YIBAMBE! T’Challa: The Black Panther Appreciation 2022

[Ezyo1000]

I will exclude Redjack from that. As I think back to his one-shot, he tried to include everything that makes TChalla what he’s supposed to be.

Yeah RJ is good, hes invited to the cookout. He's the only one I can think of who would truly elevate T'Challa where he needs to be abd get him back on track, whole also giving Shuri a lane that doesn't step on T'Challas toes.

[Ezyo1000]

Chadwick was also responisble for Cha-Cha, which might be the most refreshign take on the character in a long time.

And they straight up buried that too.

We had our point man and lost him man

Yeah like WTF? It's like they were just waiting for anything ANY EXCUSE AT ALL. To rid the MCU of T'Challa given how well received he was. He blew up, won Oscars, hit 700 mil first, was a cultural movement... And Marvel did absolutely jack **** with him. Let him die in IW, used Wakanda as a backdrop, let Okoye had a whole fight scene whole T'Challa gets a quick rush job CGI punch, then come endgame he gets a quick clip and they don't use the Hulk/ T'Challa tag team to take down the leviathan, Which would of been COMPLETELY BADASS... And these dudes wanna turn around and say they want to Honor Chad and do right because he made such an impact.. gotta funny way of showing that

[Hellscream]

At this rate I say let white writers handle T’Challa and let Black writers handle Wakanda since “Wakanda is more important”. Lol smh.

Hold up,...time out, pleeeeaaassee

It really just come down to what have these writers, created close to the superhero genre. They probably couldve gotten Nk Jemsin, who did an 12 issue run on a character she created (Jo Mullins). Which took place in outer space nonetheless? And recently Nk Jemsisn got a massive movie deal for her recent fantasy trilogy. So if these editors/Hr are hiring folks like Coates and Ridley. Than its just checking a box and taking the story where they wanted.

Has Black Panther started a big event???

[skyvolt2000]

Has Black Panther started a big event???

Now you know POC especially black ones will NEVER do that at the Big 2.

The closest in generally that we had a black one-at least a black one that saves the day was

World's Collide when Milestone and Superman, Superboy & Steel did a crossover and Static saved the day.

That was 1994. And of interest that story is NOT in trade and digital.

Before that-Eclipse Comics's company wide crossover where the black guy died saving everyone.

You TRY to do a BP lead event-you will see one of the worst ORDERED not selling ORDERED events.
Folks would LOOK for excuse to NOT order or buy that event.

Example today.... my store did 25 cent comic bins (I got $600 worth of comics for $25.).

Of all the events we have had since 2019-guess who was missing Outlawed and Empyre. POC and LGBTQA centric events where one of both were the center of the event.

Now of interest-guess what Black Panther book was NOT in those bins-Redjack's BP.

[chief12d]

Well when TChalla uses his suit and his stats (which are above Cap imo) with his skill, he’s more than just an enhanced martial artist.

Digi clarified it for me but if Kingo and the Eternals are meant to be god-like there’s no way T’Challa with his regular arsenal (daggers, kinetic suit, kimoyo beads) should pose much of a threat without prep. But if Kingo’s being nerfed to reflect that weak Eternals movie I guess it makes sense.

[chief12d]

Well my question is WTF is going on? Like Ridley is t exactly a neophyte writer. But consistently, other than Redjack who GOES TO BAT fit T'Challa, why is it that BP solo writers are not only writing Black Cap, but are also spouting revisionist bullisht and apparently have some type of marching orders to downplay T'Challa and his feats and influence, yet white writers don't? So Which is it? Either Black writers have different rules, or they are INTENTIONALLY doing this, but that doesn't make sense because marvel is hiring them.. it's so confusing

White writers don’t do it because they’re not writing T’Challa in a solo context. You have limited panels to convey the essence of a character so generally heroes’ supporting casts don’t play a role in team up books like Avengers or Justice League. While T’Challa is actively diminished when you put him around Shuri and Storm, when you allow him to be in the field as the Avengers’ Batman/Doc Savage you cut out all the unneeded fat and can focus on his best qualities. The books are terrified of doing that and have the excuse of “building the world of Wakanda (Shuri/Dora)”, team up books don’t.

You don’t have enough space to have T’Challa contact Shuri to solve a science problem, a writer saves space having him do that **** himself. You don’t need to surround him with largely superfluous Dora Milaje to show off Wakanda’s power, you already got the king and you save time having him be great warrior all by himself. Like I said before, there’s a reason T’Challa’s best feats and characterization come when he’s not in Wakanda, writers are FORCED to focus on him in a way solo writers aren’t.

