Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Black Panther Paperback – 6 Nov. 2017

When I read Ta-Nehisi Coates's first volume of the new Black Panther graphic novels, A Nation Under Our Feet, I found myself thinking that I could really have used a bit of a potted history of the Black Panther comics of old. This collection was a good option to get fill in some of the information that I was missing! Particularly helpful was the penultimate article at the back - basically a timeline of T'Challa's adventures from the beginning in 1966. What was interesting for me in the collection of comics that make up this book was the development of the tone and character of the stories, which got gradually darker over time. I would say that Coates's story (so far) has not been as dark as some of the storylines around 2008. Some of the jokes and language from the 60s have not aged particularly well, and I found the earlier comics a bit clunky and more difficult to enjoy the storylines (I'm sure this admission is some kind of comic book cardinal sin but I can only apologise). Overall, I enjoyed getting to know the Black Panther better, and think that this will help me get more out of the next two volumes of A Nation Under Our Feet!!

Great read, definitely recommend

Very nice book with plenty of stories. Only problem was that my comic came very beaten up. There were scratches indented into the front cover and part of the front page was peeled off in the corners. Very very unimpressed. Real shame because I wanted this comic in a good condition but instead it looks quite damaged. I ordered it BRAND NEW and it came looking like a child had been playing with it, keying the front cover. Very disappointed with the quality but good comic.

Bought this as a present for my 10 year old newphew who is mad about the black Panther.After looking at the products someIf then content is completely inappropriate for children due to excessive violent scenes

