REVIEW: Sleeper No More in Black Panther (2021) #2
In Black Panther (2021) #2 by John Ridley, Juann Cabal, Federico Blee, and Joe Sabino, with a main cover by Alex Ross, T’Challa has returned to Earth and is struggling with the new Parliamentary Democracy that has been set up in Wakanda. Meanwhile, his best friend, Jhai, a sleeper agent, has been murdered! Can Shuri, T’Challa, and Jhai’s lover Omolola work together to protect the surviving sleeper agents before it is too late?
“The Long Shadow” Book Two
Photo Credit: Marvel Comics.
First of all, shout out to this issue for an awesome first page.
Photo Credit: Marvel Comics.
This nine-panel-grid gives us three different peoples’ reactions to the news that T’Challa is shutting down the Wakandan sleeper agent program, each of them very different. The three characters are arranged in three descending panels, with the difference in the three reactions being highlighted by red, green, and yellow backgrounds, respectively. Essentially, this first page uses a whole bunch of comic book tools in order to get the issue off to a very compelling start. Masterful work!
Photo Credit: Marvel Comics.
Another element of this story that I really enjoyed is the way it took the form of a globe-trotting adventure. In order to meet with the many sleeper agents Wakanda has placed around the planet, T’Challa and Omolola visit many different countries and locations. This gives the book an international espionage and intrigue feel that works very well with the storyline.
Photo Credit: Marvel Comics.
And we also get some awesome Shuri action in this issue. Not only does she travel to Chile by way of crow (incredibly awesome), she also uses technology to analyze the fight patterns of the late Jhai and the assassins who felled him. Can we please see this on-screen in Black Panther 2? Because I’d like to see this on-screen. Please!
Black Panther (2021) #2
Photo Credit: Marvel Comics.
Did you get a chance to read the sophomore issue of this exciting new series starring the King of Wakanda? We want to hear from you, Marvel Blog True Believers! Share your thoughts with us in the comment section.
