Black Panther Round 2

 

Nnedi Okorarfor – Long Live the King, Shuri, Wakanda Forever

               Okorafor’s Shuri is a wonderful mini-series.  Shuri, in the series, is combination of Coates Shuri, a far more serious woman, as well as the Shuri from the MCU.  There is a joy in the series, and Okokarfor brings the various Wakandan women to the forefront of the series.  There is a real sisterhood present in the limited series.  She is placed in the position of steering Wakanda when her brother decides to be a space explorer because that is what you do as a king, don’t you know. While the series does deal with the heavy issues of taking up a mantle you may not wish, there is a lightness to it. The only  missteps are the two issues, not by Okorafor where Shuri goes to NYC and teams up with Miles Morales. 

               The lightness is also in the Long Live the King series of which the last – the story of a disabled girl who not only joins with symbiotic but is also a Black Panther.  I’m not sure how she fits into the larger Black Panther world, but this story is not only incorporates a disabled hero but also places Wakanda on a larger African scale.  In fact, in much of Okorafor’s work in regards to Wakanda, the connection between Wakanda and the surrounding nations is explored.

               Okorafor also deals with Nakia as created by Priest, and the ending to Nakia’s story is well done.  It occurs in the Wakanda Forever crossover.

 

Black Panther vs Deadpool

               This was totally funny and great.  Silly too, but wonderful.  Part of the humor comes from watching T’Challa and Shuri deal with a person who actually does not buy or care about the whole honor, serious shit. 

Marvel Action Black Panther, Marvel Voices, Marvel Action

               These seem more geared to younger readers.  The Marvel Action series is the superior series, though it is a bit Disney in tone.  There even seems to be a guest star from the Lion King.  It is a fun, light read that can be enjoyed by but parents and children. 

               Marvel Voices is just really, really short stories.  The Black Panther story is good as it features Shuri and Forge but the other stories are very, very meh.

               Marvel Action series is okay.  Fun but really memorable

 

Killmonger, Black Panther Prelude

               Killmonger does make appearance in the other runs – though in those he is vastly different than that of MCU character.  This series is tied more closely to the MCU.  One does wonder, however, in both this version and the MCU what the Black Panther series seems to have against African-American women.  Is it a wider comment how larger society treats African-American women that is meant to be read or is it unintentional?

               The Prelude is a lead into the MCU universe version of Black Panther.