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Black Panther Reading Order, The King of Wakanda

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Panther made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966). The famous family has received an invitation to visit the mysterious country named Wakanda. This small nation is the most technologically advanced on the planet. It is also where we can find the rare metal known as Vibranium A.

T’Challa, also known as Black Panther, is the King and protector of Wakanda, and one of the most accomplished characters in the Marvel Universe. He is one of the ten smartest people on earth–a list that includes Reed Richards, Tony Stark, and the young Amadeus Cho. He has also the power to draw upon the knowledge, strength, and every experience of every previous Black Panther. The King is a genius and a martial artist, an expert hand-to-hand combatant with superhuman strength, endurance, speed, agility, reflexes, stamina, and senses.

Black Panther is, without a doubt, one of the most powerful Marvel characters, who was first a recurring character before joining The Avengers and starring in Jungle Action. Though it took time for Black Panther to become a constant presence, he carved himself a place in those comics, working with the Fantastic Four and The Avengers, but also becoming an Illuminati and a member of the Ultimates. He was played in the MCU by Chadwick Boseman.

Where to start reading Black Panther?

  • Black Panther by Don McGregor – Your classic Black Panther is still considered one of the best out there. Don McGregor wrote the first Black Panther series, delivering an adventure ranging across the savannah, into the deepest jungles, and up snow-topped mountains.
  • Black Panther By Christopher Priest – One of the most celebrated runs on the character, Christopher Priest’s Black Panther can also serve as an entry point. After all, numerous readers became familiar with the character with this run that helped define the character for years to come. Beware, Priest likes to write non-linear stories!
  • Rise Of The Black Panther – Written by Evan Narcisse, this limited series retraces the first years of T’Challa as Black Panther, making it a good story to become familiar with the character. You can continue with Black Panther By Ta-Nehisi Coates, as this origin story is part of this era/run.
  • Black Panther Legends – the last retelling of his origin by Tochi Onyebuchi targeting a younger audience.

Black Panther Reading Order

Black Panther, from 1966 to 1998

Logo Avengers for the Jonathan Hickman's Avengers Reading OrderFollowing his debut, several appearances in Fantastic Four, and a short arc in Tales of Suspense with Captain America, Black Panther came to New York City to join The Avengers in issue #52 (May 1968). He appeared in the title for the next few years, leaving the team for the first time at #88. After that, the character will rejoin and leave the team several times. Roughly, those are the issues where you can find Black Panther: The Avengers #52-88, #99-100, #105-126, #137, #159-166, #173-181, #211, #239, #305-308, #333, #335-339, #356. For more T’Challa with The Avengers, see our Complete Avengers Reading Order.  Marvel has collected some issues in a Black Panther Omnibus:

  • Black Panther: The Early Marvel Years Omnibus
    Collects Fantastic Four (vol. 1) #52-53, 56, 119, Captain America (vol. 1) #100, Avengers (vol. 1) #52, 62, 73–74, 77–79, 87, 112, 126, Daredevil (vol. 1) #52, 69, Daredevil Annual (vol. 1) #4, Marvel Team-Up #20, Jungle Action #6-24, material from Fantastic Four (vol. 1) #54, Tales of Suspense #97-99, Astonishing Tales #6-7.

The Epic Collection line is a numbered collection of sequential issues of one title (large, full-color trade paperback), sometimes including crossovers from related titles, starting from the beginning of a character – not released sequentially. In that collection, Marvel has collected the first Black Panther’s solo adventures in the pages of Jungle Action, written by Don McGregor who pioneered the multi-issue story-arc; the first volume of Black Panther, mostly written by Jack Kirby, Black Panther, Vol. 2, Marvel Comics Presents, and Panther’s Prey– covering T’Challa’s stories from the 70s to the 90s.

After Black Panther: Panther’s Prey, T’Challa was once again reduced to being a guest star or co-starring in titles other than his own for a few years, joining the Knights of Pendragon and working with Captain America and the Fantastic Four.

Black Panther Vol. 3 by Christopher Priest (1998-2003)

Christopher Priest wrote what is today the most celebrated run on Black Panther. The writer modernized the character by exploring and expanding the mythology, with a little bit of retcon for Wakanda. As the writer made references to the classic Panther’s Rage arc (from Jungle Action), we advise reading this story before, if it’s not already done, for a better experience (though it’s not an obligation).

 

Collected in Omnibus:

Also collected in:

At the end of the run, T’Challa went back to the Avengers to battle Scorpio (in Avengers Vol. 3 #66-70) before the team was disbanded in Avengers Disassembled.

Black Panther Vol.4 by Reginald Hudlin (2005-2008)

In 2005, Marvel began publishing a new Black Panther series, written this time by Reginald Hudlin. Like most Marvel superheroes, T’Challa had to deal with some massive events, though their impact stayed limited for him. More important is his relationship with Ororo Munroe, aka Storm from the X-Men, as the couple gets married in this run.

