The latest trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home throws a lot of villains at Spider-Man. Black Cat doesn't appear to be one of them, but elements of the story hinted at so far at least present the possibility she could be. For certain, Black Cat will appear at some point in the MCU, as comic book fans know Felicia Hardy is one of Spider-Man's greatest villains and love interests.
Black Cat's history in comic books provides a lot of insight into how the characters may eventually appear in the MCU and what her story might be in the movies. Though she's traditionally thought of as one of Spider-Man's villains, comics fans know there is a lot more to the jewel thief. Black Cat has been a villain, a hero, and sometimes both at the same time in Marvel Comics.
Dave Cockrum Designed Black Cat
Black Cat is credited to writer Marv Wolfman and artist Keith Pollard, but comic book fans know she owes her design to legendary comic book artist Dave Cockrum. Cockrum, who was the artist for some of the best X-Men issues of the 1970s, created the now iconic look of the character with her all-black costume and white fur accents.
Dave Cockrum is also responsible for some of the greatest X-Men characters, having designed the original concepts of Nightcrawler, Storm, Colossus, and many other characters, including the entire cast of the Starjammers space pirates.
Black Cat Was Supposed To Be A Spider-Woman Villain
Black Cat was actually intended to be a villain for Spider-Woman rather than Spider-Man. Marv Wolfman was writing the Spider-Woman title in 1979, starring Jessica Drew, one of the best alternate versions of Spider-Woman. Black Cat was meant to appear in that book, but then Wolfman left and transferred over to The Amazing Spider-Man, making her first appearance in issue #194.
Black Cat hasn't had much of a relationship with Jessica Drew in the comics since then, as she instantly becomes a big part of Peter Parker's world in the 1980s. They do have some encounters in later issues set in alternate realities in the comics.
Black Cat Isn't Based On Catwoman
Many comic book fans assume Black Cat is based on Batman's nemesis Catwoman in DC Comics, but Marv Wolfman actually based her on Bad Luck Baddie, a character from a Tex Avery cartoon who caused everyone bad luck. Despite this, Black Cat wouldn't get her probability powers, which induce bad luck in others to her benefit, until much later, in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #87.
Black Cat gains her powers via scientific experiments conducted by Kingpin. If Kingpin does eventually appear in the MCU, he could have the same interest in granting powers as the Power Broker does, possibly leading to the Black Cat.
Black Cat And Spider-Man Were In A Relationship
Most fans know Black Cat and Spider-Man have had a flirtatious relationship from the start, but comic book fans know the two were actually in a relationship. The two characters begin a serious romance after working together on a series of adventures, and after Felicia Hardy is nearly killed by Doctor Octopus in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #76.
The relationship doesn't last very long, mostly due to the fact that Black Cat is much more interested in Spider-Man than she is in Peter Parker. Her lack of interest in the regular, normal, and (in her mind) boring Parker leads to them breaking up.
Black Cat Cleared Spider-Man's Name
One story in the comics that could have some bearing on No Way Home, or possibly future Spider-Man movies, is Black Cat helping Peter Parker clear his name for a murder he didn't commit in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #115-117. In this case, the figure behind the plot to frame Peter Parker is a supervillain named the Foreigner.
What complicates the situation is that Black Cat is also dating the Foreigner at the same time she's dating Spider-Man. Though it's unlikely the Foreigner appears in the MCU, this plot thread could lead to Black Cat appearing in live-action.
Black Cat And Silver Sable Are Connected By Another Character
Spider-Man and Silver Sable represent one of the unlikeliest relationships in Marvel Comics, but Black Cat and Silver Sable were almost one in movies. Sony intended to make a Silver Sable/Black Cat movie, possibly titled Silver & Black, but comic book fans know there is no real relationship between those two characters in Marvel Comics.
The mercenary and international thief do have a limited link that could potentially inform the movies, though. Silver Sable once dated The Foreigner, and the MCU could use the template for this connection to bring Sable into the franchise.
The Ultimate Marvel Version Of Black Cat Is Motivated By Revenge
The Black Cat that appears in the MCU could be from the multiverse. If so, one of the best alternate versions of Black Cat the movies could look to is the Black Cat from the Ultimate Comics universe of Earth-1610. This version of Felicia Hardy sought revenge against the Kingpin for the death of her father.
Her animosity toward the Kingpin drove many of her stories in Ultimate Spider-Man, and with the Kingpin possibly appearing in the MCU in the near future, this bitter feud could be how Black Cat enters live-action for the first time.
Black Cat Married Spider-Man In A What If...? Story
Black Cat could appear in any number of places in the MCU thanks to the multiverse. One possible place is the What If..? animated series, which could draw on one of the most interesting stories from the What If..? comic book. Issue #21 of the series has Spider-Man marrying Black Cat instead of Mary Jane Watson.
This marriage ends in tragedy as Black Cat is killed after she inadvertently reveals Peter Parker's true identity. Rather than go back to Mary Jane, Peter Parker eventually develops a relationship with Silver Sable.
Black Cat Was A Casualty Of The One More Day Storyline
One More Day is one of the most controversial Spider-Man comic storylines but appears to have some inspiration for the plot of No Way Home. In the story, Peter Parker and Mary Jane trade their marriage for Aunt May's life and Mephisto erases all knowledge of it from reality. Black Cat is an unintended casualty of this act.
Her memories are altered, as are everyone's, but she also leaned much more into her villainy as a result. When she discovers the truth about Peter Parker, she realizes that losing her memory of his true identity eroded the positive impact he had on her life and choices.
Black Cat Stole The Infinity Stones
Despite the fact that Black Cat mostly operates as a hero around Spider-Man, she remains one of comics' biggest thieves. In her current ongoing Marvel Comics series, she steals her biggest score yet: the Infinity Stones. It's more complicated than just capturing the stones, as the Infinity Stones have become living, sentient beings in the comics.
Her purpose in stealing the Stones is ostensibly to cure the cancer of her friend and associate Monica Rappaccini, but as always with the Black Cat, there seem to be other motives as well for her acquiring the greatest power in the universe.