Black Panther: World of Wakanda #4 Review

Writers: Roxane Gay, Ta-Nehisi Coates / Artists: Alitha E. Martinez, Roberto Poggi, Rachelle Rosenberg / Marvel Comics A lot happens between issues #3 and #4 — Queen Shuri mostly dies, the fight with the Black Order comes to an end, and the Dora Milaje patch things up with T’Challa. We don’t see any of that though. We open with Aneka and Ayo being sent off to assist Black Panther in setting up The Ultimates. While they are off fighting and such, their nemesis Folami gets herself shot up with nanites and decides to have a few choice words with the head of the Dora Milaje. Why this doesn’t get old girl sent home, I don’t know. Mistress Zola is way more forgiving that I’d be, I guess.

When our heroines get back from supporting the king, they are back on break-up street, as Aneka can’t deal with the guilt of having let Shuri die. she’s having some serious patriarchy problems as well. I hate it when the patriarchy gets in the way of love.

Enter actual conflict, which this comic has had surprisingly little of. The Dora Milaje are informed that a local chief is raping village women. Twist of all twists, this chief is also Folami’s dad. Aneka goes off to deal him some justice, which ends with her killing him. That’s not a spoiler — his murder is why Aneka is sitting in prison at the start of Black Panther #1. What is a spoiler is how anti-climactic the killing is. Folami doesn’t show to protect her pops, for no discernible reason. I mean, she’s all nanite powerful and is becoming…