Ultimate Black Panther

Last updated
Ultimate Black Panther
Ultimate Black Panther 4.jpg
Ultimate Black Panther #4, with T'Challa, Shuri and the Dora Milaje
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
Format Ongoing series
Genre
Publication dateFebruary 2024
Creative team
Created byBlack Panther by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee
Written byBryan Hill
Artist(s)Stefano Caselli
Letterer(s) Vc Joe Sabino
Colorist(s) Jesus Aburtov
Editor(s)C. B. Cebulski

Ultimate Black Panther is a 2024 comic book by Bryan Edward Hill and Stefano Caselli. It is set in the Ultimate Universe. It follows T'Challa as he rules over the isolated Wakanda, while garnering allies and preparing for war with Moon Knight, who aims to take control of the rest of Africa in The Maker's absence.

Contents

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 a 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

Wakanda is a hidden isolationist nation in Africa, ruled by Black Panther (T'Challa) and Okoye. As The Maker is removed from global politics, his underlings 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 Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu), regardless of Wakandan policies. 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 causing him to send Killmonger and Storm to find the Sorcerer Supreme who can help him understand Vibranium. As Black Panther has a nightmare of killing Lord Khonshu and being Vibranium, Killmonger and Storm bring Inan to Wakanda. 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. [4]

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. [5]

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. [6]

Collected editions

#TitleMaterial collectedFormatPagesReleasedISBN
1Peace And WarUltimate Black Panther (2024) #1-6TPB1521 Oct 2024 978-1302957308
2Gods And KingsUltimate Black Panther (2024) #7-12TPB13615 Apr 2025 978-1302958237

Related Research Articles

Vibranium is a fictional metal appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, noted for its extraordinary abilities to absorb, store, and release large amounts of kinetic energy. Mined only in the kingdom of Wakanda, the metal is associated with the character Black Panther, who wears a suit of vibranium, and Captain America, who bears a vibranium/steel alloy shield. An alternate form of the material, known as Antarctic Vibranium, or Anti-Metal, has appeared in the Savage Land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaw (character)</span> Fictional supervillain

Klaw is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a human physicist who has been transformed into solid sound, and who wears a sonic emitter on his right wrist as a prosthetic device. He is often in conflict with the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, and he is also an enemy of the Black Panther and Ka-Zar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Panther (character)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Black Panther is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist-coplotter Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #52, published in July 1966. Black Panther's birth name is T'Challa, and he is the son of the previous Black Panther, T'Chaka. He is the king and protector of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, a technologically advanced society drawing from a supply of vibranium, a fictional metal of extraordinary properties. Along with possessing enhanced abilities achieved through ancient Wakandan rituals of drinking the essence of the heart-shaped herb, T'Challa also relies on his proficiency in science, expertise in his nation's traditions, rigorous physical training, hand-to-hand combat skills, and access to wealth and advanced Wakandan technology to combat his enemies. The character became a member of the Avengers in 1968, and has continued that affiliation off and on in subsequent decades.

Wakanda, officially the Kingdom of Wakanda, is a fictional country appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the country first appeared in Fantastic Four #52. Wakanda is located in sub-Saharan Africa and has been depicted as being in East Africa. It is home to the superhero Black Panther.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man-Ape</span> Comics character

Man-Ape (M'Baku) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, the character first appeared in The Avengers #62. Man-Ape is depicted as a frequent adversary of the superhero Black Panther.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heliopolitans</span> Fictional group of gods from Marvel Comics

Heliopolitans are a fictional group of gods, based on Ancient Egyptian deities, appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Bast is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared as an idol in Fantastic Four #52, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and is based on the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. Bast is a member of the Heliopolitan and Wakandan pantheons. and the patron of the superhero Black Panther.

