With T’Challa missing and presumed dead, Wakanda needs a new leader. Shuri wants war against Ra and Khonshu more than T’Challa ever did, but at what cost? Meanwhile, Black Panther must learn from his new allies, the freedom fighters Killmonger and Storm. Ultimate Black Panther #4 is written by Bryan Hill, drawn by Stefano Caselli, colored by David Curiel and lettered by Cory Petit.
In my older, elder millennial years, I’ve taken to a few passive hobbies, YouTube car reviews being one of the more milquetoast of them. They all generally look the same — a guy (almost always a guy!) between 35 and 55 years old with a wry sense of humor takes a look at a just-released car. He proceeds to assess the looks, the performance, the utility and the price, all while trying (sometimes too hard) to insert that aforementioned wry sense of humor. At the end, the reviewer renders a verdict, which people in the comments — people who almost certainly have not driven the car — will emphatically agree or disagree with.
While these reviews involving, say, a Porsche driving through a gorgeous mountain backroad are great, I find reviews of more plebeian vehicles all the more interesting. You can tell the reviewers view the cars, and those who would pick those cars, with benign contempt, giving a plethora of backhanded compliments while focusing on the limitations of the vehicles just as much as their benefits.
These are “car people” after all, people raised to think a manual transmission is perfect, and feeling bumps in the road is a good thing, and that obnoxiously loud exhausts are a sign (sound) of glory.
Thus it’s kind of funny watching these reviewers — almost all of whom, remember, have the same voice, same influences and same points of reference — try to differentiate themselves while essentially giving the same exact review.
How could one expect someone with their background, those interests and those lived experiences to see the benefit in something that wasn’t designed to speak directly to them?
So yeah, I didn’t really enjoy Ultimate Black Panther #4.
Despite three concurrent comic series (The mainline series, this Ultimate Series, his role in The Avengers); despite appearances in video games on sale, in beta and in active development; despite headlining theme park attractions and costumes and kids books, there’s a segment of fan still miffed at the (entirely correct and humane) decision to not immediately recast T’Challa after the passing of American Hero Chadwick Boseman. To these men (always men!), the decision reeks of short sighted, pervasive racism: a desire to emasculate and erase the most prominent Black man in the MCU — and arguably in fantasy/sci-fi history.
To these men, nothing short of a strong, “alpha male” (insert eye-roll emoji) archetype will do: a hero who is never wrong, never conflicted, always direct, always victorious. No nuance, no second guessing, no acquiescence to women or femininity or anything that doesn’t telegraph might and power.
To these men, Ultimate Black Panther should be a salve.
I won’t deeply rehash the critiques I’ve made in previous reviews. They all still apply: The book is still simple; still unambiguous in presenting its heroes, heroines and antagonists; still leaves little room for interpretation, grand themes or personality between characters. None of this is necessarily bad, mind you: Generations of comics were written this way, to great effect. But much like the car reviewer who’s driven a Porsche, this iteration — this Toyota Camry — just doesn’t work for me.
None of the bits of intrigue that I harbored in past issues — maybe Shuri or Okoye is the spy! Maybe the two will actually battle each other for the throne in T’Challa’s absence! Maybe T’Challa will awkwardly declare his love for the goddess mutant whose heart is entrusted to his rival! — pay off here. Shuri and Okoye (who, while well drawn, look way too similar) seem to work together against a common Dora Milaje traitor; the antagonist’s banter implies no deeper desire for power other than power’s sake; T’Challa is as stoic and personality-less as ever.
Maybe that all changes next issue? Maybe we learn his mystical adviser is actually his mother! Maybe we learn one of those in this newly initiated inner circle is also compromised! Hell, maybe we learn Killmonger is also a mutant (Remember how he called his ax back to him in the first issue? Did that ax have metal on it? Wouldn’t that be interesting!)
Or maybe the series continues to be exactly what it is: easy reading aimed at people who don’t want to be challenged, who only want their king to rule, never to be wrong or wronged.
None of this makes Ultimate Black Panther bad; again, for a certain kind of person, all of this might make the series excellent!
But like the car reviewer raised on loud, manual muscle cars, while I understand the value of this luxury hybrid, I struggle to articulate that value in any way that does not seem dismissive.
Maybe the comic could be better; maybe you can say the same about me as well.
Buy Ultimate Black Panther #4 here. (Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, ComicsXF may earn from qualifying purchases.)
A proud New Orleanian living in the District of Columbia, Jude Jones is a professional thinker, amateur photographer, burgeoning runner and lover of Black culture, love and life. Magneto and Cyclops (and Killmonger) were right.
Find more of Jude’s writing here.
