Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Haley Reading Group: Black Panther, Fantastic Four #52


[Haley Reading groups Fall 2020]

Fantastic Four #52 introduces this then new, mysterious character. This issue was from July 1966, and marked the first appearance of Black Panther. 

There's so much to consider in this issue in comparison to what we've been recently reading with Black Panther in the lead role. In this 1966 issue, the writing style, drawing, and coloring are much different than what we have now. Even the design of pages are notable. Here, we have far more five and six square-panel pages. 

As a guest in a Fantastic Four book, white characters are quite prevalent.  In addition, the attire of Wakandans looks much different back then in comparison to depictions of their clothing in recent issues of Black Panther. It's a minor issue, but notice that back then, Black Panther wore a cape.   

What did you find most interesting or surprising about this issue involving the first appearance of Black Panther? Briefly explain why the aspect of the comic that you pointed out was notable to you. 

15 comments:

Kristian Beal said...

Black Panther's role in this issue was much more villainous than the recent one. He seemed much more mysterious and evil. His style was much more animalistic as well; he would refer to his panther-like abilities often.

Philip Bowen said...

Black Panther seem to play more of a villain rather than playing superhero. He attack the four fantastic four with different kinds of traps and techniques that a villain would use.

Philip Bowen

Jared Willis said...

What I found most surprising about this edition of Black Panther was the fact that even though he is wearing a cape and supposed to be a hero the way he talks and his actions show him as more of a villain. One comment that stood out in particular for me was on page 5 when the Black Panther said, "Now, let the fantastic four come!" This makes it our like he already has a bad intent before they even arrive.

-Jared Willis

Tracy Long said...

In the comic they presented black panther as more of a villain . They often refer to his animal like abilities and he seemed kinda evil and strange.

Ayo J said...

What I found most surprising is the big change in how Black Panther played the role of a villain in the Fantasy Four issue, compared to the Black Panther issue, where he played the role of a hero. The comments where I first noticed Black Panther and his men playing the role of villains was "Ship approaches! All goes as Planned...This will be his greatest hunt."

Anonymous said...

I feel like T'Challa/ Black Panther was depicted as more of an anti-hero in this issue. I don't think the writers meant for the audience to view him as a villain, but they did not introduce him to the issue as a hero alongside the fantastic four. Some of the language used to describe him was a lot more mysterious which sort of made me as the reader think of him more as an anti-hero.

Walter Carroll 11/23/20

Anonymous said...

The thing that was most interesting or surprising was that in this 1966 issue of the Fantastic Four, the Black Panther took much more of a villainous role. By reading through the comic you can see that he had bad intentions before they even arrived.

-Kenyon Davis 11/24/20

Richard Haley said...

The biggest surprise to me was the fact that black panther was a hero yet they made him sound like a bad guy even though he wore a cape, the way he was introduced just made him sound like a villain

-Richard Haley

Byron Coulter said...

I found it interesting that the Black Panther in this issue was considered more of a villain rather than a hero. I don't think the author of the comic wanted him to be a set in stone villain like Venom was to Spider-Man. But to just to have some sort of filler role in the comic. He does still have his animal like instincts in this issue as well, but they're more wild than majestic compared to the modern Black Panther.

Byron Coulter

Maurice K said...

Black Panther is seen more as a villain instead of a hero in this comic book entry. The way his dialogue and actions are displayed and what others say make him seem as a villain.

Peyton Stuart Payne said...

The most interesting thing about this comic and the black panther's role is how he was much more violent than what we have seen in the past. It was also a different type of problem in this comic, as it was a domestic problem with the rebellious behavior.
This was a very enjoyable comic, as it was my first comic I have ever read.

Olufemi Idowu said...

I find it interesting how the black panther is portrayed as more of an antagonist or antihero. His abilities are exaggerated and he seems far more animalistic and violent. Which made him seem more similar to another character in marvel he often tangles with, Kraven the Hunter.

Avery Owusu-Asiedu said...

This first appearance of Black Panther was very weird. In the beginning we weren’t told why he had the hunt and we never really figured out why he did in the end. He was portrayed as the bad guy in this appearance hunting the Fantastic Four.
It was interesting to see how he changed from this villain to the protagonist in the book we read where he is trying to save his country.
Avery Owusu-Asiedu

Anonymous said...

The black panther comes off as more of a villain compared to the story we just read. I came to this conclusion based on the different traps and tactics he used

Dominique Fox, 12/17/20

Darius Campbell said...

The most notable this about this is the fact that they made black panther look like a villain. On the first two covers, he looks like a new up and coming villain ready to cause chaos. He's usually shown as a shadowy figure or has this red background behind him to make him look creepy.