servemethesky's review
3.0
This was a solid collection but a long haul to get through. They could've cut it to 10 or 12 stories and I wouldn't have minded, 18 was too many.
I enjoyed many of these stories, but others were just meh. My favorite was "Bon Temps," where Shuri goes to New Orleans during Mardi Gras and fights vampires with Monica Rambeau. I also enjoyed the one where T'Challa goes to Mississippi and finds a lush piece of land where a variant of the heart-shaped herb grows. The Killmonger story was fantastic, too. Oh! And the one with the new Dora Milaje, Dera, who has a counterpart in an alternate reality contact her--that one was intriguing.
The ones I enjoyed the least were when they fought folks from Atlantis--there were 2 of those and they were both shockingly boring. Another I didn't like as much featured a former NYPD cop fighting white nationalists--it felt like an episode of Falcon & the Winter Soldier, and not in a good way. Too much action for a short story.
In many of these stories, I was perplexed by the way they were so plot focused. "And then X happens, and then Y happens, and then Z happens." They rarely investigated how a character was feeling in any given moment. It's a style I was unused to and found less interesting.
The themes they investigated were compelling--did Wakandans actually end up enslaved? How can Wakanda help the rest of the world more without losing the core of who they are?
All in all, a strong anthology! Definitely would recommend for diehard Marvel & Black Panther fans. I'm too casual a fan to be the target demo for this.
I enjoyed many of these stories, but others were just meh. My favorite was "Bon Temps," where Shuri goes to New Orleans during Mardi Gras and fights vampires with Monica Rambeau. I also enjoyed the one where T'Challa goes to Mississippi and finds a lush piece of land where a variant of the heart-shaped herb grows. The Killmonger story was fantastic, too. Oh! And the one with the new Dora Milaje, Dera, who has a counterpart in an alternate reality contact her--that one was intriguing.
The ones I enjoyed the least were when they fought folks from Atlantis--there were 2 of those and they were both shockingly boring. Another I didn't like as much featured a former NYPD cop fighting white nationalists--it felt like an episode of Falcon & the Winter Soldier, and not in a good way. Too much action for a short story.
In many of these stories, I was perplexed by the way they were so plot focused. "And then X happens, and then Y happens, and then Z happens." They rarely investigated how a character was feeling in any given moment. It's a style I was unused to and found less interesting.
The themes they investigated were compelling--did Wakandans actually end up enslaved? How can Wakanda help the rest of the world more without losing the core of who they are?
All in all, a strong anthology! Definitely would recommend for diehard Marvel & Black Panther fans. I'm too casual a fan to be the target demo for this.
jessiebwriting's review
4.0
What an amazing collection of stories involving the Black Panther and Wakanda. I felt as if I've come to a better understanding of the culture and history behind this character and others surrounding him. Though Wakanda is fictional, much of what is shared in these stories is very real, not the least being the emotions that jump from the pages. Powerful stories, each unique and yet the same. A definite must read and not just for Marvel fans.
annet's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
caitlin_low3's review against another edition
Struggled to get into each little story and lost interest
whatthekatdraggedin's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ashleyreadstoomuch's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
southern_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Audiobook Sync 2022. I had no clue what was going on, going into this. I haven't read or seen any Black Panther stuff. So it took me a couple of short stories (this is a collection of short stories with a bunch of different authors; always fun) to catch up. But then I was hooked. The audiobook is nearly 20 hours and I looked forward to all of it. Now I kinda want to watch the movie. And I definitely get why people are superfans of The Black Panther. I can definitely see myself recommending this one at the library. A very strong start to Audiobook Sync 2022!