Publication history
Ultimate Black Panther, a reimagination of the Black Panther character, is the second comic of the Ultimate Universe line. It was published a month after the debut of Ultimate Spider-Man and one month before the debut of Ultimate X-Men. [1] Those three series were the first ongoing series of the Ultimate Universe after the miniseries Ultimate Invasion that started it. Of those three, Ultimate Black Panther is the only one that is not a reboot of a previous series from the original Ultimate Marvel imprint. [2]
Hill explained that, although the comic is set in the Ultimate Universe and that would give him great freedom to reinvent the character, it still has to respect the IP. He reasons that an IP has major and minor rules, and that the creative freedom only allows breaking some of the minor ones. He also wanted to explore the concept of an isolationist country such as Wakanda. He explained that in the first issues there would be a war right outside of Wakanda, and the characters would be torn between the options of maintaining the isolationist policy or joining the fight. [3]
Plot
Peace and War (#1–6)
Wakanda is a hidden isolationist nation in Africa, ruled by Black Panther (T'Challa) and Okoye. As Maker is removed from global politics, his underlings in his council Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu take it as a chance to annex territories from Africa. The Wakandan royalty are divided over helping the nearby countries or just securing their own frontiers. Killmonger and Storm are guerrilla fighters who stand against Moon Knight (a collective name used by Ra and Khonshu), regardless of Wakandan policies. [4]
Gods and Kings (#7–12)
While allying with Killmonger and Storm against Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu after T'Chaka saves him from a suicide bomber, Black Panther learns something new about Vibranium. [5]
The new information that T'Challa learns about Vibranium causes him to send Killmonger and Storm to find the Sorcerer Supreme who can help him understand Vibranium. [6]
As Black Panther has a nightmare of killing Lord Khonshu and being Vibranium, Killmonger and Storm bring Inan to Wakanda. [7]
When a H.A.N.D. helicopter attacks and wounds Killmonger, Inan casts a spell for the helicopter to fall as it gets swallowed by a giant shark. After healing Killmonger, Inan accelerates Storm and Killmonger's departure to Wakanda by opening a portal and will help Black Panther with Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu. [8]
As Shuri and the Dora Milaje have a parley with the soldiers working for Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu, a single combat is issued between Black Panther and Moon Knight where the victor will claim Wakanda and its Vibranium. After Black Panther saved some medical workers and their van from some mercenaries, he gets his injuries tended to him. On his way back, Black Panther tells Shuri to forward a message to Moon Knight that he agrees to the single combat. [9]
After having a meditative session with Matron Imala regarding a vision where he kills Lord Khonshu, Black Panther heads to where he will face him as everyone watches the fight. As visions of people demand that Black Panther finishes off Khonshu, Inan arrives with Storm and Killmonger and breaks up the fight. She states that whatever problem Black Panther is having with Vibranium, it is not too late to save everything he believes in. [10]
Darkness and Light (#13–18)
While Lord Khonshu recuperates in the presence of Lord Ra, Inan starts to talk to Black Panther. He asks Inan what she knows about Vibranium which is woven around Earth. Black Panther stated that they laid claim to Khonshu's temple and found no answers. When Black Panther claims that the Vibranium is alive, Inan casts a spell that taps into the Vibranium's memory and accidentally manifests a monstrous figure that Inan claims is the Vibranium's consciousness called the Progenitor. As the Progenitor attacks Wakanda, Storm joins Black Panther in fighting it. Inan casts a spell that sends the Progenitor into deep space. [11]
As mercenaries target a Vibranium shipment in Nigeria, one of the mercenaries is possessed by the Vibranium's consciousness. The Vibranium jumps to the body of Adi, a special ops agent who was working with the mercenaries. Meanwhile in Wakanda, Black Panther is advised by Matron Imala to remove all vibranium from his costume. [12]
In Nigeria, a doctor named Amon is approached by the possessed Adi who killed his wife Lupa before committing defenestration on him. The following night at the Office of National Security, Killmonger and Storm meet with Mr. Ola and ask for a material called Dark Vibranium. Ola is sniped by a mysterious sniper who makes off in his motorcycle. Black Panther captures and interrogates the sniper, who is revealed to be Adi's brother Chima. It is revealed that the Dark Vibranium is a gateway as a group of scientists are shown working on it. [13]
