31 Days of Scans - Day 15

I still think my Black Widow idea from last fall is a solid one, but let’s try a new one. Hmm, Suicide Squad is already going to be a movie, GrimJack and X-Factor (the detective agency version) would really be better as TV series. Well, when in doubt, go for a caper flick starring the Black Cat. First things first. I have no idea if that agreement with Sony that lets Marvel use Spider-Man in their movies too in any way extends to related characters (like Felicia). For the purposes of this exercise, I'm pretending none of that is a factor. Any character is fair game for this movie, OK? Because it'll never happen outside my imagination.

That said, there are a lot of different ways to go with it. Play up her following in her dad’s footsteps, and have her either set out to steal something he never could (or perhaps the object of his final heist, if we want to go with the idea he died in the attempt), or to try and destroy someone she holds responsible for her father’s death/incarceration. Have her steal some rare artifact, maybe not an Infinity Stone, but maybe the plans for Sentinels, Osborn’s Goblin serum, Nick Fury’s eyepatch collection, and this gets some people after her.  If we can’t have Black Widow vs. Taskmaster, maybe Black Cat can fight Mister Photographic Reflexes. Or have her steal the doohickus, realize it’s dangerous and she stole it for the wrong person, and have to steal it back. Maybe she got the Wand of Watoomb for Baron Mordo because she figured it was just a fancy-looking swizzle stick. Despite the bad luck powers, the Cat’s a fairly street level character, a highly skilled, highly stylized cat burglar, so the film could do a lot with the idea there’s a ton of stuff in the world she’s not going to be prepared for.

The nice thing about the Marvel Universe is there’s no shortage of organized crime bosses, super-villains, and evil companies. If Hammer Industries, the Kingpin, or the Hand are already claimed, there’s still Roxxon Industries, there’s still Hammerhead or Silvermane. Here's one, I have no idea why it came to me, use Count Nefaria early in the film, a crimelord wanting to live forever, and give himself an edge against all these costumed types showing up. Maybe getting ready for the treatment that’s going to give him super-powers, right as Felicia is trying to lift some tapestry from his abode. She makes a wrong turn, ends up in the lab, her powers trigger a malfunction that enables her escape, but seems to kill the Count and scars (or not) his daughter. The new Madame Masque takes her father’s position, and she’s angry and out for revenge. Or she’s just after the Cat because she can’t allow someone to steal from her and kill her family without being punished, and maintain her authority among other crime bosses.

I know Masque and Felicia don’t tend to run in the same circles, but I think she’d make a good choice if you wanted to pit the lone thief (and possibly her small band of assistants, if we incorporate her crew from the Jen van Meter mini-series, which would be fine with me) against a vast criminal empire with advanced weaponry and an army of goons. Have Nefaria turn up alive and super-powered, and Masque unhappy about it. It turns out the “accident” was her doing and not Felicia’s, the Cat is merely a convenient patsy, something Felicia is none too happy about. But Nefaria’s gone around the bend far (either aftereffects from the treatment/explosion or just so full of himself from being super-powered) enough they have to team up to stop him (obviously he’s not at the “stomp Thor” levels he frequently demonstrates in the comics). Although I’m seriously starting to rip off Kurt Busiek’s Nefaria story in Avengers by that point I think (as opposed to whatever I was ripping off up to then).

Or keep it more grounded, if this is perhaps Felicia early in her career, still making her rep, not quite a world-renowned, globe-trotting thief yet. Stick to lots of guys in black suits and sunglasses or tactical gear and firearms, maybe one technologically amped up bad guy. Here we go. Use the Shocker, either as hired muscle or a rival thief. He was a safecracker, built the suit to help him out. He could be trying to protect his turf, either as a solo thief, or as the guy organizations hire when they need a job done. Or they could cross paths trying to steal the same thing. Either Felicia gets it, and he comes after her and her friends for revenge, or he gets it, but she needs it, maybe to protect her father (if he's in jail, certain people might still be able to harm him there). Or the Shocker's being reckless, hurting people, and Felicia's a good enough person she can't tolerate that (or she finds it a distasteful, low class way to steal), and sets out to stop him.

I would like to have the bad luck powers in there, as a real thing, not her setting things up beforehand to make it look like she has bad luck. They can explain it however they like. Mutant power, scientific experiment she underwent, maybe the Wand of Watoomb isn't the first magic doodad she stole. Take your pick, I just thing it could lead to some either very cool, or very funny scenes depending.

OK, I didn't decide on this one until really close to when it's posting, so I don't have all the credits handy. The Shocker panel is definitely from Superior Foes, so Nick Spencer writing and Steve Lieber drawing it. The Madama Masque panel is from that Avengers story I mentioned, so Busiek and George Perez. The page of Felicia stopping the other burglar is from the first issue of the van Meter mini-series, so I think that's Javier Pulido's art, with Matt Hollingsworth on colors. I'm not sure where the first panel is from. An early '80s issue of Amazing Spider-Man most likely. Maybe Keith Pollard's art?