T'Chaka is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the father of T'Challa and Shuri. He was the king of Wakanda and Black Panther before T'Challa; he inherited both titles following the death of his father, T'Chanda aka Azzuri the Wise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Killmonger</span> Fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics

Erik Killmonger is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler, he first appeared in Jungle Action #6. The character is commonly depicted as a skilled hunter and mercenary born in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, who holds a grudge against the country and its people after his biological parents were killed when he was young. Raised outside of Wakanda, he eventually returns as a revolutionary leader and terrorist to exact his revenge, and repeatedly challenges the nation's king and protector, Black Panther, who becomes his most prominent adversary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venomm</span> Marvel Comics character, enemy of Black Panther

Horatio Walters is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler, the character first appeared in Jungle Action vol. 2 #6. Walters is known under the codename Venomm. He became a supervillain using snakes as weapons in his schemes, and frequently collaborated with Erik Killmonger in his efforts to challenge Wakanda. Eventually, Venomm became a member of the Department of Occult Armaments, a group dealing with mystical and supernatural threats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuri (character)</span> Fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics

Black Panther / Aja-Adanna is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 4 #2. Shuri is the princess of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. She is the daughter of T'Chaka and younger sister of T'Challa, who is the king of Wakanda and the Black Panther, an earned title and rank given to the paramount chief of the nation.

<i>Black Panther</i> (film) 2018 Marvel Studios film

Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, and it stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. In Black Panther, T'Challa is crowned king of Wakanda following his father's death, but he is challenged by Killmonger (Jordan), who plans to abandon the country's isolationist policies and begin a global revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett K. Ross</span> Fictional character

Everett Kenneth Ross is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Primarily an ally of superhero Black Panther, the character exists within Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.

Nakia Shauku is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira, the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 3 #1.

Okoye is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Christopher Priest and artist Mark Texeira, the character first appeared in Black Panther #1. Okoye is the General of the special forces for the fictional African nation of Wakanda called Dora Milaje.

White Wolf is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Christopher Priest and artist Mark Texeira, the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 3 #4. Hunter is known under the codename White Wolf. He is the adopted brother of the superheroes T'Challa / Black Panther and Shuri. He is the leader of the Wakanda's secret police Hatut Zeraze. The character is an antihero who has been a mercenary and a defender of Wakanda at various points in his history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)</span> Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

T'Challa is a fictional character portrayed by Chadwick Boseman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. He is initially depicted as the prince of the fictional African nation of Wakanda who holds the appointed title of Black Panther. He uses an advanced vibranium suit and is imbued with superhuman strength and agility granted to him by the heart-shaped herb, as a blessing bestowed upon him by Wakanda's patron deity Bast, from whom the visage of the Black Panther mantle assumed by the chosen royal members is representative and evocative of.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuri (Marvel Cinematic Universe)</span> Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Shuri is a fictional character portrayed primarily by Letitia Wright in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, also inspired by the James Bond character Q. She is the courageous and tech-savvy younger sister of T'Challa, and the daughter of T'Chaka and Ramonda, all preceding monarchs of Wakanda. Highly intelligent and a master engineer, she is Wakanda's lead scientist and the princess of the country. Following her father's death, Shuri assists her brother in reclaiming the Wakandan throne from their cousin N'Jadaka and then helps remove Bucky Barnes's programming. Later, she assists the Avengers by attempting to use her technology to safely remove the Mind Stone from Vision's head. However, she gets stopped by Corvus Glaive and shortly after, falls victim to the Blip. After getting restored to life, she joins the battle against an alternate Thanos. Following her brother and mother's death, she becomes the new Black Panther, defeating Namor in combat and forming an alliance with Talokan against the rest of the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?</span> 6th episode of the 1st season of What If...?

"What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?" is the sixth episode of the first season of the American animated television series What If...?, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name. It explores what would happen if the events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Iron Man (2008) and Black Panther (2018) occurred differently, with Erik "Killmonger" Stevens enacting a secret plan to enter Wakanda that involves saving and befriending Tony Stark. The episode was written by story editor Matthew Chauncey and directed by Bryan Andrews.

References

  1. 1 2 Noah Dominguez (February 6, 2024). "Ultimate Black Panther #1 Scores Early Second Printing at Marvel". Superhero Hype. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  2. Brian Cronin (October 15, 2023). "NYCC: Marvel Announces Creative Teams for Ultimate Spider-Man, Black Panther and X-Men". CBR. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  3. Timothy Adams (December 18, 2023). "Bryan Hill Takes Readers Inside the World of Wakanda in Ultimate Black Panther (Exclusive)". Comicbook.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  4. Ultimate Black Panther #1-10. Marvel Comics.
  5. Spencer Perry (February 7, 2024). "Ultimate Black Panther #1 Review: A Gorgeous, If Familiar, Take On T'Challa". Comicbook.com. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  6. I-j Wheaton (February 25, 2024). "REVIEW: Marvel's Ultimate Black Panther #1 Brings War to T'Challa". CBR. Retrieved August 13, 2024.