Ever since launching onto the scene in Jack Kirby and Stan Lee’s Fantastic Four #52 in 1966, the Black Panther has had a unique place in the world of superheroes. T’Challa was one of the first Black superheroes, as well as a king, the ruler of a futuristic country untouched by the horrors of colonialism. He is a character that is rich with Shakespearen pathos, while also serving as a powerful symbol against racism, colonialism, and nationalism. Over the years, tons of great writers and artists have contributed to the mythos of the Black Panther and Wakanda. Here’s the Keeg’s breakdown of the best Black Panther comics to check out!

THE ESSENTIAL RUNS

Black Panther: Panther’s Rage (Jungle Action #6-21)

This is Black Panther’s first solo series and truly the run that would redefine T’Challa and the world of Wakanda following scattered appearances in titles like the Avengers. Writer Don McGregor would not only create vital characters to Black Panther’s supporting cast such as Killmonger and W’kabi, but also investigate the tension between T’Challa’s duties as a king and his desires to be a hero to the world. Panther’s Rage is one of the earliest superhero comics to feature a long form multipart story line, taking T’Challa on an epic quest through every corner of Wakanda after his defeat at the hands of Killmonger. Rich Buckler and Billy Graham both put in career best work on the series. Notably, Graham was the first Black artist to draw the Black Panther character. This series is one of the best starting points for anyone interested in seeing where Black Panther’s journey truly began.

Black Panther (1998)

Without Christopher Priest’s Black Panther series, Black Panther would likely not be the A-List character we know him as today. After years of toiling in limbo, Priest not only brought back T’Challa, but would add more elements to his mythos and characterization. From Everett Ross to the Dora Milaje, all of these elements would bring Black Panther into the sphere of espionage and political thriller. Priest made sure to emphasize T’Challa’s technical and tactical genius. He was always one step ahead of his enemies, and was always the smartest person in the room. This is best seen in his Enemy of the State arc where it’s revealed that his entire purpose for initially joining the Avengers was to gain intel on possibly future enemies of Wakanda. Over the course of this series, Priest turned T’Challa into an undeniably essential part of the Marvel Universe. 

Black Panther (2016)

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Black Panther run combines the best of all the elements of the previous Black Panther runs, while posing a new ethical question for King T’Challa: is a monarchy really what’s best for Wakanda? Beautifully blending super heroics and political philosophy, Coates’ crafted one of the most intellectually stimulating Marvel comics ever published, culminating in the epic Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. This is a Black Panther comic for the ages.

GREAT MINISERIES

Captain America/Black Panther: Flags of Our Fathers

Have you ever wondered what happened in Wakanda during World War 2? Or just how Captain America got his vibranium shield? This mini-series tells the story of Captain America and King Azzuri, the Black Panther of World War 2 and T’Challa’s grandfather, teaming up to stop a superpowered Nazi invasion of Wakanda. Masterfully drawn by the great Denys Cowan, this miniseries features Cap and Black Panther kicking the snot out of Nazis, and honestly what’s better than that?

Rise of the Black Panther

Essentially Black Panther: Year One, Co-writers Evan Narcisse and Ta-Nehisi Coates delivered the most detailed origin story of T’Challa, from his youth in Wakanda, to his first encounters with enemies in the larger Marvel Universe like Doctor Doom and Namor. This is the perfect series for anyone who doesn’t know a ton about Marvel Comics and would like an easy way to learn more about what the 616 Comics Universe has to offer.

Killmonger 

A great companion piece to Rise of the Black Panther, Killmonger gives the origin story of the man who would be Killmonger before his first confrontation with T’Challa in Wakanda. Writer Bryan Edward Hill does an excellent job weaving Erik’s history into the larger Marvel Universe. Have you ever wanted to see Killmonger get involved with the likes of the Kingpin and Bullseye? This is the series for you.

Shuri

Happening concurrent to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, this series finds Shuri thrust into the responsibility of leadership in Wakanada during her brother’s absence. Penned by the great sci-fi novelist Nnedi Okorafor, Shuri captures all of the aspects that make this character one of the all time greats in the Marvel Universe. Whether it’s her brilliance or her pure determination, this is a winning series for all ages. It also features a delightful team-up between Shuri, Miles Morales, and Ms. Marvel in the middle. 

INCREDIBLE ARCS

See Wakanda and DIE (Black Panther #39-41)

Tie-in issues to crossover events can be hit or miss, but this arc, a tie-in to the Secret Invasion storyline, is one of the best of all time. The Skrulls invade Wakanda, and immediately regret it. We’re often told that T’Challa is one of the best fighters and strategists in the Marvel Universe, and this is the story that proves it. This is a perfectly compact bit of comic book storytelling that is one of the most exciting stories in the Black Panther canon.

Black Panther: The Man Without Fear

While Daredevil deals with demon ninja problems, T’Challa steps up to protect Hell’s Kitchen in his absence. This is a story that takes Black Panther completely out of his element, but part of the fun is seeing how T’Challa adapts to being in a new situation and how he can do good without his usual arsenal at his disposal. It also features Black Panther beating up the racist Hate Monger, which, as established earlier, is always great.

The New Fantastic Four (Fantastic Four #544-550)

Following the Civil War event, Reed Richards and Sue Storm decide to take a break from the Fantastic Four to work on their marriage. Who do they ask to take their place? None other than Black Panther and his wife Storm! Written by the late great Dwayne McDuffie, The New Fantastic Four is one part of his underrated Fantastic Four run, but it’s one of the best arcs of the series. T’Challa and Storm fit perfectly into the family dynamics of the FF, and T’Challa gets plenty of time to shine, proving himself to be one of the great scientific minds of the Marvel Universe, while also performing wild feats like absorbing the power cosmic from the Silver Surfer and putting him in a sleeper hold.