Black Panther #1 Review

Writer: Ta-Nehisi Coates / Artist: Brian Stelfreeze / Marvel Comics To say that Black Panther #1 is the most-anticipated comic book of 2016 is like saying that every once in a while, Wakanda invents some new shit. Coates, regarded as one of America’s most celebrated Black intellectuals and writers, broke the nerd internet when he announced he was writing the most recognized Black comic book character in existence (all respect to the Goddess Storm). It simply made too much sense and the buzz has set the anticipation on tilt for months. Even with that excitement, there was the very real acknowledgment that Coates has written many great things previously, but not comic books, so there has been so the optimism has been cautious in many respects. If you thought there was a possibility of this book falling down or stumbling out of the gates because of that, you’ll be happy to hear that nothing could be further from the truth. Black Panther #1 is basically what many of us anticipated or hoped for, a fresh and ambitious take on the beloved King of our favorite fictional nation.

The story begins with T’Challa dealing with turmoil in his nation at the highest alert level. As if there weren’t enough reason to have doubts in the greatest nation in the world from the past attacks that left it devastated, there is someone using supernatural powers to turn the common citizens against the King and he’s faced with physically confronting the very citizens he rules. Add to that the growing dis…