The subgenre of super-spies seems especially suited for comic books, where there are no budget constraints in terms of depicting gonzo gadgets and glamorous globetrotting, so it’s no wonder we’ve gotten such a long history of James Bond comics, not to mention eccentric variations like the politically charged anthropomorphic animal series Grandville. Marvel jumped on the trend as early as the 1960s, not only with the visually impressive Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., but also with the introduction of the Russian spy Natasha Romanova, aka Black Widow. The latter proved to be such an engaging character that she kept gaining greater prominence, whether as a key supporting player in Daredevil and The Avengers or as the star of numerous short-lived series, including a spectacular-looking take not that long ago (cashing in on what turned out to be quite an underwhelming movie). And, sure enough, the Black Widow’s coolness has inspired plenty of awesome covers over the years:
