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Black Panther T'Challa Declassified

Editor's Note: This review was originalluy published in Portland Book Review.
Maurice Broaddus

The hero behind the Black Panther mask is a complex character, torn between his true identity and desires, and obligations to his people and country. Editor and novelist Maurice Broaddus dives deeply into the legend of Wakanda King T’Challa in Black Panther: T’Challa Declassified, the latest addition to the superhero’s canon. Over 50 years of Black Panther chronicles in Marvel comics have created complex and nuanced storylines, which Broaddus unearthed by scouring the Marvel digital archives. Readers learn about T’challa from the perspectives of characters who knew him the most, including Changamire, Shuri, and Benjamin Gyrich. The result is an insightful look at the depth of T’Challa’s internal discord, giving readers a refreshing view of the hero’s sprawling history.

I will honestly say that I became invested in the Wakanda universe due to recent film adaptations. I appreciated how the movies made T’Challa a household name worldwide, instilling pride in Blackness and Afrofuturist imaginings of prosperity and power. Broaddus offers myriad narration, interviews, and case files that are thoughtfully crafted and excellently rendered with illustrations.

There is a lot to love about this book. Black Panther: T’Challa Declassified is a must-have for any comic fan who relishes the cerebral aspects of character evolution. Black Panther fans would appreciate Broaddus’ masterful telling of Wakanda culture and history and learn about the King’s origin story, internal conflicts, and complicated story arc as both friend and antagonist.

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