Black Cat, Vol. 4: Queen in Black (2024)

f*ck your numbering process, Marvel.
What the hell even is this sh*t? Just...gah!

Ok, so I thought I was reading Black Cat, Vol. 1: Grand Theft Marvel because this starts with Black Cat (2020-) #1, and since I was reading this digitally on Marvel Unlimited, much confusion ensued. <--for me.

But that's not exactly unusual. Thankfully, a few of my good (better informed) friends helped me out by letting me know that I should have started with Black Cat (2019-2020) #1.
I'm gonna go do that right now. Thanks.

You've got the King in Black stuff happening and it's very good for an event tie-in.
I still need to read the first volume (for real) to get some context but I liked all the characters that were in this one.

There's also some chick that's called Queen Cat - no idea. But (again) I liked that whole one shot and I'm hoping to figure out the background on that whole thing when I read the story in the correct order.

Even getting dropped into the middle of it, I really enjoyed the whole thing.

My original (confused) review for this volume:

I absolutely loved this!
But it does not feel like a volume 1.
I think Jed Mackay did a wonderful job, but at the same time, I had a real feeling of being plopped down in the middle of a story.

Having said that, I don't think it was Mackay's fault. More like the King in Black event was happening and Felicia's story was intertwined with it. And I do (maybe) want to read KiB, but not right now.

But even with that, it still felt like I was maybe missing some of the inside jokes and background for these characters. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't confused, but I liked this so much that I want to find the older volumes.
Anybody know where I should start?

I really liked this new volume of Black Cat, despite it being dragged into the King in Black crossover. Jed McKay did a good job of telling a tale that was connected to the crossover story yet was perfectly understandable as a standalone with some nice character moments. It didn’t hurt that the artwork was pretty great, either.

My only real criticism, and it’s a minor niggle really, is that the stories occasionally felt like an excuse to get Felicia into a new outfit, as there are two new looks for Ms. Hardy in this book alone. After her wearing a Stark armour in the previous book, this is starting to feel a bit like Millie the Model.

My next book: The Encircling Sea

We interrupt our regularly scheduled program with a King in Black crossover. Thankfully, Jed Mackay is a talented writer and was able to give us a crossover that works within Black Cat's book too. She gets pulled into the event when Knull attacks New York City and all the Avengers are captured. So she plans a heist to steal Dr. Strange from Knull. The story is fun and the art by CF Villa is great.

This is a small volume at only 4 issues, a bunch of alternate covers and a reprint of Jed Mackay's first story for Marvel. It's an 8-page roller derby story with Dazzler and the Daughters of the Dragon.

I wanted to give this 3.5 stars, but it was too much of filler for a round up. Three of the the four issues are set as part of the King in Black arc, the fourth is going back to the Black Cats normal series. The reason for the round down is I hate stories end just before the final/main event fight. Yes I know the main fight would be covered in the main KIB mini series but it is still annoying.

The other really annoying part was, I really enjoyed the King in Black tie in issues. The artwork was good the story was good and I really enjoyed Cat's heroic heist, and temptation. As fun as the ongoing Black Cat series it I would have prefered if they kept them separate for now.

There is also a weird/comedy Dazzler and Daughter of the Dragon cosmic roller derby 70 style issue. No idea why this was added but they had space to fill i guess. There is also a cover gallery of of the varient issues 1-4.

Felica Hardy's back with her biggest heist yet! When the King In Black swoops in to cover all of New York City with symbiotes, she'll need to pull the impossible - robbing Knull himself! Then, the Queen Cat strikes - but who is she, and what history does she have with Felicia?

I'm always wary of series that launch as part of a crossover, but Jed MacKay has already proven that he's a whiz at Black Cat stories. These first three issues manage not only to tie into King In Black, but also launch Felicia's latest round of stories in a surprising way, and call back to everything she's already been through quite nicely while she's at it.

At it's core, Black Cat is a heist book, but it's also set in the Marvel Universe, which MacKay revels in. Felicia might always be trying to steal something, but the situations she gets herself into are quintessential superheroes, and it's a match made in heaven.

The artwork this time around is by CF Villa, and Nina Vakueva. Black Cat hasn't really managed to hold down an artist for a while, but the series does have a very distinct look which both artists manage to recapture. It's almost superhero adjacent, like the plot - it wouldn't look out of place in a full-on capes book, but it's just different enough to differentiate it from the other titles on the stands.

