The following contains spoilers for Black Panther #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
After being dethroned and exiled, Black Panther (T’Challa) finds himself in a less than glamorous part of Wakanda.
In Black Panther #1 (by Eve Ewing and Christopher Allen) the titular hero relocates to Birnin T'Chaka (a city that is named after his late father). While the city possesses most of the resources that Wakanda has to offer, its shady streets are littered with criminal activity.
The overall sketchiness of the area is a far cry from the Wakanda that readers have grown accustomed to throughout the years. And, instead of battling a bunch of grandiose superpowered villains with his superhero allies, Black Panther is fighting mostly average everyday criminals on his own.
Marvel Gives Readers a More Realistic Wakanda
For a while now, Marvel has presented Wakanda in an almost flawless light. However, this new spin on the fictional country could do wonders for it. Not only does it give the Black Panther franchise more storytelling opportunities, but it can also somewhat ground the series in reality.
This change of pace for Black Panther may be exactly what the character and his fans need. The refreshing grittiness of the story would give readers a chance to explore a completely different part of Wakanda. This new world could also force T’Challa to challenge himself and forge a new path in life, giving him the second chance that he deserves.
Black Panther #1 written by Eve Ewing with art from Christopher Allen and cover by Taurin Clarke, is on sale now from Marvel Comics.