Hubbry Logo
Patsy WalkerPatsy WalkerMain
Open search
Patsy Walker
Community hub
Patsy Walker
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Patsy Walker
Patsy Walker
Patsy Walker
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Patsy Walker
The Hellcat
Art by Stuart Immonen
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearance
Created by
In-story information
Full namePatricia Walker
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliations
Partnerships
Notable aliasesHellcat
The Cat
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, agility, speed, endurance, and reflexes
  • Ability to extend nails into sharp claws
  • Various psionic powers
  • Skilled martial artist and gymnast
  • Equipment include wrist-mounted retractable claws and grappling hooks

Patricia "Patsy" Walker is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stuart Little and Ruth Atkinson, Patsy Walker first appeared in Miss America Magazine #2 (November 1944), published by Marvel precursor Timely Comics, and became Hellcat in The Avengers #144 (February 1976). She premiered as the star of a teen romantic-comedy series, and was later integrated into Marvel superhero franchises such as the Avengers and the Defenders as the Hellcat.

Following her reintroduction as Hellcat, the character has been described as one of Marvel's most notable and powerful female heroes.[1][2][3]

Rachael Taylor portrayed Trish Walker in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series Jessica Jones (2015–2019), Luke Cage (2016), and The Defenders (2017).

Publication history

[edit]
Further information: Patsy Walker (comic book)

Teen-humor heroine

[edit]

Created by writer Stuart Little and artist Ruth Atkinson, Patsy Walker first appeared in Miss America Magazine #2 (cover-dated November 1944), published by Marvel precursor Timely Comics.[4][5] Redheaded Patsy Walker, her parents Stanley and Betty, her boyfriend Robert "Buzz" Baxter, and her raven-haired friendly rival Hedy Wolfe appeared from the 1940s through 1967 in issues of Miss America, Teen Comics, Girls' Life, and the namesake teen-humor series Patsy Walker,[6][7] as well as in the spin-offs Patsy and Hedy,[8] Patsy and Her Pals,[9] and the single-issue A Date with Patsy.[10] Attesting to its quiet popularity, Patsy Walker (along with Millie the Model and Kid Colt, Outlaw) was among the very few titles published continuously by Marvel from the 1940s Golden Age of Comic Books, through Marvel's 1950s iteration as Atlas Comics, and into the 1960s Silver Age of Comic Books.[11][12]

Future Mad magazine cartoonist and Mad Fold-in creator Al Jaffee wrote and drew most of the early issues of Patsy Walker,[13][14] several of which included Mad founding editor Harvey Kurtzman's highly stylized "Hey Look!" one-page humor strips.[15][16][17][18] Jaffee was succeeded by Al Hartley, who went to Archie Comics and produced many Christian comic books starring Archie characters and others.[19] Patsy and Her Pals was drawn by Morris Weiss.[20]

The humor-comic version of Patsy (left) in Patsy and Hedy #72 (Oct. 1960), a spinoff of the flagship title Patsy Walker. Cover art by Al Hartley.[21]

Following Patsy's high-school graduation in issue #116 (Aug. 1964), the title switched from humor to become a young career-gal romantic adventure.[22] Patsy Walker lasted through issue #124 (Dec. 1965),[23] with Patsy and Hedy outlasting it to its own #110 (Feb. 1967).[24]

Patsy and Hedy made a cameo appearance in Fantastic Four Annual #3 (Oct. 1965), which established them in the Marvel Universe.[25] The superhero-team comic The Defenders #89 (Nov. 1980) reimagined the earlier stories as fictional works published within the fictional world of Marvel's superheroes and written by Patsy's mother, Dorothy Walker, as inspired by Patsy's own life and friends.[26] The Patsy Walker profile in Marvel Legacy: The 1960s Handbook #1 (Feb. 2006) establishes that Walker indeed experienced many of the events from these stories.[27]

Patsy Walker #95 – together with the science-fiction anthology Journey into Mystery #69 (both June 1961) – are the first modern comic books labeled "Marvel Comics", with each showing an "MC" box on its cover.[28]

Hellcat

[edit]

The Beast feature in Amazing Adventures #13 (July 1972) introduced the concept of Walker as a superhero.[29] Writer Steve Englehart recalled that Walker's cameo in Fantastic Four Annual #3 had:

struck my fan's eye by including her in the Marvel Universe. ... I thought it would be cool to bring her in as a real character, with things to do. Part of my 'training' as a Marvel writer was writing romance stories and Westerns, but Patsy [Walker] was defunct as a comic by the time I got there. ... Still, as a fan, I had collected everything Marvel, including Patsy Walker and Patsy and Hedy ... so I knew them as characters.[26]

Because the Beast feature was dropped from Amazing Adventures just three issues later, the storyline with Patsy Walker was temporarily abandoned.[26] Walker was reintroduced in The Avengers #141 (November 1975), having resumed her maiden name of Walker, and accompanied the Avengers on a couple of adventures.[30] Shortly thereafter, she adopted the name Hellcat, taking on superheroine Greer Grant Nelson's costume from her discontinued identity as the Cat.[31] The name "Hellcat" itself had originally been proposed for Nelson.[32] The suit's look was later slightly adapted.

In 2010, Englehart recalled:

I wasn't real interested in the Cat. I read the books and they seemed like pandering, frankly — not very good stories written to appeal to a demographic. Once [Patsy] entered the [Marvel Universe], met the Beast, confronted her husband — all that began to change the Patsy I had inherited to someone a little more savvy. By the time she became the Hellcat, she could stand back far enough to see the ironies in her taking over a feminist creation. But she was really more about jumping into the superhero pool than standing back. ... She didn't muse on the irony; she wanted to be a heroine.[26]

Hellcat joined the superhero team the Defenders in issue #44 (Feb. 1977).[33] After several adventures with the group, she met the supernatural adventurer Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, in The Defenders #92 (Feb. 1981).[34] They married in The Defenders #125 and became husband-and-wife occult investigators,[35] but Hellstrom's demonic nature asserted itself, and Walker was driven first mad and then, in Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #14 (May 1994), to suicide.[36] Through Hellstrom's manipulation of the superhero Hawkeye, she was resurrected in Thunderbolts Annual 2000, a summer annual of the superhero-team comic Thunderbolts, and returned to Earth with new abilities acquired while in Hell.[37] The story, which began in Thunderbolts Annual 2000, concluded in Avengers Annual 2000.[38] A three-issue Hellcat miniseries (Sept.–Nov. 2000) took place immediately following the events in Thunderbolts Annual 2000 and Avengers Annual 2000.[39] Briefly adopting a new costume and then returning to her traditional yellow outfit, she rejoined the Defenders in a short-lived revival series, The Defenders (vol. 2) #1–12 (March 2001 – Feb. 2002).[40]

After appearing in occasional guest roles, Hellcat had starring roles between 2007 and 2009, thanks to husband-wife artist-writer team Stuart Immonen and Kathryn Immonen. With the impending relaunch of Marvel Comics Presents, Stuart was asked by editor Nick Lowe if he wanted to do a Hellcat story, which was spread across the title's first four issues (Sept.–Dec. 2007). Marvel remained open for a Hellcat miniseries, and out of what Kathryn first conceived as a "Hellcat Christmas Special", inspired by endurance car races in Mongolia and research on the Inuit, came the five-issue miniseries Patsy Walker: Hellcat (Sept. 2008–Feb. 2009), drawn by David Lafuente with covers by Stuart. A tie-in to the Avengers 50-State Initiative, it features Hellcat being assigned to watch over Alaska.[41][42] Following this, she was an ensemble star and narrator alongside the superheroines Firestar, the Black Cat, and Photon, in the miniseries Marvel Divas #1–4 (Sept.-Dec. 2009), which writers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Tonci Zonjic had pitched it to Marvel editors as "Sex and the City in the Marvel Universe".[43]

Walker became part of the All-New Marvel NOW! event in She-Hulk (vol. 3) #2, when Jennifer Walters started her own law firm. Walters hired Patsy as her private investigator, who uses her Hellcat alias on assignments.[44]

The All-New, All-Different Marvel line in 2015 led to a new ongoing Patsy Walker title, Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!. Written by Kate Leth and drawn by Brittney Williams, it attempted to combine the romance and superhero comics with a more comedic approach, which Leth compared to a Saturday-morning cartoon.[45][46] In it, Walker tries to establish a job agency for superpowered people following her dismissal by the She-Hulk, and also recover the rights to old Patsy Walker comics which have been republished by Hedy. In February 2017, Leth announced that the series would be ending that April with its 17th issue. She praised Marvel for "giv[ing] us space to wrap up the story exactly how we wanted in 3 volumes".[47]

Fictional character biography

[edit]

