The following contains spoilers for Hellcat #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Former Defenders member and occasional Avengers ally Hellcat has been through a lot recently. Between a complicated relationship with Iron Man and numerous demonic entities stalking her every move, the last thing the superheroine needs is more drama in her. Some of her troubles were seemingly alleviated when after reeling from her past love affair with Iron Man, Hellcat was able to engage in a new romance with a man known as Splading Grantham, who first appeared in Iron Man/Hellcat Annual 2022 (by Chris Cantwell, Ruairí Coleman, and Tríona Tree Farrell).
However, this romance proved to be fleeting when Splading Grantham was found horrifically mutilated at the beginning of 2023's Hellcat #1 (by Chris Cantwell, Alex Lins, K.J. Diaz, VC's Ariana Maher, and Carlos Lao). Not only that, but Hellcat is now the prime suspect in the murder of her new boyfriend after she wakes up in his house covered in his blood. However, considering her various demonic powers and partial connection to Mephisto, it might be possible that, lucidly or not, Hellcat really did commit the murder.
Hellcat's Powers Come From a Demonic Source
During the 2000 Hellcat miniseries (by Steve Engleheart, Norm Breyfogle, and Tom Smith), the feline superheroine developed new powers thanks to her time trapped in hell by the Lord of the Underworld, Mephisto. This included an affinity for magic that seemingly came from a demonic source. This allowed her to summon her costume like fellow Avenger Thor and the ability to grow claws from her fingertips. However, due to the events of Iron Man/Hellcat Annual 2022, Hellcat's demonic powers have seemingly been increased thanks to her briefly being transported back to hell by the demonic entity known as Blackheart.
This was done in a bid to have Hellcat join Mephisto's legion of sinners by using the visage of Hellcat's burned-down family home as a gateway to hell. Of course, Hellcat was not keen on joining Mephisto and Blackheart's army and with the help of Iron Man, escaped hell and returned to her family home. As of 2023's Hellcat #1, the occasional Avengers member has still been living inside her old family home, despite its demonic connection where she is being watched by the demon Hellstrom. With all these factors surrounding Hellcat's life, it is only a matter of time before her demonic entanglement affect her, if they haven't already.
Hellcat May Have Been Manipulated Into Committing Murder
Hellcat's apparent memory loss before she arrived at the deceased Splading Grantham's house at the beginning of Hellcat #1 is particularly suspicious and definitely hints at the vigilante being magically manipulated. While it is clear that Hellcat did not intentionally kill her new boyfriend it seems likely that she was either mind-controlled by one of the many demons stalking her into killing Grantham. These demons also may have simply erased her memory to insight doubt.
The issue did hint at another potential suspect who could have killed Hellcat's boyfriend; that being the superhero Sleepwalker. He has long since had a crush on Hellcat and has the ability to possess people using the dream walking technique made famous thanks to the 2022 film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. While Sleepwalker's involvement would account for Hellcat's memory loss, as he could have possessed Hellcat to do the deed, the superhero has never been depicted as being twisted enough to kill a man over a crush. The true identity of the murderer is ultimately still an enigma but more clues to the killer's identity are sure to come.