Ultimate Black Panther #12 is the chapter that this Moon Knight saga has certainly needed. The length of this story certainly continues to be felt but at least now we know we are close to the end. Read Full Review

I understand people's criticisms, but I enjoyed this, for the most part. It is still a bit of a slow burn, especially for a story that's supposed to be being told in real time. Though, I do think it's fairly well-written. Caselli's art is, arguably, the best part about this book.

Art: 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Total: 7.5/10

2 Minute Read...

Okay so a solid 5/5 for the art I'm loving most of the panel work. But the writing continues to fall apart at least in terms of pacing. I finished this comic in at least 2 minutes or at most 3 minutes.

Starting off with a great scene where Tchalla goes out of character to behead his defeated foe Moon knight it only turns out to be a dream. I get it, but honestly would have been cool to commit to this especially that this is an Ultimate universe created by the Maker that will eventually be fixed by The Ultimates eventually?

From there he finally has his fight and easily defeats Moonknight with a swift upper kick to the face sending him flying. Seriously. That's it. Kind of anti-climactic after all that build up unless there will be a second phase of fighting in issue 13 but that would be silly.

Then he sees these four giant dark figures trying to influence him to end Moon Knight only to be stopped by that chick I already forgot her name but she is Sorcerer Supreme in this ultimate universe or something.

Sorry to make it sound so bare minimum but that's how it felt for me.

After the many great issues of nice lengthy dialogue and world building it seems the writer is losing steam. Issue 11 was not terrible but not good either. Well this one was bad.

I don't want to give a super low devastating score because I don't think it would be fair to totally give up. The artist is still doing a tops job and most of this run in this reviewer's opinion has been solid so it is okay to have a few bummers. But not giving a high score either because if the story continues to intellectually weaken like this it should not be rewarded. more

the art is really solid, but it is a bit too slow for me. I get how this is a slow-burn book, but the writing for T'Challa doesn't make me engage to him. It's not bad at all, but I wish it could be better

It feels unfair to rate use my rating here as a way to rate the series so far. But there's no "general review" option, only issue to issue. This is a dull series. What an awful ending for the first year. I want to preface that I am a fan of the Ultimate Universe series I've read: The Ultimates, Ultimate Wolverine, and especially Ultimate X-Men. This series is really failing to do anything as well as those other series do. This is allegedly trying to be a politically interesting and deeply introspective slow-burn series about T'Challa's actions as king and how he will move the future of Wakanda while dealing with Ra and mostly Konshu with their Moon Knights, all the while it turns out the vibranium is alive and there is a new element abound that is a counter to the famous metal.

Slow-burn is right, though it is so slow that I'm convinced the oven is off and there has been no heat. This series moves at real time, and yet it rarely feels like the tales being told from issue to issue is worthwhile for a read. The characters are bland, the story is really just a wannabe version of the 2018 BP film, and the overall tale feels like it's meant to be told as happening quicker than it is rather than many months. The political aspects of this book do not feel all that well thought up, just stuff already said with barely any real arguing or engagement factor in them like a Shakespeare play or the many political shows and movies out there that have political intrigue as the backdrop where people are fighting for power, setting up betrayals, we look into the minds of the people who choose to be in such positions and how they get there. And it's barely political in the "using the setting as a means to comment on our own world". In fact, I find it a little insulting politically.

Some set-up. Konshu is travelling across Africa and using his powers to heal the weak and tricking them he is a God, thus making these people become his holy warriors as a way for him to conquer Wakanda. This is a world where super powered people existing is a norm, this isn't some secret element. So somehow these people are just so willing to believe they came across a God? The comic is telling me the world of Africa has many easily tricked people and no one has a TV. I say that, because She-Hulk in The Ultimates points out how her people know of world events because they have a TV. This isn't some sort of "Oooh, get owned I know the continuity", it's that in the real world even impoverished people have ways to be aware of the outside world. Another thing is how I swear every time we see a location in Africa that isn't Wakanda, it feels like an inauthentic depiction of their settlements. Maybe there's purposeful commentary there, how Konshu is only targeting the truly impoverished, but this isn't really talked about. It's just treated like he's getting ALL of Africa behind him to take out Wakanda. Speaking of, we really don't see what Ra and Konshu really do as the secret rulers of Africa? Just a lot of elements here feel unfulfilled because of the weak execution.

This is supposed to be an alternate Black Panther due to taking place in a new world. Replace some characters, and I feel like this could easily slot itself into the 616 Universe fine. And instead of being Ultimate Black Panther, it'll just be an easily forgotten ongoing.

Also the art is fine enough. Technically well made, but unengaging from panel to panel and page to page. It's not helping the pace of the comics either. This is a mistake of a series. Redo it all. more