Marco Speaks Spidey!: Black Cat (2025) #3 Review

1 month ago 11

I’ll admit—I was on the fence at first with this Black Cat solo run. Sometimes these anti-hero-turned-hero arcs can feel forced or shallow. But with Black Cat (2025) #3, I’m officially invested. Black Cat is clawing her way into the spotlight, and this issue shows how that spotlight isn’t always flattering. In fact, it can burn.

“HERO OR MENACE?! Word’s out on Black Cat’s latest career shift, and everyone agrees – she’s a MENACE! But public opinion isn’t the only problem she needs to worry about – Spider-Man’s toughest villains, including the SANDMAN, can’t tolerate another hero. It’s personal now, and Felicia Hardy is in for the fight of her life!”

From Flirt to Front Page: Black Cat Meets the Media

One of the most unexpected—and hilarious—beats this issue hits is how quickly the public jumps to conclusions. Black Cat spends, what, maybe five minutes fighting alongside Daredevil? And suddenly the media and internet have shipped them into Marvel’s hottest new romance. Even Black Cat herself is blindsided by the gossip and meme-fuel. This is a sharp commentary on celebrity culture, and it works especially well when applied to someone like Black Cat, who’s always been dancing on the edge between shadow and spotlight.

It’s a recurring theme this issue: what does it really mean to be a public hero? Black Cat’s trying to go straight (at least for now), but she’s still got her schemes. She wants the glory, sure—but does she want the work and scrutiny that comes with it?

The Life and Crimes of Black Cat

Marvel gives us an issue that’s as much about action as it is identity. Black Cat’s crime-fighting resume expands this issue with a takedown of alien hallucinogen smugglers—how’s that for original? The action is tight, fluid, and fun. And then there’s… the Giraffe.

Yes, you read that right. One of the goons she encounters is a full-on giraffe villain named Mule. He doesn’t talk. He’s tall. He does bad stuff. That’s it. It’s absurd, it’s hilarious, and it somehow fits perfectly in this chaotic world Black Cat’s carving out.

Also making an appearance? None other than Ms. Marvel herself. It’s a fascinating moment: Ms. Marvel, now a seasoned, confident hero with full top-level authority, crossing paths with the morally gray, charisma-loaded Black Cat. Their conversation adds weight to the central conflict—Kamala stands for everything Black Cat is trying to become, and the contrast couldn’t be more clear. One has the structure, the legitimacy. The other’s just winging it—and that wing might be stolen.

J. Jonah Jameson, Truth Bomb King

One of the surprise highlights of this issue is the interaction between Black Cat and J. Jonah Jameson. While he’s often a walking caricature in Spider-Man titles, here he plays a slightly more nuanced role—dishing out hard truths to Black Cat about the pressures, costs, and hypocrisies of being a public hero. It’s rare that Jonah gets to be the voice of reason, but it works, and it hits Black Cat where it hurts.

Bonus points for all the cat pun dialogue that follows Black Cat wherever she goes. From villains to pedestrians, everyone’s got a feline zinger up their sleeve. It’s cheesy—but knowingly so.

Sandman and Tombstone: The Real Threats Are Coming

And just when you think it’s all fun and fanfare, we’re reminded that the real threats are waiting in the wings. The creative team does a solid job building up tension around Sandman and Tombstone, who are shaping up to be Black Cat’s first real test as a would-be superhero.

Sandman in particular gets some great lines—cutting, brutal lines that strike at the heart of Felicia’s journey. He basically calls her out for flipping back and forth between thief and savior, and it stings because it’s true. In a way, he serves as a dark mirror of what happens when someone never truly picks a side.

Weak Spots?

If there’s one flaw in this otherwise sharp issue, it’s that the confrontation between Black Cat and Sandman feels a little too rushed. For all the buildup, Black Cat goes down a bit too easily, which slightly undercuts her progression as a credible hero. Here’s hoping it’s just a setup for a bigger rematch next issue, because that tension deserves a real payoff.

Final Thoughts

Black Cat (2025) #3 walks the tightrope between chaos and character, humor and heart. It’s not just another solo hero book—it’s a peek into the uncomfortable, often cringey journey of trying to be good when everyone still remembers who you were. Black Cat is trying to become someone new, but the world—and the villains—aren’t going to make it easy. This issue doesn’t just show us that struggle—it sells it.

This may not be an “essential” book in the wider Marvel Universe—but it’s a damn fun one, and it’s giving Black Cat the layered spotlight she’s always deserved.