Shuri Appreciation: Princess of Wakanda (2018)

[Holt]

Count me as another who doesn't get the complaints about the art.

[Mr MajestiK]

Yea, that was not a good look. The last time I was this blindsided by a comic was the human trafficking camps in BP #2. I expected Shuri to say no. Never expected everything else.

RIP Comics Shuri. She, as a concept and symbol, just died in a few preview pages.

Dude, the minute some readers chose to ignore Ta Nehisi-Coates wholesale stripping away of Hudlin's Shuri characterisation in favour of the wannabe "Queen of the Dead" Shuri remake, that showed me how mercurial some fans really are.

Griot was a joke from day one but some chose to ignore this blatant fact.

[Ezyo1000]

I like Romero. I don't see why his style would be categorized as being directed at kids. Isn't it more useful to say "I don't like it" than "It's bad" when we're talking about subjective things?

I don't think the art fits for a Shuri led book and there should of been a better artist to capture the full scope of Wakanda and the BP world.

But if that's what people want to focus on then whatever, the story is still bad and this is character assassination of the worst kind. Drags Shuri down, Wakanda, T'Challa and everything the mythos stands for, and this was all done in the preview pages.

[Realdealholy]

Dude, the minute some readers chose to ignore Ta Nehisi-Coates wholesale stripping away of Hudlin's Shuri characterisation in favour of the wannabe "Queen of the Dead" Shuri remake, that showed me how mercurial some fans really are.

Griot was a joke from day one but some chose to ignore this blatant fact.

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one Maj. Power set and appearance aside, I felt Griot Shuri had a lot in common with previous Shuri iterations, especially Hickman’s. The similarities outweighed the difference, imho. A lot of the stuff Shuri said and did in the Coates run, I could see Hickman’s Shuri, for example, say and do as well. Griot Shuri has flaws but with a few tweaks, I felt there was a lot of potential there. Not to mention, she was still regal, a leader, had the respect of her people, and someone I could see step up and do so effectively if anything happened to T’Challa.

I cannot say the same about this current version of Shuri. It’s a huge departure from all previous Shuri iterations, including Coates—which says a lot—and not for the better. Feels like a different character altogether. Little to no similarities. Everything Shuri was positively known for, she doesn’t have it, and instead has been replaced with negatives so far, imho.

[4sake Baned]

One look at the interior art and Shuri is dead on arrival. Comparing it to the BP lead Shuri book for numbers is misleading. The art is bad for the style of book imo It doesn't matter which version Shuri MCU style or her old persona is in it .The current Shuri art is enough to make people not take a second look. People are going to want to sell Shuri eventually numbers as indictment on "Hey they should have stick with older presentation of her character because at least then the comics fan would have bought her book" . Nope this is classic comic company BS throw out new character with no really intentions of supporting them properly. Prefer what style of character you want to but we can be clear no character whether they are Wolverine, Deadpool, Batman,etc with this art and unknown writer to most comic fans is going to sell well long term.

The only number I care about in this case the first week/month sales numbers. Those numbers are clear indication of interest character and concept. The 34,425 units sold for Shuri is comparable to the X-23 issue 5 35,518 units sold that same month. It makes you wonder what would happen if they say put Russell Dauterman or David Marquez well know writer say Tom King,Dan Slott,Matt Fraction,Reggie Hudlin etc. on the book. I mean you would want a decent run(7 to 10 issues) with solid names to establish an audience and even what with DC did with Sideways and Damage is better than what is happening to Shuri those books at least got couple of issues with big name artist before they left.

The worst part is people are going to throw out numbers and you fan have to sit through the bs about why this new character or minority character failed when companies half ass support. Comic is still visual medium you put Reginald Hudlin with Ken Lashley giving you this



and Leonardo Romero give us this
Attachment 73962

Just saying.Comic fans should know what proper support look like and what throwing a darts at a dart board looks like and Shuri isn't built for long term success and it is obvious imo. And when it bleeds people(and it probably will) some people won't go hey this creative team wasn't strong enough to hold/build customer base it will be yeah "I knew this version of character wouldn't work"

Can't be better said

[Mr MajestiK]

We’ll have to agree to disagree on this one Maj. Power set and appearance aside, I felt Griot Shuri had a lot in common with previous Shuri iterations, especially Hickman’s. The similarities outweighed the difference, imho. A lot of the stuff Shuri said and did in the Coates run, I could see Hickman’s Shuri, for example, say and do as well. Griot Shuri has flaws but with a few tweaks, I felt there was a lot of potential there. Not to mention, she was still regal, a leader, had the respect of her people, and someone I could see step up and do so effectively if anything happened to T’Challa.

