• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Crushing Krisis

Comic Books, Drag Race, & Life in New Zealand

  • DC Guides
    • DC Events
    • DC New 52
    • DC Rebirth
    • Batman Guide
    • The Sandman Universe
  • Marvel Guides
    • Marvel Events
    • Captain America Guide
    • Iron Man Guide
    • Spider-Man Guide (1963-2018)
    • Spider-Man Guide (2018-Present)
    • Thor Guide
    • X-Men Reading Order
  • Indie & Licensed Comics
    • Spawn
    • Star Wars Guide
      • Expanded Universe Comics (2015 – present)
      • Legends Comics (1977 – 2014)
    • Valiant Guides
  • Drag
    • Canada’s Drag Race
    • Drag Race Belgique
    • Drag Race Down Under
    • Drag Race Sverige (Sweden)
    • Drag Race France
    • Drag Race Philippines
    • Dragula
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race
    • RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars
  • Archive
  • Contact!
You are here: Home / consume / comic books / Black Panther by Christopher Priest, Vol. 1 – The #41 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus of 2017

Black Panther by Christopher Priest, Vol. 1 – The #41 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus of 2017

May 23, 2017 by krisis

For a character about to be starring in his own Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Black Panther has relatively few long-running series, and even fewer enduring classic stories.

Christopher Priest’s 60-plus issue run beginning in 1998 is both. It’s a fun, funny, challenging read that makes the most of the comic medium and T’Challa’s status as super hero and sovereign.

Black_Panther_1998_0001Black Panther by Christopher Priest, Vol. 1 is the #41 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus of 2017 on Tigereyes’s Secret Ballot. Visit the Marvel Masterworks Message Board to view the original posting of results by Tigereyes. To collect these issues (and more), visit the Guide to Black Panther.

Past Ranking: This volume has slid seven spots from #34 in 2016.

Probable Contents: Black Panther (1998) #1-35 & Deadpool (1997) #44

Creators: Written by Christopher Priest.

Priest launched with Joe Quesada co-writing #1-4 with art from Mark Texeira. After that, Priest was joined by an army of pencilers – with over half of the issues by Sal Velluto and others including Vince Evans (#5), Joe Jusko (#6-8), Amanda Conner (#8), Mike Manley (#9-10), Mark “Doc” Bright (#11-12 & 24), Kyle Hotz (#18), Norm Keith Breyfogle (#30), & Jim Calafiore (#34-35)

Can you read it right now? Yes, in just two books – Black Panther by Christopher Priest: The Complete Collection Volume 1 and Volume 2. For more details (and the following volumes), see the Guide to Black Panther. Plus, it’s available in-full on Marvel Unlimited.

The Details:

The 80s and 90s diminished Black Panther from a leading man and Avenger to a minor character practically in exile aside from a pair of mini-series and a run of quarter-issue stories in Marvel Comics Presents.

That’s part of why Christopher Priest’s 62-issue run on 1998’s Black Panther is such a revelation – Panther simply hadn’t been seen or used at length in nearly two decades. Also, Priest marked the first time a black author scripted T’Challa (though he had long been associated with black artists, from Billy Graham on his original run to Denys Cowan and Dwayne Turner pencilling him in those 1988 and 1991 mini-series, respectively).

It’s also very good comics.Or, at least, it becomes good comics. The first four issues, co-plotted by Joe Quesada, are a comedic muddle of cross-cut, non-linear story-telling that barely star T’Challa. I could see them putting a lot of readers off of this series.

Priest’s concept saw T’Challa in America as a foreign diplomat who had no intentions of putting away his superhero mantle while on US soil. It was the job of dweeby State Department employee Everett K. Ross to accompany this visiting head of state. It’s through Ross’s eyes that we watch T’Challa’s modern adventures unfold during the initial run of this series that would be covered by this omnibus.

It’s a strange and utterly correct choice by Priest. Ross injects the book with humor, not only of his own creation but in how he views the fantastical Black Panther and his entourage. The fractured narrative gradually (but never completely) settles down after the first handful of issues to follow a more discernable, chronological form of storytelling. That gives Ross’s humor more time to land. At points, his farcical commentary over a series of super-powered classes reaches a similar territory to Deadpool (which Priest briefly penned in this period, including a crossover with Black Panther).

