Black Cat returns to Kingpin, and is revealed to be Felicia Hardy, who has been given an improved version of the Super Soldier formula. Though happy to be reunited with her father, Felicia soon escapes and recruits Spider-Man to save her father from Kingpin and destroy the formula before Kingpin can use it to create an army.
This episode provides examples of:
- Adaptational Superpower Change: In the comics, the Black Cat was simply a well-trained human woman before undergoing an experiment that granted her the ability to manipulate probability. She lost these powers for a while, but gained enhanced physical stats of strength, speed and agility. In this series, Felicia has a variant of her second powerset.
- Adaptation Origin Connection: In the original comics, Black Cat was already in action on her own when she first appeared and turned to Kingpin to try to get superpowers after being badly beaten in a fight by Dr. Octopus. In the show, Kingpin is directly responsible for her creation, using Felicia as a guinea pig to test the recreated Super Soldier formula, a link which also connects her directly to Captain America.
- Apologetic Attacker: After Black Cat gases Spider-Man to knock him out she apologizes to him before beginning to unmask him.Black Cat: Sorry Spider. I wanna know just who's behind your mask. (begins to slowly unmask Spider-Man)
- Bittersweet Ending: Though Kingpin is defeated and the formula is out of his hands, John Hardesky is forced to leave his family after a short reunion and return to S.H.I.E.L.D. custody in order to keep them safe. Spider-Man is also depressed since he is the one who needs to deliver John to S.H.I.E.L.D and he still has no idea who Black Cat is.
- But Now I Must Go: At end of the episode John Hardesky says goodbye to his family and returns to S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, not only to keep them safe but also to prevent others like the Kingpin from getting the Super Soldier formula.
- Create Your Own Hero: By making Felicia the guinea pig for the improved super soldier serum, the Kingpin creates another hero, who wants to stop him, as the Black Cat chooses to join Spider-Man in his battle against the Kingpin.
- Daddy Had a Good Reason for Abandoning You: Hardesky chooses not to stay with his family and returns to S.H.I.E.L.D. custody because he cannot give them a normal life due to his past as an infamous thief, and him knowing the super solider formula making him a target for others like the Kingpin who'll do anything to get it.
- Dramatic Irony: At the end of the episode, Spider-Man decides not to drag Felicia into his problems, but believes he found a kindred spirit in the Black Cat, unaware that the Black Cat and Felicia are the same person.
- Dramatic Unmask:
- Spider-Man briefly attempts to unmask Black Cat after webbing her up, reaching down to remove her mask. But she rolls out of his reach before freeing herself.
- Black Cat begins to unmask Spider-Man after defeating him in their first encounter, wanting to know who he really is. She stops halfway, deciding she doesn't want to find out that way and lowers his mask after giving him a quick kiss.
- Dude, She's Like in a Coma: Gender-reversed example; Black Cat gives Spider-Man a quick peck on the lips after she knocks him out.
- Failed a Spot Check: Peter doesn't notice the kiss mark left on his lips from Black Cat's kiss until Robbie points it out to him. Somewhat justified as he was unconscious when she kissed him, but still noticeable since it was hours later.
- Forced into Evil: Kingpin forces Felicia to become the Black Cat after giving her the Super Soldier formula, and makes her test her new skills by performing robberies for him under the threat of her father's life otherwise. Though it isn't long before her father helps her escape from Kingpin and she works with Spider-Man to help save him too.
- Hero Antagonist: S.H.I.E.L.D. When they discover the Chameleon has taken the place of John Hardesky, they chase after Spider-Man because they he suspect he might be after the the Super Soldier formula due wanting information about Hardesky in the previous episode.
- Hero Stole My Bike: When Spider-Man and Black Cat are being pursued by S.H.I.E.L.D agents, they steal a motorcycle to try and shake them off, much to the owner's chagrin as he yells at them.Motorcycle owner: You miserable thieves!