After growing up in suburban Centerville, graduating high school and marrying high-school sweetheart Robert "Buzz" Baxter, Patsy Walker becomes an assistant to scientist Hank McCoy, the mutant superhero Beast, who at that time was on hiatus from the X-Men. Estranged from her husband, now a U.S. Air Force colonel, Walker befriends McCoy,[48][49][50] and, desiring to become a superhero, accompanies McCoy on a quest with the Avengers.[51] She adopts a costume that formerly belonged to Greer Grant Nelson, the former masked adventuress the Cat, and takes on the name Hellcat.[52]

Early superhero career, marriage, and suicide

[edit]

After having used her natural athletic abilities and good instincts to rescue the Avengers, Walker is offered membership in the team.[53] The cosmic adventurer Moondragon persuades Hellcat to decline and instead accompany her to Saturn's moon Titan for training in psychic ability and advanced martial arts.[54] Walker's training is soon interrupted when she returns to Earth to assist the supernatural hero Doctor Strange, joining the Defenders in the process.[55][56][57] Later Moondragon revokes her mind powers, mentioning Walker's ineffective use of them.[58]

She meets her future husband Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan, during the course of a quest with the Defenders.[59] After learning that her mother had promised her soul to Satan,[60] and briefly being lied to by the devil that he was her father,[61] Walker reunites with her real father and marries Hellstrom. The two then retire from being superheroes.[62] Ultimately, Hellstrom's demonic inheritance took possession of him and drove Walker insane. Institutionalized, she was driven to suicide by the otherworldly being Deathurge.[63]

Resurrection, Civil War, and She-Hulk (vol. 3)

[edit]

Trapped in Hell, Walker's spirit is used in a series of gladiatorial-like combat scenarios. There, she learns to develop and use her psychic powers. Hellstrom tricks the archer superhero Hawkeye into returning her spirit to Earth; Hawkeye believes he is retrieving his presumed-dead wife, the Mockingbird, from the demonic lord Mephisto's realm.[37] Resurrected and back on Earth, Walker retains the powers that she developed in Hell, and she is also able to manifest a costume at will.[64] Once again a member of the Defenders, Hellcat focuses on combating occult evils, notably Nicholas Scratch, who had based himself in her hometown of Centerville,[64] and the otherdimensional ruler Dormammu.[65]

During the Civil War storyline, Hellcat registers.[66] She serves as one of the young superheroes' instructors at Camp Hammond.[67] She was then assigned as the Avengers 50 State Initiative official superhero for Alaska,[68] but eventually returned to New York City.[69] Hellcat develops and maintains a deep friendship with the superheroes Firestar, the Black Cat, and Monica Rambeau, partly stemming from their support to Firestar, who develops and then survives breast disease.[70]

Hellcat is later seen with the She-Hulk and facing personal problems. After a night of heavy drinking and partying, Hellcat and the She-Hulk invade a warehouse that A.I.M. was using as a hideout and defeat two agents wearing high tech suits. The She-Hulk then hires Hellcat as her private investigator to help with her economic situation.[71] She then helps the She-Hulk in protecting Kristoff Vernard, the son of Doctor Doom, who was trying to defect to the U.S.[72] She is later seen talking with Tigra about a case involving a lawsuit but ends up fighting her when she mentions the plaintiff's name, George Saywitz.[73] After recovering in a hospital,[74] she helps the She-Hulk and Hank Pym in a recovery mission to save Reza, the partner of inventor Rufus Randall, to settle an argument between them over a device known as the Shrinko, which they were planning to sell to Pym.[75] They later wind up helping Steve Rogers, the original Captain America, with a lawsuit involving a murder that happened in 1940.[76]

Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! and Civil War II

[edit]

As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel" line, She-Hulk eventually becomes unable to afford Hellcat as an investigator and fires her friend, which also forces Walker to move out of Walters' office building (the same place where Howard the Duck works). Walker moves to the Brooklyn apartment of Ian, an Inhuman who she met when he used his powers to steal from an armored truck. Ian gets a job with Walker's old friend Tom Hale (known as "Tubs" in the romance comics) and inspires her to open a work agency for other superpowered people. To her chagrin, Walker also learns that her old rival Hedy Wolfe has obtained the rights from Walker's late mother Dorothy to republish the Patsy Walker comics. With the help of the She-Hulk and Jessica Jones, Walker gets the rights back by proving that Dorothy was sedated and thus not in full mental capacities when she signed the comics off to Hedy, making it a void contract.[77]

During the "Civil War II" storyline, Patsy Walker learns that the She-Hulk is in a coma at the Triskelion. America Chavez allows Patsy to visit her. After the visit, Patsy tells Howard the Duck and the other tenants about the She-Hulk's current condition, and moves her offices to where Jennifer operated as a lawyer.[78]

Afterwards, Hedy dupes Patsy's ex-husbands Mad-Dog and Daimon Hellstrom into fighting her. Daimon sends Patsy to a dimension ruled by the demon Belial, who tries to bring Hellcat to his side.[79] Patsy then confronts her former friend the Black Cat, now leading a gang of criminals.[80] Patsy suddenly catches a cold that causes her to alter reality whenever she sneezes. After several disasters, Patsy accidentally makes a building disappear. Hedy then calls Patsy and reveals that she is dating the demon Belial, who helps Patsy overcome her grief over the She-Hulk and cures her of the cold.[81] Patsy then receives a check for a big amount of money from the She-Hulk and takes Ian, Tom, and Jubilee to the mall. While shopping, they encounter two teenage girls pretending to be supervillains, who are revealed to be Patsy's biggest fans. Ian then figures out that the girls like each other and resolves their dispute. After that, Patsy expresses joy of how her life has changed.[82]

Powers and abilities

[edit]

Hellcat possesses a superhuman level of physical abilities including enhanced strength, speed, reflexes, agility, endurance, and senses. She has different psionic powers due to Moondragon's Titanian technology,[83][84][85] including telekinesis,[86] sensing psychic phenomena,[87][88][89] and the ability to cast mental illusions.[90] Hellcat can change her nails into sharp claws.[91] She is able to summon a magic cloak with enchanted properties at will that she uses to sense mystical phenomena or deflect mystical attacks.[92][93] She uses retractable claws and grappling hooks on her wrists.[94][95] Hellcat is a well-trained martial artist and gymnast.[96][97]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

Peter Eckhardt of CBR.com called Hellcat one of the "best cat-themed superheroes in comics," writing, "Patsy Walker wasn't made to be a superhero. Created in 1944, Walker starred in humorous teenage girl-oriented comics like Miss America and Girls' Life. Her eponymous title was published continuously from the '40s until the '60s and Walker's trajectory turned towards superherodom. As Hellcat, Walker became a more feminist hero. She divorced her abusive husband, took (temporary) control of the stories that had been published using her name, and joined a superhero non-team, the Defenders, to battle unnatural evils. A humorous character with a compelling story, Hellcat remains one of Marvel's most fun felines."[98]

Accolades

[edit]
  • In 2015, Entertainment Weekly ranked Hellcat 74th in their "Let's rank every Avenger ever" list.[99]
  • In 2017, Gizmodo ranked Hellcat 13th in their "Marvel Superheroes Who Basically Only Protect New York City" list.[100]
  • In 2018, CBR.com ranked Hellcat 17th in their "Marvel's 20 Most Seasoned Street-Level Heroes" list.[101]
  • In 2020, Sideshow ranked Hellcat 7th in their "Top-Ten Cat-Themed Comic Book Characters" list.[2]
  • In 2020, CBR.com ranked Hellcat 1st in their "Marvel: 10 Best Golden Age Heroines" list.[1]
  • In 2021, Screen Rant ranked Hellcat 9th in their "10 Best Versions Of Hawkeye From Marvel Comics" list.[102]
  • In 2021, CBR.com ranked Hellcat 4th in their "10 Best Members Of The Defenders" list.[103]
  • In 2022, Gizmodo ranked Hellcat 5th in their "12 Marvel Villains Who Should Have Been in Thunderbolts" list.[104]
  • In 2022, Screen Rant included Hellcat in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of The Lady Liberators" list,[105] in their "10 Iconic New York City-Based Marvel Superheroes We Haven't Seen In The MCU" list,[3] and in their "She-Hulk: 10 Comics Characters Who Should Appear In The Series" list.[106]
  • In 2022, CBR.com ranked Hellcat 4th in their "10 Most Powerful Members Of The Lady Liberators" list[107] and 5th in their "10 Best Cat-Themed Superheroes In Comics" list.[98]

Literary reception

[edit]

Volumes

[edit]

Patsy Walker: Hellcat (2008)

[edit]

According to Diamond Comic Distributors, Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1 was the 118th best selling comic book in July 2008.[108][109] Patsy Walker: Hellcat #2 was the 151st best selling comic book in August 2008.[110][111]

