The second arc of Ultimate Black Panther isn’t wasting any time, with the war between Wakanda and Khonshu heating up and taking over nearly all of Africa. But Ultimate Black Panther #8 starts to take things a step further, addressing more of the questions that have sprung up over past issues. Chief among them is the nature of vibranium; if Khonshu has a metal that can reshape the world, could the same be true of the Black Panther himself? And who, exactly, is the Sorcerer Supreme?
Those answers are revealed surely but slowly, with Bryan Hill stoking intrigue throughout his script. Part of the draw of the new Ultimate Universe is seeing how differently certain characters turned out due to the Maker all but snuffing out superheroes on Earth-1610. So Stephen Strange might not even be the Sorcerer Supreme; hell, magic might work differently in this world.
If you were waiting to see one of Marvel’s magic-users appear, you’ll probably have to wait until future issues. But the idea that vibranium is a living thing is a very interesting element that Hill introduces, and it could give T’Challa the edge he needs in his fight against Khonshu. One element that I wish would be explored is the divide between T’Challa and Shuri about how to fight Khonshu, which was teased in Ultimate Black Panther #3 but hasn’t really been explored. Fighting for your kingdom is one thing, but fighting for your sister? That’s a story ripe with potential.
Marvel Comics
Regardless of where the story goes, Ultimate Black Panther #8 remains a gorgeous looking book thanks to Stefano Caselli. Caselli opens the issue with a massive fight sequence, pitting the Dora Milaje against Khonshu’s soldiers. Spears and swords clash, and often pierce flesh, as a village burns in the background. All of this is rendered in a rich collection of colors by David Curiel; the silvery blue of Khonshu’s troops, the red and black uniforms of the Dora, and the golden orange embers of their fiery battlefield all mix.
The Black Panther is the center of it all, especially in a trippy dream sequence that happens after he’s stabbed by one of Khonshu’s troops. To say more about this sequence would be spoiling the surprise, but let’s just say that Caselli has fun playing with myth and metaphor, particularly considering the Black Panther’s roots in African myth. It’s what makes Ultimate Black Panther #8 a good read; this is a comic that dangles questions in front of the reader, and lets them know that getting the answers will take some work on their part.
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