Marvel Comics' Black Panther is headed for a relaunch this summer -- and before long, the former king T'Challa is going to find himself going toe-to-toe with an all-new adversary.

CBR has an exclusive first look at the solicitation text for writer Eve L. Ewing and artist Chris Allen's Black Panther #2, as well as Taurin Clarke's cover art, which depicts a battle between T'Challa and an "alluring thief" by the name of Beisa. The issue is currently slated hit comic shops on July 19 -- one month after Black Panther #1 kicks off the relaunch in June.

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BLACK PANTHER #2

  • Written by EVE L. EWING
  • Art by CHRIS ALLEN
  • Cover by TAURIN CLARKE
  • Who is the mysterious Beisa?
  • Delve deeper into Wakanda as we – and T’Challa – have never seen her! No longer in the Golden City, T’Challa goes deep undercover to try to understand the heart of this city that feels it has been forgotten by the Black Panther. And some people aren’t happy with the rumors that the Black Panther has been skulking around Birnin T’Chaka – like the alluring thief Beisa.
  • Fortunately, some new allies and familiar faces will remind T’Challa that outcast or no, the Black Panther is never completely alone!
  • On sale 7/19.

Marvel has also provided CBR with a first look at Allen's design sheet for Beisa, which highlights the debuting villain's attire and weapons. "The quintessential moral opportunist/sexy badass/martial artist wielding dual daggers," Ewing said of Beisa. "The one who, when she enters the fight, you don't know whose side she's going to be on; rest assured, she's always on her own. She's tough, but not ruthless, living by her own moral code. Beisa's name is a reference to the East African oryx and her design reflects this. T'Challa does not know Beisa's real identity and she does not know his. They encounter each other while suited up only."

Beisa-concept-sheet---final

A New Era for Black Panther Begins

The eighth and most recent iteration of Marvel's main Black Panther series was penned by Academy Award-winning writer John Ridley, running for a total of 15 issues from November 2021 to March 2023. This past January, Marvel announced that following the conclusion of Ridley's run, Black Panther would be relaunched by the creative team of Ironheart writer Ewing and Marvel's Stormbreakers artist Allen. The House of Ideas previously revealed the new costume T'Challa would be wearing for the next chapter in his story.

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Written by Eve L. Ewing and illustrated by Chris Allen, Black Panther #1 goes on sale June 14 from Marvel Comics, followed by issue #2 on July 19.

Source: Marvel Comics