Amazing Spider-Man #194
Published and © by Marvel, July 1979
Title: “Never Let the Black Cat Cross Your Path!”
Synopsis: Black Cat plots to bust an aging cat burglar out of jail – and crosses paths with Spider-Man in the process.
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Penciler: Keith Pollard
Inker: Frank Giacoia
Review: Black Cat kicks off her is-she-a-heroine-or-villainess career this issue, clearly on the wrong side of the law. And, while her future complexity might be unclear here, one thing is pretty certain: This is a not-very-original attempt to introduce a Cat Woman character to the Spider-Man universe. Seriously – couldn’t Marv Wolfman at least have picked a different animal inspiration for his sexy, flirtatious cat burglar? Lack of originality aside, this issue is a serviceable affair. Wolfman’s story is professionally constructed, as is Keith Pollard’s art. You could do better during the Bronze Age, but you could certainly do a lot worse.
Grade: B
Second opinion: “A worthwhile introduction. … 3 out of 4 stars.” – Jim Johnson, Comics Buyer’s Guide #1604, May 2005
Cool factor: Hey, it’s Cat Woman in a Spider-Man comic!|
Not-so-cool factor: Hey, it’s Cat Woman in a Spider-Man comic!
Notable: First appearance of the Black Cat. … No. 84 on Marvel’s Greatest Marvels of All Time list. … According to “The Spider’s Web” letters page, the Black Cat was originally supposed to debut in Spider-Woman #9. … In addition to Carmine Infantino’s rejected cover for Spider-Woman #9, the letters page includes Dave Cockrum’s original costume-design sketch for the Black Cat, as well as an earlier, rejected cover for this issue of Spider-Man by Keith Pollard.
Collector’s note: According to the Grand Comics Database, there is a Mark Jewelers variant of this issue.
Character quotable: “T.T.F.N., love.” – The Black Cat, kicking it text-message style, long before SMS
Editor’s note: This review was originally published by Comics Bronze Age on March 22, 2010.