(Small note) Other reviewed Marvel Platinums are: Hulk, Thor, Black Panther, Venom, Thanos, Avengers, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Reloaded, X-Men, Daredevil, Captain Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Reloaded, Deadpool and Wolverine. Check them out if you want. (End small note).Marvel Platinum: the Definitive Black Panther collects Fantastic Four #52-53, The Avengers #87, Jungle Action #6, Black Panther Vol. 1 #1, Marvel Team-Up #100, Black Panther Vol. 3 #1, Black Panther Vol. 3 #57-58, Black Panther Vol. 4 #18, #39-41, and AVX Versus #5. It's quite a collection spanning from the beginning and introduction of Black Panther in 1966 to a more recent time of 2012, so there's a lot of different writers and artists in this volume. This is my third Marvel Platinum following Incredible Hulk and Thor (which I have done reviews for). Black Panther was a hero I really didn't know about until I had seen him in the recent Marvel movies, I thought the character and concept was cool, then I had seen Black Panther and was hooked on him. I'll just go ahead and say if you are debating on buying a Marvel Platinum for your favourite superhero regardless if it's Black Panther or someone else, save yourself the worry and dive in, you get a wide selection and can really learn a great amount from its contents. This is the third Marvel Platinum I have read but I own 6 with a 7th on the way (Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Venom, which I will be reading next). The more and more I read Marvel Platinums, they are a great table book/comic, they are perfect if you off and on read or just want to sit down for 20 minutes and get a satisfying story you can get it. Overall they are awesome and I've learned not to hesitate when purchasing them. Anyways onto what is in this collection.First before we get into the comics we have a foreword from Brady Webb which in a nutshell gives a very brief overview of what is collected in this issue. A nice way to get you excited for what's included and so we move onto what's next.First we start at the perfect place, the introduction of T’Challa and the Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52-53 (1966) written by Stan Lee and art from Jack Kirby which is a legendary combo and doesn't disappoint. In these two issues T’Challa the king of Wakanda has requested the Fantastic Four to join him in Wakanda unbeknownst to the FF that they are a test for the Black Panther to determine if he is ready to take down his real target, Klaw. Overall, a great 2 issues which as a plus were a satisfying length for 2 issues, I love the introduction and the mix of primal and tribal (sorry if it's the wrong word) with highly advanced technology. The concept of the story is great and it's no surprise why Black Panther was a sensation.Next up we have Avengers #87 (1971) written by Roy Thomas and art from Frank Giacoia. I felt this was a excellent follow up to the introduction of T’Challa and flowed perfectly in my opinion. In this issue T’Challa explains to his fellow Avengers his story, from his father T’Chaka’s death to him becoming the Black Panther, a excellent issue with some great surprises. You really start to feel for T’Challa from the conflict he's been through in this issue.Following Avengers #87 we go to Jungle Action #6 (1973) written by Don McGregor and art by Rich Buckler. While T’Challa has been away helping the Avengers (I assume) Wakanda is expanding and growing apart, with a new threat wanting rule over Wakanda in the king's careless absence enters Erik Killmonger, one of the toughest if not the toughest opponents T’Challa has faced yet. Killmonger and his tribe are ruthless and show a brutality that I feel makes T’Challa wonder if he has been doing the right thing helping the Avengers and being away from Wakanda. This is a short issue compared to what we've seen so far in this collection. It's a good issue and still flows well, showing what has happened in T’Challa's absence. If you've seen the Black Panther movie Killmonger is different in this issue and it's very interesting. A great addition to this collection, only gripe is it's short and is left off sadly.Black Panther Vol. 1 #1 (1977) written by and art from the legend Jack Kirby. In this issue, Black Panther accompanied by a collector of artifacts Mr. Little stumble upon a dead body with the artifact they seek, a mysterious metal frog with a history. I liked this issue, however unlike the last few issues, this isn't about learning more about T’Challa or building his character, this goes more towards a classic or traditional comic. It's roughly as long as the previous issue and while it is a great issue, I don't feel it flows as well and fit together like the previous issues. Perhaps the Volume 1 run of Black Panther was stellar and they want to include where it kicked off but since we only get one issue we don't really get to see that. The concept of the frog was interesting and the art and story from Jack Kirby is great, but I would've preferred something with T’Challa growing as a character or perhaps conflicted by a choice of his actions, and we don't see that since this is the first of a new run of Black Panther.Marvel Team-Up #100 (1980) is next in the collection with writing from Chris Claremont and John Bryne with art from John Bryne. In this issue we get to see T'Challa and Ororo Monroe (Storm) meet for the first time in their teenage years when T’Challa is being attacked by a group of thugs including De Ruyter The Bull. Years later we see the two team up again to take down De Ruyter years after being believed he was a changed man. A decent issue with nice artwork, as Storm plays a sizeable part of this collection it makes sense that how they meet is included in this collection.Black Panther Vol. 3 #1 (1998) with writing from Christopher Priest and Joe Quesada, with art from Mark Texeira. T’Challa goes back to America after learning a child has been murdered despite Wakanda being in turmoil. Overall I was disappointed with this one and to be honest there was only one thing I liked about it. Which is how T’Challa’s character is represented, how no matter what he will always try and do the right thing. Since I didn't like it the first time I read it I read it again a few days later to give it a chance and no difference in my opinion. The artwork is crude and blotchy in my opinion and the story drags out, you go from one part about black panther to a woman with an angry face shouting “ROSS!!!” and since the artwork isn't great it makes it even worse. I think if it wasn't being told from the perspective of Ross and went back and forth, instead focusing on T’Challa this could have been a lot better in my opinion. Overall very disappointed and don't really see why it's included. All that sticks in my head is this story is “Ross”.Following “Ross!!!” we have Black Panther Vol. 3 #57-58 (2003) also titled Coming To America part 1 & 2. With story from J Torres and artwork from Ryan Bodenheim. In these 2 issues the Dakenian royal family visit America, while away a military coup follows, seeing the family flee makes them targets but luckily T’Challa is there to help. Although this is still volume 3 of Black Panther I see much improved over the years, the artwork has improved significantly, Ross isn't as annoying as I found him in the first issue, and the story is improved, I feel the last issue was just to introduce Ross which is disappointing but oh well. The story and art are interesting and a improvement from #1, as for if this is definitive Black Panther I can't say but I did enjoy it.Black Panther Vol. 4 #18 (2006) written by Reginald Hudlin with art from Kaare Andrews and Scot Eaton. Storm and T’Challa are going to tie the knot so nearly everyone's invited. I believe this takes place between the Civil War arc so there are tension from 2 people. I great issue and is easily understood why it's included in this collection. The story and are are decent and is a great addition to the collection.Black Panther Vol. 4 #39-41 (2008) with story from Jason Aaron and art from Jefté Palo. In these 3 issues, the Skrull have had agents infiltrate Wakanda to prepare for an invasion, little do the Skrull know, Wakanda and the Black Panther are ready and waiting for them. These issues were pretty great, I liked the art having a more shadowy and darker theme fitting very well with the plot. The story itself is entertaining and has plenty of action with a few surprises along the way. Overall an excellent story showing the strength of Wakanda and its people.AVX Versus #5 (2012) story from Jason Aaron and art from Tom Raney. Story is simple, Storm Vs T’Challa in a fight. I really had high hopes for this, hoping to end on a highlight but the story is so short, maybe 8 pages worth, I wish it had been longer because it moved so fast and without much reason. Maybe this series doesn't use reason, maybe they just do it because it's interesting imagining heroes going toe to toe with one another. Either way, maybe I didn't know what to expect, but I wanted more and it definitely is short, i also feel the ending leaves a bitter taste in the mouth and is quite a sad way to end the collection, but it's important and I suppose makes sense for the collection. Still a cool idea though.After that there are a few pages going into the history of Black Panther, it seems shorter than previous history of other heroes I've seen in Marvel Platinums.I will say I think out of the what I've read so far (Hulk & Thor) this is probably my favourite Marvel Platinum so far. I feel the flow of this collection was pretty good and I look forward to jumping right into Marvel Platinum: The Definitive Venom asap. I have no problems suggesting this to anyone especially a fan of Black Panther. It's worth every penny, for the value and the wide selection of what's offered you get a wide history of T’Challa and several decades of different art styles. I'm glad I picked this up and learned more about T’Challa and his character and joining him in some of his most important moments and epic battles as I'm sure you will too. This collection also makes me look forward to diving into reading more Black Panther and I believe once I get my to read list down I will be picking up Black Panther A Nation At Our Feet.Hopefully you found this review helpful and happy reading.

I don't often buy comic books - I don't often buy actual printed books at all these days, mostly Kindle stuff. But Black Panther was all over the cinema, and someone gave me a book token, and my Kindle is rubbish at pictures.So - the Black Panther happens to be an African Bruce Wayne- a multi millionaire who wants to fight baddies, and joins up with the Fantastic Four to do so. I think more accurately, he joins up with the Fantastic Four to get noticed, with a view to his very own comic franchise if he proves popular.Seems to have worked out for him. The US Department of Agriculture listed his home nation of Wakanda on its Agricultural Tariff Tracker. Most likely some geeky comic fan in the IT department added it during tests and forgot to take it out, but it's a shame that Donald Trump didn't announce a trade war with Wakanda in a 4am tweet.I'm not a huge fan of Marvel and DC comics, but it's entertaining hokum. In book format, the text is slightly too small for me to read easily - but really it's about the pictures. This is a collection from 1966 to 2012, predating the 2018 Movie, and it's interesting to see how things change