Review - Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 8: Cats & Kings

After being exposed in the press as a murderer, Wilson Fisk has returned to New York City to rehabilitate his image. Though he’s managed to manipulate the public into believing his innocence, Spider-Man knows the truth and is infuriated by how thoroughly Fisk has managed to manipulate the situation. Meanwhile, a mysterious thief known as the Black Cat has stolen an artifact that Fisk is eager to acquire. A determined Fisk sends the assassin Elektra after her to get it back. Naturally, Spider-Man gets caught in the crosshairs of this conflict.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 8: Cats & Kings collects Ultimate Spider-Man #47-53, written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Mark Bagley.

As a fan of both Black Cat and Elektra, this arc was incredibly enjoyable for me. It begins with the return of Wilson Fisk, which slowly results in an unravelling of Peter Parker’s life. Peter is fired for questioning J. Jonah Jameson’s editorial decisions, suspended for acting up in class due to his frustration over Wilson Fisk’s public image rehabilitation, and is torn away from Mary Jane after her father insists the pair stop seeing one another. Amidst this drama, Black Cat enters Peter’s life and briefly provides him with a refuge away from reality via flirtation that leads to a rooftop “date.” Black Cat is a frenetic character who drastically changes the pace and dynamic of the series. The action sequences and choreography of the character are brilliant. Elektra, despite appearing later on in the arc, provides a similar kind of energy. Both women are action-oriented and aren’t the usual type of foes Spider-Man typically comes across in this series. They’re not megalomaniacal supervillains or bumbling henchmen, they’re well-trained and highly-skilled combatants. It’s very refreshing. Their motivations are also kept quite simple as well. Black Cat seeks to mess with Wilson Fisk’s plans as revenge for his past misdeeds against her father, while Elektra is purely a sai-for-hire. Though neither is given as much character development as I’d like, there’s just enough to leave me satisfied with their portrayals. (Although, Elektra is drastically different than she was in Ultimate Daredevil &Elektra – so what changed for her?)

One of the things that I found absolutely riveting about Cats & Kings was the underlining theme of how wealth and influence can allow someone to get away with murder – even when the proof is practically irrefutable. In Wilson Fisk’s case, he’d been caught on tape killing someone. Through the use of his lawyers and money, he’s managed to manipulate things so that people believe the events on the tape are doctored. This sends Peter into a tailspin as he cannot understand how this could possibly be a reality. He knows Fisk is a murderer and is deeply troubled by how the adults around him don’t want to engage in discourse about the grave injustice that has happened. Seeing Peter pushed to the edge over something with some weight to it is really fascinating. Thus far, Peter has been prone to fits of melodrama and is often most concerned with his personal life. Peter’s questioning of everything brings a lot of dramatic tension to the narrative, especially since it results in pretty heavy consequences for him (i.e. losing his job, being suspended from school). It sets up a very clear contrast – Fisk, a murderer, walks free while Peter, an innocent, is punished for simply asking uncomfortable questions.

Bagley’s work in this particular arc is especially impressive. There are a lot of wordless sequences, particularly those involving Black Cat. Her introductory scene features her breaking into a building and stealing an artifact. It’s largely devoid of dialogue and it allows Bagley to truly tell the story. It’s really creative and well-drawn. Something similar happens later on when Black Cat and Elektra duke it out. Generally speaking, action sequences in this series are given a lot of dialogue via banter and one-liners. Here, we get the two women fighting one another without saying a word. It’s more intense and leaves the reader with the impression that they’re both incredibly skilled fighters. Beyond these sequences, it is worth mentioning once more that Bagley continues to excel with reaction shots. We get a lot of high emotions and tension in this arc, so Bagley really stretches his muscles here. Since this arc introduces Black Cat into the Ultimate Universe, this means that she gets a redesign to go along with it. I quite like her mask and the accessories she’s given, such as the belt and the white-trimmed gloves, but the suit itself is problematic. The sheer amount of cleavage she’s got going on is wildly unrealistic and takes away from what would otherwise be a really chic, functional look.

