Rise of the Black Panther

Rise of the Black Panther #1-6

by Evan Narcisse, Ta-Nehisi Coates (Consultant), Paul Renaud (Illustrations)

Witness the early years of the man who will come to rule one of the most scientifically advanced countries in the world! Wakanda has always kept itself isolated from Western society, but that's all about to change. Young T'Challa knows he is destined to become king, but when his father is brutally murdered by outsiders, he'll find himself taking up a mantle he may not be ready for. Experience never-before-seen drama from the reign of T'Chaka, the king whose death changes a nation's history forever. Learn about the mother T'Challa never knew. See how the world learns about this wondrous nation for the first time. Will the power of the Black Panther be enough to keep his country safe? Journalist Evan Narcisse makes his comics debut alongside acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates as they chronicle T'Challa's rise to the throne - and to the Panther legacy that made him an Avenger.
COLLECTING: RISE OF THE BLACK PANTHER 1-6

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Superheroes, Comic Book, Science Fiction, Fantasy

136 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2018

Reviews

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narcisse like Coates could take some lessons from modern comic book writing and learn to self edit. He seems to be writing prose, unaware that comics are a visual medium. That being said, I do like how he condensed down the Black Panther's early years into something of a "Year One". The Black Panther's early years sprawl across a lot of comics and titles so it's nice to see a "Cliff Notes" version here. The art by Paul Renard and Javier Pinais very solid.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marvel does a ‘Year One’ style revisionist history of T’Challa’s early days. Story-wise, there was nothing in here that particularly grabbed me but the artwork was really good, so I don’t regret giving it the time.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read single issues. Fun, self-contained arc that seems designed to be a starting point for people who don't read a lot of superhero comics but have some familiarity with the characters. It's a T'Challa origin story, Wakandan history lesson, and convenient intro to this version of the Marvel universe (which can be overwhelming to try to jump into), but as a fan, it also scratched that post-movie itch to hang out with Black Panther some more.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with Ta-Nehisi Coates' main Black Panther series, this offshoot is a proud member of the "I hope you like text!" school. Evan Narcisse apparently never saw a dialogue balloon he couldn't fill with at least two full sentences. It's tiresome and drags on what is otherwise a pretty interesting story!

As the title suggests, this volume covers the history of the modern Black Panther, apparently adapted from previous Marvel series. So, these stories have been covered before, but not so compactly or with such elegant artwork. Each volume covers a major event, such as T'Chaka's death and the rise of Erik Killmonger. It's all edited together very nicely, so it feels like a continuous flow rather than stories around the campfire.

But I simply cannot overstate how much of a slog it is to read Rise of the Black Panther. It's a novel! The stories are good, the characters are interesting - Narcisse just needs to let the comic format work with him, not against him.

[Alex Sarll]

Before starting this, I was musing on how seldom restatements of a character's origin add anything worthwhile, and musing on the brilliance of my favourite Panther story, Enemy of the State II. Opened it, and in the introduction that's the very story Narcisse mentions as having inspired him. Sold. There's an occasional clunkiness to the dialogue, but for someone's first ever comics gig, that's to be expected. Otherwise, this has it all: dynastic epic, encounters with the other mighty Marvel monarchs, ingenious contests of technology and skill. Whenever Coates finishes up his run on the main Panther title, I'm hoping Narcisse gets the next go.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note -read the single issues.

I love watching the bro and sister action. I think this tells into some strange halfway point between the series and the movie but it works.

[Lukas Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I love about Black Panther right now, especially any that feature Coates's work, is that you get a lot of bang for your buck. With many books the money spent can be regretted quickly because the story is so short. With these, the stories are dense, complicated and call for a second reading.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of epic world building from the start, epic daring do from the beginning, great eye popping cinematic art, brilliantly realised three-dimensional characters and plot twists you won't coming coming keeping you on your toes! :D

[Pau Lethani · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

Review on my Instagram @lethanibooks

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some nice histories within but the narrative flow is hit or miss. Artwork is average to good.

MY GRADE: B minus.

[ThatBookGal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the writing was a little long winded, and the art wasn’t as colourful as expected. Overall a fun adventure with the Panther.

[Namratha · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You are brave and brilliant, like your parents. I know you will rise to the throne in your time, but I also know the destiny you inherit may steal your life…
unless you find the strength to change proud Wakanda or the cruel world that surrounds it.
Unless you become a Black Panther the likes of which the realm has never seen.”

