Dozens of photos and original Northrop and Army Air Force blueprint drawings show every technical detail of this ahead of-its-time aricraft, its engines, aradar and electronics. This is the complete Black Widow combat diary - all the aces and all the victories, told through first person combat stories. More than 150 black and white and color photos show the Black Widow in action in the European, China-Burma-India and Pacific Theaters - the planes the pilots, the crewmen, the nose art and the markings. Also included are unit histories for each night fighter squadron that flew the Black Widow., over 150 color photographs, 8" x 10"
Customer Reviews:
Northrop P-6 Black Widow: The Complete History and Combat R.......2004-02-03
As a Black Widow addict, I am impressed with this nicely done book. The photos are some of the best I've seen and the combat recollections were especially inspiring. As an airplane modeller and aviation artist, I found this book to be very helpful but it left me with wanting much more. More shots of the rear radar operator's compartment, how the unique ailerons worked, side views of the crew compartments, engine exhaust pipes, shots of the 20 mm cannons, the pilot's night binoculars, and line drawings of each variant. While not "Complete", like the title says, it is an impressive book printed on heavy glossy paper making it one of my favorites
Incredible quality, What aviation books should be........2002-03-03
Very high quality. Glossy paper. Jet black print. Pictures look like a million bucks. If you are a fan of the Black Widow you will not be disappointed. Also has some great color photos of the postwar military and civilian Black Widows. Much better value than the P-61 warbird tech series book that is printed with grey ink and bargin basement paper. I agree with the thorough review below this review
The most comprehensive book currently available on the P-61........1999-06-13
This is a book filled with good photographs. The cover photo itself is unusual and striking. The authors begin with some background history of radar (prior to 1940), it being integral to this aircraft. They then move on to aircraft development, crew training, deployment, and finally, post war usage. Along the way they have unit histories, and some very interesting individual recollections (P-61 vs. P-47 is a highlight). Additionally the inclusion of information on field modifications is good (one squadron moved the radar operator and his equipment to the gunner's position). Somewhat disappointingly the authors don't provide three view drawings of the major variants so they can be visually compared. It would also have been useful to know what the original performance specifications issued by the Army Air Corps were so the reader would know how close Northrop came to "hitting the mark". Also more on: aircraft layout (eg. fuel tank locations), construction (eg. were unusual materials used?), and flight test anecdotes, recollections, and data would also be welcome to explain the reasons for variant evolution, color scheme change, etc. The book ends with six appendices including an extensive bibliography. All in all, while it is not as definitive as the title might imply or as I would have wished, this is the most comprehensive book currently available on the P-61. Anyone interested in the "Black Widow" should own this book.
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Thirteen
Black Widow
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