Avengers #144
Claws!
The Avengers and Patsy Walker were prisoners of Roxxon CEO Hugh Jones at the Brand Corporation, with some help from the Squadron Supreme. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes have managed to escape from their cell, they now wander the facility trying to figure out their next move. Their escape has been detected by Jones, who triggers the launch of test missiles in the area of the factory the intruders are located. The Avengers take evasive action with the Scarlet Witch using her hex powers and Iron Man his technical knowhow to disrupt the missiles course. The attack sends everyone falling over the edge of the catwalk they are standing on, but working together everyone is saved from a deadly fall. They then rush to another room and split up before more missiles can’t be used against them. The ones they diverted end up blowing up in the sky above the Brand Corporation facility, prompting a neighbor to call the police.
Iron Man, Captain America, and Patsy Walker find themselves in a storage area. While they are regrouping they come across the costume worn by the Cat. Although neither Avenger had met her, Iron Man recalls that the Cat was an up-and-coming superhero in the Chicago area. During her short-lived career she took down a crooked businessman named Donalbain, and after a few battles seemingly disappeared.[1] Still, seeing the costume gives Captain America an idea and he asks Patsy if she wants to become the new Cat.
This causes Patsy to reflect back on her life. She remembers how carefree it was when she was an All-American teenager in Centerville. Her biggest concerns back then were her romantic interest in Buzz Baxter and the competition she had from her friend Hedy Wolfe.[2] However, she often fantasized about life in the big city with its superheroes and developed a massive crush on Mister Fantastic, leader of the Fantastic Four. When she heard that Reed Richards was marrying Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman, she and Hedy went to New York to celebrate.[3] She returned to her normal life in Centerville where she eventually married Buzz Baxter after he returned home from his time in the military, little knowing that he came back different.[4] They had a hard time surviving on a lieutenant’s salary and Buzz often took out his frustrations on Patsy.
She hoped things would change when Buzz took a job working as a military liaison for the Brand Corporation. His primary job was trying to capture the Beast that had been appearing on Brand property all the time. Patsy soon found out that the Beast was actually Hank McCoy, who was working for Brand at the time. Taking him into her home while he was recovering from a gunshot wound, Patsy nursed him back to health and learned his identity when he was delirious. She used this as blackmail to try and leverage Hank into making her a superhero. Hank promised to follow through but disappeared shortly afterward. Not long after this, Patsy divorced her husband and began looking for Hank after learning he had joined the Avengers.[5]
All these recollections happen in a moment and Patsy excitedly agrees to become the Cat. Captain America, however, has changed his mind because he has remembered allies who have died under his watch.[6] However, Patsy insists on putting on the costume and has Cap and Iron Man look away while she gets changed. Once fully in costume, Patsy tells the two Avengers to call her Hellcat.
Meanwhile, in the year 1873, Thor, Moondragon, and Hawkeye are preparing to return home in Kang’s times after foiling the time traveler’s attempt to conquer their own era through the 19th Century. They are shocked when the Two-Gun Kid asks to go with them to the present. While Thor and Moondragon are uncertain about this request, Hawkeye assures them that the Kid will have some help getting accustomed in the present day because he has decided to quit the Avengers.[7]
Back in the present, the Avengers have reunited when they are suddenly ambushed by the Squadron Supreme. Watching the battle from the control room, Hugh Jones is informed by Buzz Baxter that the police have arrived to investigate some unauthorized missile launches. Unconcerned, Jones activates a device that will send the two battling super-teams back to the Squadron Supreme’s universe.[8]
… This story is continued in Avengers #147.
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, the Vision, Moondragon, the Beast), Two-Gun Kid, Hellcat, Roxxon/Brand Corporation (Hugh Jones, Buzz Baxter), Squadron Supreme (Hyperion, Doctor Spectrum, Whizzer, Golden Archer, Lady Lark), Thunder, Hedy Wolfe (flashback)
Continuity Notes
Greer Nelson was active as the Cat in The Cat #1-4 and Marvel Team-Up #8. She was later transformed into Tigra in Giant-Size Creatures #1. At the time of this story, neither Captain America nor Iron Man were aware of this.
As detailed in Defenders #89, Patsy Walker’s teenage adventures published from the 1940s through to the 60s are actually a comic book adaptation penned by her mother based on Patsy’s real-life exploits.
Patsy and Hedy were seen in the wedding crowd in Fantastic Four Annual #3.
Buzz went off to join the military in Patsy Walker #123. This story states that he was drafted to fight in Vietnam. See below for more on that.
Patsy’s involvement in the life of the Beast began in Amazing Adventures (vol. 2) #13 when Buzz was hired by Brand. She learned Hank’s true identity in issue #15. He disappeared in the following issue to help his ex, Vera Cantor find her boyfriend Calvin Rankin, aka Mimic, see also Incredible Hulk #161.
Captain America specifically mentions two people who have died:
The first is Bucky, his World War II sidekick. Per Avengers #4, everyone believes that Bucky died in 1945. However, Cap will learn years later that Bucky is still alive and was transformed by the Russians into an assassin called the Winter Soldier. See Captain America (vol. 5) #12.
He also mentions Roscoe Simmons, who took over as Captain America during a brief period when Steve Rogers gave up the role. His time as Cap was short-lived when he was killed in action. See Captain America #178-183.
Hawkeye states that he is leaving the Avengers again. This is because he just recently rejoined the team in Giant-Size Avengers #2 after quitting the team back in Avengers #109.
The Squadron’s universe is referred to as Other-Earth here. It has been since been designated as Reality-712 in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Alternate Universes 2005.
Topical References
It is stated here that Buzz was drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. This should be considered a topical reference since the Vietnam War ended in the 1975 and the Draft was abolished that same year. Per History of the Marvel Universe #2, all Modern Age references to the Vietnam War are now part of the Sin-Cong Conflict, see here for more details. Modern readers should instead interpret Buzz enlisting into the military instead of being drafted.
