Black Panther #15 - Mobile Edition

Marvel Comics
Black Panther #15
By Hervé St-Louis
June 3, 2006 - 18:14

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Reginald Hudlin
Penciller(s): Scot Eaton
Inker(s): Klaus Janson
Cover Artist(s): Leinil Francis Yu

The entire issue is about the Black Panther asking the X-Men's Storm to marry him and become the new Queen of Wakanda. However, some rogue Arabian leader that look a lot like Saddam Hussein sends a new champion, the Arabian Knight to wreck the Black Panther's proposal and dispose of Storm. Will the Arabian Knight succeed where countless have failed before?

This issue was hilarious. The Arabian Knight and the motive of his masters are really wacky. Are Muslims still trying to convert Africa? Hudlin has touched on the theme of world religions trying to recruit in Africa before. Seems like he's obsessed by the idea and the colonialism angle. The pairing of Storm and the Black Panther is growing on me and although much of it sounds like retroactive continuity, Hudlin's portrayal of the Wakandan people and the queen mother captivating. One can feel the soul of the people of Wakanda and their reactions to the announced engagement.

The artwork is great. I'll even say it suits the series better than John Romita's while not straying to far from it. That's thanks to Klaus Janson's brilliant inking who makes any artist look great. This series is extremely satisfying and a good read.