Review: Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #13
Plot-wise, Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #13 is a middle of the road issue in the series as Patsy, Jubilee, and Ian are trapped in their friend, Bailey’s magical bag while Black Cat and her girl gang try to get a list from Hellcat’s temp agency so they can be muscle for her. Most of the issue happens in the bag, and this lets Brittney Williams and Rachelle Rosenberg play with panel layouts and color schemes. The lack of blood in the bag also gives Kate Leth a chance to show Jubilee actually struggle with her vampirism. It’s mostly played for laughs, like a hilarious panel of Ian comparing chibi-Hellcat and Jubilee to Louis and Lestat after Jubilee tries to feed on Patsy’s cut.
Mind control is an overused trope in superhero comics, and the entire premise of Hellcat #13 rests upon it as Bailey and even the lovely Tom Hale join Black Cat’s team in the issue. The arc really could have ended this issue with a battle between Team Hellcat and the Black Cats, but instead Leth has the good guys take some lumps, including completely getting their asses kicked in the first couple ages. Williams’ fierceness serves this fight well as Ian’s ex Zoe goes from being a general annoyance to throwing knives at people. Rosenberg uses plenty of reds and black when things take a turn for a violent like when Black Cat slashes the backs of some of her new henchfolks. There is definitely something a little off about Felicia, and Hellcat mentions this in dialogue as she’s gone from a sympathetic, flirtatious cat burglar and anti-hero to a stone cold villain.
Leth, Williams, and Rosenberg don’t go the reality bending route with Bailey’s special bag in Hellcat #13 like they did with Hell in the last arc, but instead just make it a huge purse full of random junk with a constantly changing color scheme. The enclosed space makes Team Hellcat feel powerless and not like themselves, especially when Jubilee starts vamping out. It’s a piece of plot negative space as Black Cat is free to wreak havoc on everything that Patsy has built in the real world, and poor Tom Hale gets caught in the crossfire. For the most part, the scenes in the bag feel like a waiting room for the next showdown between Hellcat and Black Cat, but the humor from Leth and Williams keeps it from getting too boring, like the various shapes Jubilee shifts to in her cloud form.
Hellcat #13 is a passable issue in a fantastic series as Kate Leth, Brittney Williams, and Rachelle Rosenberg increase Black Cat’s nefariousness levels by having either completely wipe the floor with Hellcat as well as use violence and mind control to get her way. Williams continues to show off her art chops, which runs the gamut from fierce to silly in this comic. Plus the Black Cats continue to have the most fashionable attire despite being evil.
Story: Kate Leth Art: Brittney Williams Colors: Rachelle Rosenberg
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read
Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat #12 is soo much more than a battle between a feline-themed hero and villain (That’s fun too, though.) as writer Kate Leth, artist Brittney Williams, and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg give Patsy’s bisexual Inhuman roommate Ian Soo some time in the spotlight as he has a very personal connection to one of Black Cat’s goons, Zoe. This comic explores toxic relationships, biphobia, and even realizing one’s potential with plenty of cat puns, action, and moody coloring from Rosenberg as most of the issue takes place at night. It’s another fierce, funny read as Jubilee’s transformation into a snarling cloud is worth your $3.99 alone.
Black Parade outfit with skull motifs. Now, he just needs a cool name to match his outfit.
A new arc kicks off in Patsy Walker AKA Hellcat #11 as Black Cat positions herself as a dark reflection of Hellcat’s temp agency by recruiting twenty somethings from Brooklyn as thieves and petty criminals. In the opening sequence introducing the “Black Cats”, writer Kate Leth and artist Brittney Williams channel a more hipster version of Beyonce’s Lemonade (Albeit with a darker color palette from Rachelle Rosenberg.) with smashing, graffiti, and some nimble acrobatics. It’s nice to see what seemed like an annoying ex-boyfriend get his due, but Zoe, Ari, Jin, and Lina’s actions get shadier as Black Cat sends them on a mission against Hellcat and her temp agency.
Ian and Patsy. She dials down the usual humorous hyperactivity in her art for these pages showing little moves like a surprise hug or a winking Hamilton joke to rebuild their friendship, which has been struggling a little bit since Patsy has been egging Ian on to be a superhero and not just a bookstore worker. But, sometimes it’s just better to support our friends instead of trying to direct their life’s path. Leth and Williams don’t use superhero or romance fiction cliches, like love triangles or mind control, to create tension in Ian and Patsy’s friendship, but let the arguments and make-ups flow organically.
