Everything Fans Need To Know About Spider-Man & Black Cat's Romantic History (2024)

Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, has had his fair share of love interests over his long history in Marvel Comics. The iconic Mary Jane, the tragic Gwen Stacy, and the complicated Debra Whitman are only a few of his many girlfriends. However, out of all the women in his life, his most fiery romance was with the antiheroic Felicia Hardy, the Black Cat.

Spider-Man and the Black Cat have ridden a romantic roller coaster since the day they met. With a passionate start to their decades-long on-and-off relationship, the two have had many adventures together as friends and as lovers. Regardless of their relationship status, when the web-slinger and the iconic cat burglar get together, things are bound to heat up.

Updated on October 30th, 2023 by Jordan Iacobucci: Unlike most other people, Spider-Man prefers when a Black Cat crosses his path. From their turbulent but flirtatious first meeting in the 1970s to their much more heated team-ups of more recent years, Spider-Man and the Black Cat have fostered one of the steamiest relationships in Marvel Comics, which has even extended to video games like Insomniac's Spider-Man 2. Even decades after their first meeting, the love story between Spider-Man and the Black Cat is still being written in ongoing Marvel Comics.

13 Spider-Man And Black Cat's First Meeting

The Amazing Spider-Man #194 by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard, Frank Giacoia, Ben Sean, and John Costanza

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Black Cat first appeared in 1979 on the pages of The Amazing Spider-Man #194. In the middle of a plot to free her father from prison, Felicia meets Spider-Man and is immediately intrigued by the Wall-Crawler, who she unexpectedly kisses before saying goodbye.

During the story, Black Cat continues her quest and her cat-and-mouse game with Spider-Man. At the end of the two-issue arc, she appears to fall to her death. This would be one of several fake-out deaths for Felicia over the years.

12 Black Cat's Obsession With Spider-Man

Beginning in The Amazing Spider-Man #205 by David Michelinie, Keith Pollard, Jim Mooney, Carl Gafford, and Diana Albers

Not too long after her apparent death, the feline felon returned in Amazing Spider-Man #205, this time written by David Michelinie. During their second encounter, Spider-Man interrupted Felicia's museum robbery, leading to a playful scuffle between the two before Black Cat eventually left empty-handed, forcing Peter Parker to contemplate his feelings for Felicia.

Black Cat's strange behavior around Spider-Man leads him to realize that she's developed an unhealthy obsession with him following her father's death. Compassionately, he convinces her to seek therapy instead of arresting her.

11 Black Cat Returns But "Dies" Again

The Black Cat made her next return in 1982. Upon her reappearance, Felicia admitted that she'd faked mental illness before to avoid prison but pleaded with Spider-Man, claiming she wanted to give up crime and join him as a vigilante and romantic partner.

As they sealed their newfound relationship with a kiss, things seemed to be going well. Unfortunately, it wouldn't last long for the two star-crossed lovers. Staying on the right side of the law proved to be difficult for Black Cat. Soon, the costumed vigilante slipped back into her criminal ways before disappearing once more.

10 Black Cat and Spider-Man Become Lovers and Partners

Black Cat would again reappear in The Spectacular Spider-Man in 1983. Overjoyed that she hadn't died in their previous encounter, Spider-Man immediately resumed his relationship with Felicia, sealing their revived relationship with a passionate kiss.

This was the start of Spider-Man and Black Cat's first serious relationship and extended partnership. Spider-Man even met Felicia's mother and was introduced as Felicia's boyfriend. However, Spider-Man never revealed his secret identity to his girlfriend, a clear roadblock for their romance. In fact, it quickly became clear that Felicia was only attracted to the Spider-Man side of her lover, with little to no interest in his alter-ego.

9 Peter Reveals His Identity To Felicia

The Spectacular Spider-Man #87 by Bill Mantlo, Al Milgrom, Jim Mooney, Christie Steele, and Diana Albers

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Felicia wasn't always interested in Spider-Man's secret identity, but as their relationship progressed, she became more curious about the man under the mask. Spider-Man essentially knew everything about his partner, but he kept his secrets. This changed later in 1983 in Bill Mantlo's run on Spectacular Spider-Man.

Via artwork by Al Milgrom and Jim Mooney, Peter told Black Cat his life story. He tells her about his uncle's murder, his powers' origins, and why he became Spider-Man. In the end, he removed his mask, but Felicia was repulsed by the truth. She didn't love Peter Parker, only Spider-Man.

8 Black Cat Gets Superpowers To Help Spider-Man

The Spectacular Spider-Man #89 by Bill Mantlo, Al Milgrom, Jim Mooney, Glynis Wein, and Diana Albers

Only two issues later, in 1984, Felicia tried to return to Peter's side. Since her lack of superpowers had placed her in significant danger in the past, she looked for a solution. Several superheroes refused to help her before a mysterious stranger approached her.