~ Queen Ramonda

The fictional country of Wakanda has been protected from colonization and resource drainers for ages by a lineage of fierce, mystical warrior kings who bear the title of the Black Panther. A combination of supernatural secrets with its powers tied to the precious metal Vibranium and intense training aided these masked rulers in their task to keep Wakanda a secret from the probing eyes of an outside world.

Within six chapters, we get a definitive peek into the world of Wakanda, the people who work hard to make it the greatest in terms of technological advancements, the dissidents who aim to keep the realm a secret for varied reasons, the war mongers who fight for dominance and the early struggles of the young king T'Challa who wants to usher in change by opening up the hidden land to outsiders while staying true to his roots.

The story progresses seamlessly. We learn about T'Challa's brilliant scientist birth-mother, Queen N'Yami and the kindness of King T'Chaka's second wife, Queen Ramonda. We see King T'Chaka's strong but troubled rule meet a grievous end when the nasty Ulysses Klaue finds a way into Wakanda. King T'Challa's first attempts at communicating peacefully and profitably with the outside world come through an adventure with Namor, the King of Atlantis. He also learns some unpleasant home-truths courtesy the vile megalomaniac, Doctor Doom. The simmering tension with the White Wolf, commander of the Hatut Zeraze (the nation’s secret Security Division) reaches a head and T'Challa may have to rethink some long-held opinions.

And finally his encounter with N'Jadaka....better known as Erik Killmonger which could change the future of Wakanda forever.

I really enjoyed this set of stories. It acts as a clean slate to those who are entering Wakanda for the first time and also adds a new dimension to the picture formed in our heads about the new Black Panther. Colorful panels, Shuri-sass and an effortless leap from one chapter to another makes this a complete and enjoyable read.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The problem with any title that has more than one writer attributed to it, and I'd include television series with writing staffs here, is that it can be difficult to tell whom did what. Is that part I really liked by A, and the part I didn't like very much by B?

I've admitted Coates writing has grown on me, or he has gotten better at this particular medium (writing books and novels is different than writing comics) and Evan Narvisse's contributions help, and I liked he gave a shout out to Christopher Priests' work on the character. The ebb and flow of the series, and combined with its construction, just made wonder when I really liked, or disliked something I found myself questioning which writer did what. The promo piece for this TPB said it was to build up the character before the Chadwick Boseman film. It does that, but it does some small retcons of T'Challa and Shuri's histories that works for both characters (actually I think it helped Shuri the most).

This is basically a history of early T'Challa from boy to young man and king. Characters created by Priest and Coates (Ramonda and Zuri as examples) are well used here. For me the character that felt like it got a poor portrayal was Erik Killmonger, he felt too generic as a villain.

[Alex B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be called Black Panther: Year One. Incredible dialogue, each issue is like a volume. The voice of all the characters is perfect, you really get a full sense of Tchalla's meticulousness and Shuri's quick wit. The writer is also able to create such good symbolism in inanimate objects which adds so much to the overall story. Plus, every action scene took a different approach which was brilliantly entertaining. One of the best Marvel books I've ever read.

[Adrienna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly love this book. The graphics we're hot and the storyline was romantic, intriguing, and suspenseful.

The rise of the Black Panther spoke from the fierce Warrior Kings , the lineage of wakanda, and the ancestors which is a mantle of spiritual and political leadership from Generations before and after. I truly was inspired and estatic about reading the other books in the series.

Disclaimer : I borrowed a copy from the library and giving my honest review.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting origin story. I think the thing that seems misleading is this book wasn't written by Mr. Coates (he consulted Mr. Narcisse). The book was still enjoyable, but I did find that a bit of a problem (like Marvel is trying to milk Mr. Coates recognition out of everything).

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wavered between 2 and 3 stars for this one, but too much of it bored me. There are some nice stretches and some good ideas, but I didn't really catch me, and a couple times I considered giving up on it.

[Elyia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Madison Somerville · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved diving into the backstory of the Black Panther through this series. Also, the graphics are beautifully done. However, there is too much text for this being a comic book, in my opinion, which brings this from 4 to 3 stars.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rise of the Black Panther is Ta-Nehisi Coates’ attempt to finally fill in some backstory on the legendary Wakandan king after three volumes of new story that, to be honest, left me scratching my head. Yes, we get to see T’Chaka’s history, his two marriages, his dalliances in between, and how these actions came to define the young life of his son T’Challa. We learn of T’Challa’s adopted white brother and his half siblings who also round out the story of the nation. But, most importantly, we find out why it is that T’Challa rebuked centuries of seclusion to announce his country’s desire to join the world stage and help make the world a better place for all through technology. Oh, and the consequences of that announcement.

