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Selector

Black Widow (2014 series) #4

May 2014 on-sale: Mar 12, 2014

Nathan Edmonson
writer
 |  Phil Noto
penciler

Black Widow (2014 series) #4 cover

Story Name:

Public Enemy


Synopsis

Black Widow (2014 series) #4 synopsis by reviewer Peter Silvestro
Rating: 4 stars

Former monk Molot Boga is commanded by his unseen superior to punish some dangerous sinners….

Black Widow has been hired by SHIELD to infiltrate the Ukrainian Embassy in Paris to plant bugs to learn who there is in danger. As she checks in with the guard at the gate she spots someone on the roof and then the building explodes. Recovering quickly, she climbs to the roof and pursues the fleeing villain. On a church roof, a huge bearded man swings at her and the roof gives way, dropping her to the floor….

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Her arm in a cast, Natasha reports to SHIELD Director Maria Hill who asks her to get some answers without asking questions. She goes to Kiev where she employs a listening device that looks like a fly to spy on a cabinet meeting. She learns that the killer is named Molot Boga and his next target is the Croatian ambassador in Cape Town. The bug disintegrates as Nat fills in Maria Hill….

In Cape Town, South Africa, the Croatian Ambassador’s car is stuck in traffic. The huge brutish Molot Boga appears in the street holding a large machine gun. Quoting a farrago of Scripture, he opens fire on the Ambassador’s car. Natasha appears, firing a small missile at him as he turns his gun on her. When he runs out of ammo, she fires at him with her pistols while he draws a pair of smaller guns firing explosive shells. Nat is thrown through a shop window as Molot Boga calmly rips the door off the car and shoots the Ambassador at close range and rides off on a motorcycle….

Maria Hill suggests calling in the Avengers, but Nat points out that SHIELD needs a spy to find the bad guys. The only lead they have is that Boga was picked up by an unidentified helicopter. Nat plans to question some Ukrainians. She gives Hill a list of equipment she needs while thinking of an informant….

Molot Boga reports back to his superior, who asks him to stop confusing him with God. There is one more target, arriving by plane, and he is told to destroy the plane before it lands and to kill the Black Widow if necessary….

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Characters
Good (or All)
BLACKWIDOW  
Black Widow
(Natasha Romanoff)
SHIELD  
S.H.I.E.L.D.
(SHIELD)

Enemies
Damon Dran, Molot Boga (Hammer of God).

> Black Widow (2014 series) comic book info and issue index



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Main/1st Story Full Credits

Phil Noto
Phil Noto
Phil Noto
Phil Noto (Cover Penciler)
Phil Noto (Cover Inker)
Phil Noto (Cover Colorist)
Additional Credits
Letterer: Clayton Cowles.



Review / Commentaries


reviewer
Black Widow (2014 series) #4 Review by (August 12, 2025)

Review: And now we reach an actual multi-issue story arc for this series: International assassinations committed by a brutish Russian giant with a religious fixation. Another terrific action sequence (the Cape Town hit). And religious fanatics are a dime a dozen in pop culture but this guy backs up cracked scripture references with an absolutely scary appearance and brutal efficiency so I’ll overlook the cliches. The issue seems to lack a theme to the narration, other than that working for SHIELD is boring and this new bad guy is formidable. Maybe next time.

The bit just before the explosion as Nat realizes what is about to happen is an effective piece, six close-up portraits of Nat, her expression changing gradually before the big boom.

Comments: Part one of three parts. Damon Dran (revealed next issue) first appeared in DAREDEVIL #92-94, which also featured Black Widow; he also faced BW in MARVEL FANFARE #11-13; his next appearance was in CAPTAIN AMERICA #429-430, followed by the present story arc. First appearance of Molot Boga, whose line, “Your word is like fire to me. I shall be your hammer that breaks the rock into pieces” is clearly an echo of Jeremiah 23:29 in the Bible “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?”





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