Marvel Comics x Def Jam Collab Brings New Voices
Marvel Comics is collaborating with Def Jam Recordings to bring the voices of three rising Black stars to the comic book page.
Each of the final three comics in the Black Panther “Intergalactic Empire” arc by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuña will include three-page character-driven comics by young Def Jam stars Saint Bhodi, Bobby Sessions, and Kaash Paige. Each of the stories will center on a character who has a specific relationship with Wakanda, the fictional nation that is the setting of the Black Panther series.
Def Jam x Marvel Comics Team-Up for Black Panther
The short comics will be included in Black Panther #23, Black Panther #24, and Black Panther #25. The first comic, Black Panther #23, will be released on February 24th, and in commemoration of Black History Month, the included comic will focus on Storm, who was once married to T’Challa (although the couple subsequently divorced).
Photo: DARREN CRAIG/DEF JAM
Issue #23 is written by Bhodi, who is known for her vivid storytelling, with a creative team that includes co-writer Danny Lore, artist Alitha Martinez, and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, this story will also be printed in Marvel’s Voices: Legacy #1, which will be released in comic shops the same day. Hopefully, Bhodi will bring some of that Mad World style to the pages of Black Panther.
Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1 Hip-Hop Variant by artist Alitha Martinez and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg. Photo: Marvel Comics
In March, Black Panther #24 will include a story by Texas-based rapper Sessions, focused on the King of Wakanda himself, T’Challa, A.K.A. Black Panther. The artist states that he hopes his body of work, including the forthcoming comic, will “lead people to find their inner Super Hero!”
Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty
And in April, Black Panther #25 will include a story by another Dallas-based hip-hop artist, Paige, that focuses on Princess Shuri and the importance of knowledge. The rising star signed with Def Jam in 2019, but has already made a name for herself with high profile fans like Kylie Jenner.
Photo: Meredith Truax
Bringing Diverse, New Voices to Marvel Comics
In statements made to Marvel.com that were included with the announcement of the collaboration between Marvel Comics and Def Jam Recordings, the three artists emphasized how the unique perspective achieved through their work with music will afford them a unique point of view on the comic book page.
Photo: Marvel
The Def Jam x Marvel Comics collaboration is “designed to integrate the voices of young Black creatives with one of the most transformative characters and storylines in graphic arts,” executives told Rolling Stone, about the innovative new way to tell stories for Black hip-hop artists amid the pandemic.
Which one of these upcoming short comic stories are you most anticipating? Have you been keeping up with Black Panther’s “Intergalactic Empire” storyline?
