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mediaevalmuse 's review for:
Black Panther, Vol. 1: A Nation Under Our Feet, Book 1
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I feel like I picked this comic up at a very appropriate time. With the US election still being a raw wound, the conflict in this book is even more pertinent to our political landscape. But even without this backdrop, I think this comic is a much needed one in the current industry. For years, the question of the morality of Wakanda’s monarchy has been up in the air, and Coates takes this issue up in a collection that seems to be just gearing up.
Things I Liked
1. Politics: As much as we love Black Panther/T’Challa, his role as a king (rather than an elected official) has always been somewhat of a contention. In this book, Coates effectively communicates the anxieties surrounding monarchy and brings up some legitimate complaints about a government that’s in the control of a single figure.
2. Art: Brian Stelfreeze’s art is astounding. I love the use of silhouettes and the techiness of the armor. I’m also a fan of the look of Wakandan dress.
3. Philosophy: T’Challa does a lot of philosophizing in this volume, musing on the nature of kingship and power. I’m interested in these kinds of questions in my professional career, so it was interesting to read them in a superhero comic.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Exposition: There’s not a whole lot that actually happens in this volume. Rather, it feels more like a build-up or a groundwork for later issues. It also doesn’t help that this collection is rather short (only 4 issues), so it feels less like a story arc and more like a prequel to something else.
2. Pace/Narrative Fluidity: The narrative seems to skip around a lot, so we move rather fast through the story. I would have preferred more slow, deliberate storytelling and more connections between scenes. It also doesn’t help that this comic alludes to past comics, so new readers may want to read up on their Black Panther stories rather than come into this one cold.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in Black Panther/T’Challa, monarchies/government, democracy, uprisings/revolutions, and questions about the nature of power and kingship.
Things I Liked
1. Politics: As much as we love Black Panther/T’Challa, his role as a king (rather than an elected official) has always been somewhat of a contention. In this book, Coates effectively communicates the anxieties surrounding monarchy and brings up some legitimate complaints about a government that’s in the control of a single figure.
2. Art: Brian Stelfreeze’s art is astounding. I love the use of silhouettes and the techiness of the armor. I’m also a fan of the look of Wakandan dress.
3. Philosophy: T’Challa does a lot of philosophizing in this volume, musing on the nature of kingship and power. I’m interested in these kinds of questions in my professional career, so it was interesting to read them in a superhero comic.
Things I Didn’t Like
1. Exposition: There’s not a whole lot that actually happens in this volume. Rather, it feels more like a build-up or a groundwork for later issues. It also doesn’t help that this collection is rather short (only 4 issues), so it feels less like a story arc and more like a prequel to something else.
2. Pace/Narrative Fluidity: The narrative seems to skip around a lot, so we move rather fast through the story. I would have preferred more slow, deliberate storytelling and more connections between scenes. It also doesn’t help that this comic alludes to past comics, so new readers may want to read up on their Black Panther stories rather than come into this one cold.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in Black Panther/T’Challa, monarchies/government, democracy, uprisings/revolutions, and questions about the nature of power and kingship.