Never before had a writer dissected T’Challa’s roles as a monarch, a hero, and a foreign agent in the decidedly All-American Avengers. Seeing it from an outside point-of-view emphasizes Panther as one of Marvel’s most otherworldly creations even if he is just a man who doesn’t wear colorful spandex or wield explosive super-powers. It also exposed the constant duality of T’Challa’s existence – loyal to his fellow heroes, but never at the cost of his own people.

You can read Priest’s own commentary on the series, which is much more of an advertisement for this run than anything else I can say for it. It includes a lot of behind-the-scenes details of the run, including the editorial push-and-pull behind Priests’s use of the non-linear narrative and in tying in with the concurrent Kurt Busiek run of Avengers.

What I can say for Priest is that he’s the best kind of challenging comics writer – one who breaks the rules of the medium only because he knows them so well and can employ them so thoroughly when the situation is right. His relative disappearance from comics for a decade starting in 2005 is a disservice to fans and characters everywhere, which is what makes his current run on DC Rebirth’s Deathstroke such a delight.

Black_Panther_1998_0030If you’re currently reading Priest’s Deathstroke, try Priest’s Panther (and, if you liked Priest’s Panther, try his Deathstroke).

If you enjoy the modern Ta’Nehisi Coates take on Panther then definitely read Priest’s Panther, as it’s massively rooted in his run.

Weirdly, if you like Deadpool – either in the 90s or in Marvel Now – you should also try Priest’s Panther.

The only person I’d say shouldn’t necessarily leap at the chance at trying Priest’s Panther might be the most plentiful: fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe who are eager for his 2018 film.

Priest’s run might be a little to deconstructionist for a relatively newer comics reader – I might direct those fans first to the initial portion of Hudlin’s subsequent run, or the later Maberry issues which feature more straight-up superheroism.

Will we see this omnibus in 2018? Hell yes.

Marvel has waited less time to issue Omnibuses after Complete Collections in the past. Plus, even if this material is challenging, it’s still unquestionably the best Black Panther they’ve got to appeal to a wide audience of fans from both the comics and the films.

Would I recommend buying it? I think you should buy the run, but not necessarily the omnibus.

Personally, I might recommend the pair of cheaper Complete Collections to you if you’re unfamiliar with this run, as it’s not necessarily for everyone. But, if omnibuses are your thing, you should definitely buy it.

The 2017 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus Secret Ballot Results

  • #60 – What If? Classic Omnibus, Vol. 1
  • #59 – House of M Omnibus
  • #58 – Captain Marvel by Peter David, Vol. 1
  • #57 –  X-Force by Kyle & Yost
  • #56 – Namor, The Sub-Mariner, Vol. 1
  • #55 – X-Force, Vol. 3 AKA Cable & X-Force, Vol. 1
  • #54 – Conan The Barbarian, Vol. 1
  • #53 – Thor: God of Thunder by Jason Aaron
  • #52 – Incredible Hercules by Pak & Van Lente
  • #51 – Amazing Spider-Man: Brand New Day, Vol. 1
  • #50 – Ghost Rider: Danny Ketch, Vol. 1
  • #49 – Captain America (Silver Age), Vol. 3
  • #48 – Doctor Strange by Roger Stern
  • #47 – Marvel Horror of the 1970s
  • #46 – Killraven
  • #45 – Captain America by Mark Gruenwald, Vol. 1
  • #44 – Runways by Brian K. Vaughan
  • #43 – Superior Spider-Man
  • #42 – The Punisher by Rucka & Checchetto
  • #41 – Black Panther by Christopher Priest, Vol. 1
  • #40 – Avengers West Coast by Roy Thomas

Related posts:

  1. Black Panther Film Club! (Warning: Spoilers!)
  2. Black Panther Book Club, Week 4 of 4: Black Panther by Ta-Nehisi Coates issues #1-12
  3. Wolverine, Vol. 3 AKA by Hama & Silvestri – The #38 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus of 2017
  4. Avengers by Jonathan Hickman, Vol. 2 – The #38 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus of 2017
  5. Black Panther Book Club, Week 1 of 4: Black Panther by Christopher Priest issues #1-12
  6. Black Panther Book Club, Week 2 of 4: Black Panther by Christopher Priest issues #13-24
  7. Black Panther Book Club, Week 3 of 4: Black Panther by Christopher Priest issues #25-35

