Avengers #20 is one of those rare moments in modern comics: a single-issue story that a reader can pick up and not feel lost about. Considering the work Jed MacKay has put into this comic, and every other series he’s written, it’s a testament to his talents that he can pull off what’s more or less becoming a lost art. That he does so with the Black Panther is a hell of a cherry on top.
Avengers #20 finds the Panther traveling into the living prison known as the Meridian Diadem to see what happened to said prisoners. It turns out that in the wake of the Avengers defeating the Ashen Combine, the Diadem’s inhabitants have divided into two forces: the “Loyalists” who seek to uphold Meridian’s twisted version of law and order, and the “Free Gangs” who seek a new life.
What follows is a post-apocalyptic tale where the Panther seeks to give the Free Gangs the inspiration they need – mostly by helping them take down the Loyalists. This is where MacKay shines; he’s able to get inside T’Challa’s head, showing readers how the Black Panther operates. “The goal here is not to win a fight,” he muses, while in the middle of a fight. “It is to win hearts.” This is the kind of sentence that comes from a guy who’s used to being ten moves ahead of everyone else, and a man who once ruled a kingdom; it’s that kind of mindset the Meridian needs.
Marvel Comics
MacKay is once again joined by Farid Karami, who is fast becoming one of my favorite Black Panther artists. The way Karami draws the Panther is, dare I say, majestic; no matter if he’s leaping across the wastelands of the Meridian, standing victorious over felled opponents, or sitting around a campfire, he carries himself with the grace of a king. The Panther’s jet-black armor also stands out in the dusty wastelands of the Meridian, thanks to Federico Blee’s color art.
Ultimately, what makes Avengers #20 an interesting read is that it continues the thread that MacKay and Karami brought up in the previous issue: how does a superhero know when to intervene, and when to step back so the people can fight for themselves? The answers provided here are well thought out, while providing a new wrinkle that I hope is touched upon in future issues. It also continues to parallel the work Grant Morrison did in their JLA run, to which I say “good” – there’s far worse books one could look to for inspiration.
Avengers #20 gives Black Panther the spotlight, while also highlighting how one and done stories are essential for the comics medium. While next issue will bring back Valerio Schiti (and pit the Avengers against the X-Men), I hope this isn’t the last time MacKay and Karami work together.
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