Review: Black Panther #18

STORY

Most of the comics I’ve read by Coates often leave me bored to slightly offended. I am not in general a fan of his work. So when I read this issue I had none of the expectations I would have from reading an author whose work I liked on a regular basis. I’m pleased to say that this issue was a most pleasant surprise. Coates crafts a moving and thought provoking story about on of Marvel’s greatest creations having to look deeply within himself and recognize that even the presumed greatest of heroes can also have flaws and make mistakes.

For those new to the series, Wakanda has a mining colony in space that through a mistake in wormhole travel sent them thousands of years into the past. Cut off from home the stranded spacefarers forged and empire in a distant galaxy until generations later they could return home. However, they had become conquerors in this time and T’ Challa fell prey to them and the ambitions of their emperor.

The story has nearly no action at all and yet I hound myself captivated as the Panther reveals to his wife Storm how someone of his intelligence and high moral standards failed to see the corruption and oppression just below the shiny surface of the glittering empire that is worshiping his very presence. Storm supports her husband as many a good wife will but getting him to express the truth instead of stoically holding it in and then helping him realize that for all his genius and abilities that he is still just a man capable of making mistakes and even blinding himself to the evidence of immorality being done tangentially in his name, and the name of Wakanda. This was really, REALLY good character stuff. Over the years Black Panther has been suffering from an affliction similar to that of Batman. He is being written as being flawless, too perfect at everything, always able to handle anything that comes his way. With this story Coates reminds us that T’ Challa is human and capable of having poor judgement, he has feet of clay and must deal with this revelation about himself. Storm is equally well written and exposes her own flaws in seeking to help her husband. She comes across as the wise and soulful character Claermont created so many years ago but I appreciated that she helped T’ Challa by showing that she was also capable of making similar mistakes. It was a really nice touch.

ART

The lines by Sprouse are for the most part OK. He tells the story well mind you and you can feel the emotion radiating from Storm and the Panther as they speak but he seems to rely very heavily of photographs for his work. For quiet scenes and backgrounds this works quite well, especially as he seems to be very good at putting expressions on the faces that work for the scene, unlike say Greg Land. Unlike Land though, who can still do exciting action sequences with his highly reference work, Sprouse’s fight scene in this book is flat and unexciting.

Story’s inks are always good and Mevyz’s colors are appropriately somber if a bit on the pastel side for the most part.

FINAL THOUGHTS

This is a pretty darn potent issue and while the art is not terribly exciting its good enough combined with this story to make for a fine read. Check this issue out, its worth it!

SCORE: 4 out of 5

Writer:Â Ta-Nehisi Coates
Art:Â Chris Sprouse
Inks:Â Karl Story
Colors:Â Marcio Menyz