The Black Panther!

Television, Movies Games and Books Comics
#1

I have to say that I usually listen to the podcast in the background while doing other things. I nod in agreement with what has been said. Imagine now, my ears perking up when Audra mentions “The Black Panther!”

Before the current series of “The Black Panther,” guided by the vision of Reginald Hudlin, there was a 60 issue run if the title written by Christopher Priest - a long-time comic veteran unfortunate enough to have the same name as a prominent scifi writer. Anywho…

At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, this was the best sustained run of any superhero comic I’ve ever read. And, comics being where my geekdom reached its first and fullest flower, I have read quite a few. Priest’s, “TBP” had something for everyone. Great art. Humor. Romance. Humanity. Very clever. Oh, and some heavy scifi elements.

I should mention that I could have cared less about the character, before my local comic guy actually bought me an issue and said I would only have to pay him back if I didn’t come back for the rest. And I became an addicted fan. It was the only superhero title that I had to read while it was being published, my tastes having mostly shifted away from superheros. But I’ll read a good yarn, no matter what the genre.

I’ve included Amazon links to two of Priest’s TPB collections below. You will be hooked when you’ve read the “Devil’s Pants.” Riding on Audra’s coattails I was actually thinking about suggesting them for the GWC reading group.

“The Client”: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Panther-Client-Christopher-Priest/dp/0785107894/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1205140171&sr=1-6

“Enemy of the State”: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Panther-Enemy-State-TPB/dp/0785108297/ref=pd_sim_b_title_7

#2

I completely agree–even with the shuffling artists on the early issues, that was a great comic. Priest redefined Black Panther.

#3

I was enough of a fanatic that I bought two copies of each issue and had the guy at the store give the 2nd copy away to another customer in the hopes that they would start picking it up after the read a copy.

#4

Priest is great. Hudlin, which I believe is what Audra was/is reading…is so bad it’s not even funny. RIP good Black Panther

#5

I don’t know–I haven’t read the new series, but I heard it picked up after a bit of a rocky start.

I read some of Dwayne McDuffie’s Fantastic Four w/Panther as leader of the Four and I liked those issues a lot–he was definitely using Priest’s Panther.