Ultimate Spider-Man Volume 8: Cats & Kings is a great return to form for Bendis and Bagley. After a handful of lacklustre issues, this arc has the perfect mix of action and drama that will leave readers hooked. The introduction of Black Cat was handled well and the usage of Elektra was a nice twist. We get a lot of great character moments – including tense exchanges between the Parkers and Mary Jane’s father, a heated argument between J. Jonah Jameson and Peter, and a hilarious phone conversation where Aunt May dresses down J. Jonah Jameson for firing her nephew. With its electric conflicts, memorable action sequences, and exploration of economical privilege, Cats & Kings is one of the better collections from this series.

RATING: A-

Top 10: Greatest Women of Marvel Comics

When it comes to strong heroines, Marvel has some of the most diverse leading ladies in the superhero genre. These women have graced the small screen, big screen and, of course, the pages of countless comic books. While they don't always get as much love as their male counterparts (or even their rivals at DC Comics), there's no denying that Marvel's superheroines are fierce and fabulous.

Having previously counted down the Top 10 Greatest Women of the X-Men and the Top 10 Greatest Women of DC Comics, this entry focuses on the women from Marvel proper. To encourage fairness and a little more objectivity, this list has been compiled using the votes from The Women of Marvel Poll.

10. Firestar

REAL NAME: Angelica Jones

FIRST APPEARANCE: Uncanny X-Men Vol. 1 #193 (1985)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Microwave Radiation Manipulation, Flight

When she was thirteen years old, Angelica Jones was recruited and trained by the former villain Emma Frost to become an assassin for the Hellfire Club. Upon learning of her mentor's true intentions, Angelica emancipated herself and transformed herself into the heroine known as Firestar. After a lengthy tenure with a group of teen heroes called the New Warriors, Firestar became a member of the Avengers and later served as a mentor for the next generation of superheroes.

Originally created for the seminal Spider-Man & His Amazing Friends cartoon as a replacement for the Human Torch, Firestar's popularity guaranteed her transition into the comic book canon. Though she's most well-known for her appearances in the aforementioned series, her stints with the New Warriors, Avengers, Marvel Divas and, most recently, the X-Men have cemented her place in the Marvel Universe as a beloved icon.

09. Elektra

REAL NAME: Elektra Natchios

FIRST APPEARANCE: Daredevil Vol. 1 #168 (1981)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Master Martial Artist

When Elektra Natchios was still in college, her father was gunned down by terrorists. The embittered Elektra then trained to become a martial artist in order to avenge her father's death. After completing her training in China, she returned to America where she was employed by New York City's Kingpin as his chief assassin. Though she would later meet her end at the hands of the villain known as Bullseye, Elektra was resurrected and dedicated her life to repenting for her past sins.

As one of the deadliest women in the Marvel Universe, Elektra is as beautiful as she is dangerous. She has been a key player in both Daredevil and Wolverine's comics, as well as headlining several of her own mini-series and ongoing series. If her illustrious comic book career weren't enough, Elektra has also been adapted into numerous video games and even appeared in two live-action films portrayed by Jennifer Garner.

08. Scarlet Witch

REAL NAME: Wanda Maximoff

FIRST APPEARANCE: X-Men Vol. 1 #4 (1964)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Probability Manipulation

Raised as a gypsy, Wanda Maximoff and her brother Pietro became indebted to the mutant terrorist Magneto after he saved them from a lynch mob. Taking on the codename Scarlet Witch, Wanda used her unique gifts to further Magneto's agenda. However, she gave up her life of crime and instead became one of the longest running members of the Avengers.

With just over five decades of comic book appearances under her crimson-hued belt, there's no denying that Scarlet Witch is an icon. Equally reviled and loved for her cooky history, this probability-altering mutant has been a member of the Avengers for longer than most of her contemporaries. She's powerful, beautiful and a little bit batty. Still, fans can't get enough. Thanks to appearances in X-Men: Evolution, Avengers: United They Stand and her upcoming appearance in Avengers: Age of Ultron, she's become one of the most recognizable heroines in Marvel's stable.

