| Ultimate Black Panther | |
| Ongoing: | Y |
| Superhero: | y |
| Publisher: | Marvel Comics |
| Startmo: | February |
| Startyr: | 2024 |
| Writers: | Bryan Hill |
| Artists: | Stefano Caselli |
| Letterers: | Vc Joe Sabino |
| Colorists: | Jesus Aburtov |
| Editors: | C. B. Cebulski |
| Creators: | Blanck Panther by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee |
Ultimate Black Panther is a 2024 comic book by Bryan Edward Hill and Stefano Caselli. It is set in the Ultimate Universe.
Ultimate Black Panther, a reimagination of the Black Panther character, is the second comic of the Ultimate Universe line. It was published a month after the debut of Ultimate Spider-Man and one month before the debut of Ultimate X-Men. Those three series were the first ongoing series of the Ultimate Universe after the miniseries Ultimate Invasion that started it. Of those three, Ultimate Black Panther is the only one that is not a reboot of a previous series from the original Ultimate Marvel imprint.[1]
Hill explained that, although the comic is set in the Ultimate Universe and that would give him great freedom to reinvent the character, it still has to respect the IP. He reasons that an IP has major and minor rules, and that the creative freedom only allows breaking some of the minor ones. He also wanted to explore the concept of a isolationist country such as Wakanda. He explained that in the first issues there would be a war right outside of Wakanda, and the characters would be torn between the options of maintaining the isolationist policy or joining the fight.[2]
Set after the events of the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline, in the aftermath of the Maker's establishment of a new world order in Earth-6160, the Upper and Lower Kingdoms are established as a expansionist theocracy.[3] T'Challa is the king of a isolated Wakanda who has Okoye as his queen. After a nightmare, T'Challa goes to the Citadel of Knowledge where his father T'Chaka works. When T'Chaka assumes that T'Challa had another nightmare, he claims that the Gods are trying to speak to him. Arriving at the Temple of the Vodu-Khan, T'Challa meets with Matron Imala who states that enemies will be in Wakanda's midst. At the Court, he is told about Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu who make up the dual Moon Knight, who are annexing other regions. T'Challa recommends a reconnaissance mission. In West Africa, Killmonger and Storm wage a guerilla resistance against Moon Knight soldiers. In Wakanda, during the annual Celebration of Life, a female suicide bomber crashes the event to take out T'Challa, only for T'Chaka to push him out of the way and take the blast. As he sees his father's burning remains, he gives the orders to call Okoye, Shuri, and the Vodu-Khan as he states Wakanda is at war.[4]
Later, in light of what happened, T'Challa is told by Okoye his people are afraid about being suspected of being collaborators. At the Temple, Matron Imala tells him that a woman of light will come to him as their fates are intertwined. And that she will give him an heir. Outside the perimeters of Wakanda, the Dora Milaje are holding their own against Moon Knight's forces as Shuri tells T'Challa that it's time to turn the tide. After they are defeated, the Lords are informed by an unidentified mole. Khonshu states that they have been holding the African continent in the power vacuum of the Maker's absence as Ra states that they need the information and weaknesses of Wakanda. The anonymous person asks for them to keep the war efforts going so that the spy can act as their eyes. After the information is sent along with a plan, Khonshu is asked by Ra if they can trust their spy. He states that he'll trust that this person will want Wakanda to fall. In the war room, T'Challa learns from Shuri that resources are being targeted. He concludes that someone is feeding information to Moon Knight. Agents Faxul and Anon reveal that Moon Knight is moving their resources to an area that migratory animals avoid, as T'Challa states that he will go there alone. When the duo states that they are his spies and should go, T'Challa states that they are needed in Wakanda to keep his family safe. As he arrives, his ship crashes and he is ambushed. Just then, lightning strikes the soldiers as Black Panther sees his flying savior: Storm, the Wind-Rider.[5]
Following the rescue, Black Panther hides for a period and is taught by Killmonger how to hunt for his own food. At the campfire, he learns that Killmonger used to live in Wakanda. Later, they arrive at a cave where they meet Ororo in the underground, learning it's filled with Vibranium. Black Panther is shown a large green orb, as Killmonger and Ororo state they don't want it to fall into enemy hands.[6]
