Wakanda

Wakanda (2022-2023) #1-5

by Stephanie Williams, Mateus Manhanini (Cover Art), Natacha Bustos (Illustrator)

The Black Panther is no longer welcome in Wakanda! What is this proud nation without its king? Prepare to find out as five different fan-favorite Wakandan characters grab the spotlight! First up: Shuri proves there's a reason she too once wielded the power of the Black Panther! Then, M'Baku shows his worth as regent of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda when an old foe threatens to destroy its future! Erik Killmonger stars in a haunting story of his early days under the thumb of Ulysses Klaw! New hero Tosin must step up and defend his nation when the Abomination attacks! And how far will Okoye go to protect her country? Plus: The History of the Black Panthers provides, for the first time anywhere, a definitive overview of every Wakandan who has ever held the mantle! Collecting WAKANDA #1-5.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel

136 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single issue stories centered around five different Wakandan characters. All of the stories are fine, but none of them are truly outstanding. There's also a history of Wakanda feature at the end, which I think originally published in parts at the end of each issue of Wakanda. The history is a bit dry, but it's informative enough.

[Alex Sarll]

Ostensibly a series of linked stories about how Wakanda fares after T'challa's exile in the John Ridley run of Black Panther, except that turns out only to apply to three of the five issues here. One of the others is set in the past, and about villains rather than heroes, covering an event in the shared past of Killmonger and Klaw which was possibly even more unpleasant than I would have expected. The other, and by some distance my favourite thing here, is co-written by Evan Narcisse (who also writes the back-up history of Wakanda, and by now has surely earned a go on the main Panther book). It follows Ta-Nehisi Coates' creation of an intergalactic Wakandan empire, and prods at the resolution he gave that story, because as our own planet shows, liberating the enslaved tends not to be the end of the story. There's enough material here for a full six-issue space opera at the very least, and keeping it clear and engaging while getting it done in one is quite the achievement.

Back on present-day Earth, on the other hand, the opening Shuri issue in particular is a soup of 'As you know, Queen Ramonda' exposition, and a central plot which teeters on the line between brilliantly daft and just daft*. I'm still not sold on Tosin Oduye as a particularly distinct character, and his story here feels by the numbers, but thankfully the concluding episode stars Okoye, who can always be trusted to elevate the standard and cast down the deserving.

*SPOILER: the Rhino pretends to be an actual rhino.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate spending time with the various characters present here, especially the stories centered on Shuri and Okoye, as well as the history of Wakanda statements. I do feel that the story consistency fluctuates to where, even if there is an overarching story across most of these segments, the inconsistency in connections results in a book that hardcore fans of Black Panther will find highly enjoyable but more casual fans or fans expecting a more direct series of sprites may leave the book less enamored.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

It feels like somehow some of the optimistic Afro futurism has been lost.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Shuri and Okoye's stories, and the history of Wakanda moments throughout this! The artwork was also fantastic!
TW for violence, mentions of slavery, death, murder, blood.

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first and last stories are strongest and worth reading.

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wakanda history

A little bit of Killmonger and a primer on the history of Wakanda and the Wakandans who were Black Panther.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wakanda is sooooo much bigger than you would think.

This anthology of Wakanda stories is trying something that NEEDS to be done. Black Panther has become this big, overwhelming thing. It's not just stories of the king and his family. It's stories of foot soldiers. It's stories of space ambassadors. We can't just rely on a single comic book to tell stories of a land that is so rich and full of intrigue.

'Wakanda' is that start.
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It's a roller coaster ride, as some of these stories aren't as engaging as the others. The backup story of 'Black Panther' history throughout the ages is consistently good, however.

Bonus: Space Wakanda...still needs to be explained.