Review: King in Black: Black Panther #1
·Lucas Fashina
For a couple of years, Tchalla, AKA Black Panther has been on awild ride of irrelevant storylines. There are storylines that having nothing to do with being the King of Wakanda. Agents of Wakanda (that did nothing for Wakanda); he has been fighting in a tournament for the Phoenix force that he does not even want; Tchalla went into space to find Vibranium, and accidentally brought back with a symbiote with a side of Killmonger. Some of the writers have been trying to wedge the Ororo, and Tchalla storyline into several events, but it has fallen flat.
In the current issue of King in Black: Black Panther #1, The Knull symbiote invasions has made way to the walls of Wakanda. The Wakandan Forces have run out of space and time to put in between the plague, themselves. and the civilian population. Ororo, who is perhaps their biggest weapon has fallen, and their individual’s weapons can only stun the symbiotes at most.
I had a hard time connecting my dread of the greater King in Black threat to the rest of the world. It felt like the Knull invasion was isolated to Wakanda. Also there seems to be some sorta shift in characteristics for Tchalla and Shuri. Shuri has for a while now been fully developed as the scientifically more adept of the two; and Tchalla as the Strategic warrior, and General in the field. That is why it at one point it did make sense for him to command the Avengers. But in this issue Shuri is the warrior and Tchalla is the man in the chair? Also know, we are supposed to believe that an earth god is on par with a cosmic force. (Hand of Bast meant to kill Phoenix)
Truth be told, after this I am not sure why Tchalla would remain King of Wakanda. Even his sister has been questioning his decisions. Shurin should have stayed in command of Wakanda by the way. But because we (people in general) commonly misinterpret displays of confidence as a sign of competence, we are fooled into believing that men are better leaders than women. By the way since when did Shuri turn into a Karen?
The interior art was done by German Peralta coloring by Jesus Aburtov. I will say that depicting the infection of the small country, much less one person can be a daunting task. I blame the panel layout because I mentally cannot grasp how big the invasion was. Each person that was infected was just another no name person, and even when a larger character got infected, there was no build-up.
SCORE: 2/5
King in Black: Black Panther #1 will have 2 covers: Cover A, Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho; Cover B, Steve Epting.
Writer: Geoffrey Thorne
Artist: German Peralta
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Were you judging gender roles being dicpited? Maybe your distaste for black men in leadership has distorted your perspective. T’challa has always been “The Man in The Chair” It was Coates bad writing that completely ruined what he is. Yes, he is smarter than his sister and twice the warrior she. My suggestion is read more on the history prior to writing on the subject matter. And leave the agenda commentary at home.
“Robert”, are you ok? Why did you have to turn it into a racial thing? I ran the receipts on what was the basis for my commentary, including stuff pre-Coates; I am merely challenging you to give relevant published examples as well, because I am not just questioning whether a 35 year old king is smarter than an 18 year old. The question is, was leaving the battlefield the best decision? They are not warriors they are Kings and Queens, thus in command. Well “Robert”, please do not presume to lecture actual Africans, on African history and on how tribal/ royal politics and military strategy works. If you would like to continue this debate via podcast please let me know. I am always at the ready to proudly display my Owu marks.
Top 5? 10 years ago he way maybe in the top 8,(Incredible Hulk Vol 1 #601). Here is a list of the Marvel fictional characters that won the Noble prize: Reed Richards; Henry Mccoy(beast); Moira; Morbious; Monica Rappaccini; Ho Yinsen; Peter Corbeau; Noah Black; Anthony Stark.
So that means we have to go by research or by things actually built. T’Challa has been credited with creating a mechanical flight harness for Falcon (Captain America #169-170); but we know that Adrian Toomes first developed an electromagnetic harness that would allow the wearer to fly (Amazing Spider-Man #241). Don’t get me wrong T’challa has been portrayed as capable; But, always with the help of someone else, and his Oxford Education, herbal medication.
Shuri? Herbally changed as well; but, She is autonomous. Self Taught, yet invented : Wings in a can, Little Sauron, a surveillance Network; and a foldable car (Shuri #1-2). She was taught self defense, but not how to lead an Army.
Always done? Since when does a field General leave the battle so his little sister can fight? for Example, is if either Generals Mattis or Schwarzkopf just got up in the middle of the war to go tiddlin around with some guns, while someone else takes their place, what would have been the headline. I am not expecting readers to understand the field strategy I am eluding to, but at least you could have picked up a relevant book in the last 12 years.
It’s clear the reviewer has a very small grasp of the characters involved in this story. References MCU shuri who is a genius as opposed to Comics Shuri (which isnt even a top 20 character in intelligence) and conplains that comic Tchalla whonis a tip 5 mind in the 616 is doing things that comics Tchalla has alwaya done.
If you want to review the mcu then stick to that.