Since Ultimate Black Panther launched, it’s been teasing a collection of storylines. There are the machinations in the kingdom of Wakanda, particularly the Vodu-Khan. There is a pair of malevolent spirits that inhabit Wakanda’s vibranium, now free and terrorizing Africa. Finally, the appearance of Storm and Erik Killmonger has shaken up the Black Panther’s life, especially since there’s friction between Storm and the King of Wakanda. In Ultimate Black Panther #18, all of these separate threads start to come together.
I have to give Bryan Hill credit for how he manages to start connecting those dots. While Ultimate Black Panther has been start-and-stop in terms of storytelling, this issue actually has plenty of forward momentum. The Vodu-Khan’s manipulations are revealed to be part of a prophecy they’ve followed for ages, which involves the spirits of Vibranium – who finally get names – and it all connects to Black Panther and Storm. The setup might have been bumpy, but the payoff is more than worth it.
Speaking of payoff, Hill finally brings the simmering tension between Black Panther and Storm to a head. It’s a genuinely fresh take on a classic Marvel romance, and Hill zeroes in on what makes them so different. T’Challa was raised to be a king in a land that has known nothing but prosperity, while Ororo has endured unspoken hardships and wants to make sure no one suffers like she did. The back and forth in their dialogue is just as engaging as the fight scenes; this is no easy feat, but Hill pulls it off.
Marvel
Speaking of fight scenes, Stefano Caselli draws a hell of a fight scene in the middle of the book when the Black Panther winds up infiltrating the Nigerian Prime Minister’s office. Guarding this office is a group of armed soldiers, trained to kill any intruders…but they prove to be no match for the Black Panther. In the space of one page, Caselli shows how the Panther moves with the grace of a gymnast and the ferocity of the panther that gives him his namesake. Bones are broken, faces slammed into concrete, rifles ripped from hands. It’s only topped by the moment where the Panther finally gets into the Prime Minister’s office, as Caselli gets a full page to show him in all his glory.
David Curiel also rises to the challenge, using a wide range of colors throughout the different scenes. A kiss between Black Panther and Storm is appropriately backlit by flashes of white lightning and dark rain, while the panther god Bast is shown in a hazy, dreamlike environment. However, the Vibranium spirits are the standouts; their pale, metallic-tinged skin immediately draws the eye, hinting at their unnatural nature. It matches the demonic visages Caselli has gifted them, further tying into the world of magic and spirituality that Ultimate Black Panther has built.
Ultimate Black Panther #18 finally starts to pull together all of its plot threads, resulting in a series of revelations that shake the book to its core. Now Hill and Caselli just have to keep up this momentum as the book heads into its next story arc.
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