General Information
Title: Black Panther #22-25
Author: Reginald Hudlin
Illustrator(s): Pencils by Manuel Garcia, Marcus To and Koi Turnbull. Inks by Jay Leisten, Sean Parsons, Don Ho, Sal Regla, Jeff de los Santos, and Nick Nix. Colours by Matt Milla and J. D. Smith.
Original Publication Date: These issues cover dated from January through April 2007.
Cover Price: Each issue cover priced $2.99 US or $3.75 Canadian.
Past comic reviews can be found
here.
Premise
T'Challa and his new wife, Storm, decide to take a more active role while opposing the Registration Act.
High Point
Storm's grandmother.
Low Point
The inconsistent and generally poor art.
The Scores
There is one major original element in this crossover that didn't appear in the others. The entire Civil War is about a law and whether to support or fight it, and this was the only title to take a purely political approach to the Act. T'Challa is a king, so he comes to an embassy, arranges meetings with the President, and generally works through proper channels for as long as possible. I give it 5 out of 6.
The artwork, as you may have guessed from the length of the illustrator list, is very inconsistent. (There are three pencillers, six inkers, two colourists, and only four issues here!) Worse than the inconsistency is the fact that the art in three of these four issues (excepting the first issue, by Garcia, Leisten, Parsons and Milla) is just plain bad. I give it 3 out of 6.
The story is more enjoyable than the wedding issue. This had a chance to show a more unique voice for the title than that issue had, which ultimately helps justify the additional crossover. It's nice to see rational and collected opposition on the debate. I give it 5 out of 6.
The characterization is very good, with clear insight into both Storm and T'Challa. Their decisions and motives, as well as those of the characters they interact with, are all well understood and consistent with those characters. I give it 5 out of 6.
The emotional response was limited by my own preferences. The very politics that make this a unique title are what put me off a little. (I'm not a huge fan of politics, which is why it took me three attempts to get through God Emperor of Dune.) The politics are well handled, but they don't come across as exciting. I give it 4 out of 6.
The flow mainly needs to carry the reader from one conversation to another, and that much was done successfully. I give it 5 out of 6.
Overall, it's a decent story, and one that will appeal more to the politically minded than to myself. I give it 4 out of 6.
In total, Black Panther #22-25 receive 31 out of 42.
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