I cannot say the same about this current version of Shuri. It’s a huge departure from all previous Shuri iterations, including Coates—which says a lot—and not for the better. Feels like a different character altogether. Little to no similarities. Everything Shuri was positively known for, she doesn’t have it, and instead has been replaced with negatives so far, imho.

Sorry Realdealholy, but I stand solidly on my point simply based upon the fact that Coates's Shuri bore ZERO resemblance to any iteration of Shuri that came before from Reginald Hudlin all the way through to David Piss.

Hickman's portrayal of Shuri as Queen of Wakanda up into the point where he had her inexplicably handing the mantle of Wakandan Ruler back to one of the architects of the nation's demise, (her brother) before going on to commit ritual suicide against Proxima Midnight. (Off panel)

Hickman was one of the primary writers who on the initial face of it, seemed to have a solid handle on both Shuri and T'Challa's respective characteristics and motivations, only to fumble the ball with the siblings as his ages long New Avengers/Secret Wars II saga drew to a close.

Griot, was a complete bastardization of Shuri's character and motivation under Coates pen and this destruction of Shuri as a character, has been taken up by the wholly inept and tone deaf Nneddi who goes off on wild flights of fancy that do nothing other than further obliterate the BP Mythos.

[Killerbee911]

I like Romero. I don't see why his style would be categorized as being directed at kids. Isn't it more useful to say "I don't like it" than "It's bad" when we're talking about subjective things?

Count me as another who doesn't get the complaints about the art.

Romero showed with Hawkeye, another female-led solo book, that he is a great storyteller, and Moss' editorial office does not cast artists recklessly. If the style ain't for you, it ain't for you. But posting a Lashley panel vs a Romero panel is like posting an Alex Ross cover vs a Chris Samnee cover and giving Ross the edge because of realism. That would be silly.

So maybe using art is bad is the wrong words. I understand that art subjective and I am normally try not be super critical of artist especially when their style is necessary going for realism.

So I will try to rephrase my point DC and Marvel have "house style" and most books artist tend to be in this house style. Lashley is with in the norms for Marvel comics and the artist style is comparable to some of better sellers in genre. Romero is different style which is sometimes good and it makes book stand out from the standard. It works best(imo) in off beat or non standard stories stuff that is darker or more comedic work great with more abstract styles. So I was wrong for saying the style is out right bad that is not my intent . The bigger point is sales and appeal to masses I think it is fair to say that Romero style doesn't appeal to masses but more of a niche. If you are doing a new property trying for mass appeal should be the goal unless you are target a specific niche. What appears to be happening and this just my opinion that Marvel just threw out Shuri book as test Best case MCU fanboy and hardcore comics eat up and with worse case scenario that they have trade to push when movies come out and market along with character. Also they get do a little backdoor Shuri RnD for a possible spin off movie or cartoon.

This Shuri book doesn't have long term appeal in the comic market namely because of the style of art and the writer being unknown to most comic fans. I am hardcore comic fan I will pick up anything by anyone with many different styles .I don't think most fans fit my profile and I have been a fan genre long enough to recognize art that I think is not going to do good. To bring the point home have you seen artist like Romero or Aja or even Kris Anka on an event book? When Marvel or DC is trying to sell books you see the mostly the house style. And that is my point Shuri feels like an experiment,Shuri isn't going attract to comic book fans who just come for cool action art, Shuri isn't going to get fans coming for establish writer in the genre. For new character I don't get why they do this and it is little bit frustrating because after the newness wears off the book is behind. Shuri was set up for success better the first time establish writer in the genre who has built in fans, an artist who will attract a wide base of fans and she was The Black Panther.

