Written by Bryan Hill
Drawn by Stefano Caselli
Published by Marvel Comics
Amandla!
As I’m writing this, I just got my copy of Ultimate Black Panther #1, and I know even less about this title than I knew of Ultimate Spider-Man before I read that first issue. I have zero idea what this is supposed to be about or what will set this version of T’Challa (presuming it is T’Challa) apart from the mainstream Marvel Comics version. I’m also unfamiliar with the previous work of Bryan Hill, so I’m going into this totally blind, with no expectations. Now I’m going to read it and then come back to finish this review.
THERE WILL PROBABLY BE SPOILERS.
Okay, well this is a different Wakanda than the mainstream version. It’s still highly technologically advanced but somehow has managed to remain completely hidden and unknown to the rest of the world. T’Challa is the King, apparently only recently, as he mentions feeling as if he remains in his father’s shadow, and he’s been plagued by nightmares recently which are implied to be tied to the heavy responsibilities he’s taken on.
His father, T’Chaka, is alive, but it’s unclear why he’s not still the King. T’Challa is married to Okoye, credited as “Queen to T’Challa. Former General of the Dora Milajea, now it’s High Mentor.” However, there’s a vague reference to some Wakandan traditions which makes Okoya feel as if the people don’t see her as an equal ruler to T’Challa. Shuri exists, as T’Challa’s sister and “Woman-At-Arms.”
We’re introduced to an older woman named Matron Imala, described as “Sacred Mother of the Vodu-Khan,” which not much is revealed about but they appear to be some kind of religious order that counsels the King, although he doesn’t fully trust them, nor does he seem to have much consideration for the “Gods” that they purport to represent. Maybe this version of T’Challa is an atheist?
Two figures, Ra and Khonshu (nearly identical Black men except Ra wears a black suit and has the Eye of Horus tattooed on his forehead while Khonshu wears a White suit and has a crescent moon tattooed on his forehead) are in the process of conquering Africa. We see them with a small army of heavily armed troops invading a city in West Africa, burning homes, and slaughtering civilians. This is witnessed by two Wakandan spies who return to Wakanda and warn T’Challa. Shuri is immediately ready to wage war, but T’Challa and Okoye are reluctant. Similar to the first Black Panther film, there is an internal debate about how much, if any, responsibility Wakanda has to protect innocents outside of its gates, specifically other Africans.
I don’t want to spoil too much more here. I’ll just say that two prominent Marvel figures appear in this issue, with drastically altered personas, and the issue ends on an explosive cliffhanger, in which we finally see T’Challa in his Black Panther uniform and he makes his decision about going to war.
Verdict? Color me intrigued. The issue set up several intriguing ideas that I’d like to see explored. I would have liked a little more info on the history of Wakanda and the royal family, but the glimpses I got here are enough to bring me back. I liked Caselli’s artwork, he’s clearly taking inspiration from the MCU version of Wakanda, it looks like the grand Afro-Futuristic nation that it’s meant to be. I’m also really diggin’ T’Challa’s royal clothes.
I’m not going to say that I’m completely sold yet. But I can recommend this issue to any Black Panther fan, and I will at least come back next month to check out the second issue.
iBLOGalot 