Comic Review: “Rise of the Black Panther #1”

How does an advanced nation like Wakanda stay hidden in the modern world? What is it like to be the Black Panther of Wakanda? These are just two of the many questions that are answered in the new comic Rise of the Black Panther #1.

Rise of the Black Panther #1 starts in the mid 40s with Wakanda’s first encounter with outsiders like Captain America. What starts as a fight between the two Marvel heroes leads to friendship and respect. Steve Rogers leaves with much needed vibranium to fight the Second World War and keeping secret the location of this African nation.

The story begins and ends with narration by Black Panther’s mother N’Yami, we see how his father T’Chaka rules the land, marries, and ultimately the birth of T’Challa, the present day Black Panther. For all the peace in the land, and the advancements of Wakanda, there is mistrust, and strife in this isolated world.

How will T’Challa deal with the reality of Wakanda? That’s what this new series of comics will explore.

My Opinion

I have always looked at the Black Panther comics in wonder. The world that Wakanda presents and the characters that live there, seem to mostly show the best of what humanity can do. The advancements that the nation has, the skills of the citizens of Wakanda, and ultimately their help to the rest of the world is the very best attributes any one can have.

As picture perfect as Wakanda is, there is always discontent and people who feel they have been cheated or hurt. With the right rabble rouser, war can come to the most peaceful places.

What makes Rise of the Black Panther #1 a compelling and excellent addition to the world of Marvel is that writer Evan Narcisse has chosen to frame the story around the worry of parents and not superheroes and epic battles. Rise of the Black Panther #1 is a family story and the angst and nerves of being a parent. N’Yami is scared for her son, and the world he will inherit. Every parent can relate, and empathize.

When N’Yami dies and T’Chaka remarries, even Ramonda, his stepmother worries about T’Challa’s future. We get a clash of civilization at the end of the comic, with Ulysses Claw attacking and killing T’Chaka, and T’Challa morphing from a young prince, to now the king, but it’s the parting words of T’Challa’s mother that will shape his future.

The destiny that T’Challa now inherits may end up stealing his life, “unless he can change Wakanda, or the cruel world that surrounds it.” The idealism that Wakanda represents is something that the good and bad of the world will attempt to take either through friendly or devious means. The citizens of the nation can no longer hide behind a wall in the jungle, T’Challa must protect, interact, and defend Wakanda in a new world which may end up consuming him.

I liked this comic a lot because you get the backstory of Wakanda, the people who came before our current day Black Panther, and you see the world that T’Challa now rules. There are good and bad people in the world, and ultimately, no matter how perfect your world is, you can’t hide.

How will T’Challa rule? That is what we will see in future comics of this series. Rise of the Black Panther #1, makes me and should excite every Marvel fan for the upcoming Black Panther movie this February.

Bill Gowsell
Bill Gowsell has loved all things Disney since his first family trip to Walt Disney World in 1984. Since he began writing for Laughing Place in 2014, Bill has specialized in covering the Rick Riordan literary universe, a retrospective of the Touchstone Pictures movie library, and a variety of other Disney related topics. When he is not spending time with his family, Bill can be found at the bottom of a lake . . . scuba diving