There’s a cat fight brewing in the new story arc in Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! but is it good?
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #11 (Marvel Comics)
So what’s it about? The Marvel summary reads:
“DON’T STOP ME-OW” STARTS NOW! Who’s ready for a knock-down, drag-out, no-holds-barred CAT-FIGHT? Literally! Okay, it’s kind of figurative because they’re not *actually* cats, but it’s pretty close. Felicia Hardy is on a collision course with Patsy Walker. You know what that means? It’s Hellcat vs. Black Cat y’all! Featuring everyone’s favorite teenage vampire Jubilee! But who’s side is she on? Sharpen your claws because it’s going to be a feline fiasco for the ages!
Why does this book matter?
Patsy Walker has had a complicated life. Not only is that life being turned into a comic against her wishes, she also lost her job as a private investigator and her ex Hellstrom tried to send her to Hell! She luckily has a strong group of friends to keep her level headed (including Jubilee!) so knowing that Black Cat is going to complicate her life further only means a much more fulfilling dramatic story.
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Work out that rage Patsy.
Writer Kate Leth opens the issue doing a good job introducing a group of bad girls who end up being recruited by Black Cat. Unfortunately for Patsy, these same characters will be making her life more complicated soon. Leth gives each of these characters a fun and differing personality that should jive well with Patsy’s crew. That crew is introduced well too, so if you’re a new reader you should be able to jump on easily here.
The general plot works well enough, establishing Black Cat’s desire to mess with Patsy, but also the complication of an ex of Ian getting jealous. There’s also a solid page of Patsy ruminating on her complicated feelings for Ian.
The art by Brittney L. Williams is fun and bouncy, like Brian Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim. The characters look tiny, almost like toddlers at times, but due to the consistent style it gives the characters an endearing look and feel. I also love how she’s drawn Black Cat, in this almost otherworldly flowing hair sort of feel.
It can’t be perfect can it?
This issue sets the characters up well enough, but not a lot happens. There’s a lot of talking and not much action to speak of which makes the book feel slow and uneventful. There are plenty of scenes with no backgrounds at all, just a blank pop of color, which further makes the read boring. This issue needed either another action scene or a bit more drama to kick it up a notch. Black Cat is rather laid back and in no rush to enact her plan (whatever it is as we aren’t informed just yet), which further makes this issue take longer that it should.
What is her deal?!
Is It Good?
As far as first issues in story arcs go this is a great place to start. All the characters are introduced well and plenty of conflict is established. Unfortunately it’s lacking action or drama to kick it up a notch making it a slow start.
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