MARVEL COMICS – @Marvel
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
WRITER: Ta-Nehisi Coates
ART: Daniel Acuna
COLORS: Daniel Acuna
LETTERS: VC's Joe Sabino
EDITOR: Wil Moss
COVER: Daniel Acuna (based on the work of Brian Stelfreeze)
VARIANT COVERS: Artgerm; Tom Beland with Jordie Bellaire; Jamal Campbell; Olivier Coipel; Jack Kirby; Michael Kelleher with Paul Mounts; Pepe Larraz with Marte Gracia; In-Hyuk Lee; Yasmine Putri
36pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (July 2018)
Black Panther created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Rated “T”
“The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda” Book 1: “Many Thousands Gone”
Black Panther is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (cover dated: July 1966). Black Panther was T'Challa, the king and protector of the (fictional) African nation of Wakanda. Black Panther was also the first Black superhero in mainstream American comic books.
Ta-Nehisi Coates is an African-American writer, journalist, and commentator. Coastes is also a national correspondent for The Atlantic, where he writes about cultural, political, and social issues, particularly as they regard to Black people in America. Coates' second book, Between the World and Me (released in July 2015), won the 2015 National Book Award for Nonfiction. In 2015, he was the recipient of a “Genius Grant” from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Black Panther and Ta-Nehisi Coates (with artist and designer Brian Stelfreeze) came together two years ago in a relaunch of the Black Panther comic book series. Now, Coates is taking Black Panther in a new direction again, “The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda,” and a fresh series start. Coates writes this new Black Panther with Daniel Acuna as series artist and colorist and Joe Sabino as the letterer.
Black Panther #1 (Legacy #173) opens by recounting the story of how a detachment of Wakandans founded a “small, desolate colony on the outer edges of the cosmos,” two thousands years ago. Eventually this colony became its own empire, an oppressive empire. Now, a miner a.k.a. “Nameless,” a slave on the mining planet, “Gorée,” rises to lead a rebellion. And a legend is reborn.
In previous reviews of Ta-Nehisi Coates Black Panther, I have favorably compared what Coates is doing with the character to what British comic book writer, Alan Moore, did on his legendary tenure on DC Comics' Swamp Thing. I wrote that Moore created a personality for the title character and built a world of supporting characters, bit players, and an intriguing fictional mythology that allowed him to explore Swamp Thing's character and motivations. I said that the result of Moore's efforts was once-in-a-generation comic book storytelling.
Coates has taken what Black Panther writers and artists did before him and is doing what Alan Moore did with Swamp Thing – create a fictional comic book world that is wealthy with possibilities and does not really need the main universe. Coates' Black Panther is also once in a generation comic book storytelling. Now, Coates is taking Black Panther to somewhere the character has never gone – as far as I know. In the far reaches of outer space, Coates will prove whether or not he belongs in the upper echelons of comic book creators. With Black Panther #1 2018, Coates offers intriguing possibilities via interesting characters and provocative concepts.
Daniel Acuna seems to be the perfect collaborator for this new Black Panther. His art is at once classic comic book space opera in terms of compositions and colors. However, he makes his space faring tale look different with striking character and costume design. Acuna is also pushing himself up the latter of recognition as a comic book storyteller.
In an unobtrusive manner, letter Joe Sabino picks his spots to convey the drama and evoke emotions in this story. In many ways, Sabino is the gatekeeper who lets us into this far-flung world of story. He is part of creative team that seems destined to take Black Panther to infinity and beyond.
9 out of 10
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2018 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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