YEAH! THAT REALLY HAPPENED?...... Black Panther

Remember that time Black Panther fought the White ‘Supremacists’ from neighboring country Azania? Yeah, I didn’t think so. This ranks right up there with the great train wrecks and bad ideas in comic history. Back in the later eighties Marvel published a four issue ‘limited series’ starring the king of Wakanda, T’challa, himself. He found himself in opposition to the aforementioned country and a conflict that drew along racial lines. This was during a time when South Africa was dealing with Apartheid where the white majority was seen as oppressing the African populace. Many universities and public figures were divesting themselves of any connections or shares of stock from any company operating from the country.

Then, we have this blatant comparison that can’t be missed. Not to say South Africa didn’t deserve the venom. It was just a bit TOO obvious and cartoony. If it weren’t for a decent story in the background, this would have been a real pain to read. T’challa is dealing with a rift with the Panther spirit and a challenge to his ability to lead. This was an able enough story. Whoever it was that thought bringing race into this was a good idea was wrong. It just basically came over as a commercial for race relations or a story you would find in some afterschool special comic book touting the ills of smoking or doing drugs.

They just don’t produce comics like this anymore. Thank goodness! On top of the ‘over the top’ subject matter, it came with a readymade white power super group with a list of names that came right out of a bad writer’s trash can. Barricade, Voortrekker (a South Afrikaan pioneer), White Avenger (my favorite), Hungyr, Captain Blaze and Harrier.

The series continued on adequately enough, but could hardly get over this bit of outrageously

bad writing. Peter B. Gillis may have better days and better books like Strikeforce: Morituri, What if?, Defenders or Doctor Strange, but this isn’t one of his best works. Not even close.

BDC-