Posted in: Comics, Marvel Comics, Spider-Man | Tagged: black cat, felicia hardy, gay, jed mackay, lesbian, lgbt, LGBTQ, lgbtqia, marvel, pride

Black Cat #7 – Marvel Comics' History Of Felicia Hardy Pride (Spoiler)

As Bleeding Cool teased yesterday, and picked up by Pink News, today's Black Cat #7 confirms plenty of teasing from Jed MacKay in the Black Cat comic books he has been writing of late. Last year in Black Cat #10, there was an under-the-table moment.

In the new Black Cat series that began at the end of last year, we had her mentor, the Black Fox talk to the Black Cat about Tamara Blake and Odessa Drake, head of the Thieves Guild of New York.

And a mental sequence saw a medley of Black Cat's broken hearts, including some like Spider-Man (and Batroc The Leaper from a couple of years ago) we knew, some we didn't, and a couple of women. Tamara and someone who may have been Odessa.

Then, for Black Cat #7, Marvel Comics including a Pride Variant cover featuring Felicia Hardy on a montage of previous milestones in gay representation in Marvel Comics, including Northstar in Alpha Flight #106, America Chavez and more.

And then, the comic in question, published today, taking the subtext and making it text with Odessa Drake, after a successful ruse had been played out.

You know that seduction technique of adding the word "bed" into any sentence? No, me neither.

I understand that there has been brisk online selling of this comic book this morning. If you would like a copy yourself, you might want to get to your comic book shop a little early today.

Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat has sometimes been an enemy, love interest, and ally of the superhero Spider-Man. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and artist Dave Cockrum, she first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #194 in 1979. She currently has her own solo series published by Marvel Comics, with Black Cat #7 out this Wednesday. The daughter of Walter Hardy, world-renowned cat burglar, she trained herself in various fighting styles and acrobatics and, after deciding to follow in her father's footsteps, adopted the costumed identity of the Black Cat. She has had the subconscious ability to affect probability fields, producing "bad luck" for her enemies, and was originally depicted as a supervillain and adversary of Spider-Man. Over time the two fell in love, which motivated her into becoming both an antiheroine and his partner. However, their relationship grew complicated after it became apparent that Black Cat was only attracted to the alter ego of Spider-Man and had little interest in the hero's civilian life as Peter Parker. After their break-up, Black Cat maintained her role as one of Spider-Man's most trusted allies and for years the pair shared an on-again, off-again romance before she eventually lapsed back into her criminal ways (much to Spider-Man's dismay and annoyance). Currently, she has been dealing with the Thieves Guild in New York City, specifically its leader Odessa Drake. Odessa Drake set out to return the Thieves Guild to prominence and consisted mostly of the assassination of other criminals in debt with the Thieves Guild. She also orchestrated the theft of pieces of equipment and gear from members of the superhero community. As a member of the Thieves Guild, the Black Cat believed crippling the superhero community was too extreme of a measure and enlisted Spider-Man's help. Odessa became aware of the Black Cat's plan, prompting Odessa to order her henchmen to take her down and kill Spider-Man. Of late they have had a less fractious relationship. And today's Black Cat #7 by Jed MacKay and Michael Dowling appears to be kicking off Pride Month with a little of Felicia's own pride.

BLACK CAT #7
MARVEL COMICS
APR210896
(W) Jed MacKay (A) Michael Dowling (CA) Pepe Larraz
Black Cat's actions of the last few years make her rethink who she is. The price of all the things Felicia and the Black Fox have stolen is finally tallied and the bill is due.And when a bill involves items from the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Iron Fist and Wolverine, you can't exactly take out a loan. 32 PGS./Rated T+In Shops: Jun 02, 2021 SRP: $3.99

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