Black Panther: The Junior Novel

by Jim McCann

T'Challa, as the Black Panther and warrior King of Wakanda, must team up with elite members of the Dora Milaje--Wakanda's special forces--and C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross to defend his kingdom in this epic junior novel based on the upcoming film Marvel's Black Panther. Features an 8-page color insert! ©2018 MARVEL.

Genres: Marvel, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Childrens, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Audiobook

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2018

About the author

Jim McCann is an award-winning writer of comic books, television, and theatre. He worked on several films and music videos before he was accepted into the ABC Daytime Writer Development Program. During that time he wrote for the popular ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. Upon moving to New York, he found a position at Marvel Comics, where he remained for six years, working in publicity and PR.

He wrote several critically acclaimed Marvel HAWKEYE series before branching out into creating his own comics and graphic novels, as well as other projects. His first graphic novel, RETURN OF THE DAPPER MEN, won the comic book industry's top award: Best Original Graphic Album. He has since gone on to create hit series such as the space-heist LOST VEGAS and the ongoing top-rated series MIND THE GAP, both published through Image Comics.

McCann earned his BA in Communication Arts, Electronic Media as well as a double minor in English and Theatre from Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.

He currently resides in Los Angeles, where he is represented by Chelsea Reed at CAA and managed by Stan Spry at The Cartel.

Reviews

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟

Enjoyed reading the movie novelization of the Black Panther movie. Always wish there was more in the book. Liked seeing T'Challa's relationships with his family and friends. The story at the end was also enjoyable too. Sad that T'Challa didn't survive the snap.

[Nau · Rating 3 out of 5]

in a short way, i'd like to say: nothing special from this. but it's entertaining me. here's some not that i take for the longer thoughts:

- i didn't find anything that extraordinary here. i know the ideas and diversed characters in black panther are amazing, but the storytelling from the book version feels like really plain. i even not thrilled when reading this. plus we only know the movie plotline until the middle, so we wouldn't find any main problems in this book. (but well, it's pretty worth it if you want spoilers from the movie *cough*)

- what i really love and expect more after reading this book are all the characters. in the book, they have such a wonderful development, especially for t'challa (all hail our king), shuri, nakia, and ross (also a hint for erik killmonger). and also, the diversity too!

- i also love the "aftermath" snippet from this book. even the whole plot and storytelling sounds like a fanfiction of t'challa/ross in ao3 (no offense but really, it reminds me a lot with those fanfic), i love how the writer described both of the characters just like themself. some of the conversations are also pretty funny and a bit sarcastic (just like everett ross), which makes me like it even more.

it's hard to give rating for this kind of novelization. i guess, 3.2 stars for this.

(note: for anyone who read this review until the end, thank you for listening my rambles and enthusiasm for this movies and characters. if you also pumped up for the movie (OR LOVE T'CHALLA AND ROSS LMAO), please kindly slips a message to my inbox eheheh)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to my 7 year old son and it was good! It followed the movie pretty closely but ended after the car chase in South Korea. I’m hoping there will be another book that picks up the rest of the story.

There was a bonus story at the end where T’Challa captures Zemo and someone from inside the agency betrays the CIA. It was good but since I haven’t seen the previous movies I wasn’t as engaged and wished we had more from the Black Panther movie.

But over all, really enjoyed this. It was great being inside the minds of T’Challa, Nakia and Everett Ross. It was also age appropriate for kids in regards to the violence. It was there but toned down.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having watched the film and declaring this movie a 2018 love, I couldn't wait to get stuck into the novelisation - yes I read this in one sitting, it was a lot of fun to read and follows the movie. Although it is definitely written for a younger audience, adults would still enjoy the book however it's advised to watch the movie first then read this book. The bonus content was quite interesting too.. WAKANDA FOREVER!!!

[Wolfkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watching the Black Panther movie wasn't a particularly emotional experience and I saw it about five times in theatre but thinking about the movie is a very emotional experience. This book triggers that same emotional memory response.

They do a little editing of the original narrative some to add, alone to take away leavingbehind an excellent children's book.

[CrystalFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book so much that I think I'm melting with happiness.

[Ryan Monson · Rating 1 out of 5]

First, this was written before the movie came out so it doesn't have the full story. Now that the movie is out, it makes this book a complete waste of time. This explains why a book shouldn't be written as a marketing ploy because now the book is completely worthless and realistically there is no real reason to read a book that tells less than 1/3 of a story. An updated one with the full story would be nice, maybe there is one idk.


Outside of that, I want a novelization to get me into the characters heads and give me some insight that I can't get from the movie. I also like some extras, like additional scenes that add to the story and maybe flesh out some secondary characters. This book has almost none of that. You get very minor insights into the characters and nothing that you couldn't infer from watching the movie. You also get nothing additional. It feels like someone watched the movie scene for scene and wrote down what they saw. Some of the action in the movie seemed too hard to explain so it was just left out. There is also an awkwardness in how it is written. Kilmonger is in this book for one scene in the art museum but that is it. He is an awkwardly focused on character in this book since the book ends before his part of the story becomes important. Again, maybe there is a full version of this, but either way, it is just lazy to have Kilmonger treated like an important character in a mostly meaningless scene in this version of the story.

