Warning! Spoilers ahead for Amazing Spider-Man #87
In the latest issue of Batman television series in the Marvel Universe. While Peter Parker has been in the hospital after a recent battle left him with radiation poisoning, Black Cat and Captain America have teamed up to help retrain the original Spider-Man while his clone Ben Reilly has taken over as New York's current Spider-Man. However, that all takes a back seat with the tease that the Batman of the 1960s exists in Marvel's Earth-616 (albeit in a fictional sense).
In previous issues, Black Cat has been keeping watch over Spider-Man who has been slowly recovering in the hospital, taking shifts alongside Peter's girlfriend Mary Jane Watson. However, Peter recently tried to return to web-slinging far too early, being overwhelmed by two simple carjackers seeing as how he wasn't back to full strength along with his inverted spider-sense. With Captain America witnessing this failed attempt, he and Felicia have decided to whip Peter back into shape, taking away his suit until they're sure he's ready for it in the new Amazing Spider-Man #87 from writer Zeb Wells and artist Carlos Gómez.
However, the truly amazing part of this new issue of Amazing Spider-Man is a reference made by Black Cat, which alludes to the Batman television series from the 1960s starring Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as his faithful sidekick, Robin. Black Cat says, "Did you think I got bit by a radioactive Eartha Kitt?" Not only does the reference suggest that the series is a canonical part of the Marvel Universe's pop culture, but it also implies that the DC Universe that inspired the TV series is a fictional part of Marvel's as well. Regardless, it certainly is a perfect and hilarious reference made by Black Cat, reminding Spider-Man that she doesn't have the same kind of superpowers he does.
Eartha Kitt was of course the iconic actress who played Catwoman in Batman's third season, taking over the role from Julie Newmar. As such, Felicia's reference to a version of her DC counterpart is extremely fitting. However, this isn't the first time the Marvel Universe has made references to the DC Universe where it's perceived as fiction rather than an actual reality in the multiverse. Even the MCU's recent Eternals film referenced both Batman and Superman as pop culture icons.
Regardless, Black Cat's joke about being bit by an actress who played DC's Catwoman is truly hysterical. Not only that, but the confirmation that the Batman television series seemingly exists on Earth-616 is a pretty fun Easter egg. Was Felicia inspired by Eartha Kitt's Catwoman to become the Black Cat in addition to the legacy of her father? Either way, the brief DC reference certainly steals the show in this new issue of Amazing Spider-Man.
