Black Panther #8-9 & X-Men #175-176 (2005): Wild Kingdom

While everyone was appearing in House of M, the only X-book not involved in that linewide event teamed up with Black Panther to prove that series crossover events could happen on a much smaller scale and be a lot better.  I’m not a hater, I liked House of M, but I really liked these issues.

In the last Black Panther arc, T’Challa overthrew the corrupt government of a neighboring Niganda, and now that region is undergoing a violent regime change.  At the same time, mutated animals are terrorizing the people.  Storm returns to Africa to investigate.

And some of her X-friends come too. 

As the story progresses, Storm seems to realize that fighting man-eating beasts is a symptom of a much bigger problem in Africa.

They find a laboratory where Black Panther is investigating the same events.  Team up!

Turns out, Genoshian geneticists are now experimenting in Africa.  But they are not alone…

A talking gorilla with hypnosis powers?  We all recognize him…He’s a super ape!  Red Ghost was behind it all, funding the Genoshian doctors’ experiments.  His plan?  Take over Niganda and make it communist.

Of course the heroes win, but the real impact of this event is not the action story—it’s the developments for Storm.  At the end of these issues, she decides to stay in Africa.  Not in Wakanda, though—she wants to serve the entire continent and return to her roots.

Ororo and T’Challa flirt throughout these issues, and the tale ends with a kiss and a promise to meet again.

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