Black Cat's latest series hits the ground running, even with a symbiote tie-in trying to derail it right from the get-go. Jed MacKay has a plan, the artists have a vision, and they have my attention once again.

This was okayish, its basically ties into King in Black and Knull Invasion and Felicia has to rescue Doc Strange and gets the anti-venom suit but things get sideways and she gets some asgardian power up, the design of which looked super cool but its one of those issues which I loved as it showed you the heroic side of her and how she rejected absolute power and the will of her character. Then there is a great story regarding Queen cat and wow that was such a great origin or re-imagined for Lily hollister and then the big heist with BLACK FOX starts but there is a big twist! A great volume and just shows you the different sides of Felicia and how she is a hero but the next story promises something big with the Marvel Universe at stake and I loved the art, its easily the best part of the series for me! Just amazing all around!

Another mishmash of stuff, with a tie-in toe the King in Black storyline and the appearance of Queen Cat, who has decided that Black Cat is her nemesis (or something, who knows?). The art isn't bad, but again, because there's so little content, the volume is rounded out with alternate covers and a reprint of MacKay's first Marvel story, which has no connection to the Black Cat character.

Crossover event tie-in you say? Hardly noticed - and that’s a VERY good thing. Jed Mackay survives the boat-tipping storm waters that wash over every middle-tier book that editors pee themselves to get tie-in status (and hope they get a whole new crop of readers to keep the book off the coroner’s table).

Felicia is still a blast in this story, what with her growing menagerie of goons, past accomplices and now an arch-nemesis?

I was *psyched* to see Felicia play dress-up, the second “guest costume” WAY more fun than the first. “Don’t cry because it’s gone - smile because it got to be here for a while.”

And somehow in the midst of all the in-story and extra-story shenanigans, Jed manages to call back to Felicia’s history *and* improve on it?

black cat and doctor strange is a mf duo!

MacKay manages to turn in a less trying story than most of the Marvel titles obliged to interact with symbiote clusterf*ck King In Black, helped by the whole premise of this series being that wherever in the Marvel Universe Felicia may go, whatever weird power-ups she acquires, whoever she interacts with (and generally rips off), she remains emphatically herself. No, the whole idea of her running a heist on a dark god doesn't really make sense, but it hangs together just enough to make for a fun story, and that's the main thing, with any remaining holes papered over by the always welcome presence of the crew's latest guest star, talking ghost dog Bats. Plus, there's an absolutely lovely moment when the Black Cat meets Captain America, justifying her being impressed without throwing away the character like some cheap Doom-weeps-at-Ground-Zero hack might have done.
"I don't believe in America. Never have. America is built on theft. Theft of land, lives, dignity. Theft of my father for my entire adult life. But they call me the crook.
I don't believe in America. But seeing him, hearing him talk... I almost feel like I could."

That's three issues; the fourth resurrects a supporting character I'd entirely forgotten for future use, and then the volume is filled out with a short that has nothing to do with the Black Cat at all, but is MacKay's first Marvel work. It's an unapologetically daft and gimmicky issue in which Dazzler is forced to compete in an unusual new Contest of Champions, with very fun, Rob Guillory-esque art from Sheldon Vella, and my only complaint about it is that we should really have seen more since from one of the antagonists: Mental Organism Designed Only for Roller Derby.

Another brisk entry in Jed Mackay’s Black Cat run, which manages to crossover with the King in Black event without becoming a superfluous punch-fest—as so many tie-ins tend to be—and instead feels like a natural continuation of Black Cat’s story. The fun tone, interesting heists, and efficient character work makes for a really enjoyable book. I hope this run keeps going for ages.

black cat and doctor strange i mentally cannot comprehend how insane that duo is brain Fried ❤️

Sigh. Thanks to Marvel Unlimited listing this volume as a separate series, I’ve started with volume four. Granted it was still great but…sigh. No wonder some things didn’t make sense.

<3

Three quarters of this book are taken up with a King in Black related story. I actually didn't mind it, much. Felicia's part in the story makes sense, and there's enough information here to basically understand where the King in Black event was over the course of this story. Which is great, because I haven't read that event yet. The last issue is about Queen Cat, and it's really, really good, much more of a character study after the big set pieces from the previous issues. I just really enjoy Mackay's work on this book.

