Black Panther #5 - Mobile Edition

Marvel Comics
Black Panther #5
By Hervé St-Louis
June 13, 2009 - 13:45

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Reginald Hudlin
Penciller(s): Ken Lashley
Inker(s): Paul Neary
Colourist(s): Paul Mounts
Letterer(s): Cory Petit
Cover Artist(s): J. Scott Campbell
$2.99 US

Storm of the X-Men travels to the netherworld where the soul of her husband the Black Panther lies in a perpetual fight against Death. After defeating momentarily death, the couple must find a way to come back to the land of the living, but the price to be paid is huge. Elsewhere, Wakanda continues to feel the attacks of Morlun Devourer of Totems. All of Wakanda’s forces are down and Storm its greatest weapon is not available. Will Wakanda fail and be destroyed by forces greater than itself?

I hesitated to read this story because of the cover. I don’t like Campbell’s cover and will say that he doesn’t know how to draw women. If the skeleton with abnormally thin waists, huge asses, and breasts are what passes for women these days, then all hope is lost for humankind. Fortunately, the interior work is much more pleasing. Lashley reminds me a bit of a dirty Neal Adams but with less dynamic poses.

Hudlin is taking the series in a new frontier, using the often used conflict of science versus magic as the theme and path upon which he builds this series. Doing so he tries to recapture the African heritage aspect of the series. It’s also an interesting proposition given that the Black Panther has always been immersed in science and technological breakthrough as if this was the value that Africans placed on their culture. By going back to the magical and folkloric aspect of African culture he puts emphasis on matters that are closer to a typical African society than science.

Rating: 8/10