Deathlok Is The One Who Knocks: Reviewing ‘Black Panther’ #3

Wedding bells are ringing in Birnin T’Chaka, and they come with a side of death. More like a Deathlok actually. Black Panther #3 continues its deep dive into this new city that the exiled former King now calls home while growing his world as well.

Black Panther is one of those characters who has ended up in a bit of a ‘status quo’ cycle. Meaning that, while different, his various titles have circled around some of the same spaces, themes, or ideas. Generally, that would be upon being King of Wakanda and what goes down in the golden capital city. Sometimes they focus on his Avengers stuff or a mix of the two.

With this newest series though we’re getting one of those rare occasions where the series goes left at the crossroads rather than right.

As much as this is the story of what is next for T’Challa after his exile from Wakanda, it’s even more a story of Birnin T’Chaka and the people there. Eve L. Ewing has really opened the world of Wakanda, giving us a city that is so different from the Wakanda we’ve been shown. A city where organized crime is king, and the people have their own culture and cycles that don’t include the royals/capital in any way.

A perfect example is a comment made about the wedding of Ororo & T’Challa being huge, which is dismissed promptly by the young woman, Zaneeba, whom T’Challa is speaking with. To the people of Birnin T’Chaka, the capital city might as well be in another country. Elements like who the King married once upon a time meant very little to them (at least through Zaneeba’s perspective) compared to a big wedding in their own city.

A union between members of two crime families, like royals of old, is far more a major occasion for them as it affects their actual lives.

Overall, I love that the city and even the new character Beisa/Natima, as well as T’Challa’s new supporting cast, take the spotlight here. We know T’Challa and what makes him tick at this point, so we don’t need to dwell on him all that much. Outside of a few bits here or there since he is in a new very tough situation. We’re getting the fleshing out of Wakanda in a way that we don’t normally see.

Part of what helps sell this new city space is the depth, personality, and vividness that make it stand out in various ways. This is thanks to the work that Chris Allen, Craig Yeung, and Jesus Aburtov have done, and they are joined this time by Mack Chater (pencils and inks).

Allen and Chater have similar, yet notably different styles. Those differences are of a level where you can tell at first glance but not in a way that really makes the reader pause. More like being on the road and noticing that the surroundings have slightly changed because you entered a new neighborhood. Either way, there is still the weight and depth to be found in how they render this world and the people who call it home. A fluidity to the movement that allows us to feel like it truly is a living and breathing place before us.

As a city with more of the crime elements at large, there is a darker and more shadowy tone to some portions of the art. Yet, others are awash in the very vibrant pop off the page types of colors showcasing the beauty and personality of this space. This is something that we’ve always seen with Wakanda as a place within these pages. Here though it’s just a shift to that vibrancy to again, make sure that this city and the capital stand apart.

We’re amongst the people in this issue, bouncing between various characters and spaces. There is a lot of dialogue to be found, as well as location tags, to set the story and move things forward. Joe Sabino makes it all flow so easily through the panels, shifting things here or there as needed. One of my favorites is how the font shrinks and sort of lightens when characters are quieter at the moment. Just that visual cue is enough to instantly allow us to change their voice in our head to be a whisper, just as bigger fonts ramp the voice up to higher levels.

Lettering is about more than just getting the words down that the script requires. Giving those words energy and personality is a major element, as is giving them distinct visual flairs. Something to make them fun, memorable, as well as practical and useful. This is something that Sabino excels at every time.

One note I forgot to include previously, is about how much I love the Wakandan language and imagery incorporated into many of the pages. Using it as frames for panels, small little panels that break up the main panels, and in various spaces throughout the issue. It gives the entire series a different flavor and some distinct visual energy.

Black Panther #3 is now available from Marvel Comics.