Black Widow #12

Calling in a couple of friends in Bucky Barnes and Clint Baton, Natalie rounds up the girls and hits the Golden Gate Gala where she’s been told there’s information to be found and something far more nefarious underneath the upscale atmosphere. Ditching the party early, Lucy and Anya uncover a bizarre secret auction in the basement of the building before going silent leading to the Widows going to Plan B and taking a more direct approach to uncover just what the hell is going on.

There’s a lot of slow building set-up here, but eventually things get interesting. Although her Spidey-sense (so to speak) is aroused the entire evening, Black Widow is unprepared for what, or more precisely who, she finds. Whoever the Living Blade is, Natasha has tangled with him before (and he’s certainly made an impression).

[Marvel, $3.99]