I am not a huge fan of graphic novel crossover events, since the books tend to be randomly cobbled together out of different titles and one usually winds up having to read titles unrelated to the series in question. However, "Black Cat: Queen in Black" is an exception worth noting. The book is part of the "King in Black" event, but it stands on its own as a continuation of the story arc established in the three previous volumes. Even better, the book continues in the spirit of the previous books and focuses on one of the biggest heists of Felicia's career to date.

I really liked the King in Black tie in and thought it a strong background story to a big event.

But the last issue while interesting doesn’t fit.

The reprint of MacKay’s first marvel story does not fit at all and doesn’t have Black Cat in it.

I'm gonna be 100% honest but this kinda ate.

Wtf is with the numbering though? I picked this up because it was issue #1 but oh actually this is volume FOUR in this series and they made it #1 again just to f*ck with me personally. Goodreads also decided not to have the volume numbers in the title??? I was so confused but I was just vibing.

I didn't know much about Black Cat besides she has a terrible outfit with her tit* out and a mask that does absolutely nothing?? I still don't know much about her lol but she's a cool cat burglar!! But for real I absolutely loved the part where she rejects complete power and is super heroic. I swear to god the trip down memory lane and how many guys have f*cked her over though? We ride at dawn.

This is a tie-in to the King in Black event and it went hard. Felicia has to save Doctor Strange and the whole thing just felt batsh*t insane but it was nonstop entertaining. Like Felicia gets an anti-venom suit, uses a spidey web slinging car, ghost dog, touches a piece of wood from the tree of life giving her Asgardian powers while it tries to take control of her mind?? Oh there was also dragons in NYC. Her Asgardian outfit was dope as sh*t.

When I picked up Black Cat I really just wanted what this kept promising me which was heists. I swear every issue was like stay tuned for her next heist!!! When she hasn't done a single heist in this volume??

The King in Black event really took center stage and while I did enjoy the excitment, I'm mad it just ends in the middle of the story. I guess to jump into the next comic for the event but bro I'm not doing that.

Then we have a mysterious young hero named Queen Cat who wants to take down Black Cat because this town isn't big enough for the both of them I guess. Queen Cat's origin story felt SO convoluted but it was interesting. I'm really pissed off that her name isn't White Cat though??? Literally her suit is just the colors switched but okay.

I liked the art. I hate Felicia's suit with a raging passion but I know this artist didn't make the dumbass suit. Like haha we get it, sexy cat. We must see cleavage while she's fighting!!!

Idk if this is a weird comment to make but I loved her ponytail so much. 😭 Anytime I've ever seen her in the past she has her hair poofed out and fabulous and while she does for a bit in here, she had a great ponytail and I am weirdly obsessed with it. I feel like they were just trying to compromise with me personally like okay her tit* HAVE to be out but she'll have a badass ponytail okay??? Her without the stupid mask and the ponytail??? Absolutely.

And now I will actually start from the real #1 issue so I can understand wtf they were talking about in here.

It returns to being fun once more!

This time the Black Cat gets screwed with crossover of the King in Black but remains highly entertaining and wonderfully drawn. Some great fights and a cool upgrade to the cat herself. Then we get a one shot of the Queen Cat, and it's not as strong but it's fun, and I like the Felicia has to teach these newbies who's boss around town.

a 3.5 out of 5, I'll bump it to a 4.

The first three issues are EXCELLENT, even though they are also an event tie in for King in Black. MacKay does a good job of filling in the essentials. And we see awesome stuff like Black Cat heisting Dr Strange from a symbiote prison.

The fourth issue introduces Queen Cat in a weird one shot, and I kind of don’t care. It was more about Queen Cat than Black Cat. Didn’t love it.

I love MacKay’s Black Cat, otherwise.

Quite the caper in the works. Symbiote dragons are nasty.

Another stellar volume that doesn't miss a beat, even when forced to tie-in to an event! Though the combination of the Black Cat and an alien-god threat don't seem like they would go hand-in-hand, Jed Mackay works his magic as we see her work her heroic angle after seeing NYC and the Avengers get covered in black goop. So, on instruction from Captain America himself, Felicia rounds up the squad to retrieve former-mark Doctor Strange! This volume (as the others) is bombastic, high-speed fun. There hasn't been a dud issue yet, and the main plot line remains as intriguing as ever. Don't stop Jed!

