One joy comics readers get to have apart from other media is the long game paying off. Sure you can get it in novel series and sometimes in big movie franchises, but comics can go back weeks, months, and even decades back for payoffs. Jed MacKay has been building towards something big over the past summer, but really ever since he kicked off Black Cat and made the character truly great. In Black Cat #10, out today, part 3 of the “Infinity Score” story arc brings a few key things together very nicely.
This issue opens with Black Cat and Quantum conversing on top of a building. MacKay draws us into the current situation via some sharply written captions, putting us inside Black Cat’s head. Soon though, she senses someone is watching and the chase is on. As she dives off the building, swings inches from the ground, and wall-runs away from an unknown enemy, MacKay has got Black Cat thinking, commenting, and generally reflecting on all sorts of things via the captions. Hell, there’s so much thinking going on captions are layered over each other!
This all leads to the big reveal of who is following her, which was actually spoiled in the preview. This character ties back to the summer Marvel event Heroes Reborn. This reveal not only validates the event a bit more, but it’s neat to see MacKay play around with the multiverse. The Infinity Stones are dangerous as it is, and MacKay offers up yet another danger if they get into the wrong hands. It’s also fun to see this alternate dimension character play off Black Cat as he’s basically a Batman surrogate.
This plays into yet another chase drawn beautifully by C.F. Villa with Brian Reber on colors. Villa throws Black Cat into some amazing poses, revealing how quick and acrobatic she is. Villa’s detailed style suits this character and the level of captions used. Captions draw us into Black Cat’s internal monologue, while Villa has Black Cat hang in the air weightless as she prepares for her next dive or swings away from a helicopter that’s chasing her. It’s clean, kinetic, and all set at night, which allows Reber to make colorful superhero costumes pop, or the white of Black Cat’s hair and costume to cut through the night.
Black Cat #10 is a great issue showing how well-written captions can draw you into a character narrative who is on the move for nearly every panel of the issue. Black Cat mixes high-octane action with a story that pays off for dedicated readers.
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