Black Panther #8
Writer: Ta-Nehisi Coates
Artist: Chris Sprouse
Colorist: Laura Martin
Finishers: Karl Story, Walden Wong
Letterer: JC’s Joe Sabino
Editors: Wil Moss
Publisher: Marvel
A review by Robert Coffil
Black Panther #8 brings us closure to the entirety of the first seven issues within its pages. This issue brings the “A” and “B” plot together in a way I wasn’t expecting.
Black Panther #8 sees Black Panther transition from one stage of healing his country to another. A lot of the previous seven issues were about physically dealing with the opposition. The honest interpretation is that despite being technologically superior to his foes, he still loses a lot of battles. Even though he did find the rebel base locations and out ‘The People’ to his fellow Wakandans, he didn’t capture the Stane and his cohorts. That is not a victory. This issue felt like a victory for Black Panther and Wakanda.
The “B” plot in previous issues of Black Panther involved Shuri and her dealings in the Djalia. The Djalia is a transcendent plane of Wakanda’s past, present, and future. She is being taught, by a spirit in the form of her mother, about Wakandan lore and the application of that knowledge.
In this issue, the “B” plot involving Shuri, and the “A” plot involving Black Panther come to a head. I won’t spoil this, but it is a sight to behold.
Some of the best work artists have been doing on Black Panther has been on the pages with the Djalia. When Shuri is learning the history of Wakanda the typical trapping of comic book art fade away. Gone are the panels and borders. The page becomes an amorphous art piece that fits perfectly into a transcendent place like Djalia. It still reads left to right and top to bottom, but the removal of comic accoutrements gives the page an ethereal feeling.
The Verdict
BUY IT! I felt that the last issue of Black Panther was lack luster, Black Panther #8 delivers. There are no action scenes, but instead quality dialogue and great storytelling. If you have been reading the Black Panther this issue provides all the catharsis to much of the built up tension of previous issues.
