New Essay: West Wing in a Kitty Suit: Politics in Christopher Priest’s Black Panther

My latest essay on Christopher Priest's Black Panther is up at Sequart: "West Wing in a Kitty Suit"! In this essay I discuss how Priest used politics in his stories.

New Essay: Black and Powerful: How Priest’s Depiction of a Powerful Black Panther Upset and Upended Fandom’s Expectations

My new essay for Sequart is up, continuing my series of essays on Christopher Priest's Black Panther; this one is titled "Black and Powerful: How Priest’s Depiction of a Powerful Black Panther Upset and Upended Fandom’s Expectations" I think the title should explain it all and I hope you enjoy it!

Dark Knight, Dark Kitty: My New Essay on Priest's Black Panther

I finally have a new essay about Christopher Priest's Black Panther available at Sequart! It's titled "Dark Knight, Dark Kitty" and it's my thoughts on how Priest would break the fourth wall for comedic effect in his Black Panther comics.

New Essay at Sequart: "Panther Beat"

At last, my new essay on Christopher Priest's Black Panther has been made available at Sequart! It's titled "Panther Beat: The Use of Beat Panels in Christopher Priest's Black Panther." Comedy was a major part of what made Priest's Black Panther memorable so it's about time to discuss one of the tools Priest used to put it together! I hope you enjoy the essay!

Creator Credits for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Non-review: It's very good!

My master list of Marvel Cinematic Universe creator credits is kept here and your corrections/additions are always welcome!

Jack Kirby: creator of Wakanda's Vibranium mound falling into their land ages ago as a massive asteroid; of Bashenga, the first Black Panther and the one who learned the power of Vibranium (Black Panther #7, 1978); co-creator of Namor aging very slowly; Namor wearing green trunks (Fantastic Four #4, 1962); of Attuma, a barbarian warrior from Namor's kingdom whose helmet is made from a dead sea creature (Fantastic Four #33, 1964); of Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther, ruler of Wakanda, son of T'Chaka, a skilled fighter and bearer of the ceremonial Black Panther costume and identity; Wakanda, a secretive African nation surrounded by mountains who conceal the true state of their technological development; The Wakandans' superior technology including communication devices and anti-gravity ships; the massive panther statue which lies above Wakanda's labs (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of T'Chaka, king of Wakanda, father of T'Challa, killed, succeeded by his son; Vibranium, an extraterrestrial metal found only in Wakanda where it forms an entire mountain; Vibranium's ability to absorb kinetic energy; the Wakandans harvesting Vibranium for their technology; the Heart-Shaped Herb which grows only in Wakanda and provides each Black Panther superior strength, agility and tracking senses; of invaders seeking to steal Wakanda's Vibranium (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of Asgard, home of the Asgardian people (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Tony Stark, an inventor of powerful battle armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Namor revealed to be a mutant (X-Men #6, 1964)

Christopher Priest: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with golden necklace and lined with Vibranium to serve as body armor with anti-metal claws in the fingertips; T'Challa wearing a beard; Everett K. Ross, a clever U.S. government agent who finds himself aiding the Black Panther; Ross in a relationship with his superior; The Dora Milaje, warrior women who serve as bodyguards for T'Challa and speak the language Hausa; Okoye, a stoic member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Nakia, faithful to T'Challa; Nakia, an expressive member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Okoye; Kimoyo, Wakandan communication technology used in Black Panther's costume (Black Panther #1, 1998); Nakia's romantic feelings for T'Challa (Black Panther #3, 1999); Erik Killmonger battling T'Challa for the Black Panther identity and succeeding (Black Panther #20, 2000); Wakanda fearing how the outside world would react to them if their true level of technology were known; of Wakanda's massive naval vessels (Black Panther #27, 2001); T'Chaka serving as Black Panther during his rule of Wakanda (Black Panther #30, 2001); the Jabari dwelling in the snowy mountains of Wakanda (Black Panther #32, 2001); the Jabari, a Wakandan tribe to which M'Baku belongs (Black Panther #34, 2001)

Stan Lee: co-creator of Namor aging very slowly; Namor wearing green trunks (Fantastic Four #4, 1962); of Attuma, a barbarian warrior from Namor's kingdom whose helmet is made from a dead sea creature (Fantastic Four #33, 1964); of Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther, ruler of Wakanda, son of T'Chaka, a skilled fighter and bearer of the ceremonial Black Panther costume and identity; Wakanda, a secretive African nation surrounded by mountains who conceal the true state of their technological development; The Wakandans' superior technology including communication devices and anti-gravity ships; the massive panther statue which lies above Wakanda's labs (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); of T'Chaka, king of Wakanda, father of T'Challa, killed, succeeded by his son; Vibranium, an extraterrestrial metal found only in Wakanda where it forms an entire mountain; Vibranium's ability to absorb kinetic energy; the Wakandans harvesting Vibranium for their technology; the Heart-Shaped Herb which grows only in Wakanda and provides each Black Panther superior strength, agility and tracking senses; of invaders seeking to steal Wakanda's Vibranium (Fantastic Four #53, 1966); of Asgard, home of the Asgardian people (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Tony Stark, an inventor of powerful battle armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963); of Namor's battlecry "Imperius Rex!" (Tales to Astonish #70, 1965); of Namor revealed to be a mutant (X-Men #6, 1964)

Mark Texeira: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with golden necklace and lined with Vibranium to serve as body armor with anti-metal claws in the fingertips; T'Challa wearing a beard; Everett K. Ross, a clever U.S. government agent who finds himself aiding the Black Panther; Ross in a relationship with his superior; The Dora Milaje, warrior women who serve as bodyguards for T'Challa and speak the language Hausa; Okoye, a stoic member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Nakia, faithful to T'Challa; Nakia, an expressive member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Okoye; Kimoyo, Wakandan communication technology used in Black Panther's costume (Black Panther #1, 1998); Nakia's romantic feelings for T'Challa (Black Panther #3, 1999)

Don McGregor: co-creator of Warrior Falls, a waterfall in Wakanda; Erik Killmonger, a Wakandan with dreadlocks who returned to his homeland in order to depose T'Challa and rule the country himself (Jungle Action #6, 1973); Erik Killmonger's true Wakandan name, N'Jadaka (Jungle Action #7, 1973); Wakandans behaving in a xenophobic manner about other nations, wishing to remain isolationist; T'Challa undergoing a special ceremony to receive the Heart-Shaped Herb (Jungle Action #9, 1974); Wakanda possessing snow-tipped mountains around its border (Jungle Action #12, 1974); Erik Killmonger dying after battle with T'Challa (Jungle Action #17, 1975); of Ramonda, T'Challa's mother, queen of Wakanda (Marvel Comics Presents #37, 1989)

