REVIEW: ‘Hellcat,’ Issue #2

With Patsy’s boyfriend Spalding found dead and she the primary suspect in the murder, Patsy must try to unravel the puzzle surrounding the murder and her missing memories. But with her demonic ex-husband suddenly popping up and the potential involvement of her old ally Sleepwalker as well, things only look to be getting more complicated for our hero in Hellcat #2, published by Marvel Comics, written by Christopher Cantwell, art by Alex Lins, colors by KJ Diaz, and letters by Ariana Maher.

As Patsy struggles to unravel the mystery of her boyfriend’s murder, she never ceases to feel like she is one minor slip away from completely shattering. Cantwell captures the character’s shifting mood throughout Hellcat #2 skillfully. As she flails between hurt and anger, we see her reacting to others in a way that builds the character into a believable personality, even if she spends most of the story in a yellow and blue catsuit. How her behavior impacts those around her is also depicted wonderfully by Cantwell. A rooftop conversation between her and her ex-husband, Daimon, sees some masterful dialogue that delves into the character’s psychology while also displaying the feelings of both involved fantastically.

But while Cantwell’s writing delivers much of the weight of this issue’s story, Hellcat #2 owes just as much of its emotion to the art. Lins and Diaz team up again to pack the emotional trauma of the story’s moments into each panel. This is especially true during an exchange between Patsy and Hedy. This sequence’s rage, fear, and anguish hit tough thanks to Lins’s fantastically set angles and emotional subjects. Combined with the moody coloring of Diaz and the perfect sound effect design by Maher, the moment is flawless. It gives the viewer an uncomfortable glimpse into who Patsy is and makes one wonder if she is as innocent as she hopes she is.

Sprinkled throughout Hellcat #2 are more trips to Paty’s past. Jumping from a few months ago to her teenage years, these interludes bring interesting glimpses into the protagonist’s character and begin to flesh out elements of those around her. Most importantly, we see more of her with the recently deceased Spalding. How they were together and what they did and said in these moments feel significant, particularly as more information about Patsy’s lost love begins to surface.

Hellcat #2 delivers the next step in the mystery surrounding Patsy Walker phenomenally. It is emotional, and it begins to pull at the strands of the plot introduced in the first issue while building out all new elements to keep the reader guessing what is truly going on. I cannot wait to learn what will happen in the coming months, and I hope Patsy can get through the experience.

Hellcat #2 is available now wherever comics are sold.