Review by Ian Keogh

No Restraints Play begins with Natasha Romanova on an Avengers mission, although covertly, as in this point in Marvel continuity she’s supposed to be dead, and she considers she’ll be more effective if people continue to believe that.

The introduction is writers Jen and Sylvia Soska establishing what Black Widow can do before having her take a holiday wallowing in the underworld of Madripoor, where anything is available, but the price might be too high. The title is taken from a website where people bid on the torture and eventual murder of women and children, the highest bidder being the person who decides the form of death. Thankfully it’s never seen, but the description alone is stomach-turning, and Natasha’s brutality when it comes to anyone involved is also without restraints.

Artist Flaviano is rather the magician. He puts one hell of a lot of work into establishing the vitality of Madripoor and assorted locations within the city, drawing attention away from the background-free action scenes and conversations largely restricted to head and shoulders illustrations. The action, though, is extremely well choreographed, and he doesn’t fetishise abhorrent events, applying considerable restraint in what’s shown.

Readers will believe they know where things are heading, and they’ll be right, but the writers don’t take the predictable route of making it their finale. There’s some righteous vengeance as people get what they deserve, and despite being relatively new to comics, there’s an awareness of the wider Marvel universe from small touches such as passing references to Tony Stark, to the inclusion of several villains. The villain’s eventual unmasking is neatly handled, and unlike some one-off stories the writers retrace their steps to provide full closure.

No Restraints Play really is very good, but despite avoidance of the explicit, the subject matter alone gives this superior action thriller an adult rating.