Filed Under: comic books Tagged With: Black Panther, Christopher Priest, Jim Calafiore, Joe Jusko, Joe Quesada, Mark Texeira, Mike Manley, Most Wanted Marvel Omnibus, Sal Velluto

Previous Post: « The Punisher by Rucka & Checchetto – The #42 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus of 2017
Next Post: Avengers West Coast by Thomas & Thomas – The #40 Most-Wanted Marvel Omnibus of 2017 »

Primary Sidebar


Support Crushing Krisis on Patreon
Support CK
on Patreon


Follow me on Twitter Contact me Watch me on Youtube Subscribe to the CK RSS Feed

About CK

About Crushing Krisis
About My Music
About Your Author
Blog Archive
Comics Blogs Only
Contact Krisis
Terms & Conditions

Crushing Comics

Marvel Comics

Marvel Events Guide

Spider-Man Guide

DC Comics

  • UPDATED: Wolverine, Logan
  • New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – September 20, 2023
    Catch up on newly-released comic books and collected editions from Marvel Comics September 20 2023, with guides to every title & character! […]
  • New for Patrons: Guide to Monica Rambeau – Photon, Spectrum, & Captain Marvel
    It's time to shine a light on a Guide to Monica Rambeau. She's been Photon, Spectrum, & even Captain Marvel. Read EVERY issue in order. […]
  • Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)Updated: Guide to Avengers (1963-1996)
    Happy Anniversary to Marvel's Avengers! To celebrate I rebuilt my definitive guide to Avengers (1963-1996), including EVERY issue & collection. […]
  • Silver Age X-Men GuideUpdated: Silver Age X-Men Guide
    I've updated my definitive Silver Age X-Men Guide to collected editions of the earliest X-Men comics, including a new Penguin Classics & Taschen editions. […]
  • Guide to Conan the BarbarianUpdated: Guide to Conan The Barbarian
    I've overhauled my Guide to Conan the Barbarian to celebrate the release of Titan Comics' new Conan the Barbarian series written by Jim Zub. […]
  • Avengers Inc. (2023) #1 by Al Ewing & Leonard Kirk, released by Marvel Comics September 13 2023New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – September 13, 2023
    Catch up on newly-released comic books and collected editions from Marvel Comics September 13 2023, with guides to every title & character! […]
  • Guide to Birds of PreyNew for Patrons: Guide to Birds of Prey
    Who are the Birds of Prey? Learn what cast members define one of DC's signature team with my Guide to Birds of Prey! […]
  • Fantastic Four (2022) #11 released by Marvel Comics September 6 2023New Comics & Collected Editions: Marvel Comics – September 6, 2023
    Catch up on newly-released comic books and collected editions from Marvel Comics September 6 2023, with guides to every title & character! […]
  • It’s gonna be May! Oh, wait, it’s ALREADY May…
    Hello, friends! Unfortunately, my non-CK life and […]
  • Drax GuideDrax Guide – now available to the public!
    Learn how the MCU merged several incarnations Drax into Dave Bautista's hyper-literal warrior with a vendetta agains Thanos in my Drax Guide! […]
  • Guide to GamoraGamora Guide – now available to the public!
    My Gamora Guide will help you find every Marvel comic starring Thanos's adopted daughter and the most dangerous woman in the galaxy! […]
  • Drag Race España Season 3, Episode 2 – “Drag Vision” Review & Power Rankings
    The queens of Drag Race España Season 3 make a collective stumble in this "Drag Vision" choreography challenge, earning the ire of the judges (though it's the kindest ire you'll ever see). […]
  • Star-Lord GuideStar-Lord Guide – now available to the public!
    Get ready for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 with my Star-Lord Guide, including every comics appearance of Marvel's TWO distinct Star-Lords! […]

Content Copyright ©2000-2023 Krisis Productions

Crushing Krisis participates in affiliate programs including (but not limited to): Amazon Services LLC Associates Program (in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain), eBay Partner Network, and iTunes Affiliate Program. If you make a qualifying purchase through an affiliate link I may receive a commission.