Later, T'Challa returns to Wakanda and saves Shuri from a Moon Knight operative that was a former Dora Milaje. He states that Khonshu has infected her and that the Vodu-Khan will probe her mind. Just then, the operative is reduced to a skeleton. As Okoye confronts him about why he was away for a long time, he tells her that Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu think that they are gods, and that he will need a inner circle of people he can trust. At the Temple of Ra, Khonshu is told by Ra that his Dora Milaje contact had failed and that Black Panther knows of the powers that they seek. Khonshu is then told to gather the willing as they plan to attack Wakanda under the light of the Moon. At the Temple of the Sacred Dead, T'Challa introduces Shuri and Okoye to Killmonger and Storm.[7]
Shuri is shown the orb as T'Challa asks Storm to use her abilities on it. Once this is done, plants emerge from it. T'Challa considers its properties to be alchemical as it enhances natural life. At the Temple, Matron Imala states that the green orb spreads life like a plague and has been blind to all of existence, being a opposite element of Vibranium. She explains that the Lords want it for its power and that she has seen what is to come. Black Panther is told not to let the orb fall into their hands. Khonshu possesses a farmer and teleports him to the lab. He steals the element after a fight against Storm and Shuri and returns to the Lords before he passes, as Khonshu declares the beginning of a new kingdom. [8]
Later, T'Challa learns about how Khonshu has been expanding his kingdom with an army of zealots. She mentions she does not trust Killmonger and Storm, and T'Challa states they have nothing to fear from them as they saved his life. At the New Temple of Ra, Khonshu speaks to Ra about Wakanda's resistance. As Khonshu is wanting more power, Ra reaches towards the green orb while stating that there are other fragments. He claims that the Wakandans know where the other fragments are and are hiding the location from them. Khonshu states that Wakandans don't know what it is or where it came from. When Ra states that he underestimates T'Challa, he tells Lord Ra to gather the willing and that he will estimate him. Later, Black Panther comes to the aid of a West African mineral refinery when it is attacked by Lord Khonshu's followers. After the factory explodes, he is confronted by Lord Khonshu. When Lord Khonshu asks about Wakanda protecting foreign corporations, Black Panther states that Wakanda stops terrorists and voices his view that Lord Khonshu is pretending to be a god. After a brief fight, Black Panther is told by a departing Lord Khonshu that they will indeed have a war.[9]
Later in West Africa, Black Panther fights the soldiers of Moon Knight. He is aided by Storm and Killmonger who are instructed to pacify them non-lethally. When the soldiers are defeated, Black Panther sends Killmonger into Moon Knight's territory to do some reconnaissance in order to find their weakness. Storm says to Black Panther that he is more kind than his enemy and hopes that he doesn't regret it. At the Garden of Bast, Black Panther speaks to Matron Imala and learns that he can't stop the war. She ponders if Vibranium is more than metal. The next day, he sends Killmonger and Okoye to seek out someone who is both a mystic and a scientist and bring them to Wakanda. He allows Storm to go with them. Before the quest begins, Black Panther asks Killmonger and Storm to join him on the battlefield. When confronting enemy soldiers, Black Panther has Storm charge his Vibranium armor with lightning as he unleashes its force on the soldiers, the Lords watch from afar. As Ra says that it's the cry of Wakanda, Khonshu states that Wakanda is built on sleeping power and it will awaken still, going from a cry to a scream.[10]
The first issue had high sales, so Marvel ordered a second printing, which hit the stands by the time of Ultimate Black Panther #2. It featured a new cover art by R.B. Silva.[11]
Spencer Perry from Comicbook.com considers that the comic book wasted the chance to make a radical reinvention of the comic. Instead of that, it plays it safe, with most characters staying at their usual characterizations. The comic takes a strong influence from the Black Panther film, both in the chosen cast and in the visual appearances. Perry points out that even that had already been done by the mainstream Black Panther comics. He also points that the comic draws influence from the Dune novel, with the political intrigue and rival factions. However, he considers that the comic is still of good quality.[12]
I-j Wheaton from CBR praises the quality of the dialogue, with an adequate vocabulary and pacing. He also praises the arts, in particular the architecture of the city and the clothing of the characters, that provide a sense of Afro-futurism. The art is also strong on the emotions seen at the character's faces, complementing the brief and precise lines of dialogue. The dark and moody colors provide the right atmosphere, but only in the situations that call for it, as it alternates with brighter scenes.[13]