Read our review of Ultimate Black Panther #1 from Marvel Comics, written by Bryan Edward Hill with art by Stefano Caselli.
We reviewed the book on the Stack podcast. But in the interest of highlighting more about the title, here’s a summary of the conversation with our thoughts. And if you prefer the longer audio version, that’s below as well!
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Ultimate Black Panther #1 Review:
In the second title in the new, revamped, Ultimate Universe line, we meet the new Black Panther, the same as the old Black Panther. Only now he’s married to Okoye and battling Moon Knight.
Host Pete LePage kicked things off saying that he really loved the art, and thought it was a “cool story” with “great action.” And in particular, was very into the scene with Killmonger. “I think they did a great job of setting up this world, showing us a little bit of what it’s about, and then getting us excited for what’s to come up. Fantastic first issue.”
Alex Zalben added that based on future solicits, it does indeed seem that Killmonger and Storm — who are a couple — are revolutionaries and heroes. And that’s “a little more of what I wanted for this issue,” more “swerves.” He thought that the T’Challa/Okoye relationship as King and Queen equals in an “arranged marriage type situation, that was interesting to me… A lot of the other stuff felt to me like almost any other Black Panther comic book — and mind you, a good Black Panther comic book. There’s good Wakanda stuff in here. But what I want is a big swing out of the Ultimate Universe that feels vastly different from anything that I’ve seen. That’s not what we got here. Even though it is a good, solid book, and as Pete said, Stefano Caselli, his art of course is impeccable every time.”
Justin Tyler agreed with Zalben’s assessment, saying that at this point “the Ultimate Universe is a little bit of a question mark… It is different, but it doesn’t feel like statement books in a lot of ways… This feels very much not like an alternate universe, it feels like this could happen in the 616 universe. So I’m curious how maybe we’re going to explore the different worlds here. But I really liked the book, really liked the art, looking forward to seeing what happens.”
Ultimate Black Panther #1 Official Synopsis:
THE NEW ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER! In the wake of ULTIMATE INVASION, Khonshu and Ra – the force known together as Moon Knight – are seeking to expand their brutal control of the continent of Africa. In response, the lone bulwark against them, the isolated nation of Wakanda, will send forth its champion…its king…the Black Panther! From the creative minds of Bryan Hill (BLADE, KILLMONGER) and Stefano Caselli (X-MEN RED, AVENGERS) comes a bold new take on the world of Black Panther and Wakanda!
