REVIEW: ‘Black Panther: Blood Hunt’ Issue #1

Black Panther: Blood Hunt #1 is published by Marvel Comics. It is written by Cheryl Lynn Eaton, with art by Farid Karami, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, and letters by Joe Sabino. This issue is a part of the Blood Hunt event. Black Panther has been turned into a vampire by Blade, the man responsible for the takeover of Earth. T’Challa returns to Wakanda under the orders of his sire, trying to rid himself of his affliction at the same time.

This issue focuses on the mythical side of the Black Panther mythos and the horror side of the Blood Hunt event. The opening instills an immediate hostile atmosphere for Black Panther from the beings that he values most. It’s important to state that Black Panther: Blood Hunt #1 doesn’t necessarily need knowledge from prior releases, but it would certainly be a good introduction to the comic.

The transition between the scenes and the locations doesn’t always blend well, leading to confusion every time. T’Challa leaps into each situation, explaining things after the first punches are thrown. The writing of T’Challa is excellent, exploring how far he has fallen from grace. He appears more isolated than he ever has. Bast, the deity he worships, seems horrified and furious with him due to reasons explained in the pages of Black Panther: Blood Hunt #1.

His status as King is also in shambles, with his subjects experiencing disappointment or general surprise that he’s there at all. For a man of such pride and respect, it’s a fascinating journey to read. Even Shuri, his sister, is filled with harsh truths about T’Challa.

The invasion of Wakanda by the vampires is exciting and devastating. A nation that is usually ready and prepared for any attack is suddenly vulnerable. The action is exhilarating, traversing the whole country and including many of the major Black Panther’s supporting cast members—all with the tension of whether their former king would be a threat.

Of course, the most significant change within this tie-in series is that the Black Panther is now a vampire. It leads to some fantastic spectacle and signs of his phenomenal resolve. Any other character may have fallen under the control of Blade, losing all their humanity instantly.

But this is one of the most mentally resilient characters in the whole of the Marvel Universe, and it isn’t quite so easy to sway his mind. Just having to follow orders and be controlled by someone else is a surprise. Even the great Black Panther can’t resist a vampire’s basic urges for long. Eaton brilliantly scripts that struggle, placing the Panther in moments that could considered pathetic.

The art is magnificent. Even when under attack, Karami makes Wakanda look stunning. The cities have life and identity, with a variety seen just within this first issue. The intricate details of Black Panther’s costume are delightfully illustrated. With the particular twist of the Blood Hunt event, T’Challa is also presented without his mask quite often. This is so we get close-up images of his fangs, which are vicious and startling.

Paired with cat-like eyes and claws, Black Panther makes a terrifying vampire. His incredible movement has been enhanced, with Karami displaying that intense speed superbly. The fight scenes feature sudden and bloody violence, from slashing claws and razor-sharp claws.

The attention to detail spreads to Shuri and the other Wakandans battling for survival. This specific breed of vampires is noticeably more horrific than other strands, with an insectoid visage that is close to the Brood. They’re repulsive and hideous.

The colors are gorgeous. The vibrancy of the nation that Black Panther enters is terrific, technological yet traditional. When T’Challa moves and his surroundings blur, all of the colours remain, adding further details to the page. Both he and Shuri have tiny additions to their costume that make them more interesting, with symbols and patterns that are pretty. The lettering is interesting as the caption boxes are the opposite color scheme to the word balloons: white font on a black background. The contrast works very nicely and is always easy to read.

Black Panther: Blood Hunt #1 is visually and viscerally spectacular. Black Panther’s struggles are presented through a stunning art style that places him within a lifelike country. It’s bustling with nature and energy, under attack from the stuff of nightmares. T’Challa’s horrific tribulations create unpredictable scenarios and endless surprises. At times, he is trustworthy, noble, and protective of his people. But others say he is weak and faltering, unable to be among humans.

Wakanda has always been fantastic in providing context on the worldwide impact of events, and now their figurehead is also one of the front runners of the whole crossover. Keeping track of everything going on within Blood Hunt is not easy, jumping across the tie-ins and the main book, but that is a criticism of the broader organisation, not the individual creators.

Black Panther: Blood Hunt #1 is available where comics are sold.