Black Panther: Panther's Rage by Sheree Renée Thomas

"One second, T'Challa was dressed in his formal, light-colored, embroidered travel clothes; the next, his entire body and face were enveloped by an extraordinary black suit, so dark and smooth it looked as if black water, the night itself, had risen up and swallowed him whole.

Sharp anti-metal claws emerged from his fingertips like silver lightning.

The Black Panther released a guttural growl. The sound was so menacing that, if you heard it in the jungle or on a street, you would think you had already been eaten".

Black Panther: Panther's Rage by Sheree Renée Thomas (Titan Books, out today, 11 October 2022) is an evocative, creative re-imagining of the original story by Don McGregor, Rich Buckler and Billy Graham. 

We meet T'Challa as he enjoys the company of  his girlfriend Monica Lynne, during her final show in the States before being whisked to see his home in Wakanada. His close friend N'Jadaka is present at the show as well.

Avenging his father's death didn't bring peace to his soul. "Instead, anger burned in his heart, consumed his waking thoughts. Rage and grief courses through his spirit like twin poisons. T'Challa fled his homeland, seeking an oulet for his rage." After being away from home for so long, he was glad to meet a Wakandan, who was exiled as a child. T'Challa and N'Jadaka share the bond of grief and loss.

When urgent summons arrive, T'Challa has to return to Wakanda. Monica Lynne and N'Jadaka come with him. He desires to share the greatness of his country with Monica, but their arrival doesn't go smoothly. The glorious return escalates in the nightmare pretty fast. The empire is anything but tranquil, and something sinister is afoot.

The country is in turmoil, and the violence is rapidly spreading through the land. At the centre of it all is a mysterious figurehead Erik Killmonger. Killmonger is a follower of K'Liluna the Betrayer, the goddess who feeds off rage and vengeance.

T'Challa's old mentor and revered storyteller, G'Sere, is one of the victims of Killmonger's spree of hate. 

In his last moments G'Sere whispers, "Stay on your father's path. The Betrayer has hooked her claws into Killmonger's spirit and granted him extraordinary power, but remember, T'Challa, none is greater than the avatar of Bast. Find harmony in the chaos".

The new enemy is greater than any Wakanda had yet faced. "No one ever had the power to turn Wakandans against themselves. Not until now".

T'Challa has to unravel many threads to discover the scope of the rebellion. To do that he must travel across Wakanda, from the savannah to the snow-topped mountains and the deepest jungle. Along the way, to get to Erik Killmonger, he has to battle bloodthirsty foes such as Venomm, Malice, Baron Macabre and many others.

I haven't read the original comics, only watched the film (twice), and cannot comment on how true it is to the primary source. It is a beautiful adaptation of the Black Panther's story. Translating the comic book format, full of illustrations, caption boxes and bubbles with sound effects, into a novel format seems to be a formidable challenge, but Thomas did a great job.

Wakanda is not just a distinguished location , it acquires a living- breathing character of its own. You will learn a lot about its different tribes, landscapes, customs and traditions, folk lore, and food.

Black Panther is a complicated character. He is intelligent, but also makes rather foolish decisions. As an avatar of the Goddess, you would expect him to be more intuitive in knowing who to (dis)trust, and be aware of danger ahead. He prefers to go off solo into the danger zone, rather than be surrounded by the best fighters of Dora Milaje. Is he reckless or over-confident in his own powers? He nearly dies on several occasions, when he could have taken his bodyguards with him.

T'Challa is also immensely likable and vulnerable, still grieving the loss of his father.

If you've only seen the film, you would not be familiar with the character of Monica Lynne. She is a talented singer. Her rare gift is that her singing has a healing power.

While she is important in the book, and their romance story is engaging, I side up with those Wakandans who didn't warm up to her. I'm glad in the film they have removed this character altogether, and have chosen a grown-up Nakia as the King's future queen. 

Unlike in the film, Shuri, Nakia and Okoye are still children, full of mischief. Their characters provide a humourous note to the tense and dramatic action plotline.

This book is aimed at the audience who enjoys YA fiction, and the fans of the Marvel world.

I absolutely loved the dedication to the late Chadwick Boseman, "Greatness Never Dies". My younger son and I have just watched the film again, and Boseman is superb as Black Panther. We cannot wait for Black Panther-2 coming to the big screens next month. It won't be the same without him, but the trailers look good. 

The timing is perfect - the book is published just a month before the opening date of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Some of the scenes in the novel pulse with energy and tension, you feel like you are there, right in the middle of the battle.

T'Challa addresses his army, "I believe in the Wakandan way of life, and I will not have our world destroyed. Come. Fight with me. Help me defend the heart of the Panther God. Help me defend Wakanda."

All around T'Challa, the hordes bent their knees and raised their fists. He stood and stared at his people, his soldiers, cheered and roared. The Black Panther crossed his arms, raised the ancient symbol of his country for all to see - mortal and spectral eyes were invited to bear witness.

"Wakanda forever!" T'Challa shoured. Then he roared, with all the power of his lungs. The soldiers returned the ancient greeting, and with their arms crossed they all yelled in mighty, thundering unison.

"Wakanda forever! Wakanda forever!"

Black Panther: Panther's Rage is a remarkable, compelling retelling of the familar story. Accomplished, multi-layered and enjoyable.

Many thanks to Sheree Renée Thomas and Titan Books for my copy of the book!