A cute superhero comic. I'm finding that Marvel is good at meta jokes and making fun of itself and other properties.
As is common with recent comic book reboots that I decide to pick up, I'd never heard of the titular hero beforehand. I only thought, "Hey, it's another female-led superhero comic, might as well see what the fuss is about." 'Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!' does contain references to the backstory and history of Patsy, but reading up everything about them isn't essential. This new adventure of hers is fresh and funny, with OTT moments similar to Marvel's other superheroine solo series, 'The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl' (Squirrel Girl makes a cameo appearance here as well as other heroines, who don't do any crime fighting, sadly, but are Hellcat's friends).
Bonus points for the 'Wicked' reference in the first issue.
Patsy Walker is a fun, lovely redheaded young woman with a hard past (putting it extremely lightly) she wants to leave behind. She will fight crime as Hellcat, and help society in others ways by working to start a temp agency for meta-humans who don't want to become superheroes or villains - just use their gifts for normal office work and such. Young people are counting on her - to believe in them, for a villain from Hellcat's rogues gallery is also recruiting meta-humans, for her own nefarious purposes.
This comic holds a nostalgia value similar to the classic 'Archie' comics, with butt-kicking supers in the mix. The vibrant colours - the cartoony art style- is its biggest highlight. If you like art, action, humour and character dynamics reminiscent of shows like 'Kim Possible', 'Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!' is a must-read.
There are queer characters, who are not in relationships yet, and their sexuality isn't their entire reason for existing. Jennifer Walters, aka She-Hulk, is here as Patsy's best friend, ex-boss and lawyer. Valkyrie is another really cool heroine in the comic (another cameo is Howard the Duck, unsurprisingly). The main villainess, an Asgardian sorceress named Casiolena, is so over-the-top and silly she's hilarious. She'd fit perfectly in a parody cartoon.
Flaws include the lack of conclusions to side plots, such as the relationship between Tom Hale and Ian Soo leading nowhere (Patsy's own love life is rendered unimportant, thankfully). And did Doctor Strange need to be in this, too? What lasting effect did he have? None, overall. I think he was just included because of the release of his blockbuster movie, like how years ago the Guardians of the Galaxy popped up everywhere in the wake of their movie's release and success. It was for promotional material. Where are the Guardians now, anyway? I wouldn't know since I'm not an avid Marvel reader, but I hope you get my point.
The last issue is super cute and fun. The manga-style artwork pays homage to Rumiko Takahashi, and the characters are chibis. It manages to continue the story somewhat, another plus.
So for something light and energetic, with barely any cat-related puns for an action-packed comedy about a cat-themed superhero, 'Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!, Volume 1: Hooked On A Feline' (okay, that pun is bad) is for you. Abundant with genuinely strong women, including Hellcat herself who believes in the good in people and their capability to change things for the better, this comic is a colourful, highbrow show of friendship.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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