Black Cat then underwent an experimental process that heightened her speed, strength, and agility while also inflicting bad luck on her enemies. This was a huge upgrade for the Black Cat. However, the Kingpin was behind her transformation and he had big plans for the feline antihero.

7 Secrets and Superpowers Separate Spider-Man and Black Cat

By 1985, Felicia's secrets disrupted her relationship with Spider-Man and constant arguments about her new powers hurt their romance. Everything came to a head as Black Cat confronted the Kingpin. This is when Wilson Fisk revealed that Black Cat's bad luck wasn't under her control and put Spider-Man in constant danger.

Black Cat decided to end the relationship to protect Peter. However, Spider-Man broke up with her first, no longer able to live with the fact that she loved Spider-Man but didn't care about Peter Parker. Their relationship remained on pause for many years. Peter Parker got married to Mar Jane Watson in the interim.

6 Black Cat Returns (Again)

Amazing Spider-Man #606 by Joe Kelly, Mike McKone, Andy Lanning, Chris Chuckry, and Joe Caramagna

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Spider-Man and Black Cat took a decades-long break after, but Felicia finally returned to Peter's life in 2009 in The Amazing Spider-Man. Much like before, they caught up on old times before facing a villain together.

After a televised kiss in Central Park, Spider-Man and Black Cat got back together professionally and sometimes romantically. Their relationship wasn't as serious this time, but their chemistry was hard to deny.

5 Black Cat Rejects Spider-Man and Kisses Daredevil

Amazing Spider-Man #677 by Mark Waid, Emma Rios, Javier Rodriguez, and Joe Caramagna

Before long, Spider-Man and Black Cat's relationship took an odd detour in Amazing Spider-Man. Peter had just been dumped by a woman named Carlie Cooper and tried to get back together with Black Cat, but Felicia wasn't having it.

Shortly afterward, Black Cat got framed for a crime she didn't commit and worked with Spider-Man and Daredevil to prove her innocence. After they succeeded, Black Cat was hired by the same person who framed her to rob Daredevil. To gain his trust, she seduced him, kissing him on a rooftop as Spider-Man watched, killing any remaining romance.

4 Superior Spider-Man Has Black Cat Arrested

Superior Spider-Man #20 by Dan Slott, Giuseppe Camuncoli, John Dell, Antonio Fabela, and Chris Eliopoulos

In 2013, Spider-Man's mind was replaced by Otto Octavius, who swapped bodies with Peter to become the Superior Spider-Man. Unsurprisingly, Otto's cold personality changed Spider-Man's dynamic with many friends and foes, including the Black Cat.

Octavius confronted Black Cat in the middle of a robbery and didn't waste time with small talk. He violently apprehended her for the police, shocking Felicia and leaving her enraged at what felt like her ex's vicious betrayal. This led to an extended rift between the characters, a revenge plot with Electro and Black Cat's rise in New York's underworld.

3 Spider-Man and Black Cat Make Up Once More

The Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 5) #10 by Nick Spencer, Humberto Ramos, Michele Bandini, Victor Olazaba, Edgar Delgado, Erick Arciniega, and Joe Caramagna

Spider-Man and Black Cat finally reunited in 2018 in The Amazing Spider-Man. Felicia attacked him, remembering their previous encounter, but they eventually agreed to work together on a case.

Peter and Felicia took on the villainous Thieves Guild in this story. Following their battle, they retreated to a rooftop and had a difficult conversation, unpacking years of baggage.

Both in healthy romantic relationships, Spider-Man and Black Cat agreed to just be friends, hugging it out on a rooftop in a fan favorite panel that brought their romantic relationship to a momentary close. The years that followed involved the two heroes rekindling their long-dormant friendship.

2 Felicia Became A Friend To Both Peter And Mary Jane

For the next several years, Black Cat and Spider-Man remained close friends and allies, marking what might be the healthiest period in their long relationship. They also worked together to save Peter's most prominent love interest, Mary Jane Watson, from The Hood. Felica even forged a solid bond with MJ over the years.

Together, Mary Jane and Black Cat journeyed through New York's underworld to investigate Red Hood's goals, sharing conversations and feelings along the way. Whether they're dating or not, Felicia always remained important in Peter's life.

1 Peter And Black Cat Briefly Rekindled Their Relationship

Beginning In The Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 6) #11 by Zeb Wells, John Romita Jr., Scott Hanna, Marcio Menyz, and Joe Caramagna

After the infamous Paul incident that led to Peter and MJ's most recent separation, the web-slinging superhero found himself pursuing old flames once again. Peter and Black Cat briefly rekindled their relationship in 2022, dating over the span of several issues.

While there were some good moments in their most recent romance, Black Cat and Spider-Man eventually realized that neither of their hearts were really in the relationship. They later broke up, realizing that their relationship had been built on trauma, not love. Nevertheless, Spider-Man and Black Cat remain on relatively good terms.