New Ultimate Black Panther comic returns Marvel fans to a concealed Wakanda

Since the debut of the Ultimate Spider-Man comic, Marvel comic fans have been eager to see the next chapter in Marvel’s new Ultimate line, and this week’s release of Ultimate Black Panther #1 expands the story in the Ultimate Marvel timeline.

In Ultimate Black Panther #1 (written by Bryan Hill and with art by Stefano Caselli), readers encounter a Wakanda still shrouded from the outside world and a version of T’Challa who’s forced to make a dramatic decision to save his people from the forces of Moon Knight.

Clarification about Ultimate Black Panther

This storyline may lead to confusion for those familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but in the world of comic book superheroes, no character ever truly leaves us.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is based on the 616 Marvel Universe. As fans of Marvel movies and streaming service shows are learning, Marvel characters exist in unlimited universes or multiverses. The “Ultimate” Marvel universe functions in an entirely different setting, which allows T’Challa to reign as king of Wakanda and as the Black Panther in the “Ultimate” Marvel Universe.

“I think the difference between what’s going on now in the 616 and what’s going on in Ultimate Black Panther is I’m using a broader philosophical canvas,” writer Bryan Hill told ComicBook.com in a recent interview. “I think that Wakanda and the world of Black Panther is vast and extends into history up until now, headed towards the future. It’s a lot. I’ve been using Frank Herbert’s Dune as an analog to what I’m doing in the sense that you have a rich world with varying philosophical ideas and the sort of conflict and synergy between ancient spiritualism and modern practical politics.”

Storyline of Ultimate Black Panther

The events of Ultimate Black Panther #1 take place after the Ultimate Invasion. That saga began with the Maker, one of the last survivors of the old Ultimate Universe, traveling back in time to a parallel Earth to create a world without heroes. He succeeded and ruled this world in secret through various global factions. Now, he’s vanished, and a quiet war has broken out across the planet to shape what will happen to his kingdom. Some want to control the world. Some want to free it. After discovering the dark truth, a young Tony Stark embarks on a bold mission to make things right. Meanwhile, Wakanda stirs, pressured by internal and external forces, to take its rightful place globally.

Those previous events lead to the events of Ultimate Black Panther. The narrative opens with Khonshu and Ra, the force known together as Moon Knight, expanding their brutal control of the continent of Africa. In response, the lone barrier against them, the isolated nation of Wakanda, will send forth its champion to provide freedom. The Black Panther, the king of Wakanda, must make some tough choices to save the continent of Africa from domination by the dark forces.

Those who watched the “Moon Knight” series on Disney+ may be familiar with Moon Knight, and the forces that control Moon Knight also have a tie to the mysticism of the ancestors of T’Challa and all Black Panthers. Readers should expect a very different storyline than the one seen on the big screen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Future issues of this comic series will reveal the secret history of this universe’s Wakanda and introduce freedom fighters Killmonger and Storm. Yes, the villain of the “Black Panther” movie serves a far different purpose in this comic series. Also, Storm of the X-Men has strong ties to T’Challa in the many different Marvel Universes, so seeing how those two interact in this series will be interesting.

Like Ultimate Spider-Man #1, the new Black Panther comic’s second printing will have a brand-new cover by superstar artist R.B. Silva. Fans can pick up Ultimate Black Panther #1 now or preorder the second printing at your local comic shop.

Filled with modern takes on classic Marvel ideas and characters, the new Ultimate Universe is ripe for rich storytelling, which could make a perfect evolution of the Ultimate brand. Readers can see it develop in upcoming issues of Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Black Panther, and March’s Ultimate X-Men. More Marvel Ultimate titles will be launched in the months ahead. For more information, please visit Marvel.com.