07. Wasp

REAL NAME: Janet van Dyne

FIRST APPEARANCE: Tales to Astonish Vol. 1 #44 (1963)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Size Manipulation, Flight, Bio-Electric Energy Blasts

Once a flighty socialite, Janet van Dyne was transformed into the winsome Wasp thanks to her then-boyfriend Hank Pym's experiments. She was a founding member of the Avengers and went on to become one of the longest running leaders for the team. Over the years Janet would endure her fair share of drama in her personal life, but her zest for life and resourcefulness have made her an incredible superhero.

While she may have once been the weakest link on the Avengers, Wasp's evolution into one of the team's chairpersons has mirrored that of Storm from the X-Men. She's smart, she's sassy and she's got a wardrobe so huge that it would put Carrie Bradshaw to shame. With her appearances in cartoons like Avengers: United They Stand and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, she has ruled the small screen and her legacy will no doubt be felt later this year in Ant-Man.

06. Spider-Woman

REAL NAME: Jessica Drew

FIRST APPEARANCE: Marvel Spotlight Vol. 1 #32 (1977)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Superhuman Strength, Speed, Stamina, Agility, Reflexes and Senses, Flight, Bio-Electric Energy Blasts, Resistance to Poison and Radiation, Ability to Adhere to Walls

At a young age, a sickly Jessica Drew was injected with an irradiated spider serum that cured her and subsequently gave her superhuman abilities. After the death of her mother, Jessica was captured by the terrorists known as HYDRA and was brainwashed into becoming an assassin for them. Upon regaining control of her memories, she took on the codename Spider-Woman and sought to make up for her past sins as a superhero. Though she would work professionally as both a private investigator and bounty hunter, her most famous job title would be that of an Avenger.

As one of the heroines responsible for ushering in the wave of female-led titles in the late-1970s, Spider-Woman's self-titled series became one of the longest-running comics starring a woman published by Marvel. Though she would spend years in publication limbo, she was later brought back into the fold by Brian Michael Bendis as a member of the Avengers. With a snazzy new costume and her first ongoing series in years, Spider-Woman's stock couldn't be higher.

05. Captain Marvel

REAL NAME: Carol Danvers

FIRST APPEARANCE: Marvel Super-Heroes Vol. 1 #3 (1968)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Superhuman Strength, Speed, Stamina and Durability, Flight, Energy Absorption and Projection

While working for NASA, Carol Danvers was caught in an explosion that turned her into an alien-human hybrid. With a bevy of superpowers at her disposal, she became the costumed heroine known as Ms. Marvel. After fighting solo for several years, Carol became a key member of the Avengers and even joined the X-Men for a time. Now going by the codename Captain Marvel, Carol continues to pursue her goal of being the best superhero in the universe.

As one of Marvel's very first attempts at making a female counterpart to a well known hero à la Supergirl, Carol Danvers' popularity as Ms. Marvel exceeded that of her predecessor. Her original series posited her as Marvel's premiere feminist heroine, thus establishing her as the company's potential equivalent to DC Comics' Wonder Woman. She's been a favourite in video games and has appeared in adaptations such as The Super Hero Squad Show and Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. She also holds the distinction of being the very first heroine to headline her own Marvel Studios film, with her movie tentatively scheduled for a 2018 release.

04. Black Cat

REAL NAME: Felicia Hardy

FIRST APPEARANCE: The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 1 #194 (1979)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Probability Manipulation, Expert Martial Artist, Master Thief

Following in the footsteps of her father, platinum-haired Felicia Hardy became the master thief known as Black Cat to break her father out of prison. An occasional thorn in Spider-Man's side, she found the web-slinger irresistible and maintained a flirtatious relationship with him despite her criminal pursuits. Black Cat would eventually give up her wayward ways, thus becoming Spider-Man's ally and part-time lover.