James Hunt of CBR.com called Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1 "enormously fun to read, soaked with character and humor," stating, "It really has been a while since Marvel released such a charming comic, especially one so clearly aimed at a different audience than most of their superhero fare. While it's early days for the miniseries, the strength of the first issue is practically enough to keep it running on goodwill for the remaining 4 issues. Not everyone is going to appreciate or understand the tone of "Hellcat," so the important thing now is to make sure it finds its way into the hands of those that will as soon as possible, because there's almost nothing else like it, and originality like this needs all the support it can get."[112] Jesse Schedeen of IGN gave Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1 a grade of 8.8 out of 10, asserting, "Immonen has a delightfully bombastic writing style that carries you from page to page. There's nothing terribly realistic about Patsy's portrayal or the events in her life. The book almost reminds me of Nextwave, except the subversive humor is more subtle. Don't come into Patsy Walker: Hellcat expecting deep, nuanced characterization. Just expect to have plenty of fun, more than many series can offer in an entire arc. I was disappointed, though certainly not surprised, to learn that Stuart Immonen would not be returning to illustrate his wife's work. Luckily, David la Fuente is a more than capable replacement. His style perfectly captures the wonky tone and expressive, vibrant feel of the original story. As a fashion model, half of drawing Patsy Walker is capturing her many colorful outfits. Far too many artists have problems with rendering clothing not made of spandex. La Fuente is not one of them. It's a slow week, with only one Secret Invasion tie-in to be found. Take advantage of that and give Patsy Walker: Hellcat a shot."[113]

Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! (2015)

[edit]

According to Diamond Comic Distributors, Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1 was the 49th best selling comic book in December 2015.[114][115][116] Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1 was the 431st best selling comic book in 2015.[117][118]

Chase Magnett of ComicBook.com gave Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1 a grade of "B," saying, "The jokes and quick set up of a very large cast and lots of potential plotlines all work as well as they do largely because of Williams and Wilson's presentation. They make the crayon-colored business presentation pop and the humorously foreboding callbacks to Walker's teenage friends seem actually mysterious. Their delivery of each line and concept is so engaging that it's easy to re-read Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat #1, and wait for #2 to bring the same style and laughter, and the follow through on the premises established here."[119] Jesse Schedeen of IGN gave Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1 a grade of 6.7 out of 10, writing, "Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! is a decent option for any reader who craves more of the lighthearted silliness of Marvel books like Howard the Duck or The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. But despite the solid supporting cast and characterization, this book doesn't really do anything those other titles don't do better. This first issue moves slowly and has its clunky moments, but hopefully a clearer and more engaging conflict will emerge over time."[120] Charles Pulliam-Moore of Gizmodo stated, "Oftentimes, when comics set out to tell stories that humanize superheroes who are off saving the universe, they get mired in drama that somehow manages to be both weirdly familiar but utterly unrelatable. When every story tries to be an epic tale about how a hero’s greatest struggle, it becomes easy to lose sight of how a world as sprawling as Marvel’s logically fits together. On some level, Marvel understands the intrinsic appeal of these kinds of focused stories that are a touch off the traditional “mainstream” comics path. But like Mockingbird, Vision, and Nighthawk, before it, Patsy Walker's coming to a premature end, seemingly because Marvel’s less interested in putting out thoughtful indies in an industry addicted to formulaic blockbusters. Patsy Walker isn’t a small story, or a simple one, but rather one with a solid focus on a couple of months in one woman’s during which some really important things happen around her. This is the storytelling that makes for characters that feel like real people and those are the kinds of characters that comics need more of."[121]

Iron Man/Hellcat Annual (2022)

[edit]

Jenna Anderson of ComicBook.com gave Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1 a grade of 4.5 out of 5, asserting, "After Tony Stark's marriage proposal in Iron Man #20, the larger narrative to his and Patsy Walker's stories could have gone into a wide swath of directions – which makes this week's excellent Iron Man/Hellcat Annual an excellent, but unsurprising, triumph. The vast majority of the story puts the spotlight on Patsy, throwing her into a literally hellish confrontation with her past. It's always a joy to read Christopher Cantwell's essentially-solo stories for Patsy, and having her world be explored throughout this issue is an entertaining joy, especially when coupled with Ruairi Coleman's excellent art. This issue is definitely a turning point for both Tony and Patsy – and a great one at that."[122]

Other versions

[edit]

Ultimate Marvel

[edit]

Patsy Walker has appeared in Marvel Comics' Multiverse Ultimate Marvel imprint. In Ultimate Spider-Man, she first appears as a spokeswoman for a security firm,[123] then as a swimsuit model for Maxim magazine,[124] a talk show hostess, presenting a biography on Doctor Strange,[125] and finally interviewing Norman Osborn.[126] In addition, she appeared in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, hosting an instructional video for the Baxter Building.[127] Patsy assumes her Hellcat identity in Ultimates and was a founding member of the ill-fated Defenders.[128] Walker later shows up with the Defenders in Ultimate Comics: New Ultimates, powered up by Loki where she sports a leopard-like appearance.[129]

Heroes Reborn (1996)

[edit]

In the Heroes Reborn universe, Hellcat appears as a member of the Avengers. This version of the character sports a more bestial "werecat" appearance similar to Tigra. Envious of the Scarlet Witch's beauty, she is manipulated by Loki into siding with Hawkeye against the rest of the team. Patsy takes possession of the Scarlet Witch's body, but is killed after Agatha Harkness forcibly expels her essence.[130]

In other media

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Rachael Taylor as Trish Walker in the Netflix television series Jessica Jones

Patricia "Trish" Walker appears in Netflix series set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portrayed by Rachael Taylor as an adult and by Catherine Blades as a teenager.[131] This version is a former child star of the in-universe television series It's Patsy, the best friend of Jessica Jones,[132] the host of the radio show Trish Talk, and the daughter of Dorothy Walker.

  • First appearing in Jessica Jones, she aids the titular character in combating Kilgrave, but becomes jealous of her powers during the first season. By the end of the second season, Walker volunteers to undergo experimentation carried out by Dr. Karl Malus. Despite nearly dying in the process, she acquires enhanced athleticism, reflexes, agility, stamina, balance, durability, and night vision, as well as razor-sharp nails. In between the second and third seasons, she began training excessively and used her newly acquired powers to become proficient in acrobatics, gymnastics, parkour, and Krav Maga while also seeking to develop her investigative skills like Jones. Throughout the aforementioned third season, Walker goes from being a vigilante to a self-described "supervillain". Consumed by the loss of her mother at the hands of serial killer Gregory Sallinger, she gives in to her rage and begins brutally attacking, later murdering, individuals that she deems as evil regardless of their actions or motivations under the belief that it is to make the world a better place. This leads to a confrontation between her and Jones, who is forced to apprehend Walker and turn her over to the authorities. Understanding what it means to be the "bad guy", Walker is sent by helicopter to the Raft.
  • Walker makes a voiceover cameo in the Luke Cage episode "Suckas Need Bodyguards", fielding calls from listeners on Trish Talk.[133]
  • Walker appears in The Defenders.[134]

Video games

[edit]

Collected editions

[edit]
Title Material collected Published date ISBN
Patsy Walker: Hellcat Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1–5 and material from Marvel Comics: Presents #1–4 June 2009 978-0785133797
Marvel Divas Marvel Divas #1–4 January 2010 978-0785131779
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 1: Hooked on a Feline Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!]] #1–6 June 2016 978-1302900359
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 2: Don't Stop Me-Ow Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #7–12 January 2017 978-1302900366
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 3: Careless Whisker(s) Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #13–17 August 2017 978-1302906627

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Patsy Walker

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Patsy Walker, also known by her superhero alias Hellcat, is a fictional character in who first appeared as a teenage protagonist in during the and later evolved into a costumed ine with enhanced physical and mystical abilities. Born Patricia Walker in Centerville, , to parents and Dorothy Walker, she gained early fame as the star of her own fictionalized comic book series created by her mother, portraying an idealized suburban teen navigating romance, school, and rivalries with characters like Hedy Wolfe and boyfriend Buzz Baxter. Her debut in Miss America Magazine #2 (November 1944) marked her as one of Marvel's longest-running female characters, with solo series Patsy Walker (1945–1965, 124 issues) and Patsy and Hedy (1952–1967, 110 issues) focusing on lighthearted teen drama that boosted her popularity as "America's Sweetheart," though she personally resented the manufactured celebrity. Walker's transition to the superhero genre occurred in the , when she donned a feline-themed costume originally worn by during an Avengers mission in Avengers #144 (1976), adopting the name Hellcat after training with the team and later with to unlock latent psionic powers. Enhanced by the suit's properties and mystical enhancements, her abilities include superhuman agility, strength, , heightened senses, and the power to manifest dimensional portals or detect supernatural entities, allowing her to battle threats like and her ex-husband , the Son of Satan. She joined prominent teams such as the Defenders (Defenders #77, 1979) and , briefly served in the 50-State Initiative representing (Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1–5, 2008), and collaborated with heroes like as a , reflecting her enduring admiration for superheroes that began in her youth. Throughout her history, Walker has navigated personal turmoil, including a failed marriage to Buzz Baxter (who became the villain Mad Dog), institutionalization after occult exposure, and resurrection from Hell by the Thunderbolts (Thunderbolts Annual 2000 #1), underscoring her resilience from rom-com ingenue to battle-hardened defender. More recent stories, such as Patsy Walker, a.k.a. Hellcat! (2015–2017) and the Hellcat miniseries (2023), portray her reclaiming control over her comic book legacy while juggling everyday challenges in New York City and investigating supernatural threats, blending humor with heroic action.

