I was surprised when Marvel announced it was launching a new Black Panther series. After all, the last one ended in cancellation, a fate that loomed over the title since its first year, and it was the smartest title Marvel was producing at the time. And maybe they've decided that was the problem. TV writer Reginald Hudlin has clearly drawn some inspiration from Priest's complex and brainy examination of the title character in the previous series, but the storytelling is far more straightforward here. It's not as fun and challenging as Priest's work was -- and comparisons are inevitable, given that Priest guided the character for so long -- but it does boast an edge and enough Priest elements so as to grab my interest. The ending, however, makes it seem as though Hudlin is steering the book toward a more conventional super-hero riff.
A rather ignorant U.S. Army general, steamed that Wakanda has instituted a "no fly" zone over its lands, gets a little history lesson on the mysterious African nation. For centuries, invaders have travelled to the heart of Africa to conquer the fabled kingdom, always to be decimated by superior technology. With every invasion, one survivor is allowed to live and flee, to tell the tale of the impenetrable domain, the superior firepower and the ruthlessness of its leader. Of course, we know that one man succeeded years ago in causing some trouble there and killing the Wakanadan king, and now, that conqueror is back, thirsting for vengeance and outfitted with new technology.
Romita Jr. brings unusual settings to life with seeming ease, whether it's a pristine African landscape or a White House war room. I love how he conveys the swiftness and brutality of the Panther's Teeth, and he restores a truly Silver Age feel in the look of the title character while maintaining a darker, more modern edge to him at the same time. I'm not wild about the redesign of the villain, as shown on the last page. The colors reinforce both the realism of the story and the almost supernatural atmosphere that looms over Wakanda as it's perceived by outsiders.
Though a bit redundant, the flashbacks to two attempted invasions of Wakandan soil demonstrated a wonderful dichotomy in the African setting, one that I expect will be reflected in the title character as well. Wakanda is an advanced, refined place, capable of wondrous technology, but Hudlin also shines a spotlight on a ferocity and spirituality that are just as integral to the culture as its science.
At first, Hudlin's take seems to be following in the footsteps of that of Priest, delving into the political side of the Marvel Universe, but the final scene takes a different cue. It shows a super-villain preparing to attack his arch-enemy once again, this time outfitted with a better gimmick. I certainly hope that's not what the writer has in store for us, because I fear I'd lose interest quickly in yet another stereotypical super-hero title. 7/10
