June 2018 Sales Report

Black Panther #2, featuring more great Acuna art and not much else...

34,891

This represents as 71% drop in sales. For comparison sake, BP vol 6 #1-2 drop was 69% drop while the legacy renumbering was a 57% drop. 

A significant drop was expected due to the renumbering + variants, a better idea where this book is sitting at sales wise will take another month or two. 

Rise of the Black Panther #6, featuring the real T'challa...

18,487

This book was remarkably consistent for an announced mini-series. Let's take a look at the last three Black Panther spin offs....

The big things to note here are 1) Rise was announced as a mini, the other two books were ongoings that got cancelled. 2) Rise sales were consistent. There was no pre-hype followed by a crash.

May 2018 Sales Update

Just a quick graph update this time. Got behind and the June numbers should be dropping any day now. 

Black Panther vs Jakarra (Black Panther vol 1, #10 and Rise of the Black Panther #5)

Story: Black Panther, vol 1, #10

Background: Jakarra, T'challa's half brother, made himself into vibranium monster and is rampaging throughout Wakanda. The Black Muskateers, members of T'challa's extended family, fight the monster in T'challa's absence. They have some success but Jakarra is heading to the vibranium mound to essentially detonate the world. Joshua created a anti-sonic toxin as a way to stop him and were on the way to do it when T'challa arrived to save the day. 

[Scan Tip: Click to enlarge the images and they are easier to read. You can scroll through them all that was as well. --- Shadow]

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Story: Rise of the Black Panther #5

Background: The Hyena Clan lead by T'challa's recently revealed half-brother Jakarra, were responsible for aiding Doom to teleport into the Wakandan palace. T'challa was on his way to confront Jakarra when he bumped into Storm. After a brief skirmish with Hyena clan red-shirts, BP and Storm go straight to their base of operations. And Jakarra turns himself into a monster.

[Scan Tip: Click to enlarge the images and they are easier to read. You can scroll through them all that was as well. --- Shadow]

New Feat: T'challa Develops Strategy to Defeat Jakarra on the Fly

Source: Rise of the Black Panther #5

New Feat: T'challa Resists Pressure and Heat Miles Below Ground

Avengers, vol 8, #1

The Wakanda/Atlantis War Part 3: Namor Attacks

[This is Part 3 of a multiple post series going over the details of one of the most important moments in the Black Panther mythos: The Wakanda/Atlantis War.

In Part 3, Namor arrives in Wakanda with an army of Atlanteans and the power of the Phoenix.]

There isn't much to say here that the panels don't show: Namor arrives with Atlanteans and he is pissed. The bad thing about the Avengers being there is that it drew Namor there. The good thing about the Avengers being there is that it gave Wakanda a fighting chance.

Avengers vs X-Men #7

Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1

The P5 came...

But Cap dips out with the Avengers to Kun Lun... leaving T'challa there lol? Professor X then starts to annoy and threaten Scott and the P5 just up and leave, with the Golden City left in shambles.

Avengers vs X-men #8

This attack would start a chain of events that lasted over four years and changed the Black Panther mythos forever.

March 2018 Sales Report

Black Panther #171 featuring the return of Shuri:

24,304

I imagine it will drift back down to the 21k range and then boost back up to something in the 50-80k range when it relaunches again. Timely relaunches and billion dollar movies have benefited this run big time. Instead of getting boosts from tying into events, it gets boosts from other sources.


Here is the updated look at T'challa completely publication history:

I'll be really curious to what the volume 7 opens at. It has an intriguing storyline and the "Fresh Start" tag.


Rise of the Black Panther #3, the best Black Panther book in years...

18,055

Only a mild decrease in sales, which shows it found an audience... which is the silver lining for overall shitty sales. Minis always struggle but I was really hoping for more with this book as it is legitimately good and hows T'challa at his best.

One interesting thing to look at is how it compares to the two other "Black Panther" spin offs since Coates took over the franchise.

One thing to note is that Rise was never going to be an ongoing... it was announced as a mini. WoW and The Crew were never announced as such and instead got straight up cancelled.

It is already selling better than The Crew and it seems to be leveling off faster than WoW. WoW had good initial sales and then nose dived the whole way because, well, it sucked. Rise "might" be able to level off and actually sell better by issue #4.

Dope Avengers: Infinity War Art

Rise of the Black Panther #4 Preview

 

There is so much to love in this preview.

First the cover... it seems to hint that T'challa and Shuri will be beating ass together. Which is a welcome sight. One of the best things about this book is that T'challa and Shuri actually feel like siblings... royal siblings.

T'challa's immediate response to the Doom Bot (by the way, I called the Doom bot as soon as Rise #3 ended lol) was a welcome sight. No hesitation, just doing what had to be done in response to a serious threat sitting on the throne.

I am always happy to see Priest-like Hunter. A problematic character for sure, but a fun one as well when he is written right.

Avengers #73-74 Retro-Review

Issue: Avengers, #73-74
Date: Feb and April 1970
Writer: Roy Thomas

General Black Panther Spoilers

- Black Panther is in New York. The Sons of the Serpents are causing white supremacist mayham that eventually involves Monica Lynne.

- Black Panther saves Monica Lynne.

- Black Panther vows to take down the Sons of the Serpents himself due to being black too. The Avengers agree to give him 24 hours to do it alone.

- Black Panther attacks some of them at a dock and takes the identity of one of the goons. Unfortunately, when confronted by the Supreme One, he doesn't know the secret verse and is captured.

- A man wearing the Black Panther suit starts committing crimes. Avengers are forced to get involved. The Supreme One's plan is to unmask Black Panther and show the world he is black, and starting a race war.

- Avenger's stop the plan and it also turns out that both "TV people" were part of the Sons of the Serpents as well.


Importance to the Mythos

- First appearance of Monica Lynne

- First time in universe a civilian learned Black Panther was black. I guess.


Other Thoughts

- This is one of those times where white people tried to right "black" issues and fail miserably. T'challa has never really been a "my people" type of character unless he is talking about Wakanda. It came off as extremely forced here... an "all black people around the world" are the same type of thing. Soul Brother? good lord. This isn't Luke Cage or some other American black where this "jive" talk type stuff makes since. T'challa is a damn king of an African nation. He ain't "soul brothering" it up with anyone.

Roy is the worst.


Should You Read It?

- No. Not unless you really like Monica Lynne or something.

M'baku vs Captain America

Story: Avengers, vol 1, #78

Background:  Not much of one. M'baku ambushes Captain America in some dumb villain scheme involving the Lethal Legion after he was banished from Wakanda for his failed coup attempt. 

The Challenger: Captain America is well... Captain America. We all know that... comic book peak human, shield, ect. M'baku is powered by the blood of the White Gorilla. He is typically just past comic book peak human strength. This is only his second appearance in the comics. In his first appearance, he beat up Black Panther pretty good before succumbing to being an idiot. You can see that fight here: http://blackpanthermarvel.blogspot.com/2016/10/tchalla-vs-mbaku-round-2.html 

[Scan Tip: Click to enlarge the images and they are easier to read. You can scroll through them all that was as well. --- Shadow]

No fear Captain America fans... Quicksilver and the Vision saved Mr. America. The other Avengers attacked M'baku, who had to make a quick getaway. 

Ahhh... the days M'baku wasn't a complete joke. His first two appearances, he beat up T'challa (and then accidentally smashed himself lol) and then beat up Captain America. His next thing was beating T'challa again via the infamous Monica mannequin.