Jed Mackay's great run on Black Cat continues with a unique tie-in with the whole "King in Black" storyline. Instead of the typical "part of the team" stuff or "I have a direct connection to symbiotes" stuff, Felicia is given a chance to shine at what she does best: thievery.
During a heist, she is interrupted by the battle against the forces of Knull (see main King in Black book) and she briefly teams up with the heroes before most of them (particularly Doctor Strange) get taken over by symbiotes. Her new heist: take two newly created Anti-Venom symbiote suits and break Doctor Strange out of a huge black sphere. Not only is he powerful enough to make a real difference against Knull, but the Staff of Yggdrasil has been brought to help turn the tide. When Strange is slow to wake up, Felicia wields it. (This is incredibly awesome! She looks so powerful and almost like Angela...) We know from the main title how it all works out...
Add in a story about the Queen Cat vs Black Cat, and you get a great all around Volume.
This is a fun ride for anyone, regardless if you've kept up on the title or on the crossover.
Strong recommend.

Collects Black Cat (2020) issues #1-4 and material from X-Men: To Serve and Protect issue #4

This short collection ties into Marvel's "King in Black" event, and this is one of the better tie-ins that I've read. The last issue in this collection features a story focused on Queen Cat, and I'm intrigued by this new spin on a familiar character.

Final rating = 3.5 stars

Well, crap I might have to go back and start this from the beginning.

I started with this volume as issues 1-3 tie heavily into King in Black, but this was honestly the best version fo Felicia Hardy i have ever read or seen!

Another fun ride! Really loving this take on the Black Cat! Looking forward to reading more!

I love that black cat is unapologetically herself

LOVE Bats

Don’t care for queen cat at all

4/5☆

“If I die, at least it’ll be how I lived. Outrageously.” — Black Cat vol. 4 #2

Borrowing relics. \ Stealing the hearts of the lost. \ Finding destiny.
#HAIKUPRAJNA - Review: Black Cat (2020)
...

"I've always wanted to fly one of these things!"

Jed MacKay’s Black Cat run has been great so far, and the 2020 series was little exception. (Side note on MacKay, he has credits for TV Ontario programs such as Polka Dot Door and Elliot Moose! What a nostalgic childhood connection.)

The volumes contain tie ins and set-ups for Infinity Stone and Venom events, but that was the reason I stumbled into this run, though, and these stories had made me check out the rest of the writer's work. (Check out my King in Black review!)

The series managed to retain Felicia's overall character arc and even revisited past traumas related to the events. Highlights included Felicia rehabilitating the wayward while staying true to her character, good use of the Spider-mobile, Doctor Strange and the ghost dog that Spider-Man met, and forms of Agent Anti-venom and Asgardian goddesses. The main issues of this volume continue the mystic mayhem with a deal involving the property of Manhattan before closing into another event, but these stories were enough to interest me in plots I otherwise was uninterested in.

Thank you for reading.
Until next time,
Allen W. McLean

https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/2022...

...

These Goodreads poems will be collected in a future edition of the HaikuPrajna Collection. More can be found on Medium and Goodreads.

Need more Bite-sized Insights to relieve your stress and suffering? Get book previews and mindful meditation haiku \ scifaiku poetry from my metaphysical and magical realism stories (like the sci-fi superhero novel "Escape Perennial City", available on #KindleUnlimited!) sent to your inbox for free Alchemic Wisdom from @electricarmchair and @haikuprajna via the emailing list over here: https://haikuprajna.blogspot.com/p/fo...

Check out my King in Black review here: https://medium.com/haikuprajna/haikup...

Who loves a comic volume that ties in with another series - utterly devoid of context and separate from the story arc of preceding books? No one. Why is this a requirement of comic franchises? Characters will inevitably interweave, prompting interest in picking up different series. Why muddy the waters with random stories? (And it's not even like Mr. MacKay felt the need to throw in a helpful asterisk to direct the reader to the originating volume)

Knull arrived out of nowhere. And while I'm a fan of Venom, trying to parse out how the invasion fit into the arc left me flipping back through previous volumes. A waste of time and energy because there wasn't anything there to find. It's nothing more than a blip. Entertaining to read, but not much in the way of plot advancement. Lift it out, and it stands on its own - a random entry.

The square-off between Queen Cat and Black Cat made more sense and at least contributed more to the original plotline. (Granted, I needed another point of reference to understand where she entered the picture, but there was at least an asterisk there) Why wasn't more of the volume devoted to that story? From the standpoint of attracting the usual demographic, two women in form-fitting costumes? I think Marvel missed the boat on that one. (Although the diary thing is overplayed and uninteresting to read)

From a reader's standpoint, this was one volume that could easily get skipped. Unless you wanted a comfortable read for the evening.