MARCO SPEAKS SPIDEY (SPECIAL KING IN BLACK: BLACK PANTHER ONE-SHOT REVIEW)

Admittedly, I still get emotional whenever Black Panther is brought up, given the circumstances and the recent tragedy the entire Marvel fandom is still reeling from, but I am sure many of us loyal followers have decided to cherish and celebrate life over death, by cheering on the Black Panther in his upcoming adventures. Unfortunately for Black Panther, Shuri, Storm and their entire army, Wakanda took a big blow from the symbiote invasion. But fortunately for readers, this makes for an epic one-shot that is basically a big war scene meant to display the sheer magnitude of the King in Black mega-event.

Bring in the reinforcements…

King in Black: Black Panther #1

STORY BY: Geoffrey Thorne

ART BY: German Peralta

COVER BY: Leinil Francis Yu, Steve Epting

OFFICIAL MARVEL COMICS DESCRIPTION:

SYMBIOTES INVADE THE UNCONQUERABLE COUNTRY OF WAKANDA!

“T’Challa’s most treasured allies are lost in a storm of Knull’s making in this wild one-shot! Critically acclaimed writer, actor and producer Geoffrey Thorne explores a Wakanda gone dark — invaded by Knull’s massive symbiote army. Wakanda needs its king. It needs the Black Panther. But once again, the hero must choose between his role as an Avenger, his role as a king…and the yearnings of his heart.”

Now let’s get to it!

PROS:

• The first, opening sequence had me shaken to the core, immediately, as we witnessed the fall of Storm… a bleak sign of things to come for the nation of Wakanda, an omen of the worst type. If a mutant powerhouse and queen of nature can be defeated so easily and so quickly, what does that mean for the people of Wakanda….? The first cut is the deepest, and instantly, you as a reader are dying to know what happens following this tragedy.
• Black Panther is portrayed as glorious and triumphant as ever, a true testament and tribute to the legacy of not only the character, but the legend that brought this character to life. In this issue, we are reminded of why Black Panther lives on, as a king of infinitely regal status.
• One debate that grabbed my attention was Shuri’s desire to have everybody flee Wakanda, while Black Panther was confident enough to stand his ground and fight on… to keep on keeping on. This made me ask myself what I would do in such a similar situation, where people’s lives are in your hands. Heavy the crown, for sure.
• It was also interesting to see two different perspectives on the symbiote invasion. Whereas the typical observer saw the takeover as an invading army, Shuri pointed out how it was actually more like a disease, infection or sickness spreading over Wakanda. The problem wasn’t really the lives being taken… it was the lives being consumed, absorbed, corrupted, converted and controlled. Wakanda was turning on itself, shooting itself in the foot, bringing about its own demise.
• To conclude my list of positive aspects regarding this exciting and action-packed thriller… Three lines summarize the issue very well, and I found them very poignant and relevant to any crisis that we as human beings endure in our daily lives.
• “Wakanda will not fall today.”
• “The Black Panther is Wakanda.”
• “Wakanda is forever.”
• Let’s carry on these words with us this 2021.

CONS:

• Honestly, it is quite difficult to find any major flaws in this excellent one-shot adventure. Even seeing a giant panther made out of magic tackle a dragon is enough of a doozy to knock me off my socks. But if ever there was more spotlight given to a certain portion of the book, it would have been educational to learn how magic and science work together to make alchemy. For those new to the series, a short briefer would have gone a long way to show the history of such a powerful union of arts.
• Maybe one more con would be… too little Storm? But that might just be me as a fanboy.

FINAL SCORE:

A

Black Panther will forever live on in all our hearts. I am just so touched that he got a significant role in this current, ongoing event centering around Spider-Man and symbiotes, even if it was just for one issue. But granted the situation, it was still a no-holds-barred battle, and the creative team did an excellent job with this short story. Truly… Wakanda is forever.