Black Panther by Christopher Priest – The Complete Collection, Vol 1

 

Black Panther by Christopher Priest – The Complete Collection, Vol 1

My first foray into Marvel on this adventure was with the Fantastic Four, specifically a story that plays homage to Fantastic Four #51. I think its fitting for my second to be with Black Panther, who first appeared in Fantastic Four #52.

I think Wakanda is the best “What If?” Marvel ever proposed: What if there was an African nation with the technological advantage strong enough to repel colonization? What would that lead to? I love Afrofuturism as an aesthetic, and the recent Marvel Studios versions in the Ryan Cooglar Black Panther movies capture that fantastically.

Cape comics have this trope that to be a Superhero you need to be an alien, an orphan, rich, or a combination of all three. T’Challa is very much of earth but is roundly agreed to be the second wealthiest person in tights. Figures vary but the throne of Wakanda is worth an estimate $90 Trillion. For context, that’s 900 times more than Bruce Wayne or 634 times more than Jeff Bezos. However Black Panther doesn’t have a pot to piss in when compared to #1… Aquaman’s $1.5 Quadrillion. The sea is bountiful.  

What am I reading? Black Panther by Christopher Priest – The Complete Collection, Vol 1, Issues 1-17, 1998. Written by Christopher Priest, illustrated and coloured by numerous artists.

What’s it about? Everett K. Ross has been assigned as an attaché to T’challa’s visit to New York. Despite being an Avenger and being state side many times in that capacity, now he is coming as King of Wakanda. Ross quickly discovers he is way out of his depth: gang fights, political unrest, mud wrestling, Chinese take-out, ethnic cleansing, chasing rats, deals with the devil, and losing his trousers.

What’s good about it? To many, Priest’s time on Black Panther is the character’s seminal run. 62 issues, spanning between 1998 and 2004. It’s hard to summarise. To put it without nuance: Its cool. Its cool in the same way Pulp Fiction is cool. In-fact within the first issue Tarantino is directly referred to by Ross. It has this nebulous late nineties / early noughties quality making it recognisable and nostalgic.

Agent Ross’ framing monologue is equal parts erratic and insightful. It’s a genius juxtaposition between the unknowable noble nature of a king, a political thriller with tragic roots throughout history, quick talking rapier wit and enough super heroics to spice it up.

 The art style itself is not directly to my taste, but I can’t fault the imagery or visual story telling. There’s a three panel sequence that could be ripped straight from a movie: T’Challa is walking through a dimly light Brooklyn street, narrated by Ross contemplating the nature of his client’s mission in America. Panel one shows the King cast half in shadow, in his three piece suit and glasses. Panel two is near full darkness as he passes between street lamps, only the glare from his lenses and silhouette visible. Panel three is the panther in full regalia, with the shade flipped to the other side of his frame.  

What did I struggle with? Which brings me nicely back to the art itself. It’s not for me. My problem is prevalent in the earlier issues. It’s clearly a stylistic choice: the soft almost blurriness of form and the exaggerated nearly caricature designs I feel are to conjure ideas of street art… but to me it feels amateurish. Its not to the level of distracting me from what’s happening on the page, but I’m glad it shifts to sharper linework.

Would I recommend? Thoroughly! Do yourself a favour and find a copy of the first volume. It’s a bit of everything without ever being too much. If it gets its claws into you, prepare for a long read and a longer search trying to track it all down. If the idea of Black Panther punching out the devil doesn’t peak your interest, I don’t think comics are really your thing.