REVIEW: ‘Hellcat,’ Issue #1

Patsy Walker is having a bad day. What makes her day even worse, though, is that she doesn’t know if the bad is her fault. With someone close to her dead and many details concerning the whos and whys up in the air, Patsy begins her search for the truth. But where that truth will lead is still uncertain in Hellcat #1, published by Marvel Comics, written by Christopher Cantwell, art by Alex Lins, colors by KJ Diaz, and letters by Ariana Maher.

“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.

Along with Walker’s immediate crisis, Hellcat #1 also dives into the character’s larger life to some extent. While it never allows the book to get so caught up in Walker’s character to stall out the narrative, it provides some information for readers like me who may know nothing about her. My first inclination after finishing my read of this character was to dive into the Marvel Unlimited App to learn more. What Cantwell gives here about Walker makes her an intriguing person that I may have overlooked among the pantheon of Marvel characters.

The larger cast surrounding Walker in this book further builds the story’s strong presence. From her high school friend Hedy to her ghostly mom who haunts her home, Hellcat #1 surrounds its protagonist with as much personality as the star herself brings. This strong supporting cast makes Walker’s world feel that much more real.

Whether struggling with the missing pieces of recent events or running through flashbacks of past moments, the artistic combination of Lins and Diaz never fails to build Cantwell’s intriguing tale up. The art is visceral when it needs to be, dynamic in the rare moments of action, and always emotionally enriching. Layer on a skillful lettering performance by Maher, and you have a visual presentation I can find no fault with.

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.

Hellcat #1 is available now wherever comics are sold.