Black Panther #21 - Mobile Edition

Marvel Comics
Black Panther #21
By Hervé St-Louis
November 5, 2006 - 11:25

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Reginald Hudlin
Penciller(s): Manuel Garcia
Inker(s): Jay Leisten

In this issue the royal couple of Wakanda visits Namor the Submariner and instead of indulging in a fight where the good guys make up and decide to defeat the villain afterward, they talk, argue, tell jokes and then decide to ban together under the leadership of the Black Panther to stop the pro registration camp in the American Civil War. There’s also a flashback of the first meeting of the Black Panther’s grandfather and the Submariner.

It’s issues such as this one that cements Hudlin as one of the best writers in the comic book industry. He understands super heroes and politics and knows how to weld them together. Here, the Submariner plays Iago to Black Panther’s Othello’s. Namor advises, cajoles, compliments and treats Storm as his equal, while accepting a backseat in the upcoming conflict. Namor is not known for being a strategist, but here he is a smart man and Black Panther falls into his trap. It’s wonderful.

Even Storm plays her part by being the conscientious objector, but in private, supports Namor 100%. Which such supportive counsels, how could the Black Panther not decide to lead the uprising against Reed Richard and Tony Stark.

From the beginning, I was wondering why the other powers feared the American Government and the pro registration forces so much. Hudlin provides the answer and once and for all, it is believable. But only a writer with a fine understanding of balance of power could have schemed a plot like this. The Civil war was already a great epic, and the Black Panther’s entry will enhance this event. Those who long for the machinations of the old Black Panther series will find more intrigues in this issue, than they bargained for.

The artwork is subtle and effective. I don’t like Garcia’s facial for Namor and Storm, but these are light critics in light of the work done in this issue. He captures the Invaders’ segment with finesse and can draw an African desert as well as the sunken city of Atlantis.

10/10

Black Panther #20