White Widow #1 Review

More and more, an Indie comic occasionally comes along that grabs the attention of comics fans and really becomes an “overnight” success (even though it’s been in the works for months or even years).

One of the most recent ones to shake the Indie comics universe is White Widow from Absolute Comics Group. Granted, it’s a spider character, but hey—Spider-Man has like five or six comics a month. Why not take your own spin on a Spidey hero?

WHITE WIDOW #1
Co-creator/Artist: Jamie Tyndall
Co-creator/Writer: Benny R. Powell
Pencils & Inks: Iwan Nazif
Published by: Absolute Comics Group
Cover price: $3.99

SOLICITATION: Gabrielle Garcia was a typical American girl going to college to follow in her father’s footsteps – or so she thought. One night, her father barged into her dorm room, suffering from a fatal gunshot, and injected her with… something.  That was the moment she became the White Widow. This is the first issue featuring a hero unlike any other.

NOT YOUR EVERYDAY PETER PARKER!

First thing, I need to address the fact that even the book’s creators know there will be comparisons to Spider-Man. Several of the covers for the first issue are homages of Spidey stuff, for instance.

Next, I often like to point out that I enjoy variety in female leads in comics. Some of my female friends instead prefer a leading “lady” to be more maternal. They shouldn’t fight as much as talk their problems through with the baddies, for instance.

Well, Gabrielle is NOTHING like that! She’s an athlete and very competitive when she’s playing volleyball and other sports. And bikinis look good on her, too, by the way.

The comic does draw on another great staple in the industry—the scientist father who is working on a mysterious project that eventually draws at least one of his children into it.

Gabrielle gets a surprise visit from her father in her college dorm one night. He’s upset about something, and he suddenly injects some kind of substance into his daughter’s arm before passing out.

Before long, she’s turned into the White Widow, complete with a costume that envelops itself around her and spidery powers that help her fight with the Woman in Black who busts into her room after her dad. (Heh heh… he said “busts.”)

Gabrielle is stunned when the woman attacking her calls HER a monster and accuses her of killing others. White Widow leaves the scene without inflicting any harm, but she wants answers.

She comes across a recording made by her dad, and just as we’re about to find out what’s going on, we are directed to return for issue #2. Ah, those words that inflict pain on so many of us… “to be continued.”

The pacing is quick, and the characters, many of whom could be cliched, are much more developed than that. (Heh heh… he said “developed.”) We’re also learning what’s going on as Gabrielle does, so that’s a good thing.

ART THAT ACCENTUATES THE POSITIVE

As I’ve been hinting along the way, the artwork is very good, especially if you enjoy comics that, shall we say, accentuate the positive when it comes to the female body. I want to tell that old joke about Gabrielle having two outstanding attributes, but I’ll hold off on that.

There are many, many covers to choose from, some with special characteristics like foil and sparkly lettering. While those things don’t attract me, I still do find the covers to be very attractive.

I will say that the artwork of White Widow is very powerful. I’ve been teasing somewhat about all that, but I think that will likely be part of the appeal of the series.

BOTTOM LINE: Not the Reverse Universe Black Widow, Either

Action and adventure stories always are ones I’m anxious to read. White Widow is off to a great start, and I expect its popularity to increase as the tale unfolds.

Granted, I would have loved more pages, but debut issues often are doing their best to tease and create interest, and White Widow accomplishes those on several levels. And the second issue recently went to press, so be on the lookout for it!

While the website for this company is currently somewhat out of date, I recommend you either go to their Facebook page or find Benny Powell at local conventions, largely in the southeast, including Florida. That’s how I got my copy, after all! Or check with your LCS since they can order it through Diamond!