In Nigeria, Black Panther confronts the country's Defense Minister to find the gateway. The next day, T'Challa has a vision of Bast who states that his biggest test is ahead and to find her. When Black Panther re-enters the house, he finds Storm gone and the Progenitor, Z'Non, inside. Z'Non claims that Black Panther and Storm will help them destroy Wakanda. [14]
Issues #19–24
Killmonger interrogates Ra and Khonshu for knowledge about vibranium. Meanwhile, T'Challa is attacked by Z'Non, but is saved by Bast and the spirits of past Black Panthers. Bast approaches T'Challa and offers to train him to be ready when Z'Non returns. Killmonger learns that the entirety of Wakanda is a gateway that would allow gods to visit the mortal world. T'Challa's blood is a tribute to the gods and that they need to find T'Challa if he is to claim his power. [15]
Bast reveals to T'Challa how Vibranium came to Earth via a curator who came from a dying world. Bast tells T'Challa that the "archivists" have returned and planted their seed. Bast tells T'Challa to prepare his soul and Wakanda to stop the Progenitors fail as well as reminding them that Wakanda was built on will and not metal. T'Challa wakes up as he dons his Black Panther outfit and tells his ancestors that Wakanda will no longer hide themselves from the world. [16]
While exploring a series of ruins, Shuri explains to Okoye that the Progenitors gave the Wakandans the opposite gifts in the form of Dark Vibranium. She also denies being involved with T'Chaka's death. As Killmonger and the Dora Milaje continue exploring the ruins, they find engravings depicting the Progenitors as they are suddenly ambushed. Black Panther saves the group and opens the door that the biomechs were guarding, finding liquid Vibranium. [17]
Storm is captured by the Vodu-Khan, a group of priestesses who have her give birth to the Child of Light to bring about a new age. Storm is contacted by Bast, stating that what she gave birth to is not her child and it must be destroyed. With Killmonger's aid, Storm breaks free and helps Black Panther to take down Imala. Bast shows up to heal Killmonger while stating that the child is a gateway. [18]
To prepare for an invasion, T'Challa tells Shuri to have anyone who can fight prepare for battle. Black Panther and Shuri head to a building, where he is shown an invention that is considered the "Fists of Wakanda". The Child of Light is confronted by Black Panther in a large black panther-like vehicle as Storm joins the fight. The Child of Light has the Vodu-Khan receive their "gods" and continue east. During the battle, the black panther vehicle explodes and Black Panther and the Child of Light disappear. [19]
Black Panther is transported to another dimension, where he is confronted by the Progenitors and is told that he destroyed the Child of Light. Black Panther states that he will not stand with them, but negotiates with the Progenitors, stating that he wants "peace through strength". Inan's astral form pulls Black Panther out of the Progenitors' dimension and brings him back to Wakanda. Some time later, Wakanda works on establishing interconnecting towns and villages with shared resources. T'Challa then addresses his people that his people are not safe and neither is the world, as the Progenitors will eventually return. They must prepare to join the rest of the world as a way to make the world safer. Meanwhile in the North American Union, the CIA is hearing about Wakanda working to shape the world and that the Maker's Council is falling. T'Challa later meets with Killmonger and gives him a knife. T'Challa wants Killmonger to protect Wakanda with his life and to kill him and take over leadership of Wakanda should the Progenitors take control of him. [20]
Reception
The first issue had high sales, so Marvel ordered a second printing, which hit the stands by the time of Ultimate Black Panther #2. It featured a new cover art by R.B. Silva. [1]
Spencer Perry from Comicbook.com considers that the comic book wasted the chance to make a radical reinvention of the comic. Instead of that, it plays it safe, with most characters staying at their usual characterizations. The comic takes a strong influence from the Black Panther film, both in the chosen cast and in the visual appearances. Perry points out that even that had already been done by the mainstream Black Panther comics. He also points that the comic draws influence from the Dune novel, with the political intrigue and rival factions. However, he considers that the comic is still of good quality. [21]
I-j Wheaton from CBR praises the quality of the dialogue, with an adequate vocabulary and pacing. He also praises the arts, in particular the architecture of the city and the clothing of the characters, that provide a sense of Afro-futurism. The art is also strong on the emotions seen at the character's faces, complementing the brief and precise lines of dialogue. The dark and moody colors provide the right atmosphere, but only in the situations that call for it, as it alternates with brighter scenes. [22]
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