Black Panther #3 Review and *SPOILERS* - Marvel Mondays

Written By: Ta-Nehisi Coates

Art By: Brian Stelfreeze

Publisher: Marvel

Rating: T+
Price: $3.99 

Release Date: June, 29, 2016

Review by: Paul B. - Check out his site HERE

I mentioned in my previous reviews that Black Panther is one of my favorite Marvel characters, yet I am more interested in the supporting characters. When a series is starting a new arc, usually we get bogged down with a ton of info crammed in the first two issues. That does two things, it makes long time readers mad that they have to wait for the action to pick up and it bogs down the new readers with too much info too quickly.

I find it very interesting that we have a writer who never penned a comic book script in his life deliver on so many levels on his first book. Okay back to the issue, I've rambled enough...




A Nation Under Our Feet part 3 picks up with Tetu explaining that, "When he was tree". I read that a few times since it was 1:00 AM and my mind keeping reading it as "When I was three". Needless to say, I should not be reading books when I am tired, but I was eagerly anticipating this book more than any other Marvel title.  In fact, I ordered the digital book because I did not want to wait for the comic shop to open. It continues as we get Tetu's inner dialog explaining what he has witnessed over his lifetime and we are put into his shoes to see just how certain events in the Marvel Universe actually affected him and the people of Wakanda. Coates did such a great job shedding some more light on him. He no longer comes off as a guy in the back with a staff just manipulating events. 

We then get back to Black Panther and he is still grieving over the loss of his sister and doubting himself. This is where I feel that Coates is falling into the trap most writers fall into. That is making the hero doubt himself and then overcoming the self doubt to ____ (fill in the blank). It does not bother me since the rest of the series is moving at a great pace and it is really just a small complaint on my part. 

Then, we go to my favorite characters of this series so far, the Midnight Angels. These women are actually trying to do something instead of self loathing and questioning themselves. They do a good job of keeping each other in check as well. They actually love each other, and that is why they are doing this together. They each feel as if they should have died, and they are living each day as if they were dead, so they are going to do as much as they can for the people before they actually do die.

The next part took me out of the story a bit. It was It has Romanda speaking with Shuri in some other plane. Basically it was Romanda telling her about the power of memory, and that reminds the reader of Tetu and what he was saying about the past and what the people do not remember.  

Speaking of Tetu, we are back to him now and the T'Challa drop in and beat up his soldiers. There is an explosion and he is overtaken by Tetu's guards. T'Challa fights them back and calls in reinforcements. It is his Dogs of War, and they seem to be taking care of everyone but then Then things get interesting. Tetu takes out a gourd and douses himself in what looks like some type of magical powder and marks his face like warpaint. 

He claims that he is with T'Challa as well, but subdues him and his men with tree vines and roots. He lays it all out for T'Challa as well. He tells him that he was off doing other things while his people suffered and his sister died. This was my favorite part of the issue. It is like a wake up call more than a warning, but effective none the less. 

Now we see a woman running from soldiers and she gets shot in the leg. We see in pursuit by Mandla of the White Gorilla Army. The woman enters a cave and Mandla tells her he is not without mercy. Then we see that Mandla is surrounded and then it cuts away?! I want to see what happened right now! I don't want to wait!!  It ends with a father and daughter in the spot where they met Tetu earlier and rejoicing in the rain. It was a great ending, even though I wanted to see some fighting with the Midnight Angels and the White Gorilla Army. I am sure it will be worth the wait. 

Bits and Pieces:

I highly recommend this book. I feel this issues was not as strong as the previous two, but even with that said it is better than most books out right now. So until next time DatBeardedBastard is out!

8.5/10