Black Cat #1 Review
Writer: Jed Mackay
Artist: Travel Foreman
Colorist: Brian Reber
Letterer: Ferran Delgado
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I have a deep, dark secret to share with you all. I am one hundred percent, all about Peter and MJ, but there is another, extra percentage of me that really loves the dynamic of Peter and Felicia. I’m delighted to see her finally being written well again in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, and kind of surprised it took this long for her to get a shot at her own series. Sadly, it’s not one that I can see lasting.
You may remember a couple of months ago when Black Cat starred in a spin-off issue of Amazing Spider-Man written by Nick Spencer. She was flawed, but likeable. She had interesting motives driving her through her circumstances – she was an interesting character? None of that is here. Felicia is just a thief who likes nice things. Okay, that doesn’t necessarily mean the story is a dud, right? The plot could still be fun. No, it’s pretty run of the mill heist stuff so far. Sure, she's supposed to be breaking into the Sanctum Sanctorum later, but that’s not alluded to at all in this issue. There’s not much in the way of character interactions and what’s there isn’t really notable in any way positive. If anything, the dialogue is too wordy and the set-up for cat puns are painfully obvious. With what we’re given so far, I don’t think there’s anything to make readers interested in continuing this story for $3.99.
It doesn’t help that the book looks like one of Marvel’s current animated series on Disney XD, such as Marvel Rising. I’m trying really hard to analyze Travel Foreman’s work here, but honestly, I just can’t look past the awful coloring by Brian Reber. I can say that Foreman composes the action sequences he’s given in the best way he can, but… that’s about it. Readers will no doubt but constantly pulled out of the already mediocre experience by coloring that feels lazy. Everything looks like it’s done with an airbrush and looks so flat. Decent color work would at least be inoffensive and unobtrusive, but this actively detracts from the overall quality.
I suppose I should mention that back-up story as well. Felicia goes home and pets her cats. I swear to you, that's it. The art is cute but it's so jarringly short and pointless, it won't make this experience any better for you.
I wanted to like Black Cat #1, because I think Felicia Hardy can be more than just a Catwoman knock off. This ain’t it. The story is bland and does nothing to persuade any reader to keep going, and the coloring is distractingly shallow. Rather than reading this, fans of Hardy will undoubtedly have a better time if they just wait for her to show up in the pages of Spider-Man again. Spend your time and money elsewhere.
Artist: Travel Foreman
Colorist: Brian Reber
Letterer: Ferran Delgado
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I have a deep, dark secret to share with you all. I am one hundred percent, all about Peter and MJ, but there is another, extra percentage of me that really loves the dynamic of Peter and Felicia. I’m delighted to see her finally being written well again in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man, and kind of surprised it took this long for her to get a shot at her own series. Sadly, it’s not one that I can see lasting.
You may remember a couple of months ago when Black Cat starred in a spin-off issue of Amazing Spider-Man written by Nick Spencer. She was flawed, but likeable. She had interesting motives driving her through her circumstances – she was an interesting character? None of that is here. Felicia is just a thief who likes nice things. Okay, that doesn’t necessarily mean the story is a dud, right? The plot could still be fun. No, it’s pretty run of the mill heist stuff so far. Sure, she's supposed to be breaking into the Sanctum Sanctorum later, but that’s not alluded to at all in this issue. There’s not much in the way of character interactions and what’s there isn’t really notable in any way positive. If anything, the dialogue is too wordy and the set-up for cat puns are painfully obvious. With what we’re given so far, I don’t think there’s anything to make readers interested in continuing this story for $3.99.
It doesn’t help that the book looks like one of Marvel’s current animated series on Disney XD, such as Marvel Rising. I’m trying really hard to analyze Travel Foreman’s work here, but honestly, I just can’t look past the awful coloring by Brian Reber. I can say that Foreman composes the action sequences he’s given in the best way he can, but… that’s about it. Readers will no doubt but constantly pulled out of the already mediocre experience by coloring that feels lazy. Everything looks like it’s done with an airbrush and looks so flat. Decent color work would at least be inoffensive and unobtrusive, but this actively detracts from the overall quality.
I suppose I should mention that back-up story as well. Felicia goes home and pets her cats. I swear to you, that's it. The art is cute but it's so jarringly short and pointless, it won't make this experience any better for you.
I wanted to like Black Cat #1, because I think Felicia Hardy can be more than just a Catwoman knock off. This ain’t it. The story is bland and does nothing to persuade any reader to keep going, and the coloring is distractingly shallow. Rather than reading this, fans of Hardy will undoubtedly have a better time if they just wait for her to show up in the pages of Spider-Man again. Spend your time and money elsewhere.
A Look Inside
