• Wakanda #1
    Wakanda #1
    Writer:
    Stephanie Williams, Evan Narcisse
    Artist:
    Paco Medina, Walden Wong, Elisabetta D'Amico, Natacha Bustos
    Letterer:
    VC's Joe Sabino
    Cover Artist:
    Mateus Manhanini
    Publisher:
    Marvel
    Price:
    $4.99
    Release Date:
    2022-10-12
    Colorist:
    Bryan Valenza, Jordie Bellaire

The events following Marvel's recently concluded Black Panther arc have created an all too familiar atmosphere for Wakanda. The nation struggles to come to terms with T'Chala's absence. Wakanda #1 debuts in the wake of Black Panther's scandalous exit and with Marvel Cinematic Universe's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever movie just a few weeks away from its premiere. Stephanie Williams and Evan Narcisse write the issue with artwork from Paco Medina, Walden Wong, Natacha Bustos, and Elisabetta D'Amico, colors by Bryan Valenza and Jordie Bellaire, and letters from VC's Joe Sabino.

Wakanda #1 focuses on Shuri, heir apparent to the kingdom, and her attempts to rebuild the country. Having already suffered the consequences of her brother T'Chala's civil war, Shuri finds herself burdened with the responsibility to devise new ways to protect Wakanda from attack. While her mother provides some advice and support in the matter, a random attack by the supervillain Rhino presents new questions for Shuri to answer. Wakanda #1 also begins a separate storyline "The History of the Black Panthers," which sees Queen Ramonda teaching future generations about the history of the Black Panther and Wakanda, focusing on the first man to wear the Panther mask and the symbol he would become for a nation poised for greatness.

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Wakanda #1 Shuri

Stephanie Williams pens the first story about Shuri for Wakanda #1. While her familiarity with the character is unquestionable, the generic nature of the story bogs it down. Shuri's efforts to figure out how to take Wakanda forward in the wake of familial issues, followed by her overcoming the villain of the week, only to discover that there's a bigger plot afoot feels very by the numbers. There is some fun to be had with how Rhino manages to infiltrate Wakanda, which is genuinely hilarious. But Rhino feels out of place in this story, considering his own development and previous encounters with the country, which Williams disregards. In contrast, Evan Narcisse's sprawling "History of the Black Panthers" is a genuine highlight, told as a classroom lesson. Narcisse effortlessly weaves existing plot threads together to tell the story of the first Black Panther and the founding of Wakanda. It leaves readers wanting more and should be even more illuminating as each issue progresses.

Pac Medina and Bryan Valenza bring their riveting artwork to Shuri's story with great use of lines and colors, respectively. Medina draws Shuri with her own sense of style, yet still very much culturally enmeshed with her country's heritage. Queen Ramonda is drawn regally, emphasizing her status, and moments of genuine emotion are captured beautifully on the characters' faces during interactions. Valenza's colors complement Medina's art effortlessly, bringing hues to both the lighter and faster moments. In the second story, Natacha Bustos and Jordie Bellaire create a flowing history lesson about Wakanda's Black Panthers. The art reflects the nature of the tale, with each historical milestone melding into the next like a river, perfectly capturing the tradition of passing down Wakanda's culture to future generations. This impeccable line and color work bring Narcisse's story to life vibrantly and engagingly.

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Wakanda #1 Black Panther

Wakanda #1 is a rough start, but the series has a lot of potential, with new characters poised to take center stage with each issue. While Shuri's tale leaves much to be desired, the story of Black Panthers throughout the ages is an interesting proposition that condenses Wakanda's rich history for both new and old readers alike. Readers must wait and watch to see whether the overarching storyline gains momentum as Wakanda #1 offers fans of the nation some fascinating insights into its history and culture.