Tony Stark/Iron Man and Patsy Walker/Hellcat may be headed for wedded bliss, but before that, they'll have to pass through Hell - perhaps literally - in Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1, which focuses on Patsy's preparations for her marriage to Tony.
But Patsy's past, including her former marriage to the 'Son of Satan' Daimon Helstrom, will come back to haunt her in the lead up to her new nuptials, leading to what Marvel describes as a "supernatural crisis" for Tony and Patsy.
In a preview released May 26, monsters seemingly attack their wedding ceremony and at some point, Patsy gets injured, though it's unclear where in the timeline that happens. At any rate, Tony heads straight to her in his Iron Man suit, and the tenderness between them is pretty obvious.
Given the context and placement of the Annual, it seems likely that these panels represent Patsy's nightmares about her upcoming wedding to Tony. Between her hand seemingly turning to claws, the masquerade, and the werewolf, she could be cycling through worst case scenarios. If the page where she's injured and passed out is real life, the rest could take place in her mind.
Despite Patsy's fears, Marvel is billing the relationship between Tony and Patsy as the publisher's "next great superhero romance."
Their love has been burgeoning in the current volume of Iron Man written by Christopher Cantwell, who also writes Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1, which is drawn by Ruairí Coleman. The Annual features a cover from Logan Lubera, as well as variant covers from Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau, Peach Momoko, and Chrissie Zullo.
"Hellcat has one of the most unique - and at times inscrutable - origin stories in Marvel Comics, but also one of my favorites," states Cantwell in the announcement.
"I love that Patsy got her start in teen romance comics in the '40s and yet was still somehow able to ride the wave into the rise of super heroes, becoming Hellcat. With an epic and circuitous backstory that now spans more than 75 years, I’ve had a blast exploring the rich tapestry that is Patsy - first in Iron Man, and now with even more depth in this annual."
According to Cantwell, it's that counterpoint between Patsy's origins as a teen romance character and her later years as a hellbound superhero that forms the basis of Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1 - and in some ways, her relationship with Tony Stark.
"This story explores Patsy’s connection to a scarier realm," he explains. "Yes, she can be charming and bubbly and sweet, but is there a power in those fires of Hell that might illuminate a deeper truth?"
We'll find out when Iron Man/Hellcat Annual #1 arrives on June 29.
Will Iron Man and Hellcat's impending marriage stand the test of time to become one of the best superhero romances ever?