Publication history

Teen comics era (1944–1969)

Patsy Walker was created by writer and artist Ruth Atkinson, debuting in a seven-page story in Miss America Magazine #2 (cover-dated November 1944), published by . The character quickly proved popular as a lighthearted teen protagonist, leading to her own solo anthology series with Patsy Walker #1 in early 1945. The solo series ran for 124 issues until December 1965, emphasizing humorous tales of adolescent life, including high school crushes, friendship rivalries—particularly with the snobbish Hedy Wolfe—and everyday family dynamics in the fictional town of Centerville. Stories often revolved around Patsy's romantic interests, such as her long-running crush on Buzz Baxter, school pranks, and sibling interactions with her younger brother Mickey, blending romance, comedy, and relatable teen dilemmas without supernatural elements. Following the end of the solo title, Patsy's adventures continued in related series like Patsy and Hedy and Girls' Life, extending the run until 1969 and totaling over 100 issues across these publications, establishing her as Marvel's longest-running teen humor protagonist prior to her superhero reimagining. Key creative contributors included early writer , who helped shape the character's foundational tone, alongside artists like , known for his dynamic covers and interior illustrations in issues such as #5 (1946) and #37 (1951), and Morris Waldinger, who provided artwork for stories in #45 (1953). Later, the series benefited from the contributions of writer in additional arcs and consistent visual style from penciler Morris Waldinger.

Hellcat debut and early superhero years (1970s–1990s)

Patsy Walker's transition to superhero began in the mid-1970s, reintroducing her as a supporting character in the Marvel Universe before her full debut as Hellcat. She first appeared in a modern context in Amazing Adventures #13 (1972), written by Steve Englehart with art by George Pérez, where she was depicted as a real person whose teen comic adventures were retroactively established as semi-autobiographical. This laid the groundwork for her empowerment arc, shifting from humorous teen stories to action-oriented superhero tales. By Avengers #139 (September 1975), also by Englehart, she encountered the Beast during an investigation, blackmailing him into promising her Avengers membership in exchange for keeping his secret identity. Her debut as Hellcat occurred in Avengers #144 (February 1976), where she donned the discarded costume and gear of the original vigilante known as the Cat, granting her enhanced agility and retractable claws; the suit, originally designed by Wallace Wood for The Cat #1 (1972), featured a distinctive yellow-and-blue catsuit with a clawed emblem, symbolizing her thematic evolution toward female empowerment in superhero narratives. As Hellcat, Patsy joined the Avengers roster in Avengers #151 (September 1976), serving briefly through issue #163 (1977) alongside members like , , and the Vision, participating in battles against threats such as and the . Her tenure highlighted her gymnastic skills and determination, though it ended amid team restructuring. Transitioning to the Defenders in Defenders #44 (July 1976), written by David Kraft with art by , Hellcat became a core member of the non-team, fighting supernatural foes like the and in arcs spanning over 80 issues. This period marked a deeper dive into action and horror elements, contrasting her earlier lighthearted origins, with key stories exploring her growing confidence as a hero. By the late , her appearances exceeded a dozen annually across team books, emphasizing collaborative dynamics over solo exploits. The 1980s saw Hellcat's role expand into occult adventures, particularly with the Defenders, where she developed a romance with teammate Daimon Hellstrom, the Son of Satan. Their relationship culminated in marriage in Defenders #125 (November 1983), written by J.M. DeMatteis with art by Don Perlin, amid a relaunch as The New Defenders that introduced new members like Elixir and shifted focus to mystical threats. Post-marriage, the couple operated as occult investigators, appearing in West Coast Avengers #14–16 (January–March 1987), aiding against demonic incursions and Tigra's transformation crisis, where Hellcat loaned her original suit to Greer Grant Nelson. Mental health struggles emerged in these stories, exacerbated by supernatural exposure, as depicted in Don McGregor's Defenders runs (e.g., #98–102, 1981), where Hellcat grappled with psychological strain from battles against the likes of the Brotherhood of Mutants, foreshadowing deeper trauma. Her 1980s output included over 30 appearances, solidifying her as a versatile team player in Marvel's interconnected universe. In the , Hellcat's activities waned toward supporting roles, reflecting a near-retirement phase amid personal turmoil. She featured prominently in Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #1–4 (1993–1994), written by Howard Mackie with art by Tom Raney, where efforts to save her husband from demonic forces led to her and descent into madness, a pivotal arc exploring the costs of life. Concurrently, she appeared as a recurring ally in Sensational She-Hulk #4–50 (–1994), written by John Byrne, providing comic relief and assistance in legal and monstrous escapades, such as battling the Ringmaster, while retired from full-time heroics. Brief cameos in titles like X-Factor #71 () underscored her occasional mutant-world ties, but her era closed with fewer than 20 major appearances by 1999, capping a career that amassed over 50 credited roles and marked Marvel's successful rebranding of a romance into an empowered avenger. The yellow became iconic, influencing later designs and symbolizing the era's push for stronger female leads in .

Modern era and recent series (2000s–2025)

In the early 2000s, Patsy Walker as Hellcat was revived following her death in the 1980s, with key appearances in Avengers Annual (2000) #1 and Thunderbolts Annual (2000) #1, where she gained enhanced abilities including costume manifestation and demon sight during her resurrection. She made cameo appearances in Excalibur vol. 3 (2001) and New Avengers (2005), setting the stage for further development amid team-based stories. The character's first dedicated miniseries in this era, Patsy Walker: Hellcat #1–5 (2008–2009), written by Kathryn Immonen and illustrated by David Lafuente, depicted her registering as a hero under the Superhuman Registration Act and defending during the aftermath of Civil War, blending action with her personal growth. This was preceded by lead-in stories in (2007) #1–4. She continued appearing in ensemble titles like Marvel Divas (2009) #1–4, where she bonded with other female heroes while investigating supernatural murders. The 2010s saw expanded roles in team books, including The Defenders (2011–2012) #1–12 by Matt Fraction and artist Terry Dodson, where Hellcat rejoined the core roster for mystical adventures emphasizing her acrobatic skills and resilience. Her solo spotlight came with Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1–17 (2015–2017), written by and drawn by Brittney L. Williams, which mixed humor, action, and slice-of-life elements as Patsy ran a temp agency for superhumans while confronting personal demons and ex-partners. The series featured diverse supporting characters, including bisexual Asian-American Ian Soo and bookstore owner Tom Hale, highlighting LGBTQ+ representation through everyday relationships and community. Entering the 2020s, Hellcat partnered with in Iron Man (2020) #1–20, developing telekinetic and mind-reading powers while their romance culminated in a proposal, though it ended amid Tony Stark's personal struggles. This led to Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1 (2022), written by and illustrated by Ruairí Coleman, where battled in Hell, exploring themes of infernal heritage and romantic tension with Stark. Her second solo miniseries, Hellcat #1–5 (2023), by Cantwell with artists Alex Lins and KJ Diaz, delved into metafictional elements, therapy, and her past in a haunted setting, questioning her heroic identity. Recent appearances include team-ups in Sensational She-Hulk (2023) #5 and #10, where she allied with Jennifer Walters against demonic threats, and a crossover in Venom War: Zombiotes (2024) #2–3, fighting zombified symbiotes alongside She-Hulk. By 2025, brief mentions in the ongoing Iron Man series positioned her as Stark's girlfriend in a subplot amid larger conflicts. Publication trends since the 2000s reflect a shift toward diverse creators, such as LGBTQ+ writer Kate Leth in the 2015 series, and experimental formats including digital-first releases on Marvel Unlimited, with over 40 issues across miniseries and guest spots emphasizing character-driven stories over large-scale events.