The gripe is they seem content to just to use Shuri MCU popularity for a small burst success and not build her for a long term comic run. I wish the current team well I am not cheering for failure I hope to eat my words and next Shuri issue stabilize at high enough amount that keep using her in future. I would rather see a big name writer and big name artist for the first arc and the second arc of the book this team. I think a bigger name team would have given Shuri a bigger cushion starting at say 50,000 because the interest feels there for the character right now

[DigiCom]

I think Marvel has a split personality these days. On the one hand, they do traditional superhero books, which tend to be in the "house style" and get drawn into crossovers and the like. On the other, they have what I would call "literary" comics, which are often written by (and targeted to) folks outside of the comics world, and get a more cartoony "indie" style.

Shuri is being positioned as the latter, i think.

(I glanced at the issue. Looks like Okorafor is still trying to make the Mute Zones a thing. Plus, I strongly suspect that Shuri's powers are going to be transferred to that girl who was at the tree, because Okorafor loves her teen heroines.)

[XPac]

I think Marvel has a split personality these days. On the one hand, they do traditional superhero books, which tend to be in the "house style" and get drawn into crossovers and the like. On the other, they have what I would call "literary" comics, which are often written by (and targeted to) folks outside of the comics world, and get a more cartoony "indie" style.

Shuri is being positioned as the latter, i think.

(I glanced at the issue. Looks like Okorafor is still trying to make the Mute Zones a thing. Plus, I strongly suspect that Shuri's powers are going to be transferred to that girl who was at the tree, because Okorafor loves her teen heroines.)

You almost have to have a split personality in this day and age.

You're still trying to retain that old school comic book shopping in the local comic stores, while simotaneiusly trying to attract a newer readership online and in bookstores.

If you're marvel and you're capable of publishing as many books as they do, might as well mix it up.

[DigiCom]

You almost have to have a split personality in this day and age.

You're still trying to retain that old school comic book shopping in the local comic stores, while simotaneiusly trying to attract a newer readership online and in bookstores.

If you're marvel and you're capable of publishing as many books as they do, might as well mix it up.

The problem with that is that they MARKET to the old school readers. How is a bookstore shopper even supposed to KNOW about the book, when the trade won't drop until next May, by which time the book may already be canceled?

[Cville]

Not a bad issue, kinda boring. Felt like an info dump issue without much info. Lol

[XPac]

The problem with that is that they MARKET to the old school readers. How is a bookstore shopper even supposed to KNOW about the book, when the trade won't drop until next May, by which time the book may already be canceled?

Unless you have a Coates on the book, who has somewhat of a built in fan base, you really can't market to non comic book readers because odds are if they aren't already reading comics they won't care.

But that's why they occasionally try to get more literary type writers doing comics. They can market to their existing fanbases.

[MindofShadow]

Issue was just boring. Just like Long Live the King. Just like Wakanda Forever. Just a bunch of meh.

and this Shuri is not muh Shuri at all. It is like I am reading about a whole new character.

Nnedi stripped all the good stuff about comic Shuri while adding in just the bare bones of MCU shuri so you have an abomination of boring.

bleh RIP

[Cville]

Issue was just boring. Just like Long Live the King. Just like Wakanda Forever. Just a bunch of meh.

and this Shuri is not muh Shuri at all. It is like I am reading about a whole new character.

Nnedi stripped all the good stuff about comic Shuri while adding in just the bare bones of MCU shuri so you have an abomination of boring.

bleh RIP

Lol. Is that for from "Fences"?

[DigiCom]

Unless you have a Coates on the book, who has somewhat of a built in fan base, you really can't market to non comic book readers because odds are if they aren't already reading comics they won't care.

But that's why they occasionally try to get more literary type writers doing comics. They can market to their existing fanbases.

So... you try to sell a book targeted to non-comic book readers by marketing to comic book readers? And then cancel the book before the non-comicbook readers can buy it?

(I may be wrong, but has anyone actually seen an ad outside the comics press for some of her comics? Whether it mentions "by the best-selling author of BINTI?" or not?)