Ultimate Black Panther #10 finally introduces the Sorceress Surpeme, but still keeps some elements shrouded in the dark. For starters, her name is revealed to be Inan, which immediately eliminates any ties to Doctor Strange or other well-known magic users in the Marvel Universe. (This is a feature, not a bug, as it continues the New Ultimate Universe’s trend of radically reinventing superheroes in a world that wasn’t built for them.) She also has a strong anti-authoritarian streak, which will be useful in the fight against Moon Knight.
And she is immensely powerful. Bryan Hill, joined once again by artist Carlos Nieto, show off Inan’s power early in the issue by having her take control of a massive shark; later, when people come to try and kill her she simply says “Halt” and the helicopter her opponents are using screeches to a halt. Next up: “Fall”, causing it to plummet from the sky…and into the mouth of the aforementioned shark. No Crimson Bands of Cyttorak or Eyes of Agamotto are used here; Inan is direct and deadly with how she casts her magic.
If the scene wasn’t already terrifying enough, Nieto draws the sequence with an absurd amount of details. The way Inan’s magic flares to life is sudden, yet hypnotic in the way it’s cast; the shark she summons is equal parts mesmerizing and terrifying (the latter due to its sheer size); the sunny day turns hazy with the fire of war. It’s an impressive sequence, only fully highlighted by David Curiel’s colors. Curiel proves a great balance of colors, including a reddish-orange sunset meeting the clear blue of the oceans where most of the issue takes place.
Marvel Comics
You’ve probably noticed that I haven’t mentioned the Black Panther that much; that’s because apart from an opening sequence, T’Challa mostly takes a backseat. Don’t get me wrong, that opening sequence is both badass (as it features a fight between Black Panther and Moon Knight) and pushes the story forward by hinting at the power of vibranium. But I do expect a Black Panther comic to have a little more Black Panther in it.
The beginning of the issue also treads some well-known ground: T’Challa is determined to beat Moon Knight, but still having tenuous bonds with the people close to him. It feels like Hill is holding back for future issues, and compared to the depiction of Inan here it’s night and day. I know from previous issues of Ultimate Black Panther that Hill can balance mystery and action, and I hope that future issues keep that balance.
Ultimate Black Panther continues to explore the world of magic, while setting the stage for a final confrontation between Black Panther and Moon Knight. With two issues left until the end of “Year One” of this title, time will tell if the payoff matches the setup.
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