And generally, white writers understand the essential appeal of T’Challa in a way most modern black comic writers seemingly don’t. Writers like Coates actively hate the character elements that writers like Hickman emphasize in T’Challa. The latter understands that T’Challa’s egoism and cunning are understandable flaws in a fundamentally good, passionate hero. Hickman gets they’re also fun traits to play around with in the same way many love when Namor’s being petty or Magneto gets on his high horse. Coates has called T’Challa’s Priest-era traits everything short of toxic masculinity and can only drive conflict within the character by having him be incompetent so he can be “guided”. There’s two very different schools of thought about T’Challa as a personality and Marvel seems to only allow one to exist within the character’s solo book these days.

[Ezyo1000]

White writers don’t do it because they’re not writing T’Challa in a solo context. You have limited panels to convey the essence of a character so generally heroes’ supporting casts don’t play a role in team up books like Avengers or Justice League. While T’Challa is actively diminished when you put him around Shuri and Storm, when you allow him to be in the field as the Avengers’ Batman/Doc Savage you cut out all the unneeded fat and can focus on his best qualities. The books are terrified of doing that and have the excuse of “building the world of Wakanda (Shuri/Dora)”, team up books don’t.

You don’t have enough space to have T’Challa contact Shuri to solve a science problem, a writer saves space having him do that **** himself. You don’t need to surround him with largely superfluous Dora Milaje to show off Wakanda’s power, you already got the king and you save time having him be great warrior all by himself. Like I said before, there’s a reason T’Challa’s best feats and characterization come when he’s not in Wakanda, writers are FORCED to focus on him in a way solo writers aren’t.

And generally, white writers understand the essential appeal of T’Challa in a way most modern black comic writers seemingly don’t. Writers like Coates actively hate the character elements that writers like Hickman emphasize in T’Challa. The latter understands that T’Challa’s egoism and cunning are understandable flaws in a fundamentally good, passionate hero. Hickman gets they’re also fun traits to play around with in the same way many love when Namor’s being petty or Magneto gets on his high horse. Coates has called T’Challa’s Priest-era traits everything short of toxic masculinity and can only drive conflict within the character by having him be incompetent so he can be “guided”. There’s two very different schools of thought about T’Challa as a personality and Marvel seems to only allow one to exist within the character’s solo book these days.

It seems like that's only a black character issue cause you know for damn sure they wouldn't pull ANY of that with Spiderman, Cap, or any of their big heroes. It's what makes me frustrated is that, they talk about wanting to be divers and have more black writers write Black characters. Which is good, but also bad.

Good because it gives up and coming talented writers a chance to grow and get recognized, maybe even get a solid story in. But it's bad in T'Challas case where he was at the cusp of A list status. No more ishtty art with some no name writer. Now he would get top tier talent with art. But then we got Coates and his merry band of T'Challa/ black man haters who completely derailed the comic side. Had we gotten Redjack, we would have seen tchalla hot A list. Then we get more A list talent, RJ gets more opportunities, hell he may have some pull and know other ACTUALLY TALENTED writers who would love and appreciate writing T'Challa. But we didn't z and marvel keeps hiring these people who don't care about T'Challa, they car about the idea that Wakanda is a utopia and "good" but then tell stories that neither uplift it and especially not T'Challa. I can't say it's just black writer's on general, but it's definitely the ones marvel are hiring to write BP. All of them have some bullisht to say that instantly makes raises red flags

[BlackClaw]

Chadwick was also responisble for Cha-Cha, which might be the most refreshign take on the character in a long time.

And they straight up buried that too.

We had our point man and lost him man

To be fair they said the Cha Cha cartoon isn’t completely off the table. Plus they could get away with having someone else play T’Challa if it were to get revived since it’s animated.

[Agent Z]

Hold up,...time out, pleeeeaaassee

It really just come down to what have these writers, created close to the superhero genre. They probably couldve gotten Nk Jemsin, who did an 12 issue run on a character she created (Jo Mullins). Which took place in outer space nonetheless? And recently Nk Jemsisn got a massive movie deal for her recent fantasy trilogy. So if these editors/Hr are hiring folks like Coates and Ridley. Than its just checking a box and taking the story where they wanted.

Has Black Panther started a big event???