[Alicia Oldham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where's Killmonger?

He's on the cover of the book but the book has hardly any scenes of him. I thought the book was basically the movie in written form but it's not. I'm kind of disappointed

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main story covers the first half of the movie very well but I want to read the whole story.

The second story acts as a coda to the Civil War film which I have not seen. Both stories provide a more internal view of T'Challa's actions in both movies which I liked and also provided more interaction and moments with characters whose stories were edited out or shortened for the sake of brevity with the film (I want to see that 4 hour cut to see if these scenes were filmed or not). It's a serviceable children's novelization, however, I do hope that they someday release the full story or age it up for all audiences.

[Raquel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Entiendo que es un libro enfocado a un público infantil pero aún así esperaba algo más. La novela en sí comienza a mitad del libro, cuando se supone que es una narrativa de la película COMPLETA. Sin embargo, esta termina justo después de la persecución en Corea cuando todos los fans de Marvel sabemos que la película no termina ahí. Además, otro punto negativo es que Killmonger solo aparece en una escena cuando a mi parecer es uno de los personajes claves de la película. En fin, en realidad me compré este libro por ampliar mi colección de libros relacionados con Marvel.

[Tina Pow · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is clearly written for a younger audience, so it's a quick and easy read.

The first half covers the first part of the Black Panther movie while the second half jumps to T'Challa's and Zemo's end scene in CA: Civil War. From there on it becomes an original story, that's set between those two movies (which also means that the second half of the book is chronologically set before the first half).

It's nothing extraordinary, but it was entertaining and I was curious about what happened with Zemo and T'Challa after CACW.

[Chevelle Oliver]

This book was obviously about T'Challa and how he wanted to be a king in peace for his people. But he had to tell the world the truth about having vibranium and keeping it to himself and his people. While he has to hide that truth, Killmonger is trying to reclaim his throne because T'Challas dad, T'Chaka killed his own brother which was Killmongers father. So Killmonger started to work with Klaw who then betrayed Killmonger so he had to come take his throne by fighting T'Challa. In the end, T'Challa got his throne back and Killmonger died.

[Janet Azucena · Rating 3 out of 5]

El libro aborda una tercera parte de la película homónima como también hay un episodio adicional ambientada después de los sucesos en Civil War.

A título personal es una forma grata de ver narrativamente porque describe las emociones o profundizan en lo que sienten los personajes... Pero más me llevo a imaginar a Chadwick Bosseman interpretando al personaje principal en medio de su proceso de cáncer.

[Daniel Austera · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was entertaining. The first half of the book is the 1st half of the movie, while the second half of the book is an original short story, that revolves around T'Challa and Agent Ross' cooperating after Civil War.
It is definitely written as a children's book, but still entertaining enough for adults to enjoy.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the bonus story of T'Challa and Everett, but I was disappointed that the novelization of movie ended long before the movie did. Also, a lot of the fun dialogue from the film was not included. For example, the banter between T'Challa and Shuri in lab as well as Ross not wanting to listen to Klaue's music.

[Tash Caudwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand that it's a 'cliff notes' version of the movie but it misses all of the main character development parts... and then just stops... its not even the full movie 😒 I was going to give 3 stars but the more I read the less I like the book - sad to say I enjoyed the movie more than the book?!

[UnControlled Pen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book was just like the movie, it was nice to read. If you saw the movie and looking for something new, you can pass on this one. However, if you just love the movie, why not, it a good read of the first act.

[Colin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out good, but then it cuts off in the middle of the story. In short, the novelization doesn't completely novelize the film. Another "WTF?" moment for me after having read Captain America: Civil War.

[Elisha Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun to read this with my son. He loves superheroes and if I'm honest, I do as well. It was long enough that I didn't really remember most of the story. We had a good time reading each night and talking about it.

[Loona is hot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bruh, they didn't even finish the rest of the movie. come on man! Killmonger was like. The best part of the whole dang movie!

[Jaq · Rating 3 out of 5]

A reminder of the first time I saw Black Panther.....

[Bangaly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the book but actually didn't read it because I don't know how to read the book I don't know how to get on the book

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Again, ended mid-story and then there was a prologue. Weird.

[Munaya Al salhee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading it and you get in the end like an extra story.

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 3 out of 5]

63 - 2021

[Wendelle]

majestic and stirring

[Aman 4-7]

This was a serious let down.First the main villain,Erik killmonger was in the book for one scene the museum scene.There wasn't the challenge scene there wasn't any golden jaguar moments,he made it seem like Erik was just barely in the movie.It was mainly about Ulysses klaue who isn't that bad,but wasn't the biggest issue.Once his situation was "resolved" it went back in time to when black panther was stopped Zemo from killing himself.And once he was imprisoned,he made up some lady to be the next problem.Jim McCann has no respect for how important this movie is and didn't give the credit.If you are interested in black panther,or want to learn more about him,or maybe even just want a decent book.Do not,I repeat DO NOT read this book.