‘Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special’ is a worthy celebration of the character’s legacy

A celebration of the Black Panther in all his roles and his place in the Marvel Universe.

February 18, 2026

The Black Panther has been many things – superhero, scientist, warrior, king – but the one thing that’s always remained a constant is that he’s an icon. He’s not just an in-universe icon to the people of Wakanda, but also a real-life icon because of the work Ryan Coogler and the late Chadwick Boseman put into the first Black Panther film. With Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special, a group of creators has found a unique way to explore what the Black Panther means.

Probably the most surprising thing about the special is that Black Panther is missing. Though anyone who’s read Imperial or Black Panther: Intergalactic knows that the King of Wakanda’s currently in deep space, his absence falls on an important date – meaning that it’s up to someone to find him. That “someone” is Kasper Cole, who briefly assumed the mantle of Black Panther during Christopher Priest’s run and is now part of the Hatut Zeraze. In his hunt, Cole encounters Blue Marvel, Storm, and Magneto, each with their own story to share about the Panther.

The way this story is structured makes the series feel less like an anthology and more like a single narrative. That’s a feature, not a bug, as it shows that the creators working on Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special have a deep love for the wider Marvel Universe and the Panther’s place within it. It also lets creators you wouldn’t expect tackle different types of stories, showcasing how the Black Panther can traverse different genres as well as different titles.

First up is “The Understanding”, written by Evan Narcisse and illustrated by Georges Jeanty. I’ve been enjoying Narcisse’s work on Batman/Static: Beyond, and he picked the right character as an audience surrogate: Kasper Cole. Cole might have taken up the Panther’s mantle, but it’s one thing to put on a costume and another to understand the weight of that costume. Jeanty’s rough, rugged style brings a sense of realism to the shining streets of Wakanda, and brings iconic moments like the Panther’s battle against the Skrulls in Secret Invasion or T’Challa fighting off vampiric urges during Blood Hunt.

“Once on a Blue Moon” by Cody Ziglar and Alitha Martinez flashes back to Black Panther and Blue Marvel working together on the Ultimates, as they discover a mysterious planet. Ziglar’s script has a very thoughtful feel to it and builds on a connection between the two heroes; I wouldn’t mind seeing more of them in a miniseries or an ongoing. Martinez gets to draw an alien planet that’s lush with life, whether it’s the twisting branches of a mysterious tree or a massive lizard species that tries to eat Panther and Marvel.

“Through My Eyes” returns to the era of Black Panther and Storm’s marriage, revealing a dark truth about Wakanda. Murewa Ayodele scripts this sequence; anyone who’s read his Storm saga or Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods knows he has a gift for pitting deities against each other or the beings they rule. That’s especially true of this tale, but it also carries a softer side to it that shows T’Challa and Ororo will love each other no matter where they are. Eder Messias aims for the epic in his artwork, designing a new costume for Black Panther that blends kingly regalia with a warrior’s weapons. As for the battles against the shadows lurking in his kingdom, Messias unleashes violence on an epic scale, rendered in glorious color by Federico Blee.

Christopher Priest and Javier Pina close out the special with “Exiles”, which unveils an untold story of Black Panther joining forces with Magneto. Having the King of Wakanda and the Master of Magnetism in the same room is ripe with potential; Priest more than delivers, showcasing a test of limits, both physical and moral, between the pair. Pina’s art is full of regality, whether it’s the Panther taking out foes with ease or Magneto hovering in the air, and the ending hints that this could open up an entirely new tale.

Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special is a celebration of the Black Panther in all his roles and his place in the Marvel Universe. If you love the Black Panther, you need to read this book. If you haven’t read a Black Panther comic, this is a great place to start.