When I read Coates’ The Black Panther arc, this is the story I expected but didn’t get. I almost gave up on the series because volumes 2 and 3 were getting a bit boring. I’m glad I stuck through Rise because this volume more than made up for it. If you’re looking for more history of the character without being summarily dumped in the middle of a civil war for which you have no foundation, check this out.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rise of the Black Panther is more or less the definitive "modern" origin for T'Challa, aka the Black Panther. It marries the older legacy of the character and marries it to the modern direction creators have taken him in. Fans of the MCU film will recognize some of the themes present in this volume, with most of the series having its main concern with how T'Challa plans to open Wakanda up to the world. In some ways the "Black Panther" persona is the least important part of this story compared to who T'Challa is as a person and as a king. It's not about his relationship to the panther goddess Bast, or the special herbs, or how he learns to fight, it's all about what Wakanda means to him and how he tries to rule. It starts off with a background on T'Challa's parents and how he learns from them, eventually revealing where they fell short and what he wants to change now that he is king. It's an incredibly dense book that does its job well, even if it sometimes feels like you're reading a summary instead of a self-contained story. It's a fantastic introduction to Black Panther and a great starting point for the character.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the stronger Black Panther titles that I've read out of the recent series. Narcisse is a strong writer, and the artwork throughout the story works well.

The story is more expansive than some of the other runs--detailing multiple generations of the Panther and the interlinked threats that have been faced by each. This title strikes an effective balance between the personal and the political, examining the troubles of bringing an entire kingdom into a new era while still preserving all that one is sworn to protect.

In this case, comparisons to the recent movie are inevitable, but I'm making an effort not to judge this volume against the movie--because despite the similarities, there are also some notable differences.

Overall, it's an impressive volume that makes a sweeping narrative manageable and contained throughout, delivering emotional impact while tying together the past and present of Wakanda.

[Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this while it acted as a bit of a sped of version of the history of the Black Panther. Unlike the film, in this story T'Challa himself wants to open up Wakanda to the outside world. From the moment of first unveiling, Wakanda is suddenly visited by the likes of Namor, Doctor Doom, the Winter Soldier, and even Captain America.

For those that have seen the film, we get the inclusion of Erik Killmonger as well.

Ta-Nehisi Coates is not the primary writing for this series but he is involved and it helps keep the origin stories along the lines of the version Coates has created for us since his authorship began.

[Ahdom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rise of the Black Panther featured some great artwork and a pretty solid story. It did not blow me away and pales in comparison to the film version of the character, but I really liked it overall. I have increased my Marvel reading so much in the last two years and I am really enjoying all the different story arcs that the comics present. I plan to go back and read more Black Panther lines because I love the character.

[Henry Blackwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s so much I wanna say about this trade and how many things I didn’t like but honestly, it isn’t worth it.

The bottom line is that this is boring and I would’ve found reading a short essay on how the black panther movie fits into the black panther comic-lore instead of this. I really hope I didn’t make a mistake buying 6 volumes of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ run on this.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was solid. Pretty dense and word heavy but still enjoyable. This book takes T’Challa’s history which is spread out over all these different comics and condenses it down and is retold here. It was nice to get the cliff notes, if you will, on the history of a Black Panther. Solid art and solid story.

[Omar · Rating 3 out of 5]

7.6 solid. Another ok book from Ta-Neshi Coates' run on Black Phanter. Really not excellent just a ok run. Few good momments but that's all cant bring it to a 4 but still enjoyable. However, the art work was fantastic.

[Jenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everytime I read Black Panther there's a new backstory and new villains. I might have to buy my own copies of Black Panther, coz' I'd actually like to continue this story.

I liked the characters and their development. This comic was actually quite dark.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second ever comic book and i loved it this has helped me love Black panther even more.

[Debbie Phillips · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was ok. I originally chose it for the Afrofuturist and Different Format prompts for the Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge for 2021. Then I found it also fit two other prompts. It was so nice to start off the year checking off 4 prompts and completing my first book on January 1st. The book was a little better than I was expecting. It also took me longer to read than I thought it would. I will not be reading more of these as graphic novels are not my thing, neither is the Black Panther.

Now on to other books for the challenge.

Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
#2 - An Afrofuturist book
#20 - A book found on a Black Lives Matter reading list
#34 - A book about a social justice issue
#35 - A book in a different format than what you normally read. This is a graphic novel.


Books may be removed from prompts at a later date if I have counted them for more than one prompt. If I have time to read another book that competes one of those prompts. It depends on what books I read and how my time for reading goes this year. I may read books that don't count for any prompt and therefore may need to count books for more than one prompt to finish the challenge. Counting books for more than one category is allowed. It is up to each individual.