The minute Felicia Hardy announced she was going to be a hero in the new Black Cat series, I knew there was a moment where it would all come crashing down around her. It’s not that the idea of Felicia being a hero should be a temporary thing; instead, it’s the fact that she’s walked among some of the baddest bads in the Marvel Universe. One of those big bads happens to be Tombstone, and Black Cat #4 is dedicated to Felicia’s confrontation with the stone-skinned crime lord.
What follows is one of the most unorthodox heart-to-hearts, as Tombstone presses Felicia on her switching sides. It’s the last tactic anyone would expect from a killer of his stature, but what’s even more surprising is that Felicia answers him honestly. “Everybody admires me as something to look at,” she says. “But it felt good to know that people admire me for something I did.” This kind of commentary would be a bit on the nose for any other writer, but G. Willow Wilson manages to pull it off with ease. She also touches on why the Sandman, who’s actually been a hero for a while, keeps going back to crime.
Wilson also has a knack for showcasing Felicia’s resourcefulness. After their little “talk”, Tombstone places Felicia in the deepest, darkest part of his lair and takes away her burglary tools, effectively imprisoning her. A strange twist of fate, followed by a stroke of genius, eventually sets her free. Wilson builds on the events of past issues, while also setting up for future stories – and ends Black Cat #4 on a hell of a cliffhanger. To say any more would be spoiling the surprise.
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Something I can talk about without fear of spoilers is the dimensions of Gleb Melnikov’s artwork in Black Cat #4. During the conversation between Tombstone and Felicia, readers will be aware of just how massive Tombstone is; with his shaved head and pale white skin, he looks every inch as intimidating as his namesake. His simple blue-and-black suit also serves as a contrast to Felicia’s skintight catsuit and domino mask, further highlighting the hero-villain divide between the pair.
The best image Melnikov draws, though, is a single panel featuring Felicia with a halo hovering above her. It’s hilarious in and out of context, especially when you consider the Black Cat’s history is full of less-than-angelic moments, and it’s just one of many hilarious facial expressions he gets to display throughout this issue. Joe Caramaga should also receive credit for how he’s managed to depict Tombstone’s manner of speech. True to previous comics, it sounds like he’s almost whispering, yet the cadence and the delivery give off the perfect amount of menace.
Black Cat #4 showcases its titular heroine at her best and worst, as her desire to be a hero finally lands her an arch-nemesis of sorts. This comic keeps getting better with every issue, as Wilson and Melnikov have found the perfect blend of humor and action to hook fans of every stripe. I hope they keep it up for as many issues as humanly possible.
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