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Black Panther: A Nation Under Our Feet Vol. 1: A Nation Under Our Feet Book 1 (Black Panther (2016-2018)) Kindle & comiXology
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A new era begins for the Black Panther! MacArthur Genius and National Book Award-winning writer Ta-Nehisi Coates (Between the World and Me) takes the helm, confronting T'Challa with a dramatic upheaval in Wakanda that will make leading the African nation tougher than ever before. When a superhuman terrorist group calling itself The People sparks a violent uprising, the land famed for its incredible technology and proud warrior traditions will be thrown into turmoil. As suicide bombers terrorize the population, T'Challa struggles to unite his citizens, and a familiar villain steps out of the shadows. If Wakanda is to survive, it must adapt — but can its monarch, one in a long line of Black Panthers, survive the necessary change? Heavy lies the head that wears the cowl!
- Reading age9 years and up
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level4 and up
- PublisherMarvel
- Publication dateAugust 31, 2016
- ISBN-13978-1302900533
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About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B01JT4A2DW
- Publisher : Marvel; Illustrated edition (August 31, 2016)
- Publication date : August 31, 2016
- Language : English
- File size : 441335 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Not enabled
- Enhanced typesetting : Not Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Not Enabled
- Sticky notes : Not Enabled
- Print length : 132 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #38,479 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #34 in Marvel Comics & Graphic Novels
- #45 in Comics & Graphic Novels (Kindle Store)
- #109 in Children’s Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Ta-Nehisi Coates is a national correspondent for The Atlantic and the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Between the World and Me, a finalist for the National Book Award. A MacArthur “Genius Grant” fellow, Coates has received the National Magazine Award, the Hillman Prize for Opinion and Analysis Journalism, and the George Polk Award for his Atlantic cover story “The Case for Reparations.” He lives in New York with his wife and son.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2018
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The premise is that Wakanda is on the brink of coming apart at the seams, and there are nefarious forces afoot trying to spur a revolution. A mysterious woman, Zenzi, uses mind control unleash people’s rage. This results in an episode of violence that is the inciting incident for the story. But Zenzi isn’t working alone; she has a powerful ally named Tetu, who can control elements of nature.
Some background maybe useful for those unfamiliar with this character and / or who haven’t seen “Captain America: Civil War”--the movie in which Black Panther / T’Challa was introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU.) First, Wakanda is a fictional African nation. It’s quintessentially African with respect to culture, but it’s the most technologically advanced nation in the world. It achieved this first-world modernity and wealthy in large part because it possesses most of the world’s vibranium—a much desired, but fictional, metal. Vibranium can absorb huge amounts of energy and only become stronger. The metal is most famously known for being the material from which Captain America’s shield was made, but it crops up in Marvel stories quite frequently.
Second, the superhero Black Panther is the protector of Wakanda (though in some books—not this one—he does get drawn into global affairs) and is the alter ego of the Wakandan king, T’Challa. This duality is particularly relevant in this story line. On the one hand, the Black Panther must battle Zenzi and Tetu who are working together to bring the nation down. On the other hand, as King, T’Challa is forced to recognize his responsibility for the health of the nation, and he must be a good leader and not just a good fighter. There are the makings of an inner battle that must be fought concurrently with the battle against the enemies of the state. At the end of Volume #4, T’Challa is forced to face this through the words of a trusted maternal advisor.
In addition to the main plot in which the hero fights to keep the nation from collapsing, there are a couple subplots. One involves an ex-member of the royal guard (i.e. the all-female Dora Milaje) using stolen technology to rescue her lover, another ex-member of Dora Milaje who was sentenced to death for killing a corrupt tribal leader. The two go on a spree of rescuing Wakandans. Another subplot involves T-Challa’s sister being trapped in a limbo between life and death called the Djalia—the plane of memory.
A word on the “Fantastic Four” comic book included: In it, T’Challa woos Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) into bringing the Four to Wakana by way of the gift of a flying car—a technology that seemed only slightly more feasible in 1961 than it does today. (Yes, I wrote that the way I meant it. In those days anything seemed possible. But after decades without a household jet-pack, we’ve become a more technologically pessimistic people… or is it just me?) Once in Wakana, the Black Panther battles the Fantastic Four, using not only his athletic prowess but also a series of technologies tailor-made against their powers. This makes it seem like the Black Panther was introduced as a villain, but he’s hunting them for the challenge rather than out of ill-will.
As would be expected from an award-winning author, this arc is well-written and sets up a fascinating story. As this is a comic book, I should also talk about the artwork, which was done by Brian Stelfreeze. However, I don’t know what to say beyond that I liked it well enough. I’m not particularly competent to speak on the subject--other than to say that it was generally easy to tell what was going on in the frames, and the action seemed to be well conveyed. I can’t speak at all to coloring as I read the Kindle edition in black & white (Not that I’d have anything interesting to say on the subject.)
I’d recommend this comic. There’s plenty of butt-kicking, but there’s also a thought-provoking tale of political intrigue.
First off, this book opens with the Black Panther returning to a broken Wakanda. It's not literally broken; instead it is broken in spirit. The people have lost faith in their leader after several incursions from outside forces. Various warlords are seeking to take control of different parts of the nation and the common people are cracking. How can this nation be brought whole again and what will the Black Panther's role be in it?
I've never read a Black Panther story before so I didn't really have any expectations on what this book would be. This gives a good history of Wakanda and the Black Panther, and I enjoyed the political aspects of it as well. There are a couple of outlaws that are working to help the people without actively acting against the country's leadership (so far). I liked the characters despite not being familiar with most of them beforehand.
The art is fantastic. There are some really gorgeous sections. I could easily see this being the favorite part of many readers. There are some sections of the book that are kind of dry. This volume aims to set the scene for the hero in many ways and prep for future events. I think it succeeds and I am looking forward to reading the next volume.
A Nation Under Our Feet was when Coates took over the franchise and threw everything on its head. Wakanda is always portrayed as a nation on a hill with its wealth and culture largely untouched. That was eventually beaten down with huge wars with Dr. Doom, Namor and then Thanos. This volume starts in that aftermath and everything has come apart.
Shuri, the Black Panther is lost in a limbo. The chiefs in the periphery are ignoring the central government and running things on their own, some to the detriment of their people. In neighboring Niganda two spiritualists are stoking a revolution against the crown. Two Dora Milaje leave the order and attempt to create their own country based upon protecting women and children. T’Challa has returned and most not only deal with these fires but rule and renew the nation.
That is the big question posed in this volume, how should T’Challa rule as king. Does he resort only to force? Does he try to turn to the people and provide them with a new image of the nation to inspire them? This is what Coates series is about what is the nature of governance, and is the reason why his stewardship of the Panther franchise stood out.
The artwork is top notch and there's plenty of extras at the back including alternative covers and the old Fantastic Four issue where T'Challa made his first appearance.
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