Super Sunday Special: Black Panther Epic Collection "Panther's Rage"

Black Panther Epic Collection #1

By Don McGregor, Rick Buckler, Billy Graham

This review is a bit different because it won't cover an individual story but an entire book from the Epic Collection line. Most of the stories included in this book are too interconnected to make sense in individual reviews, and there are just too many of them to review them all. For the same reasons, I won't go in a detailed synopsis. The book is #1 of the Black Panther Epic Collection series, collecting Fantastic Four #52-53 (1966) and Jungle Action #6-24 (1973-1976).

Broadly speaking, this volume covers three storylines. First, there are two Fantastic Four issues by Lee and Kirby, introducing the Black Panther and telling his origin story; then there is the main dish giving the volume its title: a massive 12-part Panther's Rage saga, by McGregor, Buckler and Graham; and finally a shorter arc pitting the Panther against the Ku Klux Klan, again by the same team. I have already reviewed the first Fantastic Four story, and I'll eventually get to the second too, so we can skip them for now. 

Entirely set in Wakanda, the Panther's Rage saga tells of the war between the Panther and wannabe usurper Erik Killmonger, with his group of mutates and army of soldiers. Against this backdrop, McGregor develops a number of character-driven stories, broadly discussing racism, inclusion, technology, tradition, peace and religion. Enemies aside, the four main characters are the Panther, his American girlfriend Monica, his second in command W'Kabi and his trusted advisor Taku, each dealing with their own personal demons and subplots. The Panther struggles with self-doubt, especially over his decision to modernize Wakanda; W'Kabi angrily rues the loss of the old ways and can't patch up his failing marriage; poetic and pacifist Taku has to deal with the consequences of a war he doesn't really see the need for; and Monica finds herself a foreigner in a foreign land, hated and despised by most both as a person and as the symbol of the Panther's newfound attachment for the Western world. In the background, there are war, tragedy and a long long epic journey through Wakanda as the Panther chases Killmonger to put a stop to his plans.

Fantastic Four: "The Black Panther!"

Fantastic Four #52 (1966)

By Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott

Background: Johnny is going to college, where his roommate is Wyatt Wingfoot.

So, What Happens? The Fantastic Four are gifted a flying ship by an African chieftain called the Black Panther, and invited to his kingdom of Wakanda for a special hunt. Intrigued by the advanced technology of their gift, Reed accepts the invitation and the team goes to Africa together with Johnny's college roommate Wyatt Wingfoot. They soon reach Wakanda, an incredible country where the lush African jungle hides science and technology so advanced even Reed is impressed. Unfortunately, the invitation turns out to be a trap as the Black Panther appears in a full-black stalking costume and declares the Fantastic Four will be the hunted. After weakening the Thing with an electric shock, the Panther easily traps the Human Torch and causes the rest of the trio to separate, so that he can fight them individually. Susan is the first to fall when the Panther proves able to detect her by hearing and smell, and a weakened Thing is eventually defeated in a hand-to-hand fight. Reed himself doesn't fare much better at the beginning, but unbeknown to the Panther Wyatt has managed to disable his communication system and free the rest of the Fantastic Four. Together again, the team corner the Panther, who surrenders and takes off his mask to tell them his tale.