REVIEW: ‘Black Cat’ Issue 14

Black Cat issue 14 is published by Marvel Comics and written by G. Willow Wilson, with art by Gleb Melkinov, colors by Brian Reber, and letters by Joe Caramagna.

This is part of the Queen in Black event. Black Cat is tasked with stealing a sacred item from the heart of the Kree Empire.

This tie-in surprisingly takes the Queen in Black event and Black Cat out of their comfort zone, venturing to the roots of one of their problems. The comic becomes a space heist, with Felicia charged with stealing one of the seeds that creates a Supreme Intelligence. What’s interesting about Black Cat Issue 14 is that it’s incredibly isolating, separating Felicia from anyone who might help her.

The pacing moves quickly, throwing Black Cat into a rickety spaceship and into a Kree moon within a few pages, and she doesn’t spend long on the lunar surface before she’s off again. The comic feels short, snappy, and effective, filled with humor and energy. And towards the end of the issue, Black Cat is hurtling through space again, and there is a ferociously frantic finish that comes crashing back to Earth.

The cast of Black Cat Issue 14 is pretty small. The only heroes present are Felecia, the star of the show, and the Richards. Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman are the ones who come up with the idea of shooting Black Cat into space. Felicia has become pretty close with the Fantastic Four, especially Sue. There is still some skepticism over how trustworthy the infamous thief is, but they trust her enough to send her.

Felicia she has to be the star of the show. Because so much of Black Cat Issue 14 shows the protagonist alone inside the ship or on the planet. There is a computer on the ship that has some personality, giving Felicia someone to try and bounce off of. The exposition that is needed is very quickly capped with humor. Willow makes Felicia very funny and likeable which gives this heist issue its heart.

Even her brief interaction one of the residents of the Kree moon is full of spirit and connection. And Felicia also demonstrates a tenacity towards getting the job done, resorting to dangerous and potentially harmful means in order to help save the day.

The art is fantastic. The designs within this chapter are phenomenal. Black Cat has very big and expressive eyes, which help with the liveliness and energy of the comic. And for most of the book, she is forced into a spacesuit, with an oversized fishbowl helmet on her head. The helmet is important for the story because it keeps her alive, but the huge visor means that Black Cat’s face is still able to tell the story.

The person she tries to befriend on the Kree moon is a young Kree servant. She’s little, but Melkinov illustrates her in such a way that she conveys plenty of emotion. The motion within Black Cat Issue 14 is terrific. Felicia isn’t a hero who can outmuscle a Kree, but she’s quick, athletic, weaselly, and most importantly, lucky.

The colors are simple yet effective. For most of the book, the focus is on the black and white of Black Cat’s costume, with a very slight blue tinge to the glass of the visor. Space has a gorgeous tone, with a stunning mix of red and pink that shifts it from standard black. The void of space is stunning, yet ominous. The lettering is very clear and easy to read.

Black Cat Issue 14 is a commendable cosmic heist story. The book moves fast in this one-and-done tale. It’s funny, fluid and just genuinely fun. Those who are hopping in just for the tie-in don’t need any knowledge before the story begins, but the quality of the creative team will inspire many to continue with the series. It also has quite an effect on the rest of the Queen in Black story, as seen in other parts of the crossover already.

Black Cat Issue 14 is available where comics are sold.