New Black Panther KICKS AZZ!

[bobc]

Well after years of the Black Panther being a stellar character relegated to third rate status by horrible writers, I think the my favorite Marvel super hero might actually be on track.

Black Panther #39, splendidly written by Jason Aaron (never heard of him but if this is any indication...) with awesome Hellboyesque art by Jefte Palo, is really a very good comic. FOR ONCE, the Panther comes off as powerful, feline, mystical and GOD FORBID likable! I didn't think it was possible for me to enjoy a comic that continued this tedious Skrull theme, but I was wrong.

I think the Panther has never gotten the attention his character deserved. I have to say here that although Priest made some great strides in recent years with the Black Panther in the sense that he updated the character and played up T'Challa's tech side, but some serious errors were made IMO. My problem with Priest's work is that he completely ignored the panther's spiritual side--his communion with the Panther God. Priest's Panther was never feline, there was never any discussion of the powers that T'Challa got from his rituals or the sacred heart-shaped herb. The Black Panther was basically an unlikable, scheming techno-monarch. Where was the nobility, the grandeur, and power of the character I've loved since I was a little kid? Under Priest, the Panther was just Batman with a different costume.

The Black Panther--if you go back to the original concept--was intellectually on a level with Reed Richards or Tony Stark, not Bruce Wayne. I liked that Priest added the energy daggers and vibranium suit to T'Challa's arsenal, but these weapons seem Batman level to me. I'd like to see the Panther on a Reed Richards level, and although it's really early on, BP ##39 seems like it might be going in that direction. AAron's Panther really seems up to the job of repelling a Skrull invasion.

It looks like next issue there'll be a big battle between the Panther and the head Skrull--I hope Aaron puts the BP on the same physical level that he was when first imagined by Kirby and Lee. The Black Panther was easily Captain America's equal--faster than human, stronger, with senses that would rival Wolverine's. The Panther should be a POWERFUL character--I have never understood why he's been so de-powered over the years. The heart-shaped herb should be the African super-soldier serum. The Black Panther should NOT be just a costumed athlete.

So anyway--BP #39 gives me great hope. After Hudlin's disastrous run, however, anything is an improvement

[freedomfighter]

ditto.
Really enjoyed the cover, the way Panther was cool and graceful and serene even in the face of overwhelming odds. The art reminded me of Mignola but with a touch of Denys Cowan's sketchy lines and anatomy.

I won't mind if the panther isn't a physical match for the super skrull in the big battle next ish. Panther seems to have a plan, as does the Skrull commander. And this is also what I liked about the issue- the Skrull commander and Panther are adversaries with some equal footing. each one appears to have some savvy, and battle readiness and cunning. To me it makes for a more thrilling conflict.

Bendis! treats the heroes of the MU as people who would never prepare for the idea of an alien invasion or for infiltrators scientific or mystical, which seems silly as earth gets attacked just about every three weeks. It's far less "realistic" in my view than having some sort of contingency plan.

Thankfully Aaron along with other writers like Peter David and whomever is doing the Captain Britain book have zeroed in on the more human and in close excitement of this invasion as well as downplaying with the "who do you trust" component of the plot. It's just too Civil War-esque. Paranoia has become too prevalent as a plot device.

I'll stick to a couple of sideline books like Panther, Captain Britain and X-Factor and maybe actually enjoy at least part of the Skrull invasion storyline...

[Tana Nile]

So just when I decide to drop the book it's getting a new writer? Dang it. I may have to try to pick this one up at the LCS.

I've been pleased that in the last few years, the Panther's status has been elevated in the MU, but I've been just as unhappy that his personality has been altered to make him a manipulative, arrogant jerk. It's like someone decided he was Marvel's Batman, and kept all the negatives of that character too. There's no reason his intellectual and technological prowess can't be spotlighted, while showing that Panther is a moral and honorable man too. All of his past depictions made this clear.

[spiderwasp]

Aug 4, 2008 14:21:19 GMT -5 Tana Nile said:

So just when I decide to drop the book it's getting a new writer? Dang it. I may have to try to pick this one up at the LCS.

Hey, are you reading my mind? I had just made the decision to drop the book too.

I wish this could start a precedent. Just in case - I'M THINKING OF DROPPING MIGHTY AVENGERS! Somehow I don't think it's going to work.

[Tana Nile]

Keep dreaming those big dreams, SW. You never know...

[bobc]

I had already dropped The Black Panther but my friend Anthony told me the book was getting a great new writer, so I decided to check it out. It was far better than I would have guessed.

I agree about the Panther seeming like an arrogant jerk--like a bargain basement Batman (as if the character needed more confusion with Batman). The original Panther was quite original, and to me, quite good. But it's almost like those original FF issues are completely forgotten.