Hellcat #1 (of 5)

AIPT

It’s possible that this could be someone’s first Hellcat book, and yet they’d get a full picture of where she’s come from and where she might be headed. Meanwhile, longtime fans of the character may be surprised to learn new elements of her history as Patsy kicks and slashes her way into tomorrow. The book doesn’t miss a step from Cantwell’s Iron Man run, yet it also immediately forges a bloody, dreamlike path all its own. I’m a little bit in awe of the work that has already gone into this first issue, and I eagerly await the next chapter.

ComicBook.com

Hellcat #1 not only met my expectations, it backflipped right past them. This issue is a stunning, affectionately-made new chapter for one of comics' most unique heroines, and a thrilling first chapter in what is sure to be a wild murder mystery. While I'm looking forward to following the complete, fully-realized story that Christopher Cantwell, Alex Lins, and company are creating, the work on display is so wonderful that I would easily and immediately read dozens of issues of it. Even the most casual of Marvel fan owes it to themselves to pick up this issue.

But Why Tho?

“Am I good?” These are the first words that greet readers as they dive into Hellcat #1. From this simple yet momentous question, Cantwell begins to take readers down a rabbit hole of mystery as Walker attempts to assemble an image of what happened that left her a bloody mess and her boyfriend looking like he had been through a blender. Walker’s uncertainty colors every panel of this book as Lins’s art and Diaz’s colors combine to project everything the hero is struggling with in often visceral detail. This excellent presentation leaves the reader with no choice but to feel for the woman as they watch her struggle to assemble the pieces of what happened and why. (...) Hellcat #1 ultimately delivers an opening chapter that couldn’t be executed better. It is emotionally charged and narratively intriguing as it pulls the reader into a mystery that feels set to drag its protagonist through the wringer. If Cantwell and crew can keep up this level of quality, this run could be a surprise star on many fans’ reading lists this year.

First Comics News

Patsy Walker gets her own series due to her appearances during Christopher Cantwell’s run on “Iron Man” and this first issue set Patsy on a path of mystery and intrigue that sets the tone for this series. Right away Patsy is a bloody mess, her boyfriend is brutally slain and she’s being questioned by the police but Cantwell does wonders when it comes to looking into Patsy’s life through a series of flashbacks while adding some supernatural elements such as her living in her old house to her mother who haunts it. I like the addition of Sleepwalker as he’s always been an overlooked character within the Marvel Universe so his interactions with Patsy work well given the direction that Cantwell is going for. Patsy Walker getting put through the wringer is very compelling that truly opens up her world while making her personality feel alive and with how this issue played out, it will definitely make anyone love reading a good mystery.

The Comicbook Dispatch

Hellcat #1 begins the mini-series with a tantalizing mystery, providing more background on Hellcat’s past as she wrestles with her inner demons while trying to find answers to Spalding’s brutal murder. Rick Sheridan is an interesting twist in the mix and I look forward to seeing how the story continues next issue.

Geek'd Out

While I do think Hellcat #1 is a good debut issue you could dive into cold, I think it may behoove anybody interested in checking this one out to read the Iron Man/Hellcat Annual from last year first, which essentially serves as a backdoor pilot for what transpires here. I admittedly hadnt checked it out until after reading Hellcat #1, and it clarified a lot of things I was a little unsure about prior. (E.g. the Daimon-possessed stuffed rabbit, which is not explained in this issue whatsoever.) I presume itll be included in the inevitable trade paperback because of how vital it is to set up this new series, but for now thats something you may want to be clued in on.

Weird Science Marvel Comics

Hellcat #1 starts a new adventure for Patsy Walker when she’s arrested for the brutal murder of her boyfriend. The bits and pieces of Patsy’s life make for a good jumping-on point, and the murder mystery is set up well, but the pacing is dull, and the stylized art makes Patsy look like a glum sadsack.

Major Spoilers

In short (or not for long), Hellcat #1 manages to place Patsy Walker in an interesting place in the Marvel Universe, a normal girl whose life went crazy and who has seen nearly everything, making for a strong premise, with art that gets the point across for 3 out of 5 stars overall. Given the number of people who wanted more Hellcat based on her place in Iron Man’s story, I hope that this series gets the numbers to keep coming out long enough to finish the obvious long game Cantwell and Lins are prepared to play.

You Don't Read Comics

A vigilante hero being brought in by the police...it’s a concept with a lot of potential. It’s too bad Cantwell didn’t really know where to go with it. Cantwell’s interpretation of Patsy is not without its strength. It needs to hit the page with more impact as the series progresses if it’s going to elevate at all. With everything firmly established in the first issue, it’s inevitable that Cantwell and company will manage something much more interesting than they’ve opened the series with.