Invasion of the Spider-Slayers

[iamrman]

Amazing Spider-Man #371. Black Cat visits the Parkers to show off her ridiculous new costume.

Amazing Spider-Man #372.

Hey, I remember these Spider-Slayers from the animated series. I would say something about synergy, but these issues came first.

Amazing Spider-Man #373.

Well, that was anticlimactic. Most of the issue was taken up with a tiresome subplot about Peter’s parents. The issue was also padded out with a Venom back-up story.

Comments

[cainofdreaming]

Felicia really wanted to show off those implants, huh?

[phantomfo]

They're the rare type that actually heighten balance and agility.

[windleopard2]

Would be pretty funny if people in-universe thought those were the kind of implants Felicia was talking about and the Tinkerer starts getting some very surprising requests from clients.

[mazway_75]

Nothing screams "cat burglar" like baring most of your torso in a skintight outfit.

I do like how now and then you get the reminder that when Spidey gets pissed off and takes the gloves off, you're facing a guy who can punch through concrete and benchpress a bus.

There was a story where some guys are talking about the wisecracks and someone goes "you better hope for that. Because if you're facing him and he's not making the jokes, you're in for a world of pain."

[donnblake]

Look, her mask carefully avoids covering almost all identifying features, so she's gotta stop folks making an accurate description to the sketch artists *somehow*.

[windleopard2]

If it works for Power Girl...

Funny thing is, I think Felicia's identity became public at some point. Flash even knew she was the Black Cat.

[lbd_nytetrayn]

I thought she called herself an "adventuress" now, though?

[blues32]

Hey, I actually had #372 as a kid! I was starting to notice that Spider-Man wasn't as funny as he used to be by that point. After his "parents" died, I practically gave up on the series. Just a load of edgy nonsense.

[iamrman]

Yeah, it rapidly goes downhill from here.

[remial]

what do I think of your outfit? honestly? the long fur at the forearms and the calves are going to get tangled in something, the claws and contact lenses are nice, but how is it managing to stay closed when every ounce of my will is ...

I mean, it looks good.

at least she isn't wearing high heels.

[windleopard2]

I'm actually struggling to recall if Felicia has ever worn heels outside of fanart or covers.

[nyadnar17]

Holy shit I remember this book! I owe most if not all of this saga!

I read it at a very ummm, lets say I read it at the right age.

[lbd_nytetrayn]

Ah, I was wondering what you owed it...

[dan_ingram]

I remember these guys from the Spider-Man cartoon. They were cooler there, lol

[scorntx]

Presumably her luck powers stop her tripping over the furry bits?
But it must be very skintight, or she has to be forever stopping to pull it up with no shoulders..

"Why, yes, Peter, these implants make my eyes look green. And also I have this ginger wig, which I got at the same time completely free!"

[viridian5]

That costume must require a lot of industrial-strength, double-sided fashion tape to stay put.

[beyondthefringe]

Mary Jane smoking… like wtf?

[blues32]

Oh, yes, she had a smoking problem for years. Can't remember if it started before or after she got with Peter. It took seeing that leazy photographer...what was his name Nick something. Began with a K. He was the fat guy who took a picture of her kissing Spider-Man and trying to blackmail her with it... It took seeing him with cancer to make her put the effort into quitting. All of Nick's fat had vacated the premises at that point. His arms were skin and bones and his hair had fallen out in clumps from the chemotherapy. Peter used him as a "scared straight" tactic.

[onsokumaru]

That was peak Bagley. Love Felicia's costume. Those issues were way more enjoyable than those drawn by Larsen.
And I miss characters being allowed to smoke. The whole MJ stress-smoking plot was nicely done.

[deh_tommy]

Must... resist... boob jokes... dangit...

[petermilley]

So, do those spikes coming out of Smythe's shoulders do anything or are they purely decorative? Does he wear that carapace all the time, even when he's washing that waist-length hair? How long did he need to practice walking on those weird feet?

(I actually saw this issue in print years and years and years ago but these questions never occurred to me then, I must have been distracted by something.)

[iamrman]

The things on Smythe's shoulders are laser blasters. He used them to zap one of his underlings.

[mastermahan]

"Oh, Lord! The three robots! They're having sex with each other!"

I can see why they adapted this story. Three robots that combine is very toyetic.