10 Best Black Panther Stories in Marvel Comics History

First appearing in 1966, Black Panther has been a significant part of Marvel Comics for over six decades, featured in many of its most memorable stories. He was introduced in Fantastic Four #52, concluding a remarkable eight-issue arc that also brought us characters like the Inhumans, the Watcher, Silver Surfer, Galactus, and the Negative Zone. T’Challa, as Black Panther, quickly became a central figure for Marvel as the 1970s began. His stories have explored a wide range of themes, from racial issues and political conspiracies to large-scale conflicts that nearly saw Wakanda dominate the globe.

From iconic stories like Black Panther’s ‘Enemy of the State’ to some of Marvel’s most epic battles, here’s a rundown of the greatest Black Panther comic book arcs ever written.

10) Sturm und Drang

Christopher Priest often took Black Panther on adventures outside of Wakanda, exploring the challenges his absence created back home. However, the “Sturm und Drang” storyline focused on showcasing Wakanda’s power. Years before Namor attacked Wakanda in Avengers Vs. X-Men, he appeared as a villain here, attempting to destroy the nation alongside Doctor Doom.

Okay, so the story really throws T’Challa into the deep end – he’s not just Black Panther, he’s a king trying to hold everything together. He’s dealing with threats from all sides: Namor, the king of Atlantis, a pretty ruthless dictator from Latveria, and even Magneto, who was basically leading his own nation, Genosha. It all kicked off because of Klaw, who started this whole international conflict. Eventually, T’Challa and Namor had to team up to try and stop it, but things went south fast. The movie ends with Black Panther actually in handcuffs, facing a trial with the U.S. government – it’s a pretty shocking twist!

9) Who is the Black Panther?

The story arc “Who is the Black Panther?”, published in Black Panther issues #1-5 in 2005, served as a fresh start for the comic series after Christopher Priest finished his lengthy and popular run. New creative team Reginald Hudlin and John Romita, Jr. used this storyline to delve deeper into the history of Wakanda, shifting the focus from solely Black Panther’s adventures to the nation itself.

This story offered a fantastic exploration of Wakanda, tracing the history of all the past Black Panthers and highlighting their leadership qualities. It marked the first appearance of many former Black Panthers and importantly, introduced Shuri, Black Panther’s sister, who would become a key figure in his adventures.

8) The Death of the Black Panther

Christopher Priest’s 1998 storyline, “The Death of the Black Panther” (issues #48-49 of Black Panther), uniquely focused on the question of Black Panther’s mortality in just two parts. The story centered on M’Bake, formerly a member of the Dora Milaje known as Queen Divine Justice, and the Jabarai tribe, all of whom were suspected of killing the Black Panther from another universe (Earth-1145).

The “death” referenced in the story isn’t a typical one – it’s T’Challa’s battle with a fatal brain tumor. Knowing his time was limited, he needed to secure Wakanda’s future. This led to the introduction of Kasper Cole as a new Black Panther in the Marvel Comics series, and the story took a different direction after the original writer left.

7) The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda

In 2018, Ta-Nehisi Coates continued the story of Black Panther with “The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda,” a complex narrative that built on his previous work. Following the events where T’Challa struggled to maintain stability in Wakanda, the story expanded into a futuristic, space-faring adventure. This began years earlier when T’Challa dispatched a team to explore the origins of Vibranium beyond Earth.

As a huge Black Panther fan, I was blown away by this storyline! Basically, a group of Wakandans got lost in time and tried to start a new life, building a new Wakanda. But things went horribly wrong when a really dangerous version of Killmonger took over. When the Black Panther finally discovered this hidden empire, he found out it wasn’t just surviving – it was conquering other worlds! He ended up enslaved there, but fought his way free and led the rebellion against this evil empire as they set their sights on Wakanda itself. And honestly, the final battle was one of the most epic I’ve ever read in a Black Panther comic!

6) Killmonger’s Rage

Killmonger is a standout example of a character the Marvel Cinematic Universe actually improved upon from his comic book origins. He’s widely considered one of the best villains in any Marvel movie, which is remarkable considering his comic book version, while threatening, never reached true iconic status. Interestingly, the most significant moment in Killmonger’s comic book history is also a highlight in Black Panther’s overall comic book story.

