Follow young T’Challa as he continues on his hero’s journey – and meets the legendary Storm! Three years after the death of his father, T’Challa continues his preparations to one day ascend the throne. After being rescued from poachers by a girl named Ororo who can control storms, he stays with her for a little while, meeting the other families she’s been helping – and learning that he, and Wakanda, could be doing better by their neighbors. But threats back home are building, and they will not be so easily dealt with! Dive into the legend of the Black Panther in this new origin story by acclaimed author Tochi Onyebuchi and New York Times-bestselling illustrator Setor Fiadzigbey, perfect for middle-grade readers!
What I thought
Story- T’challa is now on his “walkabout” and meets a community of orphans and their protector Ororo Munroe, the future Queen of Sol and leader of the X-men, Storm. They grow close as they aid the orphans. The same night Ororo plans to leave the settlement and venture into her ancestral home of Kenya T’challa is contacted by Shuri about his brother Hunter. T’challa decides it is time to return to his home. He and Ororo promise to see each other again and part ways.
Art-This issue continues the kinetic and fluid art style of Setor Fiadzigbey. I have no complaints.
Family– This series has made the brothers’ Hunter and T’challa the center of the whole thing. It’s a really cool premise especially when at the center of their conflict is that they are both still dealing with the loss of their father. Hunter became fiercely militaristic in the protection of his adopted home. De-aging him and making S’yan the one who appointed him into the Hatut Zeraze is an interesting twist since it was originally T’chaka who made this appointment.
Romance– Sorry but this is the flattest meeting of T’challa and Storm thus far. Chris Claremont’s original is still king as it had Storm saving T’challa. I am in love with the Eric Jerome Dickey mini-series leading up to the wedding of the pair. This was, just flat. No emotion, no chemistry. In the defense of the book though there really is no time to flesh things out.
Cover– Setor Fiadzigbey’s cover this month shows a hovering Storm with T’challa, the future Black Panther, in hero pose crouched as Storm calls lightning down from the heavens. A very visually striking piece, fir to be a poster on any Storm fans wall.
Overall this is a pretty average book all around.