Often inaccurately cited as Marvel's answer to Catwoman, Black Cat was actually originally created as a nemesis for Spider-Woman but debuted as a Spider-Man antagonist instead. As one of Spider-Man's most famous enemies and allies, Black Cat's legacy has spanned over three decades' worth of comic appearances. Her roles in cartoons such as Spider-Man: The Animated Series and The Spectacular Spider-Man have further helped to make her a fan-favourite.

03. Black Widow

REAL NAME: Natalia Romanova

FIRST APPEARANCE: Tales of Suspense Vol. 1 #52 (1964)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Expert Martial Artist and Marksman

Natalia Romanova was recruited into a special project developed by the KGB when she was still a child. She was trained in deception, martial arts and was brainwashed into becoming a spy for the Russian government. Under the moniker of Black Widow, she faced off against heroes like Iron Man and Spider-Man while forging a partnership with then-villain Hawkeye. Since then Natalia has switched sides and has gone on to become one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top agents, as well as one of the most recognizable members of the Avengers.

Originally debuting as a villain, Black Widow successfully made the transition to hero following her tenure as Daredevil's partner in his self-titled ongoing series. She would go on to become a member of the Avengers, a team which she would lead for a short time during the 1990s, and would even headline several books of her own. Despite this, she operated on the fringes of the Marvel Universe and never quite found a following until she appeared in the movie Iron Man 2. Her subsequent roles in The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier have cemented her place on the A-list, making her Marvel's premiere filmic heroine.

02. Invisible Woman

REAL NAME: Susan Storm-Richards

FIRST APPEARANCE: Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #1 (1961)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Invisibility, Force Field Generation

When Reed Richards and his best friend Ben Grimm planned a trip into space, his girlfriend Susan Storm and her brother Johnny tagged along with them. This mission into the stars would forever change their lives, as they would be bombarded by cosmic rays that transformed them into the superheroes known as the Fantastic Four. Originally adopting the codename Invisible Girl, Susan would use her abilities to battle despotic sorcerers, alien invaders and subterranean monsters. Since then, she's honed her abilities to become one of the most powerful heroes in the universe.

As Marvel's First Lady, Invisible Woman was the first ever female superhero created during Marvel's Silver Age. Often cited as the glue that holds the group together, this legendary heroine has braved countless missions as a member of the Fantastic Four and weathered unimaginable setbacks in her personal life. She is a survivor and a proud mama bear that will do whatever it takes to protect her family. On top of that, she has appeared in all four of the Fantastic Four's television adaptations and was featured in the big screen adaptation Fantastic Four, as well as its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer. While the reception of these adaptations have varied over the years, Invisible Woman's status as an icon has not.

01. She-Hulk

REAL NAME: Jennifer Walters

FIRST APPEARANCE: Savage She-Hulk Vol. 1 #1 (1980)

SPECIAL ABILITIES: Superhuman Strength, Speed, Agility, Stamina and Durability, Enhanced Healing Factor

After being shot by enemies of her father, criminal defence lawyer Jennifer Walters received a blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner in order to save her life. Unbeknownst to Jennifer, her cousin was the Hulk and his irradiated blood resulted into her transformation into the green-skinned Amazon known as She-Hulk. Unlike her famous cousin, She-Hulk embraced her newfound abilities. She would go on to become a member of the Avengers and temporarily served as the Thing's replacement on the Fantastic Four.

Much like Spider-Woman before her, She-Hulk was created by Marvel to maintain a copyright over a female version of an existing male hero. As a solo heroine, She-Hulk holds the unique distinction of having two of the longest-running female-led ongoing series at Marvel. Her lengthy memberships with the Avengers and the Fantastic Four have also helped to establish her as an icon. This fan-favourite is beloved for her humorous qualities, with her ability to break the fourth wall and apparent inability to make any of her comics last becoming recurring jokes for the Jade Giantess. While she may not be as much of a household name as some of the other women on this list, she has a devoted fanbase and a legacy that proves she deserves to be number one.