Bill Everett: creator of Namor, half-human hybird of an undersea civilization; of Namor's ability to survive on the surface and underwater; Namor's superhuman strength; Namor possessing two pairs of tiny wings on his feet permitting him flight and pointed tips on his ears; of Namor killing a pair of humans in diving suits underwater; of Namor leading an assault on the surface world for perceived injustices against his undersea civilization (Marvel Comics #1, 1939); of Namor and his people using whales in combat against the surface world; of Namor's people possessing offensive technology based on discoveries made in their underwater realm (Sub-Mariner Comics #1, 1941)

Reginald Hudlin: co-creator of Ross serving as a specialist on Wakanda and advising against a U.S. assault on the nation (Black Panther #1, 2005); of Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister; Shuri seeking the Black Panther mantle (Black Panther #2, 2005); the Dora Milaje wearing red & gold battlesuits and shaving their heads; The Dora Milaje wielding Vibranium spears as weapons (Black Panther #3, 2005); of Shuri undergoing trials to obtain the Heart-Shaped Herb when T'Challa is no longer Wakanda's protector; of Zawavari, a Wakandan elder (Black Panther #3, 2009); of Shuri adopting the mantle of the Black Panther despite a discouraging spiritual journey (Black Panther #5, 2009)

Brian Michael Bendis: co-creator of Namor going to war against Wakanda and battling Shuri, causing an immense flooding in the nation (Avengers vs. X-Men #7, 2012); of Riri Williams, a brilliant young engineer at MIT who studies Tony Stark's technology and develops her own suit of armor based on his, taking the armor out on test flights (Invincible Iron Man #7, 2016); of Riri's father dying when she was young (Invincible Iron Man #1, 2017); of Riri completing her version of the Iron Man armor and going public as Ironheart (Invincible Iron Man #3, 2017)

Ta-Nehisi Coates: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with silver necklace which enfolds the body using nanites; of Ayo and Aneka as lovers; of the Midnight Angels, two suits of powerful Wakandan armors worn by the Dora Milaje, including Aneka (Black Panther #1, 2016); Djalia, a spiritual plane where Wakandan spirits reside; Black Panther's costumes absorbing energy into its Vibranium circuitry with a purplish glow, releasing that energy in destructive blasts (Black Panther #2, 2016)

Brian Stelfreeze: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with silver necklace which enfolds his body using nanites; of Ayo and Aneka as lovers; of the Midnight Angels, two suits of powerful Wakandan armors worn by the Dora Milaje, including Aneka (Black Panther #1, 2016); Djalia, a spiritual plane where Wakandan spirits reside; Black Panther's costumes absorbing energy into its Vibranium circuitry with a purplish glow, releasing that energy in destructive blasts (Black Panther #2, 2016)

Rich Buckler: co-creator of Warrior Falls, a waterfall in Wakanda; Erik Killmonger, a Wakandan with dreadlocks who returned to his homeland in order to depose T'Challa and rule the country himself (Jungle Action #6, 1973); Erik Killmonger's true Wakandan name, N'Jadaka (Jungle Action #7, 1973); Wakandans behaving in a xenophobic manner about other nations, wishing to remain isolationist; T'Challa undergoing a special ceremony to receive the Heart-Shaped Herb (Jungle Action #9, 1974)

John Romita Jr.: co-creator of Ross serving as a specialist on Wakanda and advising against a U.S. assault on the nation (Black Panther #1, 2005); of Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister; Shuri seeking the Black Panther mantle (Black Panther #2, 2005); the Dora Milaje wearing red & gold battlesuits and shaving their heads; the Dora Milaje wielding Vibranium spears as weapons (Black Panther #3, 2005)

Ken Lashley: co-creator of Shuri undergoing trials to obtain the Heart-Shaped Herb when T'Challa is no longer Wakanda's protector; of Zawavari, a Wakandan elder (Black Panther #3, 2009); of Shuri adopting the mantle of the Black Panther despite a discouraging spiritual journey (Black Panther #5, 2009); of Shuri as Black Panther fighting Namor (Black Panther #11, 2010)

Sal Velluto: co-creator of Erik Killmonger battling T'Challa for the Black Panther identity and succeeding (Black Panther #20, 2000); Wakanda fearing how the outside world would react to them if their true level of technology were known; of Wakanda's massive naval vessels (Black Panther #27, 2001); the Jabari dwelling in the snowy mountains of Wakanda (Black Panther #32, 2001)

Bob Almond: co-creator of Erik Killmonger battling T'Challa for the Black Panther identity and succeeding (Black Panther #20, 2000); Wakanda fearing how the outside world would react to them if their true level of technology were known; of Wakanda's massive naval vessels (Black Panther #27, 2001); the Jabari dwelling in the snowy mountains of Wakanda (Black Panther #32, 2001)

Jonathan Hickman: co-creator of Namor going to war against Wakanda and battling Shuri, causing an immense flooding in the nation (Avengers vs. X-Men #7, 2012); of the current Black Panther seeing the ghosts of previous Black Panthers (New Avengers #29, 2015)

Mike Deodato: co-creator of Riri Williams, a brilliant young engineer at MIT who studies Tony Stark's technology and develops her own suit of armor based on his, taking the armor out on test flights (Invincible Iron Man #7, 2016)

Stefano Caselli: co-creator of Riri's father dying when she was young (Invincible Iron Man #1, 2017); of Riri completing her version of the Iron Man armor and going public as Ironheart (Invincible Iron Man #3, 2017)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of M'Baku, a Wakandan sometimes-ally sometimes-foe of T'Challa who worships a Gorilla God represented by a giant statue and wears gorilla skins (Avengers #62, 1969)

John Buscema: co-creator of M'Baku, a Wakandan sometimes-ally sometimes-foe of T'Challa who worships a Gorilla God represented by a giant statue and wears gorilla skins (Avengers #62, 1969)

Jonathan Maberry: co-creator of Aneka, one of the Dora Milaje warriors who follows Shuri (Black Panther #8, 2009); of Shuri as Black Panther fighting Namor (Black Panther #11, 2010)

Billy Graham: co-creator of Wakanda possessing snow-tipped mountains around its border (Jungle Action #12, 1974); Erik Killmonger dying after battle with T'Challa (Jungle Action #17, 1975)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Ramonda, T'Challa's mother, queen of Wakanda (Marvel Comics Presents #37, 1989); of Namor's battlecry "Imperius Rex!" (Tales to Astonish #70, 1965)

Larry Lieber: co-creator of Asgard, home of the Asgardian people (Journey into Mystery #85, 1962); of Tony Stark, an inventor of powerful battle armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Ken Bald: co-creator of Namora, cousin to Namor, a warrior woman from his undersea realm who follows him into battle (Marvel Mystery Comics #82, 1947)

Jim Steranko: creator of Contessa Valentina Allegro de la Fontaine, a government agent with a streak in her hair (Strange Tales #159, 1967)