In the 1998 comic run of Black Panther issues #13-25, writer Christopher Priest crafted a story where Killmonger seized Wakanda while Black Panther was away. This was Killmonger’s biggest triumph – he successfully became King. However, unlike the movie version, his victory was short-lived. The goddess Bast rejected him as unworthy, placing him in a coma after he attempted to consume the sacred herb that would solidify his claim to the throne.

5) A Nation Under Our Feet

I was so excited when Ta-Nehisi Coates took on Black Panther – he’s an amazing writer who isn’t afraid to tackle tough issues and really make you think. His first big story arc, “A Nation Under Our Feet,” started with the first 12 issues back in 2016, and it was all about T’Challa trying to prevent a civil war from breaking out in Wakanda. It was a really compelling start to the series!

Wakanda is divided, with people challenging T’Challa’s rule, and this story focuses more on what it truly means to be Wakandan than on superheroics. T’Challa isn’t portrayed as a hero here, but as a king facing a crisis. Wakanda needs to change, and Black Panther is struggling with a loss of control. This isn’t a typical Black Panther adventure filled with action; instead, it’s a thoughtful exploration of Wakanda’s identity.

4) The Client

Christopher Priest launched his acclaimed run on Black Panther in 1998 with issue #1, introducing a story arc known as “The Client.” This storyline, illustrated by Mark Texeira, is widely considered one of the best in the series’ history. It begins with Black Panther traveling to the United States to investigate the death of a child, who was connected to a Wakandan charity organization, and uncover the truth behind the tragedy.

This event sparked a period of unrest in Wakanda, as the true reason for the death was to remove T’Challa from power, allowing the villain Achebe to seize control of the government. This set the stage for future storylines where Black Panther faced challenges like losing the support of his Avengers teammates, battling Killmonger’s attempt to take over, and fighting to maintain his rule. Additionally, this story arc introduced Everett Ross, a popular character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, to the Black Panther comic books.

3) Enemy of the State

The initial ‘Enemy of the State’ story arc is considered a defining moment for the Black Panther character. Published in Black Panther issues #9-12 in 1998, early in Christopher Priest’s run, the story focused on the Avengers discovering T’Challa had joined their team not out of trust, but to monitor them – he simply didn’t trust them.

This story took a more serious turn when Black Panther discovered the U.S. government was plotting to seize control of Wakanda – something he was determined to prevent. This revelation deeply isolated Wakanda, reinforcing their distrust of the outside world, including even allies like the Avengers. Ultimately, Black Panther demonstrated his strength as a leader by successfully thwarting the attempted takeover, solidifying his place as Wakanda’s most effective ruler.

2) See Wakanda and Die

Black Panther is renowned as a brilliant military strategist, a fact powerfully demonstrated in the storyline “See Wakanda and Die.” This arc, part of the larger 2005 Secret Invasion event (featured in Black Panther issues #39-41), unfolded as the Skrulls launched a full-scale invasion of Earth, having secretly replaced many heroes with impostors. When Skrull General K’vvvr led an attack on Wakanda, he was immediately met with a chilling sight – the heads of other Skrulls mounted on spikes – signaling a fierce and brutal resistance.

T’Challa had discovered and defeated everyone who had secretly entered the country. The story is compelling because K’vvvr simply wanted one final fight before retiring to be with his family, but that wasn’t possible. T’Challa anticipated the attack and demonstrated his strategic skill by consistently outmaneuvering his opponents. This storyline particularly highlighted his tactical genius better than any other Black Panther adventure.

1) Enemy of the State II

The initial “Enemy of the State” arc was excellent, but the follow-up story was even more compelling. Published in Black Panther issues #41-45 in 1998, this storyline by Christopher Priest centers around the U.S. President and Canadian Prime Minister falling under mind control, leaving only T’Challa able to intervene. Like many of the most memorable Black Panther stories, it’s filled with political maneuvering, backstabbing, and reads like a top-notch spy thriller.

While Wolverine makes an appearance and adds some excitement, this story truly focuses on Black Panther. His actions on the world stage always have consequences for Wakanda, and that theme is central here. Ultimately, this makes for a stronger story, as it’s a clear-cut tale of Black Panther battling villains, without complicated moral ambiguities.

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2025-12-16 18:14