There are characters in Marvel and DC that are seen as each other equivalents. Maybe not the biggest names (I bet we could generate beautiful debate over who is Marvel's counter part of Superman – Captain America or Thor), but there are some characters that gets placed together at instant. Flash and Quicksilver or Aquaman and Namor just to name a few. One of commonly made pairing is Catwoman and Black Cat.

Selina Kyle and Felicia Hardy have a lot in common and I doesn't mean just obvious cat theme. They both are often switching between the light and dark sides of the force, a lot of their appeal comes from how they blurry the line between good girls and bad girls. A lot of their charm comes from provocative and seductive approach and their complicated relationships with respective heroes – Batman and Spider-Man. Every time we see one of them interacting with hero, we don't know if this time they will be opponents, allies or lovers. Both are attractive women and are well aware of it and aren't afraid of using it to archive their own goals.

However where Catwoman could carry own two ongoing series, who both lasted long enough to score near magic number of 100 issues (first has 96 and second has 83), Felicia's never got more than a mini-series or supporting character role in other people's comics. And yet, as her recent appearances shows, under the wings of right writer she has gigantic potential. In Marvel Divas we could see her more realistic, human side, it showed more of her as Felicia than Black Cat. Heroes For Hire has subplot about her romantic relationship with Paladin and how she tries to drag him completely on the side of angels. Even one of Spider-Man backstories put her in different light than usual. I haven't read read her last mini, but I heard good things about her portrayal there too.

On the other hand, in Spider-Man, she seems mostly reduced into infamous T&A and poor man's Catwoman, aside abovementioned backstory. Brand New Day staff couldn't agree over which girl Peter should be with to the point the started raping them but they could agree to completely ignore all Felicia's character development and put her in her old role again (which is one of multiple reasons why I'm not reading Spider-Man anymore).

Black Cat's problem is, that she is struck in this „Spider-Man's Catwoman” role and not a lot of people want her to be anything else. Where Selina has been developed into her own woman, so she could get away from Batman's shadow and carry her own comics, Felicia has every mayor character development hidden under the carped the moment Spider-Man writers wants her to be his funny naughty girl that can tease him again. Thanks to that she is struck in role Catwoman grew out long time ago, like a younger sister having to wear older sister's clothes.

This reminds me of another character, our beloved Merc With A Mouth, Deadpool. As we all remember, Deadpool was created as a partial parody and partial rip-off of Teen Titans arch enemy, Deathstroke and he would remain as only that, if it wasn't for Joe Kelly, who put him through serious revamp. New Deadpool has been born partly by taking all that was different between him and Deathstroke and exploring it. This, combined with humor and good alternative his comics became for grim and gritty titles of the 90s are one of many reasons behind his huge success. After that he no longer is seen as poor man's Deathstroke and his hidden potential can shine in all it's glory and billion of comics. I think that Black Cat, to achieve her true potential as a character, needs the same thing. At this point it's mostly wasted and for every time she can shine there is a time they force her to be Spider-Man's theme park version of Catwoman, a role she grew out long time ago.

And what do you think?

I COMPLETELY AGREE!!! Felicia has always been one of the things i liked most about Spider-Man. While i do like Selena a little more, Black Cat i think just needs a NEW writer who will give her the spotlight she deserves. All she'll need is one really GREAT and life-altering storyline to give her that little bump but at this point im not sure she'll get that any time soon:-(

" I COMPLETELY AGREE!!! Felicia has always been one of the things i liked most about Spider-Man. While i do like Selena a little more, Black Cat i think just needs a NEW writer who will give her the spotlight she deserves. All she'll need is one really GREAT and life-altering storyline to give her that little bump but at this point im not sure she'll get that any time soon:-( "

I like to get this off my chest before I have a heart attack. I like Spider-Man and Black Cat together. But I can't stand what been done to her in the last few years. Like Micheal and the other podcaster said on the most recent show. Black Cat doesn't need to be written in such a hateful way. Black Cat has been over sexed and I'm annoyed by it. She has been written ever since BND started as very catty and acted as if they broke up like last week instead of years ago. In the almost thirty years since their break up she has grown so much as a character in so many ways. This character can do so much more then what she has been given. When she written well she can be a strong, dependable and extremely sexy. But lately they have been trying to appeal to the lowest common denominator with her and it just irks me. How am I supposed to get my niece into comics if there are women with costumes that show way to much skin? I might as well hand her a random romance manga.

The first time I'd read anything with her in it was in Spider-Girl, so I'm bias. But she was written as a caring mother who wanted what's best for her daughter. That's how she should be written. As a women who is done being a spoiled girl and is ready for a mature relationship. Not toying around with any man that comes along. I really like the idea of her being away from from Spider-Man and having her own life outside of him. I would like to have her out of any Spider titles for awhile so she can do her own thing. How go back doing what she was doing before BND that private detective thing. She desperately needs to be taken up by a writer who can handle her. I think my main issue with the writers of BND and Dan Slott is that they written all her worst characteristics and put them forward as if that's all she is. To them all she is a thief who has big boobs. The Pre-BND Felicia would have never left Peter alone in a fight she would have stayed and fought right there with him.    

@ladyspider: In my opinion, Black Cat could hold a solo series quite well under a good writer, like Kelly Sue. I agree that the Black Cat needs to move on from Spider-Man unto her own. She could even partner up with Daredevil and Hawkeye; in exchange, Spider-Woman and Black Widow could become regular guests in Spider-Man's world as well as being close friends with Peter Parker.

I do agree that the Pre-OMD Felicia would never leave Peter alone. Somethings, I never understood why Marvel didn't use the post OMD opportunity to replace Felicia for Silver Sable, Spider-Woman, Black Widow, and Psylocke respectively as it would have made things interesting if each of them had a guest spot in Spider-Man as his partner. Even the She-Hulk could take on the role that is usually reserve for Daredevil on the legal side as Jennifer Walters(in her human form) as she and Peter Parker might have become close friends very quickly. And it would had been nice that the post OMD era had re-established Peter's relationship with Betty Brant as his girlfriend once again.

Going back to the Black Cat, could you imagine that she begins a relationship with Mystique?

I always thought it would be fun if she was a member of something like Secret Avengers. I know in end of the earth she was trying to get Spidey to ask the other avengers if she can join. I think making her an avenger on a seperate team from Spidey is what she needs. Or maybe her apperances in fearless defenders will add to her character.

@shadowx: Could you envision Mystique being Felicia's romantic partner?

I all ways imagine the reason they never gave her one is because shed look to much like a rip off side by side

^this

this this^

another comment: its a little late for that

So true Black cat has so much potential to do more and should.