Jason Aaron: co-creator of Namor going to war against Wakanda and battling Shuri, causing an immense flooding in the nation (Avengers vs. X-Men #7, 2012)

Ed Brubaker: co-creator of Namor going to war against Wakanda and battling Shuri, causing an immense flooding in the nation (Avengers vs. X-Men #7, 2012)

Olivier Coipel: co-creator of Namor going to war against Wakanda and battling Shuri, causing an immense flooding in the nation (Avengers vs. X-Men #7, 2012)

Matt Fraction: co-creator of Namor going to war against Wakanda and battling Shuri, causing an immense flooding in the nation (Avengers vs. X-Men #7, 2012)

Ed Hannigan: co-creator of Wakanda and Namor's people being brought into conflict against each other (Defenders #84, 1980)

Don Perlin: co-creator of Wakanda and Namor's people being brought into conflict against each other (Defenders #84, 1980)

Kev Walker: co-creator of the current Black Panther seeing the ghosts of previous Black Panthers (New Avengers #29, 2015)

Norm Breyfogle: co-creator of T'Chaka serving as Black Panther during his rule of Wakanda (Black Panther #30, 2001)

Anthony Flamini: co-creator of M'Baku depicted as a diplomatic statesman (Civil War Battle Damage Report, 2007)

Scott Kolins: co-creator of M'Baku depicted as a diplomatic statesman (Civil War Battle Damage Report, 2007)

Jim Calafiore: co-creator of the Jabari, a Wakandan tribe to which M'Baku belongs (Black Panther #34, 2001)

Kenneth Rocafort: co-creator of Ayo, one of the shaven Dora Milaje (Ultimates #2, 2016)

Al Ewing: co-creator of Ayo, one of the shaven Dora Milaje (Ultimates #2, 2016)

Will Conrad: co-creator of Aneka, one of the Dora Milaje warriors who follows Shuri (Black Panther #8, 2009)

David Michelinie: co-creator of Scott Lang (Avengers #181, 1979)

John Byrne: co-creator of Scott Lang (Avengers #181, 1979)

Don Heck: co-creator of Tony Stark, an inventor of powerful battle armor (Tales of Suspense #39, 1963)

Jim Starlin: co-creator of Thanos, a genocidal maniac (Iron Man #55, 1973)

Mike Friedrich: co-creator of Thanos, a genocidal maniac (Iron Man #55, 1973)

Eve L. Ewing: co-creator of Ironheart visiting Wakanda and befriending Shuri (Ironheart #9, 2019)

Luciano Vecchio: co-creator of Ironheart visiting Wakanda and befriending Shuri (Ironheart #9, 2019)

New Essay: Black Lions & Black Panthers

My newest essay at Sequart has been released: Black Lions and Black Panthers: Wakanda as a Representation of Ethiopia. As it says on the tin, this essay explores similarities between Wakanda and Ethiopia. I hope you enjoy it!

New Essay: Yearning for Wakanda

I didn't intend for my next essay on Christopher Priest's Black Panther to take the shape that it did, but the idea for Yearning for Wakanda came to me while reading W. E. B. Du Bois soon after arriving in Angola and I found I had to get my ideas written down while they were fresh. I hope you like this essay!

Black Panther character profiles at the Marvel Appendix

The Marvel Appendix recently published two new profiles of a pair of supporting characters from Black Panther: Ogun and Kunta, written by yours truly. I hope to write up a few more interesting Wakandans in the weeks and months to come.

New Black Panther essay at Sequart!

Sequart has published another in my series of essays about Christopher Priest's Black Panther. This one is titled "The Knighted King: A Brief Publication History of Christopher Priest's Black Panther." This one simply sorts out the publishing history of Black Panther and the many factors internal and external which shaped the book's development. I hope you'll take a few minutes to read and enjoy!

History of Black Panther is up at Sequart!

My new essay about Christopher Priest's Black Panther is up at Sequart; this one is more informational than most as it details the Black Panther's publishing history prior to Priest's arrival in 1998. Check it out and tell me what you think!

Rest in Peace: Chadwick Boseman

Actor Chadwick Boseman passed away yesterday. As an outsider, I was stunned; I thought he had many more years of movies to make. Evidently he had been suffering from colon cancer for some time, but kept it from the public.

As his best-known role was King T'Challa, the Black Panther, I can't help but connect Boseman's sense of privacy to that of T'Challa. When Christopher Priest wrote his story "The Death of the Black Panther", he wrote T'Challa (suffering from an aneurysm) as concealing his health problems from all of his close confidants. It's the way of the stoic -- and perhaps of the public figure who wants to preserve a few ounces of their personal identity.

I've always seen Priest's T'Challa as the definitive version and Boseman's interpretation wasn't entirely the same - Boseman's T'Challa was a little warmer and more humane than the cold statemsn who Priest wrote. Perhaps Boseman's Panther would be better likened to Don McGregor's -- a vital and earnest man.

Outside of his appearances as T'Challa, the only performance of Boseman's I've seen is the film 42, where he played Jackie Robinson. I liked that movie quite a bit. It's sad that his life was cut so short; he was only a year older than me. Carpe diem.

He passed away on the birthday of the Black Panther's creator, Jack Kirby. It was also baseball's Jackie Robinson Day.

New Black Panther essay at Sequart

My 2nd Black Panther essay is now available at Sequart! This one continues the subject of white privilege in Christopher Priest's Black Panther by looking at Hunter, the White Wolf.

Now blogging at Sequart!

Greetings!

For some time I have been preparing a series of essays about Christopher Priest's Black Panther comics! Happily, the first of these is now available to read at Sequart! In this first essay I'm looking at how Priest's character Everett K. Ross is useful in demonstrating aspects of white privilege. I hope you enjoy it!

"I believe hate is wasted potential." Black Panther Annual #1 (2018) review

As a fan of Christopher Priest's writing, these last few years have been kind of funny - like, the comic book industry not only remembered he was in their rolodex but, oh yeah, also one of the best plotters & scripters in the medium! It all began with Q2: The Return of Quantum & Woody; then DC Comics brought him in on Deathstroke, to which he brought the same dizzying complex plots his Black Panther consisted of; Marvel Comics then put him on Inhumans: Once and Future Kings and DC even handed him the Justice League, the sort of prestige assignment he had always been denied in the past.

Last week Marvel Comics published Black Panther Annual #1 to profit from the release of Ryan Coogler's Black Panther movie. While Ta-Nehisi Coates continues to write the ongoing Black Panther series, this annual features three short tales by three previous series scribes.

