Black Cat (2025-2026) #1

by G. Willow Wilson, Gleb Melnikov (Artist), Adam Hughes (Cover Art)

SUPER-THIEF, SUPER…HERO?! FELICIA HARDY is the BLACK CAT, the world’s slyest and most skilled super-thief! She loves a good score. The longer the odds – the better! But her entire world turned upside down after THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN’s battle with HELLGATE, so Felicia is turning over a new leaf as New York City’s newest…super hero?! The first super villain on her list – THE LIZARD! But will the Black Cat risk it all after her do-gooding moral high ground attracts dangerous attention from the lowest of the city’s underworld? Easy, KINGPIN OF CRIME, she’s still skimming off the top – honest! Superstar G. WILLOW WILSON joins rising star GLEB MELNIKOV to chart the winding road of twists and turns, laughs and mind-bending action of BLACK CAT’s next exciting chapter!

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Comic Book, Fantasy, Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published August 20, 2025

About the author

Hugo, World Fantasy and American Book Award-winning author of novels and comics, including THE BIRD KING, INVISIBLE KINGDOM, and ALIF THE UNSEEN. Co-creator of Ms Marvel. Honorary doctor of letters, Rutgers University. I accidentally started a dutch baby baking cult during quarantine. Not very active on here right now, but often found on Twitter.

Reviews

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was okay. I love Wilson's Poison Ivy but this was just kind of boring at times. I wasn't feeling this storyplot but we'll see how it goes.

[Jadyn❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't speak to how consistent this writing was for the Black Cat character, because I admittedly know very little about her. That being said, this worked for me. I found her entertaining and was intrigued by her introspection and the choices it led her to make. Generally, I really like Wilson's writing, and if you do too, you'll probably like this. I also enjoyed the art-- Melnikov worked on Damian Wayne's Robin series, and it's no secret that that's one of my all-time favorites. It's cute and appealing, and not off-putting for female readers.

[Dean · Rating 2 out of 5]

art was okay. seemed a bit off for the character being displayed as a sex symbol, but during the fun/attempts at funny times it works. very similar to todd nauck at times.

I dotn liek the fourth wall breaking of Felicia. basically a one off story to show come characters from her world, how she will deal with villains , as Felicia turns to a life of crime fighting to stop in for Peter being split in two.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR
August 2025

" Being Black Cat takes work.."

Not sure if G Willow Wilson doesn't need a few more issues to make Black Cat work for her..and us..
but here Felicia frets over Spider-Man's behavior( beginning to be explained over in ASM this very week) and deals with "the" Lizard ransacking a pet store.

[Ray Keane · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.5/10
Black Cat is at the Night Nurses office. Along with Daredevil and Lizard. She wants to start from the beginning. She says it’s not as bad as it looks. She’s running from the cops and calling Peter who has been ghosting her. She leaves a voicemail saying if he’s mad to handle it like an adult. She said she does care about him. The police continue to chase and she calls Boris to ask for a safe house. He said there’s one above the pet supply store but currently it’s being ransacked by Lizard. She calls him one of the mysteries of life. She says she needs to get past him and he says he’s busy. She explains her safe house is upstairs and he doesn’t care. He attacks her. She says they should be on the same side where they should help each other stay ahead of the cops but he doesn’t care and attacks again. She sends him tumbling into a trash can and a sign falls on him. Suddenly spiderman shows up but he just sits on a ledge and doesn’t say anything. When Black Cat starts talking to him, he swings away. The cops then show back up. She gets to the safe house to relax and take a bath. She says it can be very exhausting looking good and stealing all day. She needs the night nurse. Out of costume she’s susceptible to other crime and her money clip is stolen by two men. She makes it in and the night nurse says it’s her last patient. She gives her a tetanus shot from the fight with Lizard and they converse about life. She realizes that it would be great if spiderman looked the other way so she could do her job but now that he’s distracted it’s making it harder. She is going to have to fight crime. Meanwhile in outer Burroughs, some people are not happy about her decision. Tombstone and Sandman discuss her move. They are going to come after her.
Awesome start to the run.

[Marcus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I dig the art, it reminds me of early 2000s comics I grew up on. However the tone the story seems to be going for isn’t quite what I was expecting, it’s more in line with Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti’s work on Harley Quinn where things are more humorous and our main lead breaks the fourth wall.

I don’t think it’s done poorly but by issue’s end I wasnt left feeling anything, no dislike but no impetus to check out the next issue either. Gonna try to keep an open mind going forward.

[Andy Waldron · Rating 4 out of 5]

really fun stuff from wilson and melnikov! but why spider editorial is pushing tombstone so hard....i will truly never understand. i mean i'm assuming he's gonna be in that new spider-man film but, man, he's soooo laaaaaaaaaaame

[Madeesonxoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The more you get, the more you want. It’s a trap. And having the pretty shiny thing is usually less fun than coveting it. The terrible loneliness of fulfilled desire. And all that.”

black cat is truly just a girl 🙏🏼

[Kien Pham · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid first start

[Emir · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was fun and enjoyable but it's a start.

[grimbamreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5


nothing much that interested me here. i liked how black cat was breaking the 4th wall tho...

[Lizzy DeMarco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aside from breaking the 4th wall, this was a great start.

[cait*･゜ﾟ･* · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️

this was really good! my love for black cat is growing and im excited to see what’s next 😝

[Joseph Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun I know it’s just setting up the mini series so didn’t expect anything insane.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m intrigued and that’s definitely a good thing. I hope we get some more insight into Felicia’s motivations and her emotions but, y’know, I had a good time.

[Trae Stratton · Rating 5 out of 5]

High hopes for this arc.

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting enough, but I was expecting... more I guess, since Willow Wilson's Poison Ivy is one of my favorite comics. The art looks great, and I'm interested enough to keep reading.

[Muhammad Umair Adeem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Black Cat decides that she will fight crime.

[rafaela (taylor's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4, 5

[Josie 🥀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the art style in this actually, and I’m manifesting Spider-Man making more appearances.

[REDJACK201 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really like the artwork by Gleb, he did a really good job. The story was okay, not as crazy as other first issues are but it's nice and chill. No insane fight scenes, nothing too crazy. Black cat even breaks the fourth wall at times and delivers some solid jokes here and there, we get more insight into her thoughts which I think is the best part as I always wonder what these villains are thinking on a day to day basis. Overall solid first issue.