This volume features teamwork, revealed story arc/Big Bad, more Liho the cat, more Isaiah the cute and bloodthirsty lawyer! Yes, yes, aaaaaand yes.

While the first volume focused in on Natasha herself, this volume features Natasha doing various team ups. Coming from an outsider perspective, some of the mash-ups didn't quite jive or I needed the extra footnote-y context as to why. Like the Punisher. Why.

BUT THEN NATASHA AND BUCKY KICKED A TON OF BUTT ON A TRAIN. Each team up teased out different aspects of Natasha's personality: Daredevil made apparent her moral qualms and lying skills; Punisher made it clear that Natasha is actually a warm fuzzy tarantula; Laura, aka X-23, brought out the femme fatale awesome sauce. The Bucky team up is above and beyond my favorite because it becomes apparent how much the author and artists are in it to win it with the BLACK WIDOW title. The dialogue is sparse, which would normally not give the artist much to work with, but instead of falling into that pit, the art adds subtlety and longing to their conversation. My fangirl heart went doki doki.

Also, my mention of Cthulhu during my last review wasn't too far off with where this series is going. Yep. I'm excited.