Spidey: We're not thieves! Well. Well, I'm not, but — her, I'm not so sure about. - Honor Before Reason: Though Black Cat wants to know who Spider-Man really is, she changes her mind about unmasking him while he's unconscious and decides it will be more "rewarding" for him to take his mask off for her willingly one day. Though since he only knows her as a thief at the time she will have a long way to go to getting him to trust her enough to even consider unmasking himself for her.
- Instantly Proven Wrong: Black Cat boasts to Spider-Man that "cats always land on their feet" after he throws her off him during their fight and she lands gracefully. She then lunges at him, only for him to web her up and have her crash-land on her back.
- Knockout Gas: How Black Cat defeats Spider-Man in their first encounter. After he gets too close to her after webbing her up, she surprises him by slicing through his webs and using some knockout gas she kept hidden up her sleeve.
- Lipstick Mark: Black Cat leaves one on Spider-Man after kissing him goodbye. Peter does not realize it is there until Robbie points it out to him the next day, with Peter wondering how it got there.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: Spider-Man and Black Cat engage in this during their fight, throwing several one-liners and puns at each other in quick succession.Black Cat: Silly spider, cats always land on their feet! (pounces at Spider-Man only to be webbed up by him) Hey, I was just being curious. I wanted to see if I was as strong as you.
Spider-Man: Well you know what they say about curiosity.
(He attempts to unmask her, only for her to roll away from him)
Black Cat: Indeed. I also know the value of surprise! (She slices through his webs and uses Knockout Gas on him) - Suddenly Shouting: When Spider-Man has Black Cat webbed up and the two briefly exchange small talk, Black Cat rolls away from Spider-Man when he tries to unmask her and suddenly shouts "surprise!" as she slices through his webs and uses some Knockout Gas on him.
- "Take That!" Kiss: Black Cat lures Spider-Man to her to test herself against him and easily knocks him out. She nearly unmasks the webslinger before changing her mind and giving him a goodbye kiss on the lips instead. Downplayed since the kiss was not given to mock Spider-Man and seemed more to show Black Cat's romantic interest in him.
- Villainesses Want Heroes: Downplayed with Black Cat toward Spider-Man. She is forced to perform robberies for Kingpin to test the Super Soldier formula under threat of her father's life. But she maintains her feelings for Spider-Man despite this. After luring him to her and defeating him, she almost unmasks him, but decides that it will be more "rewarding" for him to willingly unmask himself for her, and instead gently kisses him goodbye while he's unconscious. She later seeks Spider-Man's help against Kingpin, making her more of an Anti-Hero.
- We Will Meet Again:
- Black Cat says this to Spider-Man twice in the episode. After their first encounter Black Cat gently kisses Spider-Man goodbye while he is unconscious and whispers "till next time" to him before making a quick escape. Later, after the two of them defeat Kingpin and save John Hardesky, Black Cat thanks Spider-Man for helping her and tells him not to be surprised if they cross paths again right before shoving him into the river and ditching him.
- Doctor Octopus, after he is thrown off the Kingpin’s sky ship the battle on it with the S.H.E.I.L.D. agents, vows that he will meet Spider-Man and the Black Cat again.
- What You Are in the Dark: Black Cat is in love with Spider-Man and wants to know who he really is. She has the perfect chance to find out who he is after knocking him out and slowly begins to unmask him. Nobody would ever be able to tell that she found out who Spider-Man really was, since she could just lie to Kingpin about having fought Spider-Man and Spider-Man himself would suspect nothing. But she changes her mind, after unmasking him halfway, deciding she doesn't want to find out that way and will find it more "rewarding" for Spider-Man to show her who he is himself one day.
- Worthy Opponent: How Black Cat views Spider-Man during their initial encounter, luring him to her just so she can test herself against him. After beating him she decides not to simply unmask him, believing it will be more rewarding for him to take the mask off for her willingly one day, and gently kisses him goodbye before whispering to him "till next time."
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: During Spider-Man and Black Cat's fight, Spider-Man manages to briefly web her up. While tied up, Black Cat acts helpless and starts to smooth talk Spidey. But when he lets his guard down and attempts to unmask her, she rolls away before easily freeing herself by cutting his web lines and taking him down with knock out gas.