A better question is whether we want him to? Events are a controversial disappointment nine tines out of ten.

[Ezyo1000]

A better question is whether we want him to? Events are a controversial disappointment nine tines out of ten.

At this point? No, it would probably end with him getting killed sacrificing himself to save the day (or worse him getting killed for shock value) and Shuri assuming the mantle, with some funeral to "Honor" T'Challa and the whole superhero community as well as Wakanda acknowledging Shuri as the new BP to try and legitimize her role

[MindofShadow]

Has Black Panther started a big event???

T'challa started Hickman's New Avengers storyline, which honestly is the biggest true event Marvel has had in ages.

TBH, T'challa has been in some "large scale" stories from hickman on... it is just not reflected in his solo book at all.

I mean, T'challa was out there challenging the Tiger God for power and then using that power to fight ominipotent cosmic abstracts to aid Galactus and at the same time in his solo book, he is begging Storm to help deal with The Adversary.

It is the disconnect that is really freaking wild.

[MindofShadow]

White writers don’t do it because they’re not writing T’Challa in a solo context. You have limited panels to convey the essence of a character so generally heroes’ supporting casts don’t play a role in team up books like Avengers or Justice League. While T’Challa is actively diminished when you put him around Shuri and Storm, when you allow him to be in the field as the Avengers’ Batman/Doc Savage you cut out all the unneeded fat and can focus on his best qualities. The books are terrified of doing that and have the excuse of “building the world of Wakanda (Shuri/Dora)”, team up books don’t.

You don’t have enough space to have T’Challa contact Shuri to solve a science problem, a writer saves space having him do that **** himself. You don’t need to surround him with largely superfluous Dora Milaje to show off Wakanda’s power, you already got the king and you save time having him be great warrior all by himself. Like I said before, there’s a reason T’Challa’s best feats and characterization come when he’s not in Wakanda, writers are FORCED to focus on him in a way solo writers aren’t.

And generally, white writers understand the essential appeal of T’Challa in a way most modern black comic writers seemingly don’t. Writers like Coates actively hate the character elements that writers like Hickman emphasize in T’Challa. The latter understands that T’Challa’s egoism and cunning are understandable flaws in a fundamentally good, passionate hero. Hickman gets they’re also fun traits to play around with in the same way many love when Namor’s being petty or Magneto gets on his high horse. Coates has called T’Challa’s Priest-era traits everything short of toxic masculinity and can only drive conflict within the character by having him be incompetent so he can be “guided”. There’s two very different schools of thought about T’Challa as a personality and Marvel seems to only allow one to exist within the character’s solo book these days.

I still haven't quite given up on Ridley but... yeah. All of this.

Sad state of affairs to be honest.

[dkrook]

Yeah RJ is good, hes invited to the cookout. He's the only one I can think of who would truly elevate T'Challa where he needs to be abd get him back on track, whole also giving Shuri a lane that doesn't step on T'Challas toes.

That is what's truly mystifying to me. With Redjack laying out such a solid, well structured narrative that was balancing the aspects and functions of T'Challa and all his supporting cast, why not give him the main book.

[dkrook]

T'challa started Hickman's New Avengers storyline, which honestly is the biggest true event Marvel has had in ages.

TBH, T'challa has been in some "large scale" stories from hickman on... it is just not reflected in his solo book at all.

I mean, T'challa was out there challenging the Tiger God for power and then using that power to fight ominipotent cosmic abstracts to aid Galactus and at the same time in his solo book, he is begging Storm to help deal with The Adversary.

It is the disconnect that is really freaking wild.

Frustrating enough, Marvel still hasn't given our guy a major event that centers on him. For the record there's no way in hell would i consider Doom war...lol (hell its in the damn name) a Black Panther T'Challa big crossover event!

[Marvell2100]

The real Black Panther made a short appearance in Eternals #11 (shout out of BP subreddit for the headsup)








So, this is how it works huh?

The BP solo writers... write what looks like a depowered black captain america who is a "meh" fighter who relies on his fancy suit

The veteran comic writers who write BP in team or event appearances (Aaron, Ewing, Gillen) give us the genius, bass in his voice, real T'challa.


Like seriously, wtf man.

You'd think it would be the opposite.

You'd think that BP would get nerfed outside of his solo and look TBA in his own book but bope.

I'm trying to keep posting in the thread but I can't find too much to be positive about.

I might have to go back and re-read the good stories and post about that just to keep from drifting.