First up is Christopher Priest himself with "Back in Black." Unfortunately, Priest was not reunited with his old art team (despite Sal Velluto & Bob Almond's continued love for the series), but was instead partnered with the exceptional Mike Perkins. Perkins' heavy lines and photorealism bring to mind the art by Mark Texeira which began Priest's Black Panther, rendering Perkins an excellent choice. The story is narrated by Everett K. Ross, Priest's narrator from his stories. It concerns a Wakandan courier being killed in New York and Ross being pursued by Malice & White Wolf (two classic Priest baddies) who each assume Ross must be guarding the courier's delivery. Little do they know, Ross is no longer as close to T'Challa as he once was.

I feel there were many missed opportunities when Marvel went ahead with Black Panther comics without Priest, but at the top of my list was how Everett K. Ross was slighted, mostly ignored and mischaracterized by subsequent authors. Ross was such an integral part of Priest's Panther, not only in the humour he offered but in his gradual character development. Priest makes Ross' absence a virtue here, as his disconnect from T'Challa's world in recent years renders him vulnerable. The story even opens with a non-linear narration in the spirit of Priest & Texeira's first issue!

Dang it, Taku, now I'm weepy

The second star writer is Don McGregor, here paired with Daniel Acuña for "Panther's Heart." McGregor was the Black Panther's first solo feature author back in the 1970s and he dedicated this story to his "Panther's Rage" collaborators Rich Buckler & Billy Graham (but overlooked the also-deceased Gil Kane, plus Gene Colan of "Panther's Quest," which is also referenced in his story). The tale seems to be set in the present-day continuity of the series as T'Challa's girlfriend Monica Lynne dies of cancer while T'Challa grieves for her. For some reason, the credits page claims this story takes place in "an alternate past." Perhaps Marvel didn't want Monica killed off? Or someone noticed W'Kabi was in this story, despite dying in Hudlin's run? Anyway, it's a heartfelt story and it's particularly touching to see McGregor write Taku again; I really felt for Taku's gentle spirit back in "Panther's Rage."

Finally, Reginald Hudlin & Ken Lashley of the post-Priest Black Panther tell the shortest story (half the length of the other two) "Back to the Future Part II" as Hudlin basically tells a coda to his own Panther stories. Set in the future, it see T'Challa still married to Storm (an event from Hudlin's stories) and creating a brotherhood with mutants and Atlanteans while having killed major villains such as Dr. Doom & Magneto. I never responded to Hudlin's earlier stories and this tale likewise does nothing for me; I felt Hudlin made T'Challa too arrogant and this new tale follows that trend.

Anyway, this was a fine celebration of Black Panther's publishing history, particularly for Priest & McGregor fans. Check it out!

Black Panther (2018) creator credits

As per usual, I have composed an (imperfect) list of creators who were responsible for elements seen in a new Marvel Cinematic Universe picture - this time, the newly-released Black Panther. My master list is kept here and your gentle corrections/additions are always welcome (and credited, natch!).

Thanks to Patrick D. Ryall for his addition!

Christopher Priest: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with golden necklace and lined with Vibranium to serve as body armor with Vibranium soles which allow him to walk along walls and anti-metal claws in his fingertips; T'Challa wearing a beard; Everett K. Ross, a clever U.S. government agent who finds himself aiding the Black Panther; The Dora Milaje, warrior women who serve as bodyguards for T'Challa and speak the language Hausa; Okoye, a stoic member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Nakia, faithful to T'Challa; Nakia, an expressive member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Okoye; Zuri, a wise old Wakandan warrior, friend of T'Chaka, guardian of T'Challa; Kimoyo, Wakandan technology used in Black Panther's costume (Black Panther #1, 1998); Nakia's romantic feelings for T'Challa (Black Panther #3, 1999); A white man in Wakanda being dubbed 'White Wolf'; of the Hatut Zeraze, "the Dogs of War," undercover intelligence operatives who serve Wakanda (Black Panther #4, 1999); Everett K. Ross being drawn into turmoil within Wakanda to help defend T'Challa's reign (Black Panther #11, 1999); Erik Killmonger battling T'Challa for the Black Panther identity and succeeding (Black Panther #20, 2000); Wakanda's Panther God identified as the Egyptian goddess Bast; Erik Killmonger dressing in the Black Panther costume (Black Panther #21, 2000); Wakanda fearing how the outside world would react to them if their true level of technology were known (Black Panther #27, 2001); Black Panther almost killing Klaw before a crowd of startled onlookers (Black Panther #29, 2001); T'Chaka serving as Black Panther during his rule of Wakanda; T'Chaka draping a tunic over his Black Panther costume (Black Panther #30, 2001); The Jabari dwelling in the snowy mountains of Wakanda (Black Panther #32, 2001); The Jabari, a Wakandan tribe to which M'Baku belongs (Black Panther #34, 2001)

Jack Kirby: creator of Wakanda's Vibranium mound falling into their land ages ago as a massive asteroid (Black Panther #7, 1978); T'Challa winning the title of Black Panther by defeating all challengers in one-on-one combat (Black Panther #8, 1978); co-creator of Bucky Barnes, a World War 2 veteran (Captain America Comics #1, 1941); Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther, ruler of Wakanda, son of T'Chaka, a skilled fighter and bearer of the ceremonial Black Panther costume and identity; Wakanda, a secretive African nation surrounded by mountains who conceal the true state of their technological development; The Wakandans' superior technology including communication devices and anti-gravity ships; The Techno-Jungle in Wakanda, trees which have been infused with technology; the massive panther statue which lies above Wakanda's labs (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); T'Chaka, king of Wakanda, father of T'Challa, killed, succeeded by his son; Vibranium, an extraterrestrial metal found only in Wakanda where it forms an entire mountain; Vibranium's ability to absorb kinetic energy; the Wakandans harvesting Vibranium for their technology; Ulysses Klaw, a white man who invaded Wakanda in the time of T'Chaka in order to steal its Vibranium; Klaw having lost his left hand; Klaw's sonic gun, built into his left arm, based on his study of Vibranium, releases sonic energy waves; The Heart-Shaped Herb which grows only in Wakanda and provides each Black Panther superior strength, agility and tracking senses (Fantastic Four #53, 1966)

Stan Lee: co-creator of Prince T'Challa, the Black Panther, ruler of Wakanda, son of T'Chaka, a skilled fighter and bearer of the ceremonial Black Panther costume and identity; Wakanda, a secretive African nation surrounded by mountains who conceal the true state of their technological development; The Wakandans' superior technology including communication devices and anti-gravity ships; The Techno-Jungle in Wakanda, trees which have been infused with technology; the massive panther statue which lies above Wakanda's labs (Fantastic Four #52, 1966); T'Chaka, king of Wakanda, father of T'Challa, killed, succeeded by his son; Vibranium, an extraterrestrial metal found only in Wakanda where it forms an entire mountain; Vibranium's ability to absorb kinetic energy; the Wakandans harvesting Vibranium for their technology; Ulysses Klaw, a white man who invaded Wakanda in the time of T'Chaka in order to steal its Vibranium; Klaw having lost his left hand; Klaw's sonic gun, built into his left arm, based on his study of Vibranium, releases sonic energy waves; The Heart-Shaped Herb which grows only in Wakanda and provides each Black Panther superior strength, agility and tracking senses (Fantastic Four #53, 1966)

