Initially, I was skeptical about the return of the Ultimate Universe. While the modernized title has certainly brought in new readers and allowed the writers to craft stories untethered to decades-long canon, I think the arc veers toward a darker, moodier version of the iconic character. I’ve noticed a trend. This is rare for my taste. But when the new Ultimates line was announced recently, I was surprised by the variety and tonal playfulness present in many of the titles. In this way, Ultimate Black Panther found a remarkable way to rework T’Challa and Wakanda, exploring modern themes surrounding faith in its first few issues. This is the first arc in Brian Hill’s Black Panther story, but it’s too similar to other versions of the character to stand out.
The Ultimate Black Panther trade brings together issues #1 through #6 and establishes the reimagined story of T’Challa and Wakanda in the Ultimate Universe. As Khonshu and Ra (collectively known as Moon Knight) seek to expand their control over Africa, Wakanda becomes the only barrier to their expansion. After an attack on his country, King T’Challa teams up with Shuri and the Dora Milaje to deal with external threats and uncover a shocking betrayal within his own nation. The escalating conflict becomes even more complicated with the arrival of characters like Killmonger and Storm.
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This story explores the themes of faith, trust, and the influence of religion. Author Brian Hill depicts Khonshu, who harness mystical minerals to perform acts of devotion, such as healing the sick and revitalizing barren lands. This manipulation of faith not only strengthens his followers, but also poses a grave threat to Wakanda due to the fanaticism it fosters. The different perspectives of T’Challa and Shuri on internal dynamics, especially when it comes to trusting outsiders, add depth to the story. Although the consistency of the artwork varies, the series sets the stage for an impending war, leaving readers intrigued as to how these elements will play out in future arcs.
Hill’s writing is punchy and fun, and Stefano Caselli and Carlos Nieto’s art is unsurprisingly solid, but there are places where it feels like it’s been put together in a hurry. However, my biggest issue with this version of Black Panther is that it’s not fundamentally different from the mainstream 616 version. Compared to the truly extreme version of the X-Men found in Peach Momoko’s Ultimate title, this book feels like a slightly different modern version of him. Hopefully Hill will take this title in some new and interesting directions as he begins to develop the direction of this title in future arcs.
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Black Panther fans looking to see a slightly different version of the iconic character, even if it’s not radically different from 616 T’Challa, should find something to appreciate in this first collection of Ultimate versions is. However, the exploration of faith and religion brings many interesting opportunities to this title. Hopefully, the book will continue to explore those themes in future volumes.
“Ultimate Black Panther by Brian Hill Vol. 1: “Peace and War” Review
Brian Hill’s Ultimate Black Panther Vol. 1: Peace and War
Black Panther fans looking to see a slightly different version of the iconic character, even if it’s not radically different from 616 T’Challa, should find something to appreciate in this first collection of Ultimate versions is. However, the exploration of faith and religion presents many interesting opportunities for this title, and hopefully the book will continue to explore those themes in future volumes.
A reimagined Black Panther that doesn’t stray too far from the 616 version and is unencumbered by decades of lore.
Some interesting modern themes regarding faith in this title could be ripe for future storylines.
Inconsistent art in some ways.
Compared to other Ultimate books, this book feels very safe.
