Reprints Amazing Spider-Man #194-195, 204-205, 226-227
Written by Marv Wolfman, David Micheline and Roger Stern.
Penciled by Keith Pollard and John Romita Jr.
Inked by Frank Giacoia, Pablo Marcos, Jim Mooney and M. Hands.
A new criminal has arrived in New York City—the Black Cat! She's a world class cat burglar and like her namesake, bad luck seems to befall everyone who crosses her path.
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| The readers get their first look at the Black Cat as she prepares to go on a crime spree. |
Black Cat engages in a series of break-ins, stealing files from the NYPD and explosives from a military base.
Spider-Man spots the Black Cat swinging through the city and is finds himself attracted to her. But she triggers his Spider-Sense, prompting him to follow her.
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| Spider-Man meets the Black Cat for the first time. |
Black Cat is trying to buy an arsenal's worth of illegal guns when Spidey breaks up the sale. The Cat starts to flee, but then tells Spider-Man she's a big fan and has a scrapbook dedicated to him. She peels back his mask and gives him a kiss. Spidey is shocked by this, so shocked that Black Cat is able to escape.
The Cat meets with her minions and tells them they are breaking into a prison. Black Cat's objective is to free her father, famed cat burglar Walter Hardy. When Spider-Man tries to prevent this, he's caught in an explosion and ends up underneath a pile of rubble. This leaves him with only one good arm.
Walter is very ill, so Black Cat takes him home so he can die in peace, with his family. She tells Walter that she is his daughter, Felicia, and that she became the Black Cat so she could follow in his footsteps.
The injured Spider-Man finds the house and duels the Cat once again. During their battle, they take a great fall towards a rocky point in the river. Spider-Man's arm is still injured, he can't hold on to her as she falls to her death. Spidey feels terrible about this.
But months later, Spider-Man learns that Black Cat survived that fall. She is back to her cat-burgling ways, stealing a series of priceless works of art from museums and auctions.
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| Spider-Man stops Black Cat from robbing the Guggenheim Museum. |
Spider-Man is able to convince her to surrender. But he is shocked when he learns the reason behind the Cat's crimes. Spidey and the police believe Black Cat is mentally ill and she is committed to a facility that can help her.
Finally, Black Cat escapes from a Mitchell State Hospital. She had been faking insanity all along. But when she helps him recover stolen art, Spider-Man asks the NYPD to give the Cat anmesty for her past crimes.
Spidey's friend Captain Jean DeWolf agrees to this and fills out the proper paper work. He sees her as a potential new girlfriend as he and Felicia share a kiss. But will the Black Cat's kleptomania get in the way of starting a new life?
Plus, Peter Parker's personal life is as difficult as ever!
Review:
Spider-Man vs. The Black Cat is a good introduction to Felicia Hardy and her relationship with Spider-Man. I should mention that all but two of the issues reprinted here are available in other books I've reviewed. The first two issues (194-195) are reprinted in Spider-Man: Return Of The Burglar. ASM #226-227 can be found in Spider-Man: Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut. But the middle portion, from ASM #204-205 has never been reprinted in book form. Is it worth getting the book for just that reason? Read on.
Story:
I enjoy this book. The problem with Spider-Man vs. The Black Cat is that it drops you into the middle of a longer story.
Marv Wolfman wrote the the story that introduces Black Cat. It's a pretty good story. We get some good fight scenes and the Cat is established early on as an intelligent criminal who doesn't really want to hurt anyone. She's just hooked on the life of a cat burglar.
This portion of the book takes place in the middle of an arc that featured Mysterio and the Burglar (the otherwise unnamed gunman who killed Uncle Ben) plotting to kill Aunt May. When we see Peter get the telegram announcing her death, the next story reprinted has nothing to do with that plot.
Part 2 works a bit better. It's a nice follow-up to Black Cat's first story, and it works as a self-contained two-parter. It also marks the end of Marv Wolfman's two-year tenure on the book. David Michelinie finishes up the story.
In addition to the Black Cat storyline, we get to see Peter Parker attempt to date a woman named Dawn Starr who is a student in a class he's teaching. He's reluctant at first, but Dawn talks him into it. He later catches Dawn trying to cheat. When he confronts her as Spider-Man, we get one of the oddest Spider-Man quotes of all time. See the image below for Spidey's comments about Iran.
Awkward at best.
