Just a Stray Black Cat: The Felicia Hardy Story

An unlikely sequel to “Diamondback in the Rough: The Rachel Leighton Story”.

I, Ethan Stranger, will be discussing another of Marvel Comics’ Hottest women (who has yet to headline her own movie), may I present, “The Black Cat (Felicia Hardy)”, enemy, love interest, and ally to our “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”, 1st appearing in “Amazing Spider-Man #194”, Created by Marv Wolfman & Dave Cockrum, you can obviously tell she’s a ripoff of DC’s Catwoman, but allow me to break down to you why I love her...

To recap on her comics history, Felicia Hardy was the daughter of a world-renowned cat burglar, “Walter Hardy”. Over time, Felicia made the decision to strengthen herself and became quite skilled at fighting and acrobatics. She would soon follow in her father's footsteps, by adopting the costumed identity of the Black Cat. While she does have incredible reflexes & agility, another ability she has is the power to inflict “Bad Luck” on her opponents. Originally introduced as an adversary for Spider-Man, overtime, the duo became an unlikely couple, eventually leading her to become more of an Antihero/Ally to Spidey (I prefer to see her more as an ally than an enemy, for that’s my understanding of the character & (in my opinion) it  just feels more right to me). However, their relationship grew complicated when Black Cat reveals that she’s “only attracted to Spider-Man and had little interest in the hero's civilian life as Peter Parker”. Despite their break-up, Black Cat continued to be Spidey’s most trusted allies for years, even the pair has continued a never-ending on-again, off-again romance.

 

What I, Ethan Stranger, Like about this Badass Cat Burglar is that she’s so much of a challenge to fall for, you often wonder if she ever wanted this life (even if her father was a Cat Burglar himself), plus now that I think of it, her origin is “Somewhat Similar to Spidey’s”, think of Walter Hardy being Black Cat’s Uncle Ben, but instead of using her great powers with great responsibility, she uses them to her own benefits, it’s not until her encounter with Spider-Man that she decides to use her powers for the greater good (heck, I wonder if Spidey ever shared his Uncle’s Death with Black Cat). Despite having a love relationship & Black Cat serving as Spidey Partner, the duo could never be truly together as a happily married couple. For (Like I Said Before), Black Cat’s only attracted to Spider-Man, not Peter Parker” (I don’t blame her, in reality, several women prefer a Man’s alter ego than their actual self, makes them look more “attractive, mysterious & heroic”, am I right?).

 

And now to breakdown my favorite incarnations of the character, she 1st made her TV appearance in a episode of the 1981 Spider-Man Cartoon (mainly as a “one-shot villain, what a waste”), shame she didn’t appear in “Spider-Man & his Amazing Friends (would’ve like to see her interact with Firestar)”, However, she’d played a much larger role in the 1994 Spider-Man Cartoon Series (Since the series chose not to use Gwen Stacy (for she dies in the comics & this was supposed to be a family-friendly cartoon), Felicia filled in Gwen’s role as the love rival to Mary Jane Watson for the affection of Peter Parker. For a while, both Peter Parker & Felicia Hardy dated, but due to Peter’s duties as Spidey getting in the way, Felicia broke up with him (but still felt attracted to Spidey unaware that he was actually Peter). At one point, she dated/got engaged to “Jason Macendale (Hobgoblin)”, but was later revealed that he cared for her money, beauty, and refinement, and Felicia berated him saying that was not love. Felicia would then date Michael Morbuis (before he’ll eventually become an energy-sucking Vampire). Felicia Hardy finally became “Black Cat” when she took this Super-Soldier Serum, giving her the ability to morph her body between Felicia Hardy and Black Cat. as well as super-human strength and agility. Her body also becomes more muscular and her hair becomes white. She’s forced to do dirty work for the Kingpin, as he’s holding her father (John Hardesky in this version, not Walter Hardy) hostage, with aid from Spidey, the duo free John & both Black Cat & Spider-Man slowly develop feelings for one another (without knowing their identities, they were close). Sadly, the series ended after 5 seasons, there were plans for a 6th season, if that did happen, I would love to see the further developing partnership between the two, maybe wondering if they’ll reveal their identities to one another (what would the reaction be)?

Another favorite incarnation of Black Cat is from the “Spectacular Spider-Man”, especially since she’s briefly portrayed as Villain (attempting to steal the Venom Symbiote, that eventually bonds to Spider-Man), eventually she helps Spidey clears his name after “The Chameleon” frames Spidey for various robberies, plus they Kiss (#Lucky). Sadly their “Partnership/relationship” came to a bitter end, as the duo would be reunited when Black Cat attempted to break her father (Walter Hardy) out of prison, but in a surprise twist, it’s revealed that “Walter Hardy is the burglar that killed Uncle Ben (interesting twist)”. In the end, Walter Hardy ends up staying behind, holding back the escaped villains as Spidey & Black Cat escape, leaving a bewildered Black Cat weeping, blaming Spidey for her father’s stay in prison. If this series continued with a 3rd season, could we’ve seen the duo as enemies or a story arc that'll reconcile the duo?

 

I was disappointed that she never appeared on the “Ultimate Spider-Man Series” (imagine if she interacted with Ava Ayala/White Tiger) & I so don’t wanna talk about the incarnation from the “2017 Spider-Man Series”, (the only way I’ll like that version of the character is if either they have have her team-up with Silver Sable & her Wild Pack or have her battle Ms. Marvel, Spider-Gwen or Spider-Girl, can they at least try to make her redeem herself?)

Finally, my favorite incarnation of the Character is from the 2018 Spider-Man PS4 Game, in which she lies to Spidey about the “Kidnapping of her son” in an attempt to gain the Maggia's fortune (led by Hammerhead), it eventually leads to her “death”. Luckily she’s alive, saves Spidey’s skin from Hammerhead & gives him info on how to take down Hammerhead (this game should be used as inspiration for a Black Cat Solo film, in the style of Sam Raimi’s 1st Spidey Flick with various teen comedy/drama & Hammerhead as the main antagonist, as well as teasing Spidey before bringing him in for a possible sequel).

  

I’d do anything to date anybody like “Felicia Hardy/Black Cat (I did know someone that was somehow similar to Felicia Hardy, I guess you can describe my High School Crush, from my blog post, “High School Crushes: Preparing for Love”, in that way)”.  I can see that Felicia Hardy struggles in maintaining a life, what I mean by that is, she wants to be Black Cat more, robbing & stealing wealth for herself, than living out a regular civilian life as Felicia Hardy, unless Spidey comes in & tries to keep her in check or attempts her to do the right thing, in reality we all try to be somebody that we’re not, as well as avoid living out a normal life for that’s boring (And that’s the kind of person I feel Felicia Hardy represents for those who want to escape reality in today’s society).

As I, Ethan Stranger says, “Excelsior”, I also end with a song (ever since the Money Pit?) 

“Anyplace you would be  

  Is certainly so perfectly, good for me  

  That any old hammer and nail I find, Just makes me high on sunshine  

                   

  Settling in our duds, Discovering the wonderful highs of love                   

A little brush and polish and you'll see what I mean  

      

We're sitting on a dream  

  Step through that door, you'll see a grand room with a view  

  And a new moon for two, out there  

  

  And just like real water from those summer rains  

  Don't you know, Champagne will flow, Gold dazzle ring upon my finger  

     Any stair we could climb, Has got to be to heaven and so divine  

That all we'll ever have to do is lie around and watch the stars above us fall down  

  We're calling this mess our own and telling all the others, it's home, sweet home 

 

  If we were really closing in on yesterday's mess

We're both sitting' on a dream”