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
Peace and War (#1–6)
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. [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 it's 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'll face him as everyone watches the fight. As visions of people demand that Black Panther finishes off Khonshu, Inan arrives with Storm and Killmonger where she breaks up the fight. She states that whatever problem Black Panther is having with Vibranium, it's 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 what she knows about Vibranium which is woven around Earth. Black Panther stated that they laid claim to Lord 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. As Storm brings rain upon Wakanda to put out the fires and the Dora Milaje and the Vodu-Khan are summoned to tend to the injured, Inan states that Wakanda needs an exorcism. [11]
As mercenaries target a Vibranium shipment in Nigeria, the remaining mercenary gets possessed by the Vibranium's consciousness. Meanwhile in Wakanda, Black Patron is advised by Matron Imala to wear a version of his outfit that doesn't have Vibranium in it. Somewhere in the sky, the mercenary captain speaks to his female American special ops agent Adi when their helicopter is taken down. The Progenitor consciousness claims the Adi's body for now. [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 where they asks for the material that they call Dark Vibranium. He is then sniped by a mysterious sniper who makes off in his motorcycle. Black Panther pursues him and tells Storm that they need the sniper alive. They interrogate the sniper Chima upon apprehending him and learn that his brother Adi is dead as the Dark Vibranium is an afront to God where it is a gateway as it shows some scientists working on it. [13]
Dr. Mara tells a mysterious person through a webchat that the Dark Vibranium has a conscious. Meanwhile, Black Panther, Storm, and Chima work to intercept Adi. They confront Adi who takes down Chima. The Progenitor states that he is the "gateway between the now and the old" and asked Black Panther if he has ever asked the question on why his line was allowed to rule. Black Panther and Storm then fight the Progenitor as the Progenitor takes out Storm. Black Panther kicks the Progenitor and catches a falling Storm. The Progenitor then leaves as the gateway is calling him while stating that Black Panther will play his role as his line previously did. Black Panther and Storm prepare to be ready for when the Progenitor returns. [14]
Back in Wakanda, Killmonger and Queen Okoye are watching over it. An army of Machine Men then attack an American mining facility. Later that night, Killmonger, Queen Okoye, and the Dora Milaje head to the mining facility to rescue the workers and fight the Machine Men. Afterwards, Killmonger speaks to Queen Okoye about wanting Wakanda to lead Africa. The Vodu-Khan then arrive as Matron Imana state that they are here to serve the will of the Progenitor as they have waited for this moment. Inan then shows up and drives the Vodu-Khan arrive. After Inan collapses, Killmonger tells Queen Okoye to make use of Shuri while telling them that they "have a new king". [15]
The Progenitor Z'Non and his ally X'akal plan to make their own kingdom as Matron Imana shows up as she mentions that the Vodu-Khan have worshiped the truth about him for generations and that Wakanda has his element As Z'Non plans to march to Wakanda to claim the body that is there, Matron Imana states that the body in question is not born yet. In Nigeria, the Defense Minister is placed in a room where the "Masked Man" can't find him. Black Panther fights his way passed the guards and confronts the Defense Minister on where the gateway he is looking for is located. Later, Black Panther mentions to Storm that he got the information on the gateway's location. 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 Z'Non inside as he claims that he and Storm will help them destroy Wakanda. [16]
Issues #19-24
Inan tells Killmonger that she can't sense the Progenitors because the Dark Vibranium has woven into Wakanda. She makes a suggestion to make the imprisoned Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu speak as they have made use of Dark Vibranium while giving him the Athame of Woe. Killmonger starts to interrogate Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu. Four weeks ago, T'Challa demands to know where Z'Non made Storm disappear to. After Z'Non overpowers T'Challa, he claims that T'Challa's blood role in his plot is finished. Before Z'Non can finish off T'Challa, the presence of Bast intervenes as the spirits of previous Black Panther generations drives him away. Bast approaches T'Challa and offers to train him to be ready when Z'Non returns. He must not "wear the panther", he must "become it". Back in the present, Okoye learned about Killmonger's torture and learns that Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu have told him that Shuri was the one who killed T'Chaka and told them Black Panther's moves as well as their mentioning that Wakanda is a gateway that involved Dark Vibranium and would also allow the Gods to visit the mortals. 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 in this war as he is shown led into a cave by the different black panther spirits. [17]
Bast reveals to T'Challa how Vibranium came to Earth and how Wakanda was enhanced by it. It was a curator that came from a world that was dying. Bast tells T'Challa that the "archivists" have returned and planted their seed. T'Challa states "This is not power, this is legacy". Bast then states that T'Challa must not worship her and must evolve into the thing that must destroy them. When T'Challa asks Bast to show him, Bast shows him about the Ufka who heard the Vibranium speak and remembered it. When T'Challa asked if his father knew about this, Bast states that T'Chaka and those that came before him didn't as they didn't seek her knowledge. Bast tells T'Challa to prepare his soul and Wakanda for making sure the Progenitors fail as well as reminding them that Wakanda was built on will and not metal. T'Challa tells Bast that he has made his choice. He wakes up as he dons his Black Panther outfit and tells his ancestors that Wakanda will rise for Africa and all people. Wakanda will hide no longer. He starts by freeing some captive children from a group of colonizers and has them return to their village which is not far as he will come back for them later. Before leaving on a commandeered motorcycle, he advises the children to roar if they need him. [18]
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. [19]
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. [20]
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