Whom Gods Destroy — Reviewing ‘Black Panther: Blood Hunt’ #3
by Scott Redmond
Overview
History and lore are a big part of franchise fandoms, sometimes to their detriment. Black Panther: Blood Hunt #3 doesn’t reach that point, but it walks the line in a very wobbily fashion. A fine tie-in comic that does what it’s meant to do, and not much more than that.
Overall
8/10Gods, demons, and panthers collide as the former King of Wakanda’s Blood Hunt side quest comes somewhat to an end.
Gaps, desired or not, are sort of filled in Black Panther: Blood Hunt #3. This between-main-event-issues tale comes from Cheryl Lynn Eaton, Farid Karami, Andrew Dalhouse, Joe Sabino.
If a lore drop was turned into a comic book, it might look something like this completed trilogy of a tie-in series. I’m not saying lore drops are inherently boring or bad, or anything of that nature. It’s just a lot to take in and doesn’t often make for memorable or even fun stories.
Eaton has a tall order to fill here. Dealing with T’Challa as a vampire, but also quickly moving through a whole ancient ‘god and demons’ history lesson. Especially since the main series has already lapped and left this book behind, partially in its dust. Everything flows pretty well, and on paper is intriguing, but overall, it’s just kind of fine. As much as I love Wakanda and all the science and myth around it, might be nice to get some Panther stories beyond these realms.
Not that I’m saying I want to take the character from Wakanda or anything. Just maybe more stories can focus on the Panther and their role as a world hero also. Not everything has to be about secret histories and gods/demons or otherwise. Yet, the past few series have all been heavily centered on that stuff.
Karami gets to really play even more here, as there are more godly beings on most of the pages than you can shake a stick at. Everything feels weighty and significant, panel choices creating great depth and movement. A nice bit of roughness comes with the art, speaking to the darker tone of the story.
We see that quite well in the color palette that Dalhouse provides. A lot of shadowy, heavier, sometimes colder colors. Lots of whites, grays, and blues in some places. Others take on opposing colors to bring on the bloody fiery vibes. This is less of a superhero book so there are less of the really big-time vibrant colors that come in that territory.
Speaking of the gods, and speaking, still really dig the different voices that Sabino provides. Letting speech bubbles change shape, color, and font styles just looks so good. It also lets the brain read each bit of dialogue completely differently. Picking up the emotional energy or resonating feeling evoked by the given lettering. It’s definitely felt when Eshu comes down like a scolding parent to put their fellow Gods in their place.
Black Panther: Blood Hunt #3 is now available from Marvel Comics.
