Legendary comic book writer Marv Wolfman originally conceptualized the Black Cat as a villain for Spider-Woman. When Wolfman left the Spider-Woman comic series to write for The Amazing Spider-Man, he introduced a modified version of his Black Cat character concept in issue #194 with the help of artists Keith Pollard and Dave co*ckrum.
RELATED: The 10 Best Spider-Man Versions, Ranked By Power
Black Cat, aka Felicia Hardy, was originally a cat burglar who developed an on-again/off-again romantic relationship with Spider-Man. Since her debut in 1979, many versions of Black Cat have been featured in Marvel Comics. While she's played many roles in the main continuity, strange and unique versions of the character have also appeared in alternate realities and What If? stories.
10 Earth-65's Felicia Hardy Started A Band Called The Black Cats
Spider-Gwen originated from Earth-65 during the events of Spider-Verse and has since become one of Marvel's most popular heroes. Her world was further explored in her own solo series, written by Jason Latour. In this universe, Gwen Stacy became a drummer for MJ's band, The Mary Janes.
Similarly, Felicia Hardy became a successful singer for her own band, The Black Cats. This version of Felicia first appeared in Spider-Gwen #5 where she intended to get revenge on her world's Kingpin for killing her father. Felicia was ultimately stopped by Spider-Woman before she could kill the Kingpin.
9 Black Cat Was One Of The Kingpin's Assassins In House Of M
During the events of House of M, Scarlet Witch manipulated reality in an attempt to resurrect her family. She ultimately created an entirely new timeline that introduced new versions of classic Marvel characters. Like many of her multiversal counterparts, the Felicia Hardy of the House of M reality gained her powers thanks to the Kingpin.
RELATED: 10 Best Versions Of Gwen Stacy From The Comics, Ranked
Along with Bullseye, Elektra, Typhoid Mary, and Gladiator, Felicia worked as one of the Kingpin's greatest assassins. Little did Kingpin know that Black Cat was working as a double agent for Luke Cage's Avengers. Her deception led to an incredible fight between her, Bullseye and Elektra.
8 Cat Lady Is The Strangest Version Of The Black Cat
Written by Skottie Young and illustrated by Jim Mahfood, Howard The Human explored an alternate reality that appeared in Battleworld during the Secret Wars comic event. Howard, the only human on this world, was a private investigator who worked alongside anthropomorphic animal characters like Mouse Murdock and Peter Possum.
In this reality, Felicia Hardy was a crime boss know as The Cat Lady who hired Howard to investigate a potential spy in her organization. After his investigation turned up no leads, Cat Lady attempted to kill Howard, but was arrested by K-9 Officers. Cat Lady, like most Marvel characters of Earth-82081, was certainly one of the more unique versions of her character.
7 Felicia Hardy Owned The Black Cat Nightclub In Spider-Man Noir
In an alternate universe, Peter Parker gained spider-powers during the Great Depression in a noir-styled world. This Peter was an edgier character who actually carried a gun as he took down New York's criminal underworld controlled by Norman Osborn.
Spider-Man Noir was a completely original take on Spider-Man's mythos and is very accessible to new readers. The Felicia Hardy of the Noir universe ran a nightclub called The Black Cat that catered to many crime lords. Felicia frequently assisted The Spider-Man before becoming a vigilante herself, known as the White Widow.
6 Black Cat & Batgirl Fused In The Amalgam Universe
The Amalgam universe was first introduced in the pages of multiple comic book crossover series including DC vs. Marvel. The event introduced the concept of amalgamated characters created when popular Marvel and DC heroes and villains combined. Black Bat, aka Barbara Gordon Hardy, was the fused version of DC's Batgirl and Marvel's Black Cat.
Black Cat has appeared in many Spider-Man TV shows, films, and comics, but Black Bat stands apart from all other versions. Black Bat was a criminal who became a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Along with Bruce Wayne, Head of S.H.I.E.L.D., she successfully stopped a doomsday weapon from destroying the world.
5 Ultimate Black Cat Hunted The Kingpin
Ultimate Spider-Man, originally written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Mark Bagley, was Marvel's attempt to reboot the Spider-Man comic franchise for new readers, and it was a complete success. Ultimate Spider-Man reintroduced updated versions of classic characters, including Black Cat.
RELATED: 8 Marvel Comic Books With Terrible Endings
In the Ultimate universe, Felicia Hardy's father was murdered by the Kingpin. In many of her appearances, starting with Ultimate Spider-Man #50, Black Cat sought vengeance. Black Cat was an extremely skilled fighter who went toe-to-toe with Spidey and even Elektra. After learning of Kingpin's demise at the hands of Mysterio, she helped Spider-Man defeat the master of illusions.
4 Black Cat Destroyed The Venom Symbiote In What If...?
In issue #4 of What If...?, the alien symbiote permanently bonded with Peter Parker before he could remove it. The symbiote eventually killed Peter to move on to more powerful hosts. This story took place during a time when Black Cat and Spider-Man were in a serious relationship, and Peter's death affected her greatly.
While Marvel heroes like Hulk and Thor attempted to stop the symbiote without killing it, Black Cat sold her soul to the Kingpin in exchange for a weapon that would destroy the symbiote. After the symbiote had bonded with Hulk and Thor, Black Cat used her new weapon to destroy the alien, avenging Peter.
3 Felicia Hardy Was A Slightly Different Character Post-Brand New Day
Following the events of "One More Day," a story that erased elements of Spider-Man lore, Felicia regained her "bad luck" powers, which allowed her to alter the probability of events in her favor, by essentially giving her foes bad luck. Black Cat, like everyone else on the planet, forgot who Spider-Man was.
She remembered their relationship, but not the man beneath the mask, which caused a disconnect between the two. A violent confrontation with the Superior Spider-Man pushed Felicia into becoming a crime lord. A touching moment came in Nick Spencer's ASM run where Peter once again revealed his identity to Felicia, unlocking forgotten memories the two shared.
2 Black Cat Was Incredibly Powerful In Supernaturals
Earth-98091 was an alternate reality with a much stronger presence of magic. Brother Voodoo assembled a team of superheroes called the Supernaturals. The team included alternate versions of Ghost Rider, Satana, Wereworlf-by-Night, and Black Cat, who was a hero in this reality.
RELATED: 10 Best Versions Of Ben Reilly From The Comics, Ranked
Felicia Hardy possessed powers similar to her Earth-616 counterpart: she could manipulate probabilities with her "bad luck" powers. However, this Black Cat was far more powerful. She had supernatural, feline agility, and could manipulate events with specific detail as long as she spoke her desired outcome aloud. She used her powers to help the Supernaturals defeat Jack O'Lantern.
1 Fans Fell In Love With The Original Black Cat
The original Black Cat, first introduced in ASM #194, was yet another addition to Spidey's long list of rogues, but Felicia Hardy quickly became more than an average villain. Felicia trained in acrobatics and martial arts, intent on becoming an incredible cat burglar like her father. She first met Spider-Man the night she attempted to free her father from prison.
Felicia developed a fascination with Spider-Man and the two shared a relationship that was heavily explored in the 1980s era of Spectacular Spider-Man. Aside from Mary Jane, many fans felt Felicia was who Peter should have ended up with. Black Cat matched Spider-Man in nearly every way and proved to be one of his greatest allies.
