Ultimate Black Panther #22 opens on a startling sight: Storm screaming in agony. Readers’ minds will immediately race to torture or that she’s lost control of her mutant powers, but the result is far more shocking: she’s giving birth to a baby. Specifically, a baby that the Vodu-Khan believe will bring Wakanda into a new age. Unfortunately, that age will lead to untold destruction, thanks to the Progenitors, so T’Challa and Killmonger have to stop them.
There are some big moments within this issue: both T’Challa and Killmonger deal with their connection to Storm, the Sorcerer Supreme Inan makes a deal that’s hinted to have immense consequences, and the panther goddess Bast reveals the connection that T’Challa, Killmonger, and Storm have (other than the obvious love triangle). Bryan Hill’s script moves with the precision of a ticking clock, unfurling reveal after reveal and ending on a stellar cliffhanger.
While I love the way the story’s moving, it does make me wish these revelations had been in an earlier story arc rather than being saved for the very end of the series. It feels like the comic is just getting started, but now that Ultimate Endgame – and the entire end of the Ultimate Universe – is looming on the horizon, it feels like Hill took some time that he might not have had. My hopes are high that the final two issues end the series on a high note.
Pacing issues aside, Ultimate Black Panther #22 is a gorgeous-looking comic. Carlos Nieto, perhaps knowing the end was coming, goes all out with the imagery. The very first page is filled with Storm’s anguished screams, and her face is contorted in pain. Later moments feature Inan conjuring up a collection of shadowy figures, their menacing forms perfectly fitting with the tones of myth and magic that have been a part of Ultimate Black Panther‘s story.
Marvel
The real meat of the issue lies in the fight between T’Challa, Killmonger, and the Vodu-Khan. Under Nieto’s pencils, this becomes a ballet of brutality, blood and the dark arts: the Vodu-Khan are aimed with magic, which they shape into weapons. Yet it’s no match for the Black Panther’s righteous fury, as his claws fly through the air, drawing blood in panel after panel. Throughout all this carnage, Bast remains a steady presence, delivering godly pronouncements upon the trio.
David Curiel also deserves his flowers for the work he brings to the table, especially in the characters’ clothing. Apart from the obvious ebony hues in the Black Panther’s suit, there’s a deep royal blue spread throughout Killmonger’s wardrobe, and the Vodu-Khan are clad in emerald green robes that match the magic they use. It’s Storm, however, who’s the standout. Curiel brings a shade of white to her clothing that’s almost blinding, with golden accents that pay homage to her ’90s-era X-Men costume.
Ultimate Black Panther #22 delivers more revelations and more battles as the series races towards its end. While I’m sad there are only two issues left, I’m happy that it’s not letting up on the gas.
You must be logged in to post a comment.