Black Panther #1
I have no images, but you can read the whole issue online for free (and its all legal) here.
The Black Panther is a really cool character, and a great concept. Christopher Priest had a great run recently, despite it ending prematurely and with quite a few plot threads hanging.
This new author, Reginald Hudlin, apparently writes screenplays, not comic books, but he shows that he has a good feel for the form. (Either that, or artist John Romita, Jr. is covering for him nicely.)
As far as continuity goes, this seems to be a "return to the roots" - a year one type tale, as most of the events seem to take place before the Black Panther appeared on the scene lo those many years ago in 1966 in Fantastic Four #52.
There's a lot to recommend here. The history of Wakanda (the fictional African country the Black Panther rules over) gets a nice fleshing out and the heritage of the Black Panther is deepened. And I find it totally believable that the previous Black Panther could have kicked Captain America's butt. I may be patriotic, but in comic books, the Panther is more powerful than just some guy who gets his powers from the Super Soldier serum.
However, there's a lot to not recommend as well. The first part takes place in 5th century A.D. and features African tribesman who say things like "stay cool!" Perhaps the writer needs to read Ursula K. LeGuin's essay "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie." {At least the language was not as bad as "Young Ancient One" from the short lived Epic anthology, where Doctor Strange's mentor fights villains in ancient Tibet and says things like "Bite Me!").
Beyond that however, the writer apparently hates the Bush administration and considers Condi Rice a race traitor. Much of the issue is taken up with deliberation among the Bush cabinet (or a facsimile, as Condi is called "Dondi") trying to cook up a reason to invade Wakanda so that Halliburton can drill for oil there.
And that's where the whole thing loses its credibility. Instead of creating realistic characters with complex motivations (possible and desirable in comics) or at the very least treat the characters as human beings, the writer has decided to create unfair caricatures.
If your a liberal, you might think he's right on. Speaking as a conservative not totally happy with the Bush administration, I have to say: Get over it. The people involved are humans, with complex motivations. Caricatures with simplistic motivations only exist in propaganda and conspiracy theories. With his portrayal of the White House, the writer (Reginald Hudlin) has declared his intention to write propaganda rather than entertainment or art (yes, comics can be artistic).
SO, if you want to read fairly well written, excellently drawn and exciting propaganda, this is the comic for you. If you want a well told tale, go elsewhere. (I recommend Ultimate Iron Man).
The Black Panther is a really cool character, and a great concept. Christopher Priest had a great run recently, despite it ending prematurely and with quite a few plot threads hanging.
This new author, Reginald Hudlin, apparently writes screenplays, not comic books, but he shows that he has a good feel for the form. (Either that, or artist John Romita, Jr. is covering for him nicely.)
As far as continuity goes, this seems to be a "return to the roots" - a year one type tale, as most of the events seem to take place before the Black Panther appeared on the scene lo those many years ago in 1966 in Fantastic Four #52.
There's a lot to recommend here. The history of Wakanda (the fictional African country the Black Panther rules over) gets a nice fleshing out and the heritage of the Black Panther is deepened. And I find it totally believable that the previous Black Panther could have kicked Captain America's butt. I may be patriotic, but in comic books, the Panther is more powerful than just some guy who gets his powers from the Super Soldier serum.
However, there's a lot to not recommend as well. The first part takes place in 5th century A.D. and features African tribesman who say things like "stay cool!" Perhaps the writer needs to read Ursula K. LeGuin's essay "From Elfland to Poughkeepsie." {At least the language was not as bad as "Young Ancient One" from the short lived Epic anthology, where Doctor Strange's mentor fights villains in ancient Tibet and says things like "Bite Me!").
Beyond that however, the writer apparently hates the Bush administration and considers Condi Rice a race traitor. Much of the issue is taken up with deliberation among the Bush cabinet (or a facsimile, as Condi is called "Dondi") trying to cook up a reason to invade Wakanda so that Halliburton can drill for oil there.
And that's where the whole thing loses its credibility. Instead of creating realistic characters with complex motivations (possible and desirable in comics) or at the very least treat the characters as human beings, the writer has decided to create unfair caricatures.
If your a liberal, you might think he's right on. Speaking as a conservative not totally happy with the Bush administration, I have to say: Get over it. The people involved are humans, with complex motivations. Caricatures with simplistic motivations only exist in propaganda and conspiracy theories. With his portrayal of the White House, the writer (Reginald Hudlin) has declared his intention to write propaganda rather than entertainment or art (yes, comics can be artistic).
SO, if you want to read fairly well written, excellently drawn and exciting propaganda, this is the comic for you. If you want a well told tale, go elsewhere. (I recommend Ultimate Iron Man).
posted by John Phelan at
5:11 PM
2 Comments:
Assuming that this is the proper Black Panther entry (and I opened this comment window so long ago it's hard to recall) I have to inform you that Suspension of Disbelief posted an entry about why Hudlin's ideas for Wakandan history and technological advancement are total bullcrap.
http://comicfacts.blogspot.com/2005/08/guns-germs-and-vibranium.html
Simply put, one does not maintain a practice of isolationism and constant technological advancement at the same time. It's impossible.
Oh, and go read Apologies Demanded, my weblog. Now. Make links to it. many links. boost my hit count.
Heck, I'll link to yours... regardless of your actions.
By
Chris Arndt, at 11:37 PM
Did you know that Wesly Snipes was going to do a black panter movie, but, unhappy with the development, he left for blade instead?
By
genie junkie, at 1:25 PM
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