The final chapter, written by Roger Stern is also very good. It can now be seen as as the beginning of Black Cat's transition from villain to crime-fighter. But the other problem with the stories reprinted here is that we get 2 "deaths" of the Black Cat. And both times it's death by drowning. Of course 30+ years later, we know Felicia is still alive, so I don't feel like I'm spoiling anything by mentioning her non-death in this book.
Art:
Keith Pollard pencils the first two parts of this book, with John Romita, Jr. penciling part 3. They're assisted by a variety of inkers. The art here isn't flashy or spectacular, but it's good. I've always liked their art, and fans of these pencilers will especially enjoy the book.
Extras:
We get a Black Cat profile from a recent edition of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and several covers and pinups that feature Felicia.
Felicia Hardy has been an important figure in the Spidey-verse for more than 30 years. Spider-Man vs. The Black Cat shows how it all began. It's a slim volume that won't take up too much space on your shelf. If you don't have the other books that contain some of the early Cat stories, this book is strongly recommended. If you have them, it's still worth picking it up.
J.A. Morris' rating:
3 Sals.
Finally, Black Cat escapes from a Mitchell State Hospital. She had been faking insanity all along. But when she helps him recover stolen art, Spider-Man asks the NYPD to give the Cat anmesty for her past crimes.
Spidey's friend Captain Jean DeWolf agrees to this and fills out the proper paper work. He sees her as a potential new girlfriend as he and Felicia share a kiss. But will the Black Cat's kleptomania get in the way of starting a new life?
Review:
Spider-Man vs. The Black Cat is a good introduction to Felicia Hardy and her relationship with Spider-Man. I should mention that all but two of the issues reprinted here are available in other books I've reviewed. The first two issues (194-195) are reprinted in Spider-Man: Return Of The Burglar. ASM #226-227 can be found in Spider-Man: Nothing Can Stop The Juggernaut. But the middle portion, from ASM #204-205 has never been reprinted in book form. Is it worth getting the book for just that reason? Read on.
Story:
I enjoy this book. The problem with Spider-Man vs. The Black Cat is that it drops you into the middle of a longer story.
Marv Wolfman wrote the the story that introduces Black Cat. It's a pretty good story. We get some good fight scenes and the Cat is established early on as an intelligent criminal who doesn't really want to hurt anyone. She's just hooked on the life of a cat burglar.
This portion of the book takes place in the middle of an arc that featured Mysterio and the Burglar (the otherwise unnamed gunman who killed Uncle Ben) plotting to kill Aunt May. When we see Peter get the telegram announcing her death, the next story reprinted has nothing to do with that plot.
Part 2 works a bit better. It's a nice follow-up to Black Cat's first story, and it works as a self-contained two-parter. It also marks the end of Marv Wolfman's two-year tenure on the book. David Michelinie finishes up the story.
In addition to the Black Cat storyline, we get to see Peter Parker attempt to date a woman named Dawn Starr who is a student in a class he's teaching. He's reluctant at first, but Dawn talks him into it. He later catches Dawn trying to cheat. When he confronts her as Spider-Man, we get one of the oddest Spider-Man quotes of all time. See the image below for Spidey's comments about Iran.
Awkward at best.
The final chapter, written by Roger Stern is also very good. It can now be seen as as the beginning of Black Cat's transition from villain to crime-fighter. But the other problem with the stories reprinted here is that we get 2 "deaths" of the Black Cat. And both times it's death by drowning. Of course 30+ years later, we know Felicia is still alive, so I don't feel like I'm spoiling anything by mentioning her non-death in this book.
 |
| Left:Black Cat plans her next theft;Right:Peter Parker types a term paper (on a typewriter!) |
Art:
Keith Pollard pencils the first two parts of this book, with John Romita, Jr. penciling part 3. They're assisted by a variety of inkers. The art here isn't flashy or spectacular, but it's good. I've always liked their art, and fans of these pencilers will especially enjoy the book.
We get a Black Cat profile from a recent edition of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe and several covers and pinups that feature Felicia.
Felicia Hardy has been an important figure in the Spidey-verse for more than 30 years. Spider-Man vs. The Black Cat shows how it all began. It's a slim volume that won't take up too much space on your shelf. If you don't have the other books that contain some of the early Cat stories, this book is strongly recommended. If you have them, it's still worth picking it up.
J.A. Morris' rating:
3 Sals.
