Marvel Comics has announced a new line aimed at younger readers, and Black Panther is going to kick things off. As announced by Syfy Wire, Black Panther Legends, which will debut in October, will be the first book in the Marvel Legends line. These origin stories are aiming to get younger readers into comics.
Black Panther Legends will be a four-issue miniseries. Tochi Onyebuchi (Beasts Made of Night, War Girls) is writing the series, with art from Setor Fiadzigbey (Bunheads). Thanks to the Black Panther movie, the character has become one of the most popular superheroes around. And with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever now in production, it makes sense to launch this line with T’Challa.
This comes as Marvel is also gearing up for a new Black Panther series written by Oscar-winner John Ridley. Ta-Nahisi Coates’ landmark run recently came to an end. That paved the way for Ridley to take over with a fresh start. That book is slated to arrive in November following its recent delay.
Here’s the logline for Black Panther Legends #1.
“In BLACK PANTHER LEGENDS #1, T’Challa and Hunter are brothers growing up in the idyllic royal palace of Wakanda. Theirs goes beyond the usual sibling rivalry, though. Hunter, although older, is adopted, and T’Challa is the true heir to the throne. Both brothers wrestle with fairness and the future, readying themselves for responsibility, when tragedy strikes and takes the choice from them.”
“Origin stories come with a lot of responsibility, especially for a character with as much incredible history behind him as T’Challa,” Onyebuchi said. “Black Panther Legends is a deeply personal book, and I was given the opportunity to situate T’Challa and his family in a specific political and social context. There’s some really cool stuff in here, but it’s also a book about a family at a very particular time on the African continent. And I’m super grateful to Marvel for giving me the freedom to explore that and to ask, through his character, some very knotty questions about responsibility.”
“I have long admired Tochi’s writing in both the young adult and adult space, so I knew he’d be able to help tell T’Challa’s story in a way that would appeal to younger readers and long-time fans alike,” Bisom said. “He’s just so great and giving us fantastical, adventurous narratives while still being able to really ground his characters in these deeper emotional moments–two things that a story about our young Black Panther really needed.”
The legendary duo of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created Black Panther. He made his debut in Fantastic Four #52 in 1966, eventually getting a solo series in 1977. Chadwick Boseman played the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with 2016’s Captain America: Civil War. Unfortunately, Boseman passed away last year following a battler with cancer. A new character will be taking up the mantle of the hero within the MCU.
Black Panther Legends #1 hits stands in October.
What do you think? Will you be reading the book? Do you like the idea of the Marvel Legends line? Join in on the conversation over on Facebook or Twitter!
