We start off with an icon of black superheroes: T’CHALLA, aka BLACK PANTHER!
Created by legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby back in 1966, his first appearance was in Fantastic Four #52. He is the first black superhero in mainstream American comics, debuting several years before other African-American superheroes as Marvel Comics’ the Falcon and Luke Cage.
My very first gig at MARVEL was to illustrate several arcs of BLACK PANTHER as he was taking over DAREDEVIL as protector of Hell’s Kitchen. I couldn’t be happier to start working with Marvel than on this character: writer and friend David Liss wrote a sweet noir/thriller that was a perfect fit to my artistic sensibilities, resulting in some of my personal favorite sequentials.
And BLACK PANTHER/T’CHALLA is, without doubts, one of my favorite comicbook heroes.
Francesco Francavilla
Created by legends Stan Lee and Jack Kirby back in 1966, his first appearance was in Fantastic Four #52. He is the first black superhero in mainstream American comics, debuting several years before other African-American superheroes as Marvel Comics’ the Falcon and Luke Cage.
My very first gig at MARVEL was to illustrate several arcs of BLACK PANTHER as he was taking over DAREDEVIL as protector of Hell’s Kitchen. I couldn’t be happier to start working with Marvel than on this character: writer and friend David Liss wrote a sweet noir/thriller that was a perfect fit to my artistic sensibilities, resulting in some of my personal favorite sequentials.
And BLACK PANTHER/T’CHALLA is, without doubts, one of my favorite comicbook heroes.
Francesco Francavilla
Art from BLACK PANTHER MWF URBAN JUNGLE by Francesco Francavilla
Article and art from http://francavillarts.tumblr.com/
It is something to think about in regards to how ready Tchalla the Black Panther, Wakanda, the very franchise itself (ahh hell, throw in Storm) are all primed for major exposure to a new demographic of Afrakan (so-called Black people) readers of fiction (speculative and science) lovers of comic books and those who appreciate animated adventures.
If Marvel was ever serious about transitioning the Black Panther to "A" level status they would have gave him to Wesley back in the day. If they were really serious they would have let Reginald Hudlin produce and direct his interpretation of the Black Panther for the big screen. If they were serious about promoting BP they would have treated Priest with far more reverence for advancing the Panther well beyond the station of Avengers' fall guy.
I mean if they were anywhere near serious they would have supported David Liss'immensely honest, sincere and succeeding attempts to manage the debacle the Black Panther was in post Doomwar. Here's to you David as to what may have been your fiftieth issue.
If Marvel was ever serious about transitioning the Black Panther to "A" level status they would have gave him to Wesley back in the day. If they were really serious they would have let Reginald Hudlin produce and direct his interpretation of the Black Panther for the big screen. If they were serious about promoting BP they would have treated Priest with far more reverence for advancing the Panther well beyond the station of Avengers' fall guy.
I mean if they were anywhere near serious they would have supported David Liss'immensely honest, sincere and succeeding attempts to manage the debacle the Black Panther was in post Doomwar. Here's to you David as to what may have been your fiftieth issue.
Fan drawn cover by A. Muriel
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