Patsy Walker, A.K.A Hellcat: Vol. 1: Hooked On A Feline, Vol. 2: Don't Stop Me-ow, Vol 3: Careless Whisker(s)

Patsy Walker, A.K.A Hellcat: Vol. 1: Hooked On A Feline, Vol. 2: Don't Stop Me-ow, Vol 3: Careless Whisker(s)
Kate Leth, Brittney Williams, 2016, 2017

Premise: Patsy has been through a lot. She's been an Avenger. She's been to Hell. Now she just wants to figure out how to make enough money for rent, and help other people out along the way. Collects Patsy Walker, A.K.A. Hellcat #1-17 (complete run).

Aww. Shelve this book next to Squirrel Girl, they're both great examples of friendly comics with diverse casts of interesting characters that deal with emotion and action without losing a sense of hope and camaraderie.

Patsy Walker is a really interesting character in a meta sense. She was created as a teen humor comic that turned to romance as the characters aged. (There were many of these comics in the 40s and 50s; the Archie comics are nearly the only surviving example of the type.) A cameo in an superhero title established that the characters might exist in the Marvel universe, and later another author took that cameo and folded the character in by giving her a hero identity.

Yet another series later established that the original humor/romance comics existed in-world, written by Patsy's mother. This modern title comes full circle by establishing other characters from the original comics, having the publication of them be a major part of the plot, and generally melding Patsy's superhero life with humor, romance, and interpersonal stories that wouldn't be out of place in an all ages comic.

(More recently the character appeared in the Netflix show Jessica Jones, although she went by Trish and was only beginning her journey toward becoming a hero.)

I enjoyed all of the minor characters, B-list villains, and entertaining twists of this book. It was just good hearted and pleasant to read. (Also both funny and exciting!) Even when a very light tie-in to a major crossover event meant that the characters had to face some dark events in the larger world, they faced it the way real people do: some denial, some tears, and a lot of muddling through to the other side.

This book also gets bonus points for the most fun version of vampire-Jubilee I've read and copious cat puns,

4 Stars - Very Good Books