He was introduced as the ruler of Wakanda but would later move to New York and join the superhero group The Avengers starting in 1968. But given recent criticisms of Marvel, many thought the Black Panther would gain a writer of color when he returned to his own series. His second book, “Between The World And Me”, is now at the top of the aforementioned bestseller list and has been nominated for a National Book Award. “And combining his writing skills with his passion for and understanding of Marvel‘s characters, paired with the captivating and engaging artwork of modern master Brian Stelfreeze, has led to a truly unbelievable story that we can’t wait for the world to read”, says Wil Moss, editor of the new BLACK PANTHER series.
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“He has the baddest costume in comics and is a dude who is smarter and better than everyone”, said Axel Alonso, the editor in chief of Marvel. With comics in my hand, I grabbed sheets of paper and pens, eager to duplicate what I saw on the page.
What may be less known is Coates’ extreme love for superhero comics.
“It meant something to see people who looked like me in comic books”, he told The Times.
The book will focus on Black Panther dealing with an uprising in the fictional African country, Wakanda.
During my interview with him earlier this year for a SciTech Now Georgia story on diversity in comic books, Gayles explained the power that Black Panther, Luke Cage and Storm had on young minds like his and how Marvel was to be commended for these efforts.
The Black Panther has had renewed interest of late, and not only because of the Marvel Studios movie starring Chadwick Boseman that is slated to be released in 2018. “I’m very excited about it, considering Coates’ analysis of race and history in the United States, I have full faith he will use this to provide a very nuanced representation of the Black Panther“.
The great news is the creative team: Ta-Nehisi Coates will write Black Panther with art by Brian Stelfreeze.
Lest you think that this is some kind of literary stunt casting (up next: Doris Kearns Goodwin writing jokes for Black Widow), you should know that Coates is a certified pop culture geek raised on a diet of Marvel comics and Dungeons and Dragons.
Mr Coates, 39, said he first began reading comics in the 1980s and was drawn to three minority characters.
“Wakanda is really the light of the world, in the Marvel Universe”.
The fictional nation of Wakanda was mentioned in this year’s Avengers: Age of Ultron film. He has always been a fan of comics and specifically of Marvel comics. It will be illustrated by African-American artist Brian Stelfreeze. The story arc is described as a yearlong plot line titled, “A Nation Under Our Feet“, that deliberately references the 2003 Steven Hahn book with the same name.
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“I don’t experience the stuff I write about as weighty”, he said.