Don McGregor: co-creator of Warrior Falls, a waterfall in Wakanda; Erik Killmonger, a Wakandan with dreadlocks who returned to his homeland in order to depose T'Challa and rule the country himself; Erik Killmonger defeating T'Challa in one-on-one combat and throwing him off Warrior Falls; Killmonger arming people with Wakandan weapons; W'Kabi's fiery temper (Jungle Action #6, 1973); T'Challa surviving the drop from Warrior Falls; Erik Killmonger's true Wakandan name, N'Jadaka, but chose Killmonger as his new name; Killmonger growing up in the United States; Erik Killmonger hating Klaw (Jungle Action #7, 1973); W'Kabi's xenophobic tendencies about outsiders; Wakandans behaving in a xenophobic manner about other nations, wishing to remain isolationist; T'Challa undergoing a special ceremony to receive the Heart-Shaped Herb (Jungle Action #9, 1974); The Black Panther wrestling a rhino to the ground by grabbing its horn (Jungle Action #9, 1974); Wakanda possessing snow-tipped mountains around its border (Jungle Action #12, 1974); Erik Killmonger dying after battle with T'Challa (Jungle Action #17, 1975); Ramonda, T'Challa's mother, queen of Wakanda (Marvel Comics Presents #37, 1989)

Mark Texeira: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with golden necklace and lined with Vibranium to serve as body armor with Vibranium soles which allow him to walk along walls and anti-metal claws in his fingertips; T'Challa wearing a beard; Everett K. Ross, a clever U.S. government agent who finds himself aiding the Black Panther; The Dora Milaje, warrior women who serve as bodyguards for T'Challa and speak the language Hausa; Okoye, a stoic member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Nakia, faithful to T'Challa; Nakia, an expressive member of the Dora Milaje, ally of Okoye; Zuri, a wise old Wakandan warrior, friend of T'Chaka, guardian of T'Challa; Kimoyo, Wakandan technology used in Black Panther's costume (Black Panther #1, 1998); Nakia's romantic feelings for T'Challa (Black Panther #3, 1999); A white man in Wakanda being dubbed 'White Wolf'; of the Hatut Zeraze, "the Dogs of War," undercover intelligence operatives who serve Wakanda (Black Panther #4, 1999)

Rich Buckler: co-creator of Warrior Falls, a waterfall in Wakanda; Erik Killmonger, a Wakandan with dreadlocks who returned to his homeland in order to depose T'Challa and rule the country himself; Erik Killmonger defeating T'Challa in one-on-one combat and throwing him off Warrior Falls; Killmonger arming people with Wakandan weapons; W'Kabi's fiery temper (Jungle Action #6, 1973); T'Challa surviving the drop from Warrior Falls; Erik Killmonger's true Wakandan name, N'Jadaka, N'Jadaka, but chose Killmonger as his new name; Killmonger growing up in the United States; Erik Killmonger hating Klaw (Jungle Action #7, 1973); W'Kabi's xenophobic tendencies about outsiders; Wakandans behaving in a xenophobic manner about other nations, wishing to remain isolationist; T'Challa undergoing a special ceremony to receive the Heart-Shaped Herb (Jungle Action #9, 1974)

Sal Velluto: co-creator of Erik Killmonger battling T'Challa for the Black Panther identity and succeeding (Black Panther #20, 2000); Wakanda's Panther God identified as the Egyptian goddess Bast; Erik Killmonger dressing in the Black Panther costume (Black Panther #21, 2000); Wakanda fearing how the outside world would react to them if their true level of technology were known (Black Panther #27, 2001); Black Panther almost killing Klaw before a crowd of startled onlookers (Black Panther #29, 2001); The Jabari dwelling in the snowy mountains of Wakanda (Black Panther #32, 2001); Panthers lying within the branches of an acacia tree (Black Panther #43, 2002)

Bob Almond: co-creator of Erik Killmonger battling T'Challa for the Black Panther identity and succeeding (Black Panther #20, 2000); Wakanda's Panther God identified as the Egyptian goddess Bast; Erik Killmonger dressing in the Black Panther costume (Black Panther #21, 2000); Wakanda fearing how the outside world would react to them if their true level of technology were known (Black Panther #27, 2001); Black Panther almost killing Klaw before a crowd of startled onlookers (Black Panther #29, 2001); The Jabari dwelling in the snowy mountains of Wakanda (Black Panther #32, 2001); Panthers lying within the branches of an acacia tree (Black Panther #43, 2002)

Reginald Hudlin: co-creator of Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister; T'Challa having to face challengers for his title as Black Panther every year; Shuri seeking the Black Panther mantle (Black Panther #2); The Dora Milaje wearing red & gold battlesuits and shaving their heads; The Dora Milaje wielding Vibranium spears as weapons (Black Panther #3, 2005); Erik Killmonger wearing a wooden African mask (Black Panther #37, 2008); Zuri dying while trying to defend T'Challa (Black Panther #5, 2009)

Roy Thomas: co-creator of M'Baku, a Wakandan sometimes-ally sometimes-foe of T'Challa who worships a Gorilla God represented by a giant statue and wears gorilla skins; W'Kabi, a Wakandan security officer, ally of T'Challa (Avengers #62, 1969); Ulysses Klaw spelling his name 'Klaue' (Fantastic Four Unlimited #1, 1993); of the name Colonel Klaue (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #39, 1967)

Ta-Nehisi Coates: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with silver necklace which enfolds his body using nanites (Black Panther #1, 2016); Djalia, a spiritual plane where Wakandan spirits reside; Black Panther's costumes absorbing energy into its Vibranium circuitry with a purplish glow, releasing that energy in destructive blasts (Black Panther #2, 2016)

Brian Stelfreeze: co-creator of Black Panther wearing a costume with silver necklace which enfolds his body using nanites (Black Panther #1, 2016); Djalia, a spiritual plane where Wakandan spirits reside; Black Panther's costumes absorbing energy into its Vibranium circuitry with a purplish glow, releasing that energy in destructive blasts (Black Panther #2, 2016)

John Romita Jr.: co-creator of Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister; T'Challa having to face challengers for his title as Black Panther every year; Shuri seeking the Black Panther mantle (Black Panther #2); The Dora Milaje wearing red & gold battlesuits and shaving their heads; The Dora Milaje wielding Vibranium spears as weapons (Black Panther #3, 2005)

Peter B. Gillis: co-creator of T'Challa undergoing mystical rites to commune with the Panther God (Black Panther #1, 1988); of Wakanda keeping agents in other countries; T'Challa involved with one of his foreign operatives prior to becoming king (Black Panther #2, 1988)

