BLACK PANTHER #37
"The Once and Future King, Part 2 of 2"
Recommended (7/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Priest
Pencils: Sal Velluto
Inks: Bob Almond
Colors: VLM
Letters: Sharpefont
Editor: Mike Marts
Price: $2.50 US/$3.75 CAN |
I remain fascinated by the intellect Priest instills in the title character and the goofy humanity he grants Everett K. Ross, but I have to admit this issue didn't blow me away like the first half of the story did. Still, the writer includes some great ideas in this script, and the Velluto/Almond art is as strong as ever.
Upon his arrival in America, the future Black Panther recruits some old allies to rescue his friend Ross and help in his climactic encounter with his son, T'Charra. The young price has killed his half-sister and betrayed his father's ideals, all in a bid to build Wakanda into a nation to be feared. Unfortunately, T'Charra isn't without his allies either, having gathered together some of the Panther's most bitter and dangerous enemies.
Priest does a great job of making this second half of the story accessible. Even those who jumped on with last month's 100-Page Monster issue might not be as comfortable or knowledgeable with these characters, and Priest recaps the basic premise and players nicely. He's also crafted a story that sums up the complexities of personality and plot that define this title while making this particular chapter in the story easy to follow.
Velluto pulls off a nice little trick. He maintains a consistent tone with the Panther stories set in the present that he's drawn, but he also conveys the very different nature of the landscape through which the title character prowls in this story. I was also impressed with the colors; VLM reinforces the foreboding tone that Velluto and Almond have estalished.
Easily the most fascinating aspect of the plot is that it's not just the title character's son who betrays him. His own body seems to fight against him, and for a character that's a control freak like T'Challa, it makes for a tragic future. The story also serves to spotlight just how well Monica Lynne and Everett Ross know the Panther, and both shine in this script as well.
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