Ultimate Black Panther #10 finally introduces Sorceress Serpem, but some elements are still shrouded in darkness. First, her name is revealed to be Inan, immediately eliminating any connection to Doctor Strange or other famous magic users in the Marvel Universe. (This is a feature, not a bug, and continues the New Ultimate Universe’s tendency to radically reinvent superheroes in worlds not made for them.) She also has a strong anti-authority You tend to be principled, which is useful in the following cases: Battle with Moon Knight.
And she is very powerful. Brian Hill once again joins artist Carlos Nieto to show off her powers by having Inan control a giant shark early in the issue. Later, when people came to kill her, she simply said “stop” and the enemy screeched and stopped the helicopter. Next is “Fall”. Plummeting from the sky and into the mouth of the aforementioned shark. Cyttorak’s crimson band and Eye of Agamotto are not used here. Inan has a direct and deadly method of casting magic.
If the scenes weren’t already horrifying enough, Nieto paints the sequences with a tremendous amount of detail. The way Inan’s magic flares into reality is sudden, but the way it is activated is hypnotic. The sharks she summons are both fascinating and terrifying (the latter due to their huge size). A sunny day becomes hazy due to the fires of war. It’s a striking sequence, only fully accentuated by David Curiel’s coloring. Curiel proves an excellent balance of colors, such as the reddish-orange sunset meeting the clear blue of the ocean, where most of the trouble occurs.
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You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t mentioned Black Panther much. That’s because T’Challa takes a backseat for most of the movie, save for the opening sequence. Don’t get me wrong, while that opening sequence is awful (as it features a fight between Black Panther and Moon Knight), it also moves the story forward by hinting at the power of vibranium. But I’m hoping the Black Panther comics will include a little more Black Panther.
The opening of this issue also follows a familiar path. T’Challa is determined to defeat Moon Knight, but his bonds with those close to him are still tenuous. It feels like Hill is holding back for future issues, and compared to Inan’s portrayal here, it’s night and day. We know from previous issues of Ultimate Black Panther that Hill can balance mystery and action. I hope future issues maintain that balance.
Ultimate Black Panther continues to explore the magical world while setting the stage for the final showdown between Black Panther and Moon Knight. There are two more issues left until the end of “Year 1” for this title, and only time will tell if the payoff matches the setting.
Sorceress Supreme appears in “Ultimate Black Panther” #10
Ultimate Black Panther #10
Ultimate Black Panther continues to explore the magical world while setting the stage for the final showdown between Black Panther and Moon Knight.
Inan is unlike any previous Marvel Sorcerer Supreme.
The deepening mystery of vibranium
Carlos Nieto is upping his game when it comes to artwork.
Black Panther doesn’t play a big role in this issue, but
Setup is more important than profit.