Denys Cowan: co-creator of T'Challa undergoing mystical rites to commune with the Panther God (Black Panther #1, 1988); of Wakanda keeping agents in other countries; T'Challa involved with one of his foreign operatives prior to becoming king (Black Panther #2, 1988)

John Buscema: co-creator of M'Baku, a Wakandan sometimes-ally sometimes-foe of T'Challa who worships a Gorilla God represented by a giant statue and wears gorilla skins; W'Kabi, a Wakandan security officer, ally of T'Challa (Avengers #62, 1969)

Billy Graham: co-creator of Wakanda possessing snow-tipped mountains around its border (Jungle Action #12, 1974); Erik Killmonger dying after battle with T'Challa (Jungle Action #17, 1975)

Norm Breyfogle: co-creator of T'Chaka serving as Black Panther during his rule of Wakanda; T'Chaka draping a tunic over his Black Panther costume (Black Panther #30, 2001)

Mark Gruenwald: creator of the Black Panther's technological corporation, the Wakanda Design Group (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #1, 1983)

Mark Bright: co-creator of Everett K. Ross being drawn into turmoil within Wakanda to help defend T'Challa's reign (Black Panther #11, 1999)

Robert E. Brown: co-creator of Erik Killmonger working side-by-side with Klaw to depose T'Challa (Over the Edge #6, 1996)

Ralph Macchio: co-creator of Erik Killmonger working side-by-side with Klaw to depose T'Challa (Over the Edge #6, 1996)

Gil Kane: co-creator of the Black Panther wrestling a rhino to the ground by grabbing its horn (Jungle Action #9, 1974)

Gene Colan: co-creator of Ramonda, T'Challa's mother, queen of Wakanda (Marvel Comics Presents #37, 1989)

Anthony Flamini: co-creator of M'Baku depicted as a diplomatic statesman (Civil War Battle Damage Report, 2007)

Jonathan Hickman: co-creator of T'Challa seeing the ghosts of previous Black Panthers (New Avengers #29, 2015)

Scott Kolins: co-creator of M'Baku depicted as a diplomatic statesman (Civil War Battle Damage Report, 2007)

Jim Calafiore: co-creator of the Jabari, a Wakandan tribe to which M'Baku belongs (Black Panther #34, 2001)

Steve Epting: co-creator of Bucky losing his arm from an injury in World War 2 (Captain America #11, 2005)

Ed Brubaker: co-creator of Bucky losing his arm from an injury in World War 2 (Captain America #11, 2005)

Kev Walker: co-creator of T'Challa seeing the ghosts of previous Black Panthers (New Avengers #29, 2015)

Francis Portela: co-creator of Erik Killmonger wearing a wooden African mask (Black Panther #37, 2008)

Joe Simon: co-creator of Bucky Barnes, a World War 2 veteran (Captain America Comics #1, 1941)

Tony Isabella: co-creator of Helmut Zemo, a criminal mastermind (Captain America #168, 1973)

Sal Buscema: co-creator of Helmut Zemo, a criminal mastermind (Captain America #168, 1973)

Dick Ayers: co-creator of the name Colonel Klaue (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #39, 1967)

Ken Lashley: co-creator of Zuri dying while trying to defend T'Challa (Black Panther #5, 2009)

Kenneth Rocafort: co-creator of Ayo, one of the shaven Dora Milaje (Ultimates #2, 2016)

Dave Hoover: Ulysses Klaw spelling his name 'Klaue' (Fantastic Four Unlimited #1, 1993)

Al Ewing: co-creator of Ayo, one of the shaven Dora Milaje (Ultimates #2, 2016)

Hail to the King: Black Panther review

All my friends who like M’Baku are so excited about this movie they’re going ape.

I love comic books; I love movies; I love Africa; I love the Black Panther. All of this being true, I went to see the newly-released Black Panther in the theater. Directed by Ryan Coogler, it’s the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe super hero film, this time out featuring Chadwick Boseman as comicdom’s first black super hero. Even though Boseman’s debut as Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War was well-received, who at the time would have predicted the movie would smash box office records and win over critics to an extent super hero films seldom do? How did I feel about the movie? Permit me to create some SPOILER SPACE.

Now then, I came to love the Black Panther because of the efforts of Christopher Priest, who wrote Black Panther from 1998-2003. Priest was (and is) an author who puts a lot of thought into his stories. Priest’s comics tend to be very complex and although he uses familiar super hero characters and familiar super hero plot beats, he enjoys subverting expectations and defying tropes.

On his blog, Priest cautioned fans such as myself:

“I am confident the film will be a huge hit with African American audiences and certainly with comic book (and comic book film) fans, leaving only Priest-specific Black Panther fans a bit disappointed…”

He’s not wrong.

The characters in the film are not Priest’s; his T’Challa is unflappable; his Everett K. Ross is bumbling, mildly racist and prone to histrionics; his Nakia could never truly love T’Challa because of the power imbalance between them and their relationship was something deeply wrong and problematic, not the stuff of cheap laughs; his Zuri was created as a parody of the wise old mentor; and while W’Kabi has always been pretty xenophobic, he’s also extremely loyal to T’Challa.

However, the needs of film versus serialized comic book are apt to be different. Fair enough.

Still, seeing Priest’s characters flattened into something safer, simpler and more formulaically Hollywood made all the other tropes too obvious for me. When Shuri mentioned Ross’ Air Force history in passing, it was a blatant set-up for some later scene where he would have to pilot a vehicle. It features another “villain seems to lose but it’s a set-up,” plot which was novel when Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight did it and getting banal 10 years on. Erik Killmonger was refashioned into T’Challa’s cousin to be yet another of those tiresome “like a brother” or “shadow self” villains you find in most super hero films. T’Challa’s father/mentor has a shadowy secret because of course he does, these are the 21st century super hero film tropes.

At this point you’re thinking I hate this movie; here comes my Priest-like subversion: no, I didn’t. I find it all very familiar and by-the-numbers, but I accept that super hero films work best when they adhere to formula – lack of pretense was one of the triumphs of last year’s Wonder Woman and I think it serves Black Panther as well; Black Panther wears its intentions on its sleeve.

A Black Panther film which drew a little deeper from Priest’s well would be something that would leave audiences speechless; all of those critics complaining that the film ends with yet another slugfest? Priest’s Black Panther villains are schemers who only resort to violence as a last-ditch effort after the complex scheme crumbles. Priest is unafraid to confront religion, politics, race and sex. Priest’s Killmonger once stopped to give a lengthy speech on how he would defeat Black Panther by using economics. The man’s audacious.

