Summary

• Black Cat's introduction in the Ultimate Universe shakes up Spider-Man's world, with two new versions of the villain set to appear.
• The Ultimate Universe version of Black Cat, Walter Hardy, will seemingly on his mantle to his daughter in this continuity – though how and why remain to be determined.
• The Ultimate Sinister Six assembles at the end of Ultimate Spider-Man #8,, with Black Cat ing the ranks, setting up a confrontation between the Hardy family and Peter Parker.

Warning: Contains spoilers for Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #8!As a brand-new version of Spider-Man gets his vast and dynamic ing cast fleshed out, two different incarnations of the cat burglar villain are set to appear. After Walter Hardy’s Black Cat makes his Ultimate Spider-Man debut, the identity of the second Ultimate version of the villain has possibly been clarified.

As Earth-6160’s new version of the Sinister Six assembles at the end of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #8 – written by Jonathan Hickman with art by Marco Checchetto – Walter Hardy gets introduced to the rest of the villainous team. Walter is revealed to have a daughter that bears a striking resemblance to the Black Cat previously revealed in an issue’s cover, seemingly confirming her identity as Felicia Hardy.

It’s possible that his daughter doesn’t have the same name, since it’s technically not mentioned in Walter’s introduction, but she’s undoubtedly a version of Felicia’s Black Cat.

Marvel Has Two New Black Cats, As The Ultimate Hardy Family Shake Up Peter Parker's World

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #8 – Written By Jonanthan Hickman; Art By Marco Marco Checchetto, Matthew Wilson, & Corey Petit

With Black Cat's introduction in Ultimate Spider-Man, all three of Spidey’s most popular love interests in the character’s history are officially active in this new universe.

While the father and daughter duo of Black Cats makes their official Marvel Comics debut in the Ultimate Universe, it will be interesting to see how their dynamics with each other and Spider-Man develop as the world reforms. With many alternate versions of Black Cat over years of Spider-Man lore, it can only be speculated so far as to how this fresh incarnation of the villain will make her mark in Marvel’s multiverse. Though Earth-6160’s Walter Hardy has been presented as a member of Kingpin’s new criminal gang, this universe’s Sinister Six, his daughter’s motives and personality still remain unknown.

With Black Cat's introduction in Ultimate Spider-Man, all three of Spidey’s most popular love interests in the character’s history are officially active in this new universe. Earth-6160’s Peter Parker is a family man, officially married to Mary Jane with two children, and this world’s Gwen Stacy has also been married to Harry Osborn since before either character met Peter. Given that things in the universe are in constant flux as Iron Lad and the Ultimates try to fix the broken world, Spider-Man’s perfect family life could potentially be shaken up when the stunning new Black Cat debuts.

Black Cat Is Part Of The Ultimate Sinister Six, As The Supervillain Squad Officially Assembles

A Dangerous Escalation

As a small family of Black Cats slink into the Ultimate universe together, how they fit into the grand scheme of things in their world still remains to be determined.

The fatherly Black Cat is officially on the lineup for the Ultimate Sinister Six, as seen in the final moments of Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #8. Led by Kingpin, Walter Hardy’s villainous persona s the team along with Mister Negative, Mysterio, Kraven the Hunter, and Mole Man. Coming together to control the boroughs of New York City, with Mole Man ruling underground, this take on the villain team will soon fight Spider-Man and the heroic Green Goblin. With his daughter evidently taking on the Black Cat mantle by Ultimate Spider-Man #11, it’s possible that Walter’s stint on the Sinister Six could be fatal.

As a small family of Black Cats slink into the Ultimate Universe together, how they fit into the grand scheme of things in their world still remains to be determined. With Walter Hardy as an established and successful career thief in version of events, having his daughter as an apprentice to his villain lifestyle could lead to her being one of Marvel’s best iterations of the Black Cat character. On the prowl as a new villain, with even some potential to steal Peter Parker’s heart, Earth-6160’s Black Cat could prove to be bad luck for Spider-Man and his ing cast.

Ultimate Spider-Man (2024) #8 is available now from Marvel Comics.