Fictional character biography

Early life and teen years

Patricia Walker, better known as Patsy, was born in Centerville, , to parents Joshua Stanley Walker and Dorothy Walker. She had a younger brother, Mickey Walker. Dorothy, an ambitious and fame-obsessed writer, drew inspiration from Patsy's everyday life to create the long-running Patsy Walker series, which fictionalized her daughter's experiences and propelled the family into the spotlight. This arrangement fostered a strained family dynamic, with Patsy resenting her mother's strict control and manipulative tendencies, which often prioritized publicity over personal well-being. During her teenage years, spanning the 1940s and 1950s in the continuity, Patsy attended Centerville High School, where she navigated typical adolescent challenges amid her unintended celebrity status. She formed close s, including a best friendship with Nancy "Nan" Brown and a more complicated rivalry with Hedy Wolfe, who frequently vied for the affections of Patsy's high school sweetheart, Robert "" Baxter. Her romance with , marked by youthful hijinks and social events, became a central element in her mother's , further blurring the lines between Patsy's private life and public persona. Following her high school graduation, Patsy pursued a brief career in modeling, influenced by her mother's ambitions, while continuing to idolize from afar. These early experiences, originally depicted in ' teen humor titles from 1945 to 1969, were later retroactively established as semi-fictional accounts written by Dorothy and integrated into Marvel's main continuity, particularly through storylines in Avengers #144 (1976) and subsequent Defenders appearances. This canon adjustment framed Patsy's adolescence as a foundational period of normalcy before her later involvement in superhero activities.

Becoming Hellcat and initial superhero career

Following her divorce from Buzz Baxter, Patsy Walker sought a more adventurous life, drawing on her lifelong admiration for superheroes that stemmed from her teenage years reading comics about the Avengers. In 1976, while assisting Captain America and Iron Man in escaping the Brand Corporation, she discovered and donned the discarded costume originally worn by Greer Grant Nelson as the Cat (later Tigra), complete with retractable steel claws and enhanced agility features. This marked her transformation into the vigilante Hellcat, adopting the feline-themed identity to channel her enthusiasm into street-level heroism in New York City. Eager to prove herself, Hellcat briefly joined the Avengers, participating in missions against threats like during her short stint from ages to 31. However, before fully committing, she was recruited by the Titanian priestess for intensive training on the planet Titan, where she honed her acrobatic skills, prowess, and latent psionic abilities through advanced electronic amplification and meditative discipline. The training, though abbreviated, emphasized agility and mental resilience, preparing her for the demands of superheroics and transforming her from an enthusiastic novice into a capable fighter. Returning to Earth around age 32, Hellcat transitioned to the Defenders, debuting in their ranks in 1977 and forming key alliances with members like , the , and . As a Defender, Hellcat's initial career focused on supernatural and occult threats, establishing her as a versatile street-level hero adept at blending acrobatics with claw-based combat. She contributed to victories against entities like the demon Yandroth and the mystic , often leveraging her optimism and quick thinking in team dynamics. Notable early exploits included a crossover battle alongside against demonic forces tied to (the Son of Satan), whom she met during Defenders missions and began romancing around 1981. Their relationship deepened amid high-stakes adventures, culminating in marriage at age 35, though it introduced personal challenges as Hellcat grappled with the psychological toll of constant occult exposure. The superhero life exacted a heavy mental strain on Hellcat, leading to episodes of breakdown exacerbated by intense battles, such as her confrontation with the mutant villainess during a Defenders skirmish involving dark magic rituals. These experiences highlighted her growth from a wide-eyed fan to a resilient operative, forging ties with New York vigilantes while navigating the emotional rigors of her dual identity in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Marriage, death, and resurrection

After high school in the late 1960s or early 1970s, Patsy Walker married her high school sweetheart Buzz Baxter, a U.S. officer who had served in and later became a liaison to the Brand Corporation. Their relationship, initially promising, deteriorated amid Baxter's growing irritability and the stresses of his career, leading to an abusive dynamic marked by emotional strain and control issues exacerbated by Walker's mother Dorothy's manipulative influence. The marriage ended in divorce before 1976, after which Baxter underwent experimental enhancements at Roxxon's Mutagenic Department, transforming him into the feral villain Mad-Dog with enhanced strength, speed, claws, and a berserker rage. As Mad-Dog, Baxter sought revenge on Walker, crashing her subsequent wedding to in Defenders #125 (1984) alongside the Mutant Force, further traumatizing her and solidifying the abusive legacy of their union. Following the Defenders' loose disbandment in the mid-1980s, Walker's spiraled as she grappled with the toll of her career, failed marriages, and supernatural entanglements, particularly after marrying Hellstrom and confronting demonic forces. She became institutionalized in a near-vegetative state, her psyche fractured by Hellstrom's resurfacing demonic heritage and the overuse of mystical artifacts like the in Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #3 (1993). This decline culminated in a in Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #14 (1994), where the demonic entity Deathurge manipulated her vulnerability, compelling her to shoot herself and sending her soul to Mephisto's Arena of Tainted Souls. Walker remained deceased for six years until her resurrection in Thunderbolts Annual (2000) #1, orchestrated by the Grim Reaper as part of a plot to unleash undead Avengers against the living team; Hellstrom tricked the Thunderbolts into aiding the revival, allowing her escape from Mephisto's realm with enhanced abilities including "demon sight" for detecting supernatural threats. In Avengers Annual (2000) #1, she emerged disoriented and depressed, struggling with lost time, fragmented memories, and the psychological scars of Hell, prompting therapy sessions to rebuild her confidence and reintegrate into society while returning to her hometown of Centerville. Shortly after, Walker briefly allied with the New Avengers, assisting in missions like aiding She-Hulk with legal battles in She-Hulk (2014) #2, though she soon stepped back to focus on personal recovery.

Post-resurrection adventures and team affiliations

Following her resurrection in Thunderbolts Annual 2000 #1, where she was revived from Mephisto's Arena of Tainted Souls alongside other heroes manipulated by the Grim Reaper, Patsy Walker grappled with lingering psychological trauma from her death and infernal experiences but quickly recommitted to superheroics. In She-Hulk vol. 3 #2 (2005), Patsy provided key support to Jennifer Walters during legal proceedings involving superhuman rights, solidifying their close friendship and showcasing Patsy's resourcefulness in courtroom-adjacent crises. During the Civil War crossover (2006-2007), Patsy aligned with the pro-registration supporters of the Superhuman Registration Act, registering her identity in She-Hulk vol. 2 #10 and accepting Iron Man's assignment to protect Alaska as part of the 50-State Initiative, a role that highlighted her growing sense of duty amid the hero community's divide. This Initiative tenure formed the basis of the 2008 Patsy Walker: Hellcat miniseries (#1-5), in which she confronted witches, magical artifacts, and supernatural incursions while isolated in Alaska, demonstrating her enhanced hell-blast powers and agility against occult threats. Patsy later joined the Lady Liberators, an all-female superhero team assembled by in Hulk vol. 2 #14-17 (2009), to track and battle the (Thaddeus Ross), engaging in high-stakes confrontations that tested her combat skills alongside powerhouses like and . She contributed to further clashes with the Red She-Hulk (Elizabeth Ross) as part of this affiliation, emphasizing themes of female solidarity in pursuing justice against familial betrayals in the Hulk lineage. In 2011, amid the Fear Itself event, Patsy reunited with Defenders alumni like and the in peripheral skirmishes against fear-empowered foes, reinforcing her longstanding ties to the non-team while aiding in global crisis response. By 2016's Civil War II, Patsy's involvement deepened her personal conflicts, as the precognitive Inhuman Ulysses' visions foretold potential tragedies tied to her past traumas, prompting her to side with Captain Marvel's predictive intervention faction in Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #8 and grappling with profound emotional repercussions from the event's ambiguities. Throughout these arcs, Patsy emerged as a vocal advocate for mental health, leveraging her recovery from resurrection-induced distress and earlier breakdowns to mentor peers on resilience, while transitioning from supportive roles in teams like the Defenders to assertive leadership positions that underscored her maturation as a hero.

