After reading this issue, I felt the need to sit down. Priest has spun one of the most complex, involving and fascinating plots with "Enemy of the State II" and this issue is largely all about Iron Man and Black Panther talking about what that plot is. It sounds dull, I know, but it isn't, as the revelations hit with a dizzying speed to rival the last few minutes of The Sixth Sense or Memento. And while Priest ties in elements of the story from way back, this never feels inaccessible to the new reader. In fact, the only complaint I have is the missing-in-action Bob Almond, replaced on inks by unfamiliar name Steve Geiger and the no-doubt pseudonym of Justin Thyme (sound it out), who serve up adequate but certainly not as impressive finishes over Velluto's strong pencils.
I've been impressed throughout Black Panther's run with the intelligence that it displays, and the intelligence it assumes on the part of its readers. This issue contains complex technological, political, business and economic theories and facts used as background elements or important plot elements. What impresses me most isn't just that Priest has such a command of all of these things, but also that he presents them in a way that is neither dumbed-down or too complex to be understood by the majority of readers. Instead, they are used to show off the platform that this book operates on, one of intelligent sophistication rather than typical spandex fist-fights.
In a short time, Priest has totally redefined Black Panther, taking the various past elements of the character and combining them into a unique personality within the Marvel Universe. In this issue, he plays that redefined Panther off of an old ally, Tony Stark, and just as he did with the Avengers, he puts a new spin on the characters' relationships. Stark is a great choice for an intelligent, wary rival to the Panther; he's not a bad guy, but he would resent being played the way that Panther plays everyone else, and the mixture of admiration, friendship and rivalry that comes out in the conversation between the two men is very impressive.
Also impressive, although not so much as usual, is the artwork. Velluto has to carry a lot of different styles in this book, usually dealing more in personal interaction and quirky humor than the easier-to-do big action storytelling. While the inking this issue is a little muddy, and the artwork therefore not as impressive and detailed as usual, the storytelling and basic style is still very strong. And the design for Iron Man's stealth armor is a gorgeous piece of work.
I'm getting to be a little bit of a broken record on this, but I'm going to keep saying it until all of you start listening to me. Black Panther is one of the smartest, and most fun, books on the market right now. It has a consistently solid creative team, a fascinating lead character and some of the most imaginative and unusual plots to be found in super-hero comics.
