Reading and reviewing Ultimate Black Panther was sometimes a roller coaster. On the one hand, I love how the comic puts a new spin on the Black Panther mythology, and the creative team of Brian Hill and Stefano Casselli is a great match. Unlike the rest of the Ultimate Line, on the other hand, this book appears to move forward and then stop. Unfortunately, Ultimate Black Panther #14 reminded me of that.
First of all, there is a way to uncover the problem. Rather than the magician’s best Iman preparing a “exorcism” for vibranium, he grasps the fact that he was literally plagued by the rubber knights since his war with the Moon Knights, he is aware of the fact that an attack took place in Nigeria. It’s an action-packed and brutal sequence thanks to the return of artist Carlos Nieto, but without the cover I feel like I’ve stepped into a completely different comic. This sequence also accounts for half the runtime and serves as a revelation of how far the darker puddle of vibranium spreads, more or less.
In fact, this sequence sums up the main issues I had in the Ultimate Black Panther, which seems to lose momentum when Hill’s script becomes a major plot point. It’s strange because he read and loved his previous works, especially Batman, the Outsider and the Blade. I can’t help but wonder what has changed between those books and the ultimate Black Panther. Certainly, the entire plot point hasn’t been dropped or ignored, but I hope the book can maintain a steady pace, especially if the previous issue shows a lot of promise.
Amazing
There are many possibilities for Ultimate Black Panther #14 too. The conversation between T’Challa and Erik Killmonger is a great example of this. Killmonger explains why he and Storm feel so uneasy within Wakanda. Killmonger has some amazing Zingers.
T’Challa also wears a new suit, but thanks to Nieto, he looks very cool. The suit does not have vibranium. This means that T’Challa is not incorporated into the mysterious powers lying within the metal. On top of that, David Curiel gives Tikara the midnight blue of his new suit and the standout jet black cape. Fans of Eagle Eyed Marvel will notice that this new suit has strong similarities to T’Challa’s outfit in Fantastic Four #52. Praise to Nieto and Curiel for that visual cry.
Curiel’s colour also provides a gap between Wakanda and other Africans. Wakanda is a sparkling paradise illuminated by the golden sun and sparkling skyscrapers. The outside world is enveloped in red and black, hinting at the darkness approaching the horizon. Color is a major part of storytelling, and Curielle uses his colour art to prepare readers for the upcoming storm.
Ultimate Black Panther #14 is a roller coaster of conflicting emotions. Part of it is exciting for me, and part of it makes me feel like the creative team should step up. Hopefully the next issue will shake up the kink.
“Ultimate Black Panther” #14 takes a step forward and then back
The Ultimate Black Panther #14
Ultimate Black Panther #14 is a roller coaster of conflicting emotions. Part of it is exciting for me, and part of it makes me feel like the creative team should step up. Hopefully the next issue will shake up the kink.
T’Challa’s new costume is a clever cry to the origins of his 616.
The big bond between T’Challa and Killmonger I want to see more.
Nieto opens up the problem with an amazingly visible action packed sequence…
…However, I feel it’s been disconnected from the rest of the problem up to the middle page.
Stopping and starting the main plot is a patience test exercise.
