5:100 Black Panther Vol. 8: The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda Pt.3 by Ta-Nehisi Coates

The worlds of Wakanda Prime and the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda are colliding and T'Challa is in the middle of it all. Finally able to return to Wakanda Prime and trying to relearn who he was and recapture some of the memories that were stolen from him but N'Jadaka will not let things stand.  

Complex character arcs and rich storytelling, it continues to be an enthralling read.

Page count: 136p/1,023p ytd/348,404p lifetime

6:100 Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet Book two by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Really hard to summarize this series as there are plots and subplots and just a lot going on.  I'm reading slowly trying to catch it all.  In order to not give stuff away, I'm going to just use my review from the first volume for all subsequent volumes.  Know that I'm really enjoying them but I think the way they unfold means they are best experienced fresh.

I have so much to say about this but it's hard to nail it all down.  Having read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and completely loved the Black Panther movie, I was super excited when I saw that Mr. Coates would be writing for the comic.  I was not disappointed.  The story was a bit slow in this as it was the first installment but that is because there was so much being set-up.  There is a lot of depth to T'Challa (from my understanding drawing from many different comic versions of the character), the "villains" are ones that are understandable even sympathetic, the questions being asked are not simply answered and force T'Challa to question so much of what he thinks he knows and understands.  Layers upon layers.  On another note, I also really enjoyed the art which I tend to be incredibly picky about (or why I don't read tons of comics).


Page count: 144p/1,751p ytd/312,656p lifetime

2:100 Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet book 1 by Ta-Nehisi Coates, Illustrated by Brain Stelfreeze

I have so much to say about this but it's hard to nail it all down.  Having read Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates and completely loved the Black Panther movie, I was super excited when I saw that Mr. Coates would be writing for the comic.  I was not disappointed.  The story was a bit slow in this as it was the first installment but that is because there was so much being set-up.  There is a lot of depth to T'Challa (from my understanding drawing from many different comic versions of the character), the "villains" are ones that are understandable even sympathetic, the questions being asked are not simply answered and force T'Challa to question so much of what he thinks he knows and understands.  Layers upon layers.  On another note, I also really enjoyed the art which I tend to be incredibly picky about (or why I don't read tons of comics).



Page count: 144p/496p ytd/311,401p lifetime

37:100 Velveteen vs. the Junior Super-Patriots by Seanan McGuire

Velma spent a good part of her "childhood" as Velveteen, a member of the Junior Super Patriots West-Coast division, a super hero who could bring stuffed animals and toys to life to do her will.  Her every move, piece of clothing, and word coming from her mouth were scripted by the Marketing Division. 

Until she turned 18 and she quit.

Now she is trying to find a way to make ends meet without using her super powers while evading the attempts of the Super Patriots to bring her back into the fold.  Marketing simply does not give up one of their stars.  Her best bet is to get out of California and into Oregon who is not bound by the rules of the Super Patriots, West Coast division.  She knows that getting there won't be easy but she didn't realize just how dirty Marketing was willing to play.

This story is what you get when the superhero just wants to be left alone, to have a "normal" life, and not be part of any team.  This is the less glamorous side of the superhero story.  This is brilliant.


Page count: 200p/7,103p ytd/299,124p lifetime