So apparently we’re still doing the Marvel Knights thing, because this is an MK title. Interesting. In a world where we have a MAX universe and all comics are skewing more adult, I wonder why MK is still a thing.
Reggie Hudlin has his fans and detractors, and I fall somewhere in the middle. Specifically, I found his Black Panther run to be extremely uneven. Here, he’s paired with Denys Cowan–so that’s nice. His art tends to elevate everything it illustrates. I’m hopeful.
The story starts with a flashback to World War II, with Captain America leading the Howling Commandos on a mission. The narrator is Gabriel Jones–the black member of the team.
It’s an interesting entry point. During mission prep, they’re all at mess and Cap finishes the food on Jones’ plate (he was done eating), and Gabriel shares his observation that a white man had never used the same fork as him before. This is the kind of stuff Hudlin does well.
The mission takes the team to Wakanda, where they are racing stop Hitler’s contingent–led by Baron Strucker and Red Skull–from getting Vibranium.
So this is the first meeting of Black Panther and Captain America, and if course it starts out with Panther treating Cap like an invader (which he is–he’s entering Wakanda without authority).
Another nice touch: Instead of fighting each other, the two leaders actually talk and decide to become allies.
Note: This is T’Chanda, not T’Challa. Different Black Panther than the one who later becomes an Avengers.
Fury isn’t one to make fast friends, so a subplot involves him ordering Gabe Jones to spy on the Wakandans–figuring that since he’s black, he’ll blend in better. And he kinda does, but as a result of his getting enmeshed in Wakandan society, he becomes protective of it and feels an affinity.
The Nazis send in their own super soldiers: Master Man, Warrior Woman, and Armless Tiger Man, and their new ally: White Gorilla.
That dialogue is fantastic. There’s so much here, starting with “White Gorilla” (perhaps a spoof of how in the ’60/’70s heroes with black skin often had the word “black” in their name, like Black Lightning, Black Goliath and, yes, Black Panther?). Then there’s Red Skull’s own brand of bigotry, but the really interesting part is Armless Tiger Man using a Yiddish racial epithet. I mean, there’s no way he’s Jewish is there?
I need more information. This is fascinating. Sadly, I’ll never get answers: He dies in the story.
Gabe shoots him in the head. The other Nazis appear to be killed as well.
The story itself, of the Nazis trying to steal Vibranium and Cap/Panther stopping them, is fine. It’s really just a vehicle for complex themes of race and ethnicity, belonging, and the meaning of heroism. It is worth sharing this, though…
Look how cute he is with his little red head popping out!
After telling the Nazis to f–k off, the Americans return home. Gabe followed orders and has stolen a small sample of vibranium, which is used to update Captain America’s shield.
Meanwhile, King Azzurri considers joining the Western world.
This is a great series. I highly recommend it. It ties into continuity, fills in some blank areas in the history of the various characters, and through it all each character is distinct and written with intention.