TNC: Conceptualizing the Black Panther
http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/all/2015/12/conceptualizing-the-black-panther/420759/#note-425097
Above we have a sketch of T’Challa dabbin’ on dem folks courtesy of Brian Stelfreeze. Obviously, I can’t really take much credit for this sketch. Brian has this great ability, not just to interpret script direction, but to actually add on and make something new and beautiful.
With that said I’d like to talk some about T’Challa’s major challenge in this first season of Black Panther. (Here’s hoping there will be more.) When I accepted the task of writing the new Black Panther comic, I was faced with an obvious question—Who is this guy? There was the obvious and the known—T’Challa is the ruler of the mythical African nation of Wakanda. But to write, I needed to develop a grounded theory of T’Challa’s great loves, small annoyances and everything in between. The grounding came from past depictions of T’Challa by writers like Don McGregor, Christopher Priest, Reginald Hudlin and Jonathan Hickman.
I also had to create some sort of working theory about Wakanda, and to the extent to which I came to one it is this: Wakanda is a contradiction. It is the most advanced nation on Earth, existing under one of the most primitive forms of governance on Earth. In the present telling, Wakanda’s technological superiority goes back centuries. Presumably it’s population is extremely well educated, and yet that population willingly accedes to rule by blood. T’Challa descends from an unbroken line of kings, all who’ve taken up the mantle of the Black Panther. But if you’ve ever studied monarchy, it becomes immediately apparent that the aptitude, or even the desire, to govern isn’t genetic.
Leaving aside the problems of reconciling absolute monarchy with ultra-modernism, there are the actual events in Wakanda which have happened under previous writers. In recent years Wakandans have endured a coup courtesy of the villainous Achebe, another courtesy Dr. Doom, the murder of two of T’Challa top lieutenants, a cataclysmic flood courtesy of Prince Namor, the subsequent dissolution of a royal marriage, and finally decimation and conquest at the hands of Thanos’ Black Order. Wakanda had always prided itself on having never been conquered. This is no longer true. What, then, is the country if it is as vulnerable as all others? And what happens to a state when its absolute monarch can no longer fulfill the base requirement of any government—securing the safety of their people?
I. Cannot. Wait. To. Read. This.
I haven't read comic books in about 25 years, but this may well make me go back.
= new reply since forum marked as read
He's the AA forum's resident comic book aficionado, scholar and explainer (for those of us that really don't know that much about the history in the books)
The closest I've been to Black Panther is the cartoon that seems to come on like every 3.5 weeks and never at the same time so it's no telling how many episodes I've missed and I'm STILL geeked over this comic. And the fact that T Coates is one of the developers has nothing to do with that, I'm sure. 
What's up?
Coates taking on Black Panther, in my opinion, is the "BEST THING EVAR!!!1!!1one"!
I don't think the character has ever had a black writer. (I'm wrong on that, Reginald Hudlin did some good work, there)
what do ya' want to know?
Edit: Holy Crap! 800 Posts! It only took 12 years. 
behind Black Panther too?? Or is Stan Lee the guy that does the other comics (TRULY showing my ignorance here)??
Coates taking on Black Panther, in my opinion, is the "BEST THING EVAR!!!1!!1one"!
THAT'S what I wanted to know!! 
I wanted to see what you thought about Coates doing this and if anyone had any concerns over a deep, DEEEEP thinker like Coates dipping into comics. I honestly think he will bring a depth to BP that no one has seen before and I am really excited about the outcome.
Holy Crap! 800 Posts! It only took 12 years.
Congrats, baby! Damn, you need to develop the over-eager typing fingers of your many friends here!! 
I did correct myself, I know of one black writer but, that was a 6 issue mini-series though.
Deep thinkers/writers are not all that rare in comic books. The reason I'm so excited for Coates run with the book is a matter of his perspective. The article in the OP shows that he is really thinking about the character (motivations, origins and history) in a way that I haven't seen (which is what you just said - DUH
). I've already got my order set for his run.
The introvert in me says that will never happen... But let the right topic roll out and I might make up for a bit of lost time.
In the meantime, check the recs if you want to know if I've been around.
I haven't bought a comic book since Betty and Veronica -- it was a phase when I was a teenager, PLEASE don't ask me why -- but I definitely will be buying this one. This is so freaking cool.
