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For decades, Black Panther has been a staple of the Marvel Universe. Wakana, the African nature’s king, is a member of several superhero teams. This is a list of the 10 Best Black Panther Comics Marvel Stories.
For decades, Black Panther has been a staple of the Marvel Universe. He has many exciting and intriguing stories as the king of the African nature Wakana and a member of multiple superhero teams.
However, with so many different types of stories available, it’s difficult to know which ones are worth your time.
With a selection of the best Black Panther comic book stories ever told, this list will point you in the right direction. It spans the character’s long publishing history, from his early stories to his most recent epics, and includes action-packed adventures as well as thought-provoking stories.
Don’t forget to check out the Black Panther Review if you’re looking for more stories or want to know what to read next.
10. The Black Panther!
Written by Stan Lee. Art by Jack Kirby.
By the midpoint of their 102-issue run on Fantastic Four, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee were firing on all cylinders. There were many classic stories during this time period, with the pair introducing many memorable characters, including Black Panther.
On the king’s invitation, the Fantastic Four travel to the mysterious Wakanda. However, they are ambushed upon arrival and spend the majority of their time fighting the country’s leader, Black Panther. However, in true superhero fashion, they put their differences aside to face the true threat. Ulysses Klaw, in this case.
This first appearance lays the groundwork for future creators to flesh out Black Panther over the years.
Readers discover his origins, get a glimpse of Wakanda and witness an excellent demonstration of the hero’s skill set, which fits perfectly into Kirby’s dynamic and bombastic style.
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9. Death Calls for the Arch-Heroes
Written by Roy Thomas. Art by John Buscema.
On Captain America’s recommendation, Black Panther travels to the Avengers Mansion to join the team. When he arrives, he discovers that members of the Avengers have died! Worse, Black Panther has been falsely accused of the crime. He’s now on the run from police and S.H.I.E.L.D. as he searches for the true “killer.”
This story, along with the introduction of classic Avengers villain Grim Reaper, solidifies Black Panther as a regular on the Avengers team. Death Calls for the Arch-Heroes gave the Wakandan hero a home in the pages of Avengers at a time when he had been bouncing around various team-ups.
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8. Panther’s Rage
Written by Don McGregor. Art by Rich Buckler, Gil Kane, and Billy Graham.
Until 1973, Black Panther had never had its own series. He’d appeared as a guest or as a regular in other titles, including The Avengers. It wasn’t until Don McGregor, a proofreader on Marvel’s reprint series Jungle Action, demanded that Marvel publish something less dated that the situation changed. He was given free rein to write a Black Panther series with the only restriction that it be set in Africa. Panther’s Rage, a 12-part epic, was the first offering.
After spending time in the United States as a member of the Avengers, Black Panther returns to Wakanda to find the country in turmoil.
This is due to Erik Killmonger’s army, which has been attacking villages in order to seize T’Challa’s throne. To put an end to the revolution, Black Panther will clash with many of Killmonger’s lieutenants.
Panther’s Rage is a story ahead of its time in many ways. McGregor wasn’t afraid to ask the characters probing questions. As a result, the comic delves into the consequences of violence, culture shock, and mortality.
These themes also allow for strong characterization, with fully developed motivations and needs. It’s also a comic that looks nothing like anything else out at the time, thanks to exciting page layout experiments that result in slick title pages and dynamic action.
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7. Black Panther Vs. The Klan
Written by Don McGregor and Ed Hannigan. Art by Billy Graham and Jerry Bingham.
The villains that superheroes face tend to be fantastical, acting as proxies for real-world villains. The threat in this case is all too real in the form of the Ku Klux Klan. In the course of investigating a murder, Black Panther and his friends become entangled in a dangerous triangle involving the Klan and a splinter cult.
The KKK is used in Black Panther Vs. The Klan for more than just shock value, as it contrasts the ideologies of the two sides. The story examines the power of lies, hate-fueled fear, and indoctrination in this way.
It’s also firm in its beliefs, employing powerful imagery such as Black Panther tied to a burning cross to emphasize these points.
The first half of the story is the most moving and memorable. It was unfortunately cut short when Jack Kirby returned from a stint at DC Comics and began a series for the character. Another creative team would later finish the story. Having said that, the entire story is highly recommended.
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6. The Client
Written by Christopher Priest. Art by Mark Texeira.
The 1990s were a quiet period for Black Panther. Aside from the occasional appearance, he didn’t appear in many comics and even less in his own title. However, during Marvel’s post-bankruptcy creative renaissance in 1998, he was given a brand new series directed by Christopher Priest.
This story is a one-of-a-kind mash-up of elements that could be described as Coming to America meets street-level action with a dash of the supernatural.
When a Wakandan-backed charity organization is blamed for the death of a child, Black Panther is forced to flee to the United States. The investigation triggers a chain reaction that results in a leadership struggle and a visit from the devil himself.
The Client is presented out of order and is narrated by Everett K Ross, a secondary character. Ross is introduced in this arc and serves as a bridge between familiar Western elements and Wakandian culture throughout Priest’s long run. He’s also comic relief, injecting levity into a series marked by T’Challa’s sternness and seriousness.
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