The recent passing of Carl Weathers had a major impact on myself. As he passed away only a few days after my uncle died and they just so happen to be the same age when they did.  These two men could not be further apart in everything else.  As my uncle was a world traveler and lifetime bachelor.

Carl Weathers on the other hand, was a family man , former football player and world renowned actor. He was one of the first people I saw onscreen and actually saw myself. As he represented what I thought a superhero is supposed to look like , in fact, it would have been reasonable to believe that if they made Black Panther before the MCU, he would have been a frontrunner. In the debut issue of Ultimate Black Panther,  T’Challa faces off the new version of Moon Knight, who seeks to expand their footprint in Africa, in the wake of Ultimate Invasion.

We are taken to West Africa, where Ra and Khonshu has taken another village on their rampage across the African continent,  as two spies from Wakanda  witness the carnage and bring back the news to T’Challa.  T’Challa awakens in the royal palace, as nightmares haunt his sleep, which leads to seek his father, T’Chaka’s counsel.  He advises him to visit the Temple of the Vodou-Khan, where the Matron warns of an outside threat, which is only confirmed by his spies’ reports, but he remains steadfast until he knows war becomes eminent.  Meanwhile, Shur, waits begrudgingly as she wants step into action as well as the Dora Milaje,  while elsewhere on the continent, Killmonger springs into action to defend another village of innocent lives.  By the issue’s end, one of Khnonshu’s radicals disrupt a royal procession, and kills someone close ot T’Challa, igniting the war he was scared of.

Overall, Ultimate Black Panther #1 is a tense retelling of  T’Challa’s rise as Black Panther, one which shows his might as king and superhero. The story by Hill is exciting. The art by the creative team is beautiful. Altogether, a story that shows the Black Panther in  a way we have not seen since Christopher Priest. Altogether, a story that shows a world where walls do not stop the barbarians at the gate but gives them another border to cross.

Story: Bryan Edward Hill Art: Stefano Caselli
Color: David Curiel Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Kindle