Coogler’s Black Panther is a simple film, not as interested in politics as Priest. Part of what pushes it higher than most movies of its ilk is Michael B. Jordan’s turn as Killmonger. The film’s interpretation of Killmonger certainly feels closer to the character’s original stories under Don McGregor than those of Priest. Further, Killmonger is permitted to have a sound, reasonable argument to make about Wakanda withholding its superior technologies from a world which could sorely use them; I mean, he can only envision using that technology to wage war, but that’s keeping with his tunnel vision. Killmonger’s also helped simply by being portrayed by Jordan, who is incredibly charismatic (I was actually disappointed when I heard he’d be Killmonger simply because I’d rather root for him as a hero).

But the issue Killmonger raises is an important one – when Reginald Hudlin revealed in the comics that Wakanda had cured cancer but wouldn’t share it with the world, it was an uncomfortable revelation. Sure, they’d always been isolationist and a little xenophobic, but withholding medical data seemed particularly crude. And this material plays particularly well today if Wakanda is used as a placeholder for the contemporaneous United States, which is itself currently going through a streak of isolationism and xenophobia. The USA has been viewed as THE world leader and establishing Wakanda as the true number one super power of the Marvel Universe places similar difficult questions for their society.

I suppose my biggest problem with the film is Nakia; after all, she's a villain in the comics and I don't think I can get behind her as a heroic figure. But even confined to the world of the film she doesn't click for me; throughout the picture she speaks about her conviction that the world needs Wakanda's help but everyone brushes her off; surely when Killmonger seizes power she should at least be momentarily in his thrall? After all, he's given voice to the single most important issue she holds dear. Instead, Nakia turns on Killmonger the moment T'Challa loses his fight. (Of course, Nakia working with Killmonger would also be great because they were allies in the comics)

There’s a lot of affection for the comics in this film - in fact, more than I’m used to seeing; it is not at all ashamed of its roots, unlike so many of Marvel’s film heroes. After an introductory narration the picture kept exposition down pretty well, simply placing the characters and environment on the screen and trusting the audience to keep up.

The picture is remarkably well-cast (I didn’t hear until a week before release that Daniel Kaluuya was in it). Winston Duke, who I hadn’t heard of before, appears to have had the time of his life as M’Baku, who is so much more fun in this picture than his comic book counterpart is normally permitted to be. I’m a little disappointed that the T’Challa in this picture isn’t the brilliant scientist he is in the comics, but giving the science material to his sister Shuri at least gives that character a function in the story (even though comics’ Shuri was more of a fighter than a thinker). Andy Serkis was admirably looney as Klaw.

Part of what I’ve enjoyed about this crazy shared universe film world Marvel’s been running for the last decade is that you don’t have to wait for the film’s protagonist to get their own sequel before seeing them again. So, we’ll be seeing Chadwick Boseman as the Black Panther again later this year via Avengers: Infinity War. And I’ll see you then.

Creator credits for this movie coming tomorrow

"And now we must reckon with what we have done to our own blood." Black Panther #1 review

Since I quit working for Marvel in 2012 I've mostly kept my distance from their comics (for a variety of reasons) but occasionally I do check in on some titles. Such a comic is the new Black Panther by writer Ta-Nehisi Coates and artist Brian Stelfreeze. The series has, no doubt, come into being because the Black Panther is making his live-action debut this month in Captain America: Civil War, but it's also receiving a lot of attention because Coates is a noted journalist from the Atlantic; in the mere two years I've been reading the Atlantic I've certainly come to look forward to his essays. Coates has thus become the third black man to serve as the ongoing author of comicdom's first black super hero, the Black Panther - following in the footsteps of Christopher Priest (1998-2003) and Reginald Hudlin (2005-2009); further, artist Stelfreeze is likewise black, him being an artist whom Priest long wished he could have had as a collaborator on his own series. As I enjoyed Priest's Black Panther in part for its political side, from Coates' background I anticipated a similar interest in playing with politics.

I seem unable to keep from thinking of Priest's Black Panther - it was certainly one of my favourite comic series. Like Priest, Coates' first issue features T'Challa and his Dora Milaje bodyguards and a plot against T'Challa which originates from a neighbouring state and is fomented by a manipulator who tries to turn his people against him; even the Kimoyo technology is back. Whereas Priest's book was told through the eyes of the buffoonish Everett K. Ross (himself debuting in Captain America: Civil War but missing from Coates' pages), Coates' story is told primarily through T'Challa's perspective, something which goes against Priest's own belief that T'Challa should be somewhat inscrutable, kept remote from the audience.

Whereas Hudlin set out immediately to retcon much of T'Challa's world, Coates seems willing to play with the world he's been handed; Wakanda's enemy Niganda from the Hudlin run is brought back, T'Challa's mother Ramonda from Don MacGregor's work is given a proper reintroduction, T'Challa is dealing with the reprecussions of various recent events in other comics and the Dora Milaje - who were present only in the background of Hudlin's work - are again part of the series narrative. As teenage "prospective brides" for T'Challa, Priest had always intended them to be somewhat probelmatic characters, with one of his initial Dora Milaje - Nakia - developing a terrible obsession for T'Challa. Here, the Dora Milaje are called Aneka and Ayo; having recently killed a lecherous chieftain, Aneka is sentenced to death, but Ayo liberates her. It also appears that the duo are lovers.

Aneka and Ayo carry much of this comic because T'Challa is - despite providing a monologue of his thoughts - not much of a protagonist. In his day, Priest had to deal with fans' impatience at how T'Challa would seem to be running behind on the villain's actions, slow to react, when in actuality Priest always considered T'Challa as hyper-competant and several steps ahead of the villains, but it would often take 3-4 issues before T'Challa would spring his carefully-laid plans. Priest had in part based his interpretation as a reaction against the work of Don MacGregor, whose T'Challa seemed to be constantly losing fights and always lagging behind his enemies' plots. It's hard to know from one issue where Coates is bringing T'Challa, but as the hero's inner thoughts are maade available here I sense rather more MacGregor than Priest; throughout this issue T'Challa is shown mourning the death of his sister, brooding over recent battles, unable to confront the person menacing Wakanda, unable to intervene in the Dora Milaje matter and denounced by his own subjects. Although I trust T'Challa to claim some form of eventual triumph, if this is the character's opening position it's hard to imagine his life getting much better in the coming story. Overall, T'Challa is depressed; what a bummer.

While Priest withheld the identity of the person (Achebe) manipulating events against T'Challa until his third issue, Coates identifies the person responsible in this issue. And while the former villain used political theater to help sway opinion, this latter villain uses mind control powers, which is certainly in-keeping with the Marvel Universe setting, but a heck of a lot less interesting politically. Although Coates is new to the comic book form, he seems to understand many of the tricks used by today's popular super hero creators, such as the unwillingness to render a story with a beginning, middle and end; this comic is all middle and thus not satisfying as an individual unit of entertainment. No doubt the collected edition of this story will be the best way to judge his future in comics - I mean, assuming he wants a career in comics.

