While the fate of the prospective Black Cat movie from Sony remains up in the air, it's almost a certainty the character will appear in some form or fashion in either the growing Sony Spider-Verse or the MCU. The only question is which version of the character will appear, as numerous alternative versions of Black Cat appear in Marvel Comics.
The multiverse has existed in the comic books for decades, providing numerous alternate versions of Felicia Hardy for the movies to draw from. Some of the best versions of Black Cat build off of other iconic Marvel characters, while others are completely unexpected takes on the classic character.
Red Cat (Natasha Romanoff)
Black Cat became the Red Cat in the alternate universe of Symbiote Spider-Man: Alien Reality #1 from 2019. While Felicia Hardy has always walked the line between hero and villain, having Natasha in the role makes that wrinkle much more profound given her past as a Russian spy. This mini-series explored an alternate reality in the aftermath of the original 1980s Secret Wars event. In this reality, Natasha Romanoff has taken over the role of Black Cat, becoming the Red Cat. She and Peter Parker were also lovers.
The Immortal Black Cat
One of the best versions of Black Cat is one of the most recent. In her current ongoing solo title, Black Cat gains immortality via a magical artifact, making her one of the most powerful magical beings in the Marvel Universe. In order to get rid of this power, she has to kill a valued friend.
This unexpected development came out of the King In Black crossover and continues to distinguish Felicia Hardy from her original cat burglar roots. She originally had no superpowers at all, but as comic fans know, she later gained her probability powers via the Kingpin.
Supernaturals
The Black Cat from Earth-98091 was one of the best versions of the character thanks to her membership in a unique team. She was part of the Supernaturals squad which dealt with black magic threats in an alternate reality. Also on the team were Ghost Rider, Satana, Brother Voodoo, Werewolf, and the Gargoyle. This team was formed in 1998 and featured an alternate version of Black Cat far from her Earth-616 counterpart in terms of look and character. She also had the power of psychokinesis.
House Of M
The entire Marvel Universe was reimagined in the House of M comic book storyline, which served as an inspiration for WandaVision. Felicia Hardy's life was altered dramatically in this alternate reality constructed by the Scarlet Witch, as Black Cat became an assassin for the Kingpin, while also serving as a spy for the Avengers.
Eventually, the Kingpin tried to kill her for working with the Avengers, but she survived. Later, she would join the team and take part in the final battle at Genosha to end Wanda's false reality.
Gamerverse
The Gamerverse is a series of Marvel-related video games, but it's also inspired comic books. The Black Cat from the Gamerverse is one of the best versions of the character thanks to her modern, updated costume. Her armored but still streamlined costume is likely to be similar to what she eventually ends up wearing in live-action, given the practical considerations of the costumes in the MCU and Sony-related movies. She first appeared in Spider-Man: The Black Cat Strikes in 2020.
MC2
Many alternate versions of classic characters mix and match with others and that's the case with the MC2 universe Black Cat. She is actually the Scarlet Spider in this possible alternate future. The Scarlet Spider in Earth-616 is Ben Reilly, a clone of Spider-Man.
While the Clone Saga is probably a Marvel comics crossover best avoided by the MCU, the Felicia Hardy Scarlet Spider is an interesting take thanks to her complicated relationship with May Parker, Spider-Girl, the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson.
Manga Black Cat
The Mangaverse Black Cat first appeared in 2002 in a comic rendered in classic manga style. She's one of the best versions of Black Cat thanks to her status as a cyborg working for the Kingpin. The Kingpin valued her skills as a thief and warrior but didn't trust her very much, building in a kill switch he could use at any time. Black Cat maintained a lot of her flirtatious relationship with Peter Parker, which she also extended to Mary Jane, who in this reality became the Iron Spider.
Earth 803
Earth-803 is the alternate reality home of the Lady Spider, one of the best versions of Spider-Woman. Additionally, it's home to one of the more interesting versions of Black Cat. In this steampunk-themed universe set in New York City in 1895, she remains a cat burglar, but with some interesting wrinkles added to her character.
The corset-style costume of this Black Cat actually seems very much in line with her traditional costume, with her classic white hair rendered as one of the powdered wigs common to the era.
White Widow
The Black Cat of Earth-90214 is the White Widow and one of the best versions of the character. She's one of the crime bosses in her city, no longer an independent operator or foot soldier for someone else. She runs a nightclub and has a relationship with Ben Urich, Spider-Man Noir. The 20s setting really works for the character, making her a classic femme fatale but also maintaining her agency in a world that is constantly under siege from other villains and opportunists.
Ultimate Black Cat
The Ultimate Comics universe of Earth-1610 provided modern takes on many classic Marvel Comics characters. Black Cat gets a lot more backstory in this version, seeking vengeance against the Kingpin for the death of her father. She eventually infiltrates his organization but runs into trouble against Kingpin's assassin, Elektra. Spider-Man teams up with her, but it's not all fun and games. When she unmasks him in issue #85 of Ultimate Spider-Man, she vomits when she realizes the man she's idolized is just a teenager.