Advance Review: Black Cat #8

A little while go, I had the opportunity to talk with Black Cat writer Jed MacKay on the Outside the Panels Podcast, which you can hear by clicking here. During the interview, which was conducted during the first volume of Black Cat, I postulated a theory as to what Felicia was up to, an idea that was further cemented via a certain variant cover of a different Star filled mini-series. Now it seems that this particular chicken, or cat in this case has come home to roost.

Following on from the Infinite Destinies storyline running through this years Marvel annuals, the Infinity Stones have chosen some human hosts and with the hosts comes their all too human frailties and foibles. Felicia has been hired to steal said stones. But with the most powerful weapons in the universe, in the hands of some of the most unreliable humans on the planet, Felicia will need to run against the greatest spy in the Marvel universe to get her hands on the prize!

Jed MacKay has been plotting this arc for a while, dropping hints here and there and of course was the architect of the preceding annuals. Mackay takes time to have Felicia reflect on her actions that ultimately saved New York before we catch up with her on the roof tops of her current heist. The monologue throughout clarifies very little about the actual job or the mysterious contractor for whom Felicia is under taking this mission. The book reads a touch more serious than you may expect; well up to the the final act at least, where all hell breaks lose before a reveal of sorts.

C. F. Villa returns to the book and drops his usual pacy and energetic style of art. Fans of the book will no doubt welcome VIlla’s return as the art becomes more consistent. There are some magna elements around the facial expressions though for me, it is Villa’s body lines and camera angles that really makes the art pop. There are quieter moments for sure which Villa takes a couple of panels to show. The colors are provided by Brian Reber; I am not sure how many times i can describe his excellent schemes. The locations used here are nefarious and dark, though the scheme has the now familiar marvel hue or sheen to it. Letters are provided by Ferran Delgado who keep things on point and does a great job of emphasis in the final third of the book. There are a variety of covers. Personally I like cover A from Pepe Larraz; it’s striking and pretty much demonstrates the overall plot.

Regular readers of my reviews and listers to the No Prize Podcast will know how much I love this book under Jed MacKay’s guiding hand. Now that it seems we are getting to the money down, I cannot wait to see what twists, turns and clicks of the fingers await.

Writing – 5 Stars
Art – 5 Stars
Colors – 5 Stars

Overall – 5 Stars

Written by; Jed macKay
Art by; C. F. Villa
Colors by; Brian Reber
Letters by; Ferran Delgado
Covers by; Pere Larraz, Peach Momoko and Leinll Francis Yu
Published by; Marvel Worldwide Inc.

Author Profile

Johnny "The Machine" Hughes

I am a long time comic book fan, being first introduced to Batman in the mid to late 70's. This led to a appreciation of classic artists like Neal Adams and Jim Aparo. Moving through the decades that followed, I have a working knowledge of a huge raft of characters with a fondness for old school characters like JSA and The Shadow

Currently reading a slew of Bat Books, enjoying a mini Marvel revival, and the host of The Definative Crusade and Outside the Panels whilst also appearing on No-Prize Podcast on the Undercover Capes Podcast Network