Comic books of 2011: the good

In the 1990s, I was an avid fan of Siskel & Ebert's television program, watching every broadcast. I'd hoped to open this post with a particular clip, but sadly, I can't locate it on Youtube.

This moment has always stuck with me: the duo were reviewing the film Gamera: Guardian of the Universe; Ebert liked it, Siskel did not. Siskel covered the film first and closed off his review by saying he couldn't recommend the movie and instead suggested viewers seek out the original Godzilla, King of the Monsters from 1956. Ebert was almost livid in his reaction, asking Siskel (words to this effect) "If we're just going to recommend old movies, why don't you and I stay home all year rewatching Citizen Kane?"

In several of my discussions about the current state of comic books over at Colin Smith's blog, he and I have bandied words to the effect of "Kirby knew how to do this," "Toth would have done it right," "Wood forgot more than most artists have ever known," etc. I think all we mean to do is point to ready examples of clean, inventive comic book storytelling. The danger of such statements is you begin to imply comic books of the past are inherantly superior to what's being produced today.

It would be very easy to stop reading new comic books. If I spent the rest of my life just reading old stories by Kirby, Toth, Wood, Colan, Williamson, Krigstein, Maneely, Kurtzmann, Cole, Eisner, Barks, Kelly, Frazetta and Everett, I think I would be reasonably happy (and would have plenty to enjoy, even at the pace I take in comics). However, I'd be allowing my tastes to stagnate, denying myself the pleasures found in contemporary works which communicate how people living today feel about the world around them.

Thus, I've remained with contemporary comic books. I've taken some risks on new material and untested talent which haven't paid off, but I've also happened across new works which are really meaningful to me, entertaining me, bolstering my imagination, encouraging me to open my mind.

Therefore, here are the contemporary comic books of 2011 which I'm pleased to recommend:

Given how I complained about storytelling in comics yesterday, I feel I should begin with a series which wears brilliant storytelling like a glove: Usagi Yojimbo. The advantage Usagi has, of course, is that Stan Sakai is responsible for everything on the page - plot, script, art and letters. I'm very nearly completely caught up with Usagi now and it's a rewarding book, telling stories today which are as solid as those 20 years ago. It's particularly great to see how the cast of characters develop over time, revealing new layers and altering their connections to each other.

On a very similar wavelength is Sergio Aragones Funnies, which is likewise the brainchild of one man, Sergio Aragones. As I've said before, while I enjoy Sergio's gag cartoons and humorous stories (even the occasional dramatic tale), what I most enjoy are his biographical pieces. The most recent issue (#6) recalled an episode from his childhood and even though it's not life-altering or momentous (he and a friend once accidentally boarded a moving freight train), it's easy to see why it's remained etched in his memory; now it's etched on paper. I suppose what I really enjoy in Sergio is his openess and honesty.

Comic Book Comics completed its 6-issue run in 2011, but it could have easily kept going another 6 issues. Or 12. Or 18. It amazes me whenever I find a piece of information on comic book history I was previously unaware of. I wish Comic Book Comics had found the space to cover other turning points like the foundation of Image Comics, the Marvel bankruptcy or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles saga, but I'll treasure all of what they did deliver. Learning about comics history with Comic Book Comics is like having the stories told to you by a close friend.

Although I'm an all-around Marvel Comics guru, I don't care much for Daredevil. It's a serious blindspot in my mastery of Marvel - there are huge chunks of Daredevil I've never read (not even all of Miller), even though there are five Daredevil comics I'd place on my all-time favourite list. I've never really warmed up to protagonist Matt Murdock and the deeply depressing life he leads, but Mark Waid may yet change my way of thinking. Thanks to his collaborators, Marcos Martin and Paolo Rivera, he's turned in one of the most beautiful super hero comics I've seen in years; the amount of love and craft on every page is invigorating, especially in how Murdock's radar senses are brought to life by sound effects. In most super hero comics, sound effects seem to be workmanlike at best; Daredevil uses sound effects in ways I normally only find in indie comics, such as Matt Murdock dodging bullets represented by sound effects (above). Daredevil is the super hero book I most anticipate - quite a reversal!

Speaking of Daredevil, someone had the bright idea to have the Black Panther take over Daredevil's job as defender of Hell's Kitchen in Black Panther: the Man Without Fear/Most Dangerous Man Alive. I haven't put any real stock into Black Panther since Christopher Priest left the franchise and this series was saddled with depriving the hero of his supporting cast, setting and special weapons while putting him into Daredevil's setting. To top it off, writer David Liss is a newcomer to comic books, being an import from the world of prose. You wouldn't expect Black Panther to work, and yet... it's both true and liberating to the character. Removing the Black Panther's special weapons, army of loyal allies and political power scales him back down to a point where he can actually lose; what's great then is that he gets to display new strengths, relying on his initiative and reflexes to get past problems. To top it off, it's hopeful.

In Black Panther's Fear Itself tie-in, the Hate-Monger uses his emotion-altering powers to inflame locals, fanning racism to turn them against the Black Panther. However, the Hate-Monger's most ardently racist supporter - Chambliss - isn't even under the man's power. When the crisis is averted, Chambliss goes to the Panther asking to make amends; he's then made a janitor in the Panther's diner. So yes, we all get a good laugh at the racist, but at the same time, the Panther is extending a second chance to him; very cool and all too rare. Finally, most of the series has boasted the art of Francesco Francavilla, who's just been exploding on the scene at various titles (Detective Comics, Captain America & Bucky); he's one to watch, for sure.

It probably also helps David Liss that his mini-series Mystery Men was illustrated by Patrick Zircher. It flew under most people's radar, but as a 1930s super hero tale it was well-crafted and told at a breakneck pace. Virtually every character in Mystery Men was created by Liss for the series, but in just five issues he makes his characters come to life, including some of the background characters met along the way. Somehow Liss and Zircher managed to tell an alternate history epic where Ayn Rand helped conspire in the Lindbergh baby kidnapping; that's chutzpah, there.

Xombi lasted a mere six issues; six issues of glorious insanity. Big, bold imaginative ideas by John Rozum with art to match by Frazer Irving. Everyone reading Xombi realized it couldn't last, but I for one was glad they made the effort. Even with no experience of the original 1990s version of the comic and despite the dense text, I accepted Xombi on its terms and its bizarre ideas were as much charming as usettling. More about Xombi here.

Finally, who would have thought Journey into Mystery would work its way into our hearts? It became a darling of comic book fans almost immediately, with its adventures of a child-sized Loki trying to save Asgard and his brother Thor by playing tricks on everyone. Every issue has held so much deft plotting and characterization by Kieron Gillen, it's a joy to behold. Young Loki's desire to good by committing little evils creates an interesting balance in the book, where we readers don't want Loki to fail, but fear his solutions will only increase the misery of others.