Black Panther Vol.5: Shuri (2009-2010)

After the events of Secret Invasion, a regime change happened with Norman Osborn in power for Dark Reign. In Wakanda, it’s also time for Shuri, T’Challa’s younger sister to take up the mantle after the brother came home with grave injuries and in a comatose state. Reginald Hudlin continued to write until issue #7 when Jonathan Maberry took over.

The Man Without Fear/The Most Dangerous Man Alive (2010-2012)

Following the events in Shadowland, Matt Murdock/Daredevil left New York to rebuild himself after years of depression and darkness. He didn’t leave without being sure that Hell’s Kitchen was in good hands, as he offered to T’Challa to take over the guardianship of the neighborhood. Facing his own doubts, T’Challa accepted and established himself as Mr. Okonkwo. Under writer David Liss and artist Francesco Francavilla, he became The Man Without Fear before the title was renamed The Most Dangerous Man Alive.

Avengers Vs X-Men Reading OrderAvengers vs. X-Men! The two Marvel team goes to war against each other in this event where T’Challa and Storm found themselves on opposite sides. If Black Panther doesn’t appear in all the issues, it’s an important story for the evolution of his relationship with Ororo (and her place in Wakanda).

Black Panther and the Illuminati in Marvel Now (2012-2015)

Black Panther joined the Illuminati and became an active member of the New Avengers by Jonathan Hickman. This powerful and secretive team must stand against interdimensional incursions, as Marvel’s most parallel Earths are beginning to collide, destroying one or both worlds. When Black Panther, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Black Bolt, Mr. Fantastic, Sub-Mariner, and Beast take on the task of preserving their planet, they soon realize that they must destroy countless others. For more (with other collections), check out our Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers Reading Order!

Alert Event! It’s the end of Hickman’s Avengers run, but also of an era for Marvel with the 2015 Secret Wars (find the full reading order of the event here). The interdimensional Incursions have eliminated every alternate universe one by one. And now – despite the best efforts of scientists, sages, and superhumans – the Marvel Universe and Ultimate Universe have collided…and been destroyed! All that exists in the vast empty cosmos is a single, titanic patchwork planet made of the fragmented remains of hundreds of devastated dimensions: Battleworld! 

  • Secret Wars
    Collects Secret Wars #0,#1-9, Free Comic Book Day 2015.

Black Panther Vol.7: A Nation Under Our Feet by Ta-Nehisi Coates

As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel relaunch, a new Black Panther era began, written by Ta-Nehisi Coates. T’Challa is confronted with a dramatic upheaval in Wakanda that will make leading the African nation tougher than ever before. Following is just the strict minimum, as the whole period will be soon available in two omnibuses. For more (other collections), go to Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Black Panther Reading Order.

  • Black Panther By Ta-Nehisi Coates Omnibus
    Collects Black Panther (vol. 6) #1-18, 166–172, Black Panther (vol. 7) #1-22, material from #23-2.
  • Wakanda: World of Black Panther Omnibus
    Collects Rise of the Black Panther #1-6, Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1-6, Black Panther & The Crew #1-6, Black Panther: Long Live the King #1-6, Black Panther Annual (vol. 7) #1, Amazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever, X-Men: Wakanda Forever, Avengers: Wakanda Forever, Black Panther vs. Deadpool #1-5, Shuri #1-10, Kilmonger #1-5, Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda #1-8, King in Black: Black Panther, The Last Annihilation: Wakanda, material from Venomverse: War Stories, Marvel Comics #1000, Marvel’s Voices #1, Marvel’s Voices: Legacy, Black Panther (vol. 7) #23-25

The Ultimates by Al Ewing

During this time, Black Panther is part of The Ultimates team in the series written by Al Ewing. This ultimate super team has one mission: solving the biggest cosmic threats. The team also features Blue Marvel, Captain Marvel, Miss America, and Spectrum.

The Avengers by Jason Aaron

Black Panther was relaunched for Marvel Fresh Start, with Ta-Nehisi Coates still at the helm of Black Panther Vol. 7. At this point, Black Panther became the leader of the Avengers by Jason Aaron.

Black Panther by John Ridley

John Ridley is the new Black Panther writer, in charge of leading the character in a new direction. Secrets from the Panther’s past have come back to haunt him. Fresh from returning from his travels in space, T’Challa receives an unexpected and urgent message from a Wakandan secret agent. Now the Black Panther must race the clock not only to save his agent but also to keep his true agenda under wraps. Because if the truth comes out, it could cost T’Challa everything…

Black Panther by Eve Ewing and Chris Allen

Written by Eve Ewing and illustrated by Chris Allen, this new volume of Black Panther takes the character in a new direction. Banished from the throne, a fugitive in his own homeland, T’Challa still can’t leave Wakanda without its sworn protector. With a new costume and fresh purpose to match, the Black Panther stalks the streets and shadows of the city that bears his father’s name, Birnin T’Chaka.

And once again, Black Panther returned to be an Avengers.

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