by Randy Lander

BLACK PANTHER #38 "Return of the Dragon Book One of Three: Noted Sword" Highly Recommended (9/10) Marvel Comics Writer: Priest Pencils: Sal Velluto Inks: Bob Almond Colors: Jennifer Schellinger Letters: Sharpefont Editor: Mike Marts Price: $2.50 US/$3.75 CAN I'm no fan of over-complex stories, as my reviews of American Century, Cable and Grip will attest. However, Black Panther continues to be complex and interwoven with 20-year-old continuity, and it's one of the titles I love the most. Priest, Velluto & Almond tell a story here that ties into the urban mythology of Power Man and Iron Fist, updating the 70s "kung-fu" riff that series often had to a more Matrix/Crouching Tiger version, and though the mystical/martial arts genre doesn't seem like it would be a natural fit for the very political Black Panther, it's shaping up to be another great storyline from a great series. Perhaps most impressively, despite featuring years of continuity from Black Panther and Iron Fist, the book is completely accessible. I always had a soft spot for Power Man and Iron Fist, quite honestly, especially from the few issues I read that Priest wrote. The unlikely duo had great chemistry, and it was such a mixture of strange ideas, so set in one era and yet carried over into another, that I developed a fondness for the characters. This story plays off a lot of those characters, from Iron Fist to the terrific detective team of Misty Knight and Colleen Wing to a villain known as Black Dragon. In the process, Priest sets right the great wrong that has been done to the character of Iron Fist, and gives us a believable story device to set Fist against Black Panther. There's a great vibe going on in this series, reminiscent of 70s action films but updated for modern times. Colleen Wing's origins are straight out of a 70s flick (or comic), but the opening scene is pure Matrix. A big part of that is the artwork, as Velluto and Almond turn out a terrific martial arts fight between Wing and Nightshade and provide some very well-defined backgrounds from downtown New York to Hong Kong. Another part, of course, is Priest's skill with dialogue and characters. Black Dragon is very much the kung-fu/magic bad guy, although he's got a sardonic sense of humor that fits him well. And the use of Knight, Wing and Fist is a perfect example of how to do a buddy story, something Priest has proven his skill with on Quantum & Woody and of course Black Panther. However, while I'm impressed by the Hong Kong action segments of the story, I'm even more impressed that it fits so well into this book without feeling like a complete reversal in tone. The revelation about Ross and Mephisto was one I didn't see coming, but it made absolute sense, and provided for a fantastic showdown between Panther and Black Dragon. And though their screen time was less than usual, the moment between Ross and Panther in the cell at the embassy was priceless, more than making up the lack of quantity with quality. There's a fair bit of continuity in here, and at times it gets a little thick. However, I'd rather a creative team give us large chunks of exposition than simply throw a complex plot at us without enough explanation, and Priest strikes a great balance between complex and accessible. Though I still have my quibbles (I remain unimpressed by the Defenders guest spot), there's a reason why 90% of my reviews for Black Panther have been glowingly positive. Hopefully this issue, the beginning of a new story, will inspire a few more readers to check it out. Email Randy Lander comments about this review, or discuss it on the Fourth Rail message board.