There’s been an evacuation order in New York, but then...there’s ALWAYS an evacuation order in New York. In the Marvel Universe they’re like fire drills. There’s always something going on. Some kind of alien invasion. Then the Avengers spring to action and defeat it. No problem. What happens when they don’t, though? Felicia Hardy is about to find out in the first issue of her new series as writer Jed MacKay and artist C.F. Villa usher-in Black Cat #1. MacKay’s slicing-ly stylish wit comes to rest before one of Marvel’s greatest. thieves who is in WAY over her head in the midst of the King in Black crossover.

The Black Cat and her crew are in SHIELD tunnels deep under Manhattan. (There are A LOT of high tech tunnels deep under Marvel Manhattan. Chris Claremont once said Marvel Manhattan’s underground is as deep as the city is tall above ground. That would mean it’s 100 stories deep in places.) Before Black Cat can spring her trap, a huge chunk of Manhattan suddenly appears above them. Then the invasion comes. Felicia’s upset, so she goes to check it out...ends up getting enlisted by Captain America to help protect people as the real power defends Manhattan from shadowy black symbiotes. This should be easy stuff for the Sorcerer Supreme of Earth’s Dimension. They overcome him. Last year Black Cat had stolen from Dr. Strange. This year she has to steal...Doctor Strange. 

Jed MacKay manages a few remarkable tasks in a multi-layered chapter that’s every bit as enjoyable as the man’s best work. There’s an almost brilliant sense of overall composition in his script. The first couple of pages establish that she’s a mega-thief. The next couple of pages establish that the invasion has her in over her head. A couple of pages later, she’s doing things that she might not have ever expected to want to do. There’s been real character development in the midst of the chaos of another monster invasion of Marvel Manhattan. MacKay has once again done an intensely clever job of making Black Cat a divinely appealing thief. 

Villa is sharp with the contrast between terrestrial visuals in New York and the overwhelming inky, black horrors of the invading entities. There’s some refreshingly complex characterization as well. The contrast between Black Cat and Captain America is subtle, but it’s powerful. Felicia’s face undergoes a series of very expressive changes as she begins to realize that the Avengers are in over their heads too. Steve’s face serves as a steely, heroic contrast. It would be boring on it’s own but in contrast it serves to illustrate the deeper layers of Black Cat’s personality. It’s surprisingly endearing. 

The issue ends with a text-based address from Black Cat’s associate Dr. Korpse. It’s a nice wrap-up to the issue that gives it a solid foundation. One of the great challenges with a monthly comic in the modern era lies in maintaining its presence in the mind of the reader between issues. Dr. Korpse’s letter to the reader at the end of the issue allows the title to steal a nice, little corner of the reader’s consciousness until late January when Felicia returns again. It’s a nice touch.

Grade: A