Ruling In Space Ain’t Easy — Reviewing ‘Black Panther: Intergalactic’ #1

A simmering plot brings grand change and greater danger to the playing field of galactic empires within the Marvel Universe. This is what brought the Black Panther back to rule the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda as Emperor.

None of that matters though as the newly crowned Emperor finds himself in a bit of trouble within Black Panther: Intergalactic #1. The first entry to a new miniseries for the royal character from Victor LaValle, Stefano Nesi, Bryan Valenza, and Ariana Maher.

I’m not sure what to make of this first issue fully.

There are thoughts, which will be shared here, but my overall feelings are still kind of murky and unstable. Expanding focus on the galactic side of Marvel was a grand idea. There was a time, back in the 2000s, when Marvel did the same following Annihilation. I was all on board at that time with the Nova book and the birth of the version of the Guardians of the Galaxy we know well now.

Some of that sort of atmosphere is captured here by LaValle with this series. T’Challa is seemingly lost, stranded somewhere that is alien but full of simulacrums of familiar individuals to his home world. All this while Shuri tries to find her brother and former ruler M’Baku makes some moves as well.

All that is fine and there is nothing inherently wrong with the issue. It just feels a bit light and strange in some ways. T’Challa feels so very verbose as he runs around alone narrating everything happening. Sure, later the bit about him not being sure if Shuri is still listening so he talks to record is fine, but before that it feels odd. As does the choice to bring T’Challa back to ruling, after he lost that ability on Earth, and then do little with it. Instead, he’s on a different, still potentially fun, adventure.

This adventure is brought to rough and sharp life by Nesi, an artist that I don’t believe I’ve encountered before. Their style is very animated and flows quite well, with darkness embedded alongside the rougher whimsical stylings. All the sequences are dense and emotionally resonating while full of detail and foundational building. Faces are a bit wonky but still full of uniqueness and emotional depth.

Thick dense ranges of color are added, thanks to Valenza, who always can morph their color palette style to match whatever artist’s work they are adding to with such grace and ease. Those colors feel slick and smooth with touches of the same rough textures from the rest of the artwork. Going heavier on darker tones in many spaces highlights the differences between Wakanda spaces and the alien world T’Challa inhabits. Where things are lusher and more vibrant at times in a very compelling way.

Despite T’Challa’s propensity to pour out dialogue, it’s well rendered and precise in application from Maher, who is always one of the best letterers around in how they deliver and design their work. She makes sure each word hits with punctuative power, little flairs of uniqueness peppered in for flavor. All of the various lettering bits are given their own visual boosting to add to the overall tone and power of the issue as a whole.

Overall, it’s a fine start, and I don’t want to judge the issue too hard with more to come. LaValle is a writer that I trust and seeing him work with T’Challa is a treat that I hope pays off in the end.

Black Panther: Intergalactic #1 is now available from Marvel Comics.