REVIEW: Black Panther #25
- WRITER
- Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Artist
- Brian Stelfreeze, Daniel Acuña
- Letterer
- VC's Joe Sabino
- Cover Artist
- Daniel Acuna
- Publisher
- Marvel Comics
- Price
- 5.99
- Release Date
- 2021-05-25
- Colorist
- Laura Martin, Daniel Acuña
Black Panther #25 marks the final issue of famed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates' five-year tenure steering the King of Wakanda's solo series. Coates' began writing Black Panther all the way back in 2016, and since then, his run has been praised as a character-defining chapter in King T'Challa's 50+ year history. With phenomenal art from Daniel Acuña and Brian Stelfreeze, and intense, impressive color work from Laura Martin and Daniel Acuña, the finale of Black Panther is a spectacle that's as thoughtful as it is stunning.
Black Panther #25, while every bit a worthy final chapter to Coates' Black Panther run, those jumping into the finale blind should not expect the easiest jumping-on point. The issue follows a massive battle for the kingdom of Wakanda, in which King T'Challa's army of allies and friends faces off against the forces of Emperor N'Jadaka, the super-powered, symbiote bonded head of a conquering Wakandan state from the future.
The pacing of Black Panther #25 is remarkable. The issue opens in silence, with pages upon pages of staggering illustrations depicting the scale of the battlefield. It isn't until the stage is well and fully set that Coates' directs the audience's attention to a single, uninterrupted conversation set against the tumultuous chaos of battle. From there, the conversation slowly begins roping in more and more voices, until the arguments between sides seem not only tangentially related to the battle, but an integral part of the conflict cascading around the characters. All building to a number of climactic moments, both narrative and thematic, that Black Panther #25 delivers confidently and emphatically. The back half of the issue is certainly no slouch either, with an intricate summation of the ideas that Coates has been thinking through for his whole Black Panther run.
If the pacing and the writing weren't enough, Daniel Acuña, Brian Stelfreeze and Laura Martin deliver breathtaking visuals throughout the issue. With a seemingly endless number of iconic characters joining the battle for Wakanda, Black Panther #25 is sure to draw its fair share of comparisons to the MCU's Infinity War and Endgame fights. And those comparisons would be more than warranted, given the size, scale and magnificent artwork on display from the Black Panther team. King T'Challa and Emperor N'Jadaka are drawn with a conviction and intensity that drives the battle forward from the two focal points. And while all eyes are on the clash of crowns, no page, panel or character is taken for granted. Every page gives the reader a reason to get excited about flipping to the next. The colors in the issue can't be called vibrant, but only because they work subtly and tirelessly to indicate the tone of the issue. This Wakandan war does not feel like a costumed brawl or a colorful scrap, and nor should it.
As a final issue, the story elements on display in Black Panther #25 have been set up throughout Coates' tenure with the character. This isn't to say that the finale is starved for narrative, quite the opposite. Black Panther #25 is bursting with story, both dictated through conversation and seen across every panel. However, Black Panther #25 is an issue that unapologetically rests on the foundation of context from the issues before it. While the final issue may be difficult to pick up on its own, it gives comic book fans just another very good reason to catch up with Coates' Black Panther run.
Black Panther #25 is worth reading for any Marvel fan but does require a bit of context to fully appreciate. But for those just looking for an excellent example of a finale to an outstanding run, look no further than Black Panther #25.