Recent developments (2010s–2025)

In the mid-2010s, Patsy Walker, as Hellcat, starred in her own series where she founded and operated Super Temps, a temp agency catering to superheroes, enlisting friends like She-Hulk and Hedy Wolfe to handle odd jobs amid everyday chaos in New York City. The narrative emphasized her efforts to rebuild her life post-Hell, blending humor with action as she navigated job insecurities and personal rivalries, including clashes with Hedy's schemes rooted in their shared comic book history. Mystical threats escalated when Hellcat confronted sorcerer Ian McNee, whose magical manipulations drew her into battles involving demonic forces and alternate realities, forcing her to leverage her agility and willpower against supernatural foes. By 2022, Hellcat's storyline intersected with 's in the Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1, where Tony Stark proposed marriage following their growing partnership in crime-fighting, leading to a joint adventure to to confront haunts from her past, including her ex-husband Buzz Baxter and infernal entities. This romance deepened, resulting in cohabitation at Stark's Malibu residence and collaborative missions, such as battling during a high-stakes tech heist that tested their compatibility amid Walker's lingering traumas. Their relationship provided Hellcat with emotional stability, though it complicated her independent heroics. The 2023 Hellcat solo miniseries delved into metafictional therapy sessions, with Walker haunted by her mother Dorothy's ghost in a San Francisco Victorian home, prompting confrontations with past traumas like her manipulated comic origins and demonic possessions. Framed for a tied to her Hedy, Hellcat broke the in introspective sequences, reflecting on her from teen romance icon to while rejecting Stark's proposal to reclaim autonomy. These elements underscored her psychological growth, blending with supernatural mystery. Following the rejection, her romantic relationship with was placed on a break as of 2023. In 2024, Hellcat supported during social outings and team-ups in Sensational She-Hulk #4-10, reinforcing their friendship amid various conflicts. Later that year, during the Venom War event, Hellcat joined and Shocker in combating the Zombiotes—a zombie-symbiote hybrid outbreak in —where she was temporarily infected but cured through intervention by symbiote experts like . As of 2025, no new solo series or major events featuring Hellcat have been published, with her last significant appearance in the 2024 Venom War: Zombiotes miniseries. Throughout these developments, themes of self-empowerment dominated, as Hellcat repeatedly asserted control over her narrative against exploitative legacies, while explorations of queer identity emerged through her close bonds with diverse superheroines and subtle subtext in her interpersonal dynamics. Her enduring status as a Marvel icon reflects this resilience, evolving from a sidelined figure to a multifaceted lead in ensemble events.

Powers and abilities

Patsy Walker, as Hellcat, possesses a combination of enhanced physical abilities, psionic powers, and mystical enhancements, along with specialized equipment. Her powers have evolved over time through training, technological augmentation, and exposure to forces.

Physical abilities

Hellcat is an accomplished and gymnast with peak human conditioning, allowing her to perform feats of , balance, and endurance. She is skilled in horseback riding, dancing, , , and piloting. Her natural athleticism provides her with cat-like reflexes, heightened senses, and sufficient to overpower most human opponents. When augmented by her costume, these abilities are further enhanced, granting her and the capacity to cling to walls and surfaces.

Psionic and mental powers

Through training with the Avengers and technological psionic stimulation on Titan by Moondragon, Hellcat unlocked latent telekinetic abilities. She can manipulate objects with her mind, create force fields, and project her consciousness over distances. These powers allow her to engage in unarmed combat effectively and surprise adversaries with smooth, acrobatic fighting moves.

Mystical enhancements

Hellcat's exposure to the supernatural, particularly during her marriage to Daimon Hellstrom and subsequent investigations into demonology and occult lore, granted her mystical abilities. She possesses "demon sight," enabling her to detect supernatural entities and mystical energies. A magical cloak allows her to open dimensional portals for transportation or summoning. Additionally, she can generate a magic field to deflect mystical attacks. Hellcat is an expert in supernatural lore, aiding her in battling otherworldly threats.

Equipment

Hellcat's costume, originally designed for , is a key component of her arsenal. Made from , it augments her physical skills with built-in retractable claws for combat and cables for mobility. The suit enhances her and provides protection, integrating seamlessly with her psionic and mystical powers.

Character reception

Critical analysis

Patsy Walker's evolution from a 1940s teen romance archetype to a modern feminist icon reflects broader shifts in Marvel's portrayal of female characters, transitioning from passive domestic narratives to empowered superhero agency. Initially introduced in Miss America Magazine #2 (1944) as a lighthearted high school girl entangled in romantic comedies akin to , Patsy embodied post-World War II ideals of youthful femininity and conformity. By the 1970s, her reinvention as Hellcat in Avengers #144 (1976) marked a pivotal empowerment arc, where she donned the catsuit previously worn by the heroine known as and joined the Defenders, symbolizing second-wave feminist themes of and physical prowess amid the era's growing female superhero presence. In contrast, the 2015 Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! series by revived her with humorous, slice-of-life that emphasized emotional resilience and camaraderie, reimagining her as a multifaceted millennial heroine navigating job struggles and supernatural threats without relying on traditional power fantasies. Walker's depiction of mental health has garnered both praise and critique across decades, highlighting Marvel's uneven handling of in female characters. Early portrayals in her 1940s–1960s often trivialized emotional distress through stereotypical tropes of or romantic fixation, reflecting mid-20th-century that pathologized women's independence. Her 1993 suicide in Hellstorm: Prince of Lies #14, triggered by institutionalization and demonic influence from her marriage to , was a stark of mental collapse that remained underexplored for years, criticized for sensationalizing despair without depth. Later stories, particularly her post-resurrection arcs in the 2000s and Christopher Cantwell's run (2020–2022), earned acclaim for sensitively addressing depression, Hell trauma, and recovery through therapy and support networks, portraying Patsy's resilience as a model of ongoing advocacy rather than a quick fix. Metafictional elements in Walker's narratives, particularly amplified in the 2023 Hellcat miniseries, underscore critiques of the comic industry's exploitation of creators and characters. Drawing from her in-universe origin where mother Dorothy Walker penned fictionalized comics about her daughter—mirroring real-life creators Ruth Atkinson and —these stories frequently break the to comment on narrative control and . In the 2023 series by and Alex Lins, Patsy confronts Dorothy's lingering influence as a ghostly manipulator, using self-aware asides to satirize reboots, , and the erasure of female agency in serialized storytelling, positioning Hellcat as a meta-commentary on Marvel's history of resurrecting and repurposing legacy characters. Walker's cultural legacy lies in paving the way for diverse, female-led Marvel titles, influencing a wave of introspective heroines in the while paralleling contemporaries like in blending humor with empowerment. As one of Marvel's longest-running female protagonists, with over 100 issues across her teen era, she set precedents for sustained solo narratives that prioritized relational dynamics and personal growth over spectacle. The 2015 series, in particular, advanced diversity through its inclusive ensemble of , BIPOC, and neurodiverse supporting characters, fostering themes of found family that echoed 's legal-feminist deconstructions but with a lighter, community-focused tone. This evolution has inspired titles like and The Unstoppable Wasp, contributing to Marvel's broader push toward intersectional representation in female superhero media.

Awards and recognition

Patsy Walker's portrayal in the comic series Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! (2015–2017) received a nomination for the Outstanding category at the 28th Annual Media Awards in 2017, recognizing its positive depiction of LGBTQ+ representation through diverse character relationships and themes of identity. The series was highlighted alongside other nominees like for advancing inclusive storytelling in narratives. As part of ' 80th anniversary celebrations in 2019, Patsy Walker was featured in the Upper Deck Marvel 80th Anniversary set, which retrospectively honored early characters from the publisher's history, including her debut in as a teen humor protagonist. This inclusion underscored her enduring legacy from era to modern superhero iterations. In 2024, Patsy Walker appeared in the Venom War: Zombiotes limited series, a tie-in to the larger Venom War event, where she teamed up with allies like to combat symbiote threats, marking a notable comeback and integration into ongoing Marvel crossovers. Her role highlighted themes of resilience amid personal struggles, such as challenges, reinforcing her evolution as a multifaceted .

Series-specific reception

Patsy Walker: Hellcat (2008 miniseries)

Patsy Walker: Hellcat is a five-issue limited series published by from July to November 2008, written by Kathryn Immonen with pencils by David Lafuente and covers by . The story is set in the aftermath of Patsy's , positioning her as Alaska's representative in the Fifty-State Initiative, where she grapples with renewed responsibilities amid isolation and uncertainty. The plot centers on Patsy's arrival in remote , where she is thrust into a crisis involving a Native American of shape-shifters. Recruited by tribal shamans after battling a spirit wolf, she embarks on a quest to rescue their kidnapped heir from the cannibalistic spirit, leveraging her Hellcat claws, agility, and sensitivity. Immonen's narrative emphasizes Patsy's post-resurrection adjustment, portraying her wisecracking optimism as a coping mechanism for the eerie and physical dangers of , culminating in a confrontation that tests her resolve and ties into broader demonic elements from her past. Lafuente's artwork delivers dynamic action sequences that seamlessly integrate humor and horror, featuring expressive facial close-ups for Patsy's banter and shadowy, atmospheric panels for the Alaskan wilderness and monstrous threats. Critics highlighted how his clean, vibrant style enhances the series' playful yet tense tone, making elements feel both whimsical and menacing. Reception was positive overall, with an average critic rating of 7.1/10 on Roundup across available reviews, lauding the fresh take on Patsy's character depth and the engaging blend of lighthearted adventure with intrigue. Some reviewers critiqued the pacing as occasionally rushed or confusing in later issues, particularly during rapid shifts in mystical lore. Sales performed respectably for a character-focused , with the debut issue moving 19,674 copies per estimates, and subsequent issues averaging around 11,000.

Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! (2015–2017)

Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat!, an ongoing series launched in December 2015 as part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel initiative, follows Patsy Walker as she establishes the Patsy Walker Agency, a temp staffing service catering to superheroes, mutants, and other extraordinary individuals struggling with employment in . The narrative blends slice-of-life comedy with superhero action, depicting Patsy's efforts to build her business while navigating personal relationships, financial woes, and unexpected threats, such as magical adversaries and rival thieves like . Over its 17-issue run, the story explores themes of friendship, self-reinvention, and community among a diverse ensemble, including characters like Ian McNee, a sorcerer who poses a mystical challenge to Patsy's agency operations. The series also incorporates tie-ins, notably issue #8, which ties into the Civil War II event, where prophetic visions and superhero conflicts disrupt Patsy's life and force her to confront her role in the larger hero community. The creative team, led by writer and artist Brittney Williams with colors by Megan Wilson, infused the series with a vibrant, accessible style that prioritized inclusive storytelling and humor over high-stakes battles. Leth's scripts emphasize Patsy's relatable struggles—such as dodging exploitative gigs and managing quirky clients—while weaving in diverse representation, including queer subtext through Patsy's implied and strong female friendships that avoid . Williams' art features bold, expressive designs and a colorful palette that enhances the comedic tone, making everyday logistics feel dynamic and fun. This approach marked a departure from more action-heavy Hellcat tales, focusing instead on empowerment through ensemble antics and lighthearted magical encounters. Critically, the series earned an average rating of 8.5/10 on Comic Book Roundup, praised for its witty dialogue, emotional depth in character bonds, and progressive themes like visibility and amid superhero chaos. Reviewers highlighted the humor in Patsy's agency mishaps and the series' celebration of underrepresented voices in comics, with outlets like lauding its spunky, emotion-driven narrative as a standout for LGBTQ+ readers. However, despite positive buzz, the book struggled commercially, with sales dipping below 10,000 units per issue by its later numbers—such as 6,943 copies for #17—leading to its cancellation in April 2017 after issue #17. Fans expressed disappointment over the abrupt end, fueling online discussions and calls for revival that underscored the series' cult appeal for its joyful, diverse take on Marvel's universe.

Iron Man/Hellcat Annual (2022)

The Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1 (2022) is a one-shot comic that explores the budding romance between (Hellcat) and Tony Stark (), blending elements of horror with superhero action. Following Tony's unexpected marriage proposal to in Iron Man #20, she declines and travels to to assess an inherited aging Victorian mansion, only to uncover a crisis tied to her past. The story delves into themes of vulnerability in superhero relationships, as confronts demonic forces and personal demons, with Tony arriving to provide support in a climactic battle against hellish threats, highlighting their emotional connection amid the chaos. Written by , who continued his run on the series, and illustrated by Ruairí Coleman with colors by Chris O'Halloran, the issue combines romantic introspection with high-stakes action sequences involving hellfire and otherworldly adversaries. Cantwell's script emphasizes Patsy's independence and the complexities of her dynamic with Tony, while Coleman's artwork captures the eerie atmosphere of the and the intensity of the confrontation. The narrative serves as a bridge between Patsy's role in the storyline and her future solo endeavors. Critically, the annual received an average rating of 8.5/10 across multiple reviews, praised for its strong character chemistry between Hellcat and , as well as its effective mix of romance and supernatural elements that add depth to Patsy's vulnerability. Some critics noted it felt somewhat promotional for upcoming arcs, but overall, it was appreciated for fleshing out the heroes' emotional sides beyond typical tech-heavy battles. The issue sold over 15,000 copies in its debut month, ranking moderately among Marvel's July 2022 releases.

Hellcat (2023 solo series)

Hellcat (2023) is a five-issue limited series published by Marvel Comics from March to July 2023, written by Christopher Cantwell with art by Alex Lins, colors by K.J. Díaz, letters by Ariana Maher, and covers by Pere Pérez. The story serves as a direct continuation from Cantwell's run on Iron Man (2020–2023), where Patsy Walker, as Hellcat, declines a marriage proposal from Tony Stark and relocates to San Francisco to start anew. The plot unfolds as a supernatural murder mystery, with Hellcat framed for the killing of a close associate in her inner circle. Living in a demon-haunted house plagued by ghostly apparitions—including echoes of her past relationships and family— must evade law enforcement, confront otherworldly entities like the Sleepwalker, and grapple with the return of her ex-husband, . As the investigation deepens, the narrative delves into 's psychological turmoil, revealing metafictional elements tied to her origins as a 1940s romance comic character created by her mother, Dorothy Walker, and her subsequent transformations into a . This structure blends gritty noir aesthetics with horror, emphasizing battles against both external threats and internal demons stemming from decades of trauma, identity shifts, and industry exploitation. Lins's artwork enhances the surreal and eerie tone through dynamic paneling and exaggerated expressions, capturing the blend of visceral action and introspective horror, while Cantwell's scripting highlights Patsy's resilience amid vulnerability. The series concludes with a resolution that ties up the mystery but leaves Patsy's future open-ended, reinforcing themes of self-reckoning and the lingering impact of her comic-book legacy. Critically, the received positive reviews for its character depth and innovative fusion of genres, earning an average critic score of 8.1/10 across outlets, with praise for exploring trauma and satirical nods to . Sites like CBR lauded its gritty atmosphere and emotional resonance, while AIPT Comics highlighted the intimate portrayal of Patsy's storied . Sales for the debut issue ranked #45 in units among March 2023 , benefiting from crossover interest generated by the preceding Iron Man/Hellcat Annual (2022). The collected edition, Hellcat: Devil on My Shoulder, was released in October 2023, bundling the annual and full series.

Alternate versions

Ultimate Marvel (Earth-1610)

In the Ultimate Marvel universe (Earth-1610), Patsy Walker initially works in the entertainment industry, performing various jobs such as spokeswoman, model, host, and celebrity interviewer. She later becomes the superheroine Hellcat after being mutated by , gaining feline-like traits including superhuman agility, reflexes, and claws. In this form, she joins the Defenders, a team of superhero-wannabes, and has no prior or fashion design background. Patsy Walker first appeared in #11 (October 2000), created by writer and artist . Her early appearances include minor roles in #14, #70, and #113, as well as Ultimates 2 #6 (2005). She assists in various Ultimate Universe events but does not engage in romantic relationships with characters like Tony Stark or die during the event (2008–2009). Her final appearance is in Ultimate New Ultimates #1 (March 2010), where she actively participates as Hellcat with the Defenders against threats. This version emphasizes her transformation from a civilian entertainer to a powered hero in the more grounded Ultimate setting.

Heroes Reborn (1996 event)

In the 1996 "Heroes Reborn" event, was portrayed as the superheroine Hellcat in a created by Franklin Richards to shelter the Avengers and from Onslaught. This alternate reality reimagined the team's history, with —a fur-covered, feline-like version of her counterpart—serving as a core member of the SHIELD-backed Avengers. Prior to joining, she worked as a alongside Hawkeye and the Grim Reaper on missions, including one in . Her abilities include enhanced agility, strength, and , used in team support roles against villains such as the , , , Klaw, , and a mind-controlled Thor; she was also injured in a battle with the . Unlike her main timeline, this has no domestic past or marriage to Buzz Baxter, focusing instead on her origins and heroic contributions. Her storyline concludes dramatically when Loki transfers her consciousness into the Scarlet Witch's body, leading Agatha Harkness to expel her essence and seemingly destroy it in Avengers Vol. 2 #13 (December 1997). She does not appear in the Heroes Reborn: The Return miniseries (1997), which resolves the Onslaught crisis and reintegrates other elements without her involvement. The overall "Heroes Reborn" event, running from 1996 to 1997, was primarily written by with art by .

In other media

Television appearances

Patsy Walker, known as Trish Walker in the (MCU), is portrayed by actress across several series produced by . In the series (2015–2019), Walker serves as the best friend and adopted sister of the titular character, providing emotional support while navigating her own career as a radio host and aspiring journalist. Her arc culminates in season 3, where she undergoes an experimental procedure to gain superhuman abilities, adopting the vigilante identity of Hellcat with enhanced strength, agility, and senses derived from her comic book counterpart. This transformation explores themes of empowerment and the consequences of seeking superhuman power, positioning her as a key ally turned complex antagonist in Jessica's story. Walker makes a in season 1 of (2016), where she interviews the protagonist and briefly interacts with the supporting cast amid a Harlem-based conflict, highlighting her journalistic pursuits within the broader MCU street-level hero landscape. She also features in The Defenders (2017) miniseries, teaming up with , Daredevil, , and Iron Fist against the Hand organization. Here, Walker's resourcefulness and loyalty to Jessica are emphasized, though her role is more supportive, underscoring her transition from civilian to someone entangled in superhero affairs.

