Scan barcode
unladylike's review against another edition
5.0
Coates has really found his stride by now, and, after establishing intricate political and spiritual turmoil in and around Wakanda for the past several years, he has now introduced a totally new Empire spanning at least 5 galaxies!
This book pretty much discards anything you thought was happening in the world of Black Panther as we know it (or DOES IT?!!?). The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is a platform for telling an allegory about imperialism and colonization. The various classes of ship names reference historical figures such as Mansa Musa (the ruler of Mali from the early 1300s who remains the wealthiest person in history!), François Mackandal and the Maroons (who together orchestrated "the only successful revolt by black slaves in history" - the Haitian Revolution of 1791), Shaka Zulu (who is credited with having unified the clans of southern Africa more than anyone else, through the brutal militarizing and expansion of the Zulus), and probably several others I didn't pick up.
I have a couple theories about the underlying cause of this whole situation, and whether or not it's A. all in T'Challa's head, B. in Earth 616 or another parallel dimension of the multi-verse, C. a sinister plot to take several key figures out of play in the Wakanda we know, or something else. I won't bother sharing them here, because I'd rather just wait for the second volume of this arc to come out and read it myself!
This book pretty much discards anything you thought was happening in the world of Black Panther as we know it (or DOES IT?!!?). The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is a platform for telling an allegory about imperialism and colonization. The various classes of ship names reference historical figures such as Mansa Musa (the ruler of Mali from the early 1300s who remains the wealthiest person in history!), François Mackandal and the Maroons (who together orchestrated "the only successful revolt by black slaves in history" - the Haitian Revolution of 1791), Shaka Zulu (who is credited with having unified the clans of southern Africa more than anyone else, through the brutal militarizing and expansion of the Zulus), and probably several others I didn't pick up.
I have a couple theories about the underlying cause of this whole situation, and whether or not it's A. all in T'Challa's head, B. in Earth 616 or another parallel dimension of the multi-verse, C. a sinister plot to take several key figures out of play in the Wakanda we know, or something else. I won't bother sharing them here, because I'd rather just wait for the second volume of this arc to come out and read it myself!
thematinee's review against another edition
4.0
I really hope that TNC’s run on Black Panther is one day collected in one big beautiful volume
magaramach's review against another edition
5.0
Ta-Nehisi Coates continues to be amazing. The beauty of his writing: memories and cultures and names lost as a metaphor for slavery stealing these things from African-Americans, how T’Challa has become a legend, his adventures immortalized,
the sick irony in Wakanda, the unconquered country meant as a utopia for Black people, becoming the villains, the spacers and genociders themselves. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
I had problems earlier with how T’Challa was written: in the first issues, trying to hold onto a country that didn’t want him, he seemed more like the villain than the hero we recognize. But here: this is T’Challa at his finest. Nakia and M’Baku and new characters like Taku and Dauod are good, but no one stands out like he does.
Except for maybe N’Jadaka: the issue where he talks to the panther goddess Bast was my favourite. A fantastic comic.
the sick irony in Wakanda, the unconquered country meant as a utopia for Black people, becoming the villains, the spacers and genociders themselves. I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
I had problems earlier with how T’Challa was written: in the first issues, trying to hold onto a country that didn’t want him, he seemed more like the villain than the hero we recognize. But here: this is T’Challa at his finest. Nakia and M’Baku and new characters like Taku and Dauod are good, but no one stands out like he does.
Except for maybe N’Jadaka: the issue where he talks to the panther goddess Bast was my favourite. A fantastic comic.
joshgauthier's review against another edition
3.0
With effective storytelling and dramatic art, this newest installment in Coates's run of Black Panther carries on his version of the character while also taking some radically new directions. At the same time, the slave-to-savior narrative has been done before, and this volume doesn't bring much new to the idea. Additionally, with no clear reason for the drastic change in direction for this series, it feels a little odd to effectively reboot the story line in this way. Regardless, I'll still see where it goes next.
elemomi's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
tallulahchanel's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
chrisburton's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
kavinay's review against another edition
5.0
I was disappointed by Coates' original run on Black Panther. It felt like he was suffocating under the weight of so much continuity baggage and just couldn't get out of his own way to tell an engaging story or even hit upon a theme with any force.
In contrast, what a brilliant idea the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is! It does two magical things right off the top: clear the deck of Marvel canon and allow Coates to really create and explore a setting that's baked-in with a lot of the ideas of his political work.
Empire, Imperialism, Colonization. These are all issues that are difficult to do with a contemporary Black Panther without being really on the nose. That Coates' Afro-future turns this on it's head, with Wakanda as the conquerors for "pre-emptive peace," is just so much the more intriguing.
Also, whereas previous BP books were basically monologues with little to advance the plot, Coates cleverly relies on Acuña's stellar art for kinetic panels that convey so much action and emotion clearly and effectively.
BTW, holy crap, a Venom tie-in that isn't crap!
A really exciting start. I genuinely hope this setting gets a long and fruitful run.
In contrast, what a brilliant idea the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is! It does two magical things right off the top: clear the deck of Marvel canon and allow Coates to really create and explore a setting that's baked-in with a lot of the ideas of his political work.
Empire, Imperialism, Colonization. These are all issues that are difficult to do with a contemporary Black Panther without being really on the nose. That Coates' Afro-future turns this on it's head, with Wakanda as the conquerors for "pre-emptive peace," is just so much the more intriguing.
Also, whereas previous BP books were basically monologues with little to advance the plot, Coates cleverly relies on Acuña's stellar art for kinetic panels that convey so much action and emotion clearly and effectively.
BTW, holy crap, a Venom tie-in that isn't crap!
A really exciting start. I genuinely hope this setting gets a long and fruitful run.