Marvel Read-Through: Panther’s Rage
The Black Panther has become one of Marvel’s most recognizable heroes over the past few years, mainly due to his ultra-successful solo film. While Wakanda and T’Challa may have only recently become household names, they have always played a large role in Marvel comics. T’Challa has been a guest star in Fantastic Four and has landed a spot on the Avengers roster, operating mainly in America as part of a team. Up until now, that is. My latest read, the classic Panther’s Rage, places T’Challa back in his homeland as he embarks on an epic journey in a war against Erik Killmonger.
But before I get into my thoughts on the first solo Black Panther story ever, I had to check in on the character as he guest stars in a Captain America arc wherein he brings Falcon to Wakanda and grants him his wings. Falcon didn’t really have anything that made him standout in terms of powers or abilities, mainly because he originally did not have wings attached to his suit. While I felt this every time he showed up, it seems Sam Wilson did as well since he decides to take a break from fighting crime alongside Cap so he can find someway to make himself standout in the ever-growing crowd of superheroes. T’Challa takes him to Wakanda and makes him a new suit complete with his signature wings. Finally the Falcon can fly! The story was notable for Falcon getting his wings, but wasn’t much in the way of being a standout arc. It was very standard mid-70s stuff and I really only read it to see Falcon become the character he is known to be.
And now it was time for me to read Black Panther’s first solo series. The story goes that Marvel proofreader Don McGregor pointed out that the Jungle Action title, focusing on reprints of stories from the 1950s featuring white jungle adventurers, was racist and that they need a black jungle character. He was then asked to write for the title and feature Black Panther in a starring role. With no writing experience, McGregor took the job and he knocked it out of the park, penning what is regarded as the first graphic novel, Panther’s Rage. A 13-part epic detailing T’Challa’s return to Wakanda and subsequent war with Killmonger, who seeks to usurp the throne from a leader he feels has abandoned his people, this is one of the best comics I have ever read. I loved it so much I’ve even looked into buying a Trade Paperback of it so I can read it over and over whenever I want.
This entire arc was like nothing I had seen before in this journey through Marvel history. It contained dense, almost poetic, narration that was captivating to read. McGregor’s prose was beautiful, and it is some of the best writing I have ever come across in any medium, not just comics. It was mature and adult-oriented with a compelling story and a plethora of interesting characters. T’Challa spends most of the novel travelling through Wakanda, facing off against Killmonger’s army of wacky villains and overcoming obstacles both mental and physical until he finally gets a chance to face off against Killmonger himself and save Wakanda from a murderous war-mongering threat. The cast of characters, from T’Challa’s friends and colleagues to Killmonger’s henchman were all distinct and well-written. The villains all got their moment to shine and the good guys all had fully-fleshed out arcs. Beyond just the skills of McGregor’s writing from a language perspective, he knows how to write characters and that only made this even more pleasurable to read.
I have to mention the mental journey that T’Challa goes through as he struggles to make his way across Wakanda and defeat Killmonger’s subordinates. This wasn’t just a regular tale of good vs. evil, of a superhero defeating a supervilain, no it was a tale of overcoming one’s self-doubts and insecurities, of mind over matter, of triumph over fear. McGregor’s narration as opposed to thought bubbles made this stand out. It was an inspiring story and it defines T’Challa as a character.
And of course, the art needs to be talked about. The first few issues were drawn by Rich Buckler who then handed the job over to William Graham Jr. and they both crushed it. They use creative layouts that just made this book so enjoyable to look at and made it such a different read than a standard comic. It was almost experimental in its layouts. The character designs, especially of the villains, were all very unique and the different terrains and lands were distinct from each other. It was just an all-around great effort from both the writing and art. There is nothing negative I can say about this book.
I could go on and on praising Panther’s Rage. It has no faults. Well, maybe Killmonger’s design is kind of silly and dated (see below), but that doesn’t take away from this being a total 10/10 comic. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Black Panther. This is the type of stuff I’m looking for on this read-through, I want to find the best of the best of Marvel history and Panther’s Rage surely is the best.
Issues Read:
Captain America #169–171
Jungle Action #6–18
Favorite issue: It’s tough to pick since Panther’s Rage really is one complete story and not 13 separate issues but I think #13 because I loved the part of the story where T’Challa braves the elements in the Land of the Chilling Mist