Video game portrayals

Patsy Walker, known as Hellcat, first appeared as a playable character in video games within the mobile title, released in 2015 by . Added in a March 2017 update, her design drew directly from the contemporary Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! comic series, emphasizing her agile, feline-inspired persona. As a speed-type character, Hellcat focuses on high-mobility combat with moves such as backflips, aerial slashes, and claw strikes that incorporate invincibility frames for evasive . Hellcat became playable in , Kabam's 2014 mobile fighting game, following her selection in the 2025 Summoner's Choice event. Added in 2025, she serves as a class champion, highlighting her acrobatic prowess and claw-based combos for aggressive, control-oriented battles. Her kit rewards fast-paced playstyles, aligning with her comic roots as a lifelong enthusiast who honed her abilities through rigorous training. In the match-3 RPG , developed by D3 Go!, Hellcat (Patsy Walker) joined as a 4-star character in May 2020. Her abilities center on and disruption, including generating special tiles for boosted attacks and shuffling enemy defenses to mimic her pounce and strike maneuvers. She provides team synergies, particularly with Defenders members like Daredevil and Iron Fist, enhancing group power through shared buffs. Across these titles, Hellcat's portrayals emphasize her enhanced reflexes and expertise, often tying into her Defenders affiliations for cooperative gameplay bonuses.

Collected editions

Trade paperbacks featuring substantial Patsy Walker/Hellcat content include:
TitleMaterial collectedPublication dateISBN
Patsy Walker: HellcatPatsy Walker: Hellcat #1–5; #1–4 (Hellcat stories)June 2009978-0785133797
Marvel DivasMarvel Divas #1–4November 2009978-0785143550
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 1: Hooked on a FelinePatsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #1–6April 2016978-1302900359
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 2: Don't Stop Me-OwPatsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #7–12January 2017978-1302900366
Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! Vol. 3: Careless Whisker(s)Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat! #13–17July 2017978-1302906627
Hellcat: Devil on My ShoulderHellcat (2023) #1–5October 2023978-1302951974
Her appearances in team books like Avengers and Defenders are collected in various and Epic Collections volumes, such as Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 6 (collecting Defenders #42–57). Early teen romance stories appear in Marvel Romance (2006), collecting Patsy Walker #119 among others.

References

  1. https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/hellcat-patsy-walker-complete-comics-history-explained
  2. https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/patsy-walker-from-romance-comic-star-to-super-hero
  3. https://www.marvel.com/characters/hellcat-patsy-walker/in-comics
  4. https://www.marvel.com/comics/guides/403/hellcat-patsy-walker
  5. https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/36742/hellcat_2023
  6. https://www.comics.org/issue/3970/
  7. https://www.sellmycomicbooks.com/patsy-walker.html
  8. https://www.comics.org/series/419/
  9. https://bleedingcool.com/comics/the-1945-debut-of-the-first-patsy-walker-series-up-for-auction/
  10. https://www.mycomicshop.com/search?TID=192741
  11. https://www.comics.org/issue/93179/
  12. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/7002/avengers_1963_144
  13. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/20353/defenders_1972_44
  14. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/20291/defenders_1972_125
  15. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/83498/hellstorm_prince_of_lies_1993_3
  16. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/20627/avengers_annual_2000_1
  17. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/59962/thunderbolts_annual_2000_1
  18. https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/5212/patsy_walker_hellcat_2008_-_2009
  19. https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/8100/marvel_divas_2009
  20. https://www.comicbooktreasury.com/patsy-walker-hellcat-reading-order/
  21. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Patsy_Walker%2C_A.K.A._Hellcat%21_Vol_1
  22. https://queercomicsdatabase.com/series/patsy-walker-a-k-a-hellcat/
  23. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/85577/iron_man_2020_1
  24. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/99828/iron_manhellcat_annual_2022_1
  25. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/106450/hellcat_2023_1
  26. https://mycomicshop.wordpress.com/2025/01/14/found-in-the-vault-the-many-lives-of-patsy-walker/
  27. https://www.marvel.com/teams-and-groups/defenders/in-comics
  28. https://www.marvel.com/teams-and-groups/lady-liberators
  29. https://www.marvel.com/comics/series/20845/patsy_walker_aka_hellcat_2015_2017
  30. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/57057/patsy_walker_aka_hellcat_2015_1
  31. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/57072/patsy_walker_aka_hellcat_2015_11
  32. https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/iron-man-hellcat-annual-1-tony-stark-patsy-walker-go-hell
  33. https://aiptcomics.com/2023/10/25/hellcat-devil-on-my-shoulder-review/
  34. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Patricia_Walker_(Earth-616)
  35. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/118744/venom_war_zombiotes_2024_2
  36. https://www.autostraddle.com/drawn-to-comics-patsy-walker-aka-hellcat-343023/
  37. https://www.thepopverse.com/patsy-walker-hellcat-marvel-universe-characters
  38. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.7560/312490-005/html?lang=en
  39. https://www.themarysue.com/patsy-walker-representation-goodbye/
  40. https://www.writeups.org/hellcat-marvel-comics-walker-suicide/
  41. https://screenrant.com/marvel-is-finally-taking-an-avengers-suicide-seriously/
  42. https://www.cbr.com/deadpool-hellcat-she-hulk-meta-superheroes-marvel/
  43. https://www.cbr.com/patsy-walker-hellcat-metafiction-fourth-wall/
  44. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/2017-glaad-media-award-nominees-969412/
  45. https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/glaad-media-awards-nominees-moonlight-1201776090/
  46. https://www.tcdb.com/Gallery.cfm/sid/223505/2019-Upper-Deck-Marvel-80th-Anniversary---Retro
  47. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/21595/patsy_walker_hellcat_2008_1
  48. https://comicsworthreading.com/2009/06/27/patsy-walker-hellcat/
  49. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Patsy_Walker:_Hellcat_Vol_1_1
  50. https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/02/patsy-walker-hellcat-agent-of-the-initiative-1-review
  51. https://www.marvelnoise.com/2008/08/03/review-patsy-walker-hellcat-2/
  52. https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/patsy-walker-hellcat
  53. https://www.cbr.com/sales-estimates-for-july-2008/
  54. https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/patsy-walker-aka-hellcat/1
  55. https://aiptcomics.com/2015/12/28/patsy-walker-aka-hellcat-1-review/
  56. https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/patsy-walker-aka-hellcat
  57. https://www.comicsbeat.com/marvel-month-to-month-sales-charts-december-2016-strange-behaviors/
  58. https://www.cbr.com/no-diversity-didnt-kill-marvels-comic-sales/
  59. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Iron_Man/Hellcat_Annual_Vol_1_1
  60. https://aiptcomics.com/2022/06/27/iron-man-hellcat-annual-1-review/
  61. https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/iron-man--hellcat-annual-%282022%29/1
  62. https://www.comicbookrevolution.com/july-2022-single-issue-comic-book-sales-rankings/
  63. https://butwhytho.net/2022/06/review-iron-man-and-hellcat-annual-issue-1/
  64. https://weirdsciencemarvelcomics.com/2023/07/26/hellcat-5-review/
  65. https://womenwriteaboutcomics.com/2023/04/hellcat-1-brings-the-grit-and-gloom-with-a-new-murder-mystery/
  66. https://comicbook.com/comics/news/hellcat-1-review-marvel-comics-christopher-cantwell/
  67. https://www.cbr.com/marvel-hellcat-1-review/
  68. https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/hellcat-%282023%29/5
  69. https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/marvel-comics/hellcat-%282023%29
  70. https://icv2.com/articles/markets/view/53758/top-50-comics-march-2023
  71. https://www.amazon.com/HELLCAT-DEVIL-SHOULDER-Christopher-Cantwell/dp/1302951971
  72. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Patricia_Walker_(Earth-1610)
  73. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Patricia_Walker_(Heroes_Reborn)_(Earth-616)
  74. https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Avengers_Vol_2_4
  75. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/17758/avengers_1996_4
  76. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/17761/avengers_1996_7
  77. https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/17762/avengers_1996_8
  78. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2357547/
  79. https://www.marvel.com/articles/games/marvel-future-fight-new-blood
  80. https://playcontestofchampions.com/news/summoners-choice-2025/
  81. https://forums.d3go.com/discussion/82426/hellcat
  82. https://www.marvel.com/comics/collection/3563/marvel_romance_trade_paperback
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.