In the wake of Marvel’s relaunched Ultimate Universe, writer Bryan Edward Hill speaks to James Hagan about his upcoming Ultimate Black Panther, a mysterious new take on the classic character.
28th November 2023
Interview by James Hagan
With the conclusion of this year’s Ultimate Invasion miniseries and announcements at this year’s New York Comic Con, exciting times are ahead as Marvel’s Ultimate imprint has returned with an all-star creative line-up.
Jonathan Hickman, Peach Momoko, Marco Checchetto, and more fan-favourites are forging a new universe with titles from Spider-Man, the X-Men and, most curiously, Black Panther all confirmed for early 2024.
Ultimate versions of Spider-Man and the X-Men are well-known by readers for their popular 00’s runs, but the Black Panther remains a distinctly underused character in the original line.
Penning the new series is Bryan Edward Hill, a writer who’s no stranger to the world of Wakanda, most notably with the critically acclaimed Killmonger miniseries from 2018, detailing the brutal origin of Black Panther’s classic nemesis.
Drawing the series will be Marvel alum Stefano Caselli, whose credits include recent X-Men titles, Secret Warriors, and November’s oversized Ultimate Universe #1, which he collaborated on with revered writer Jonathan Hickman.
Variant by Travel Foreman
The Comic Crush contributor James Hagan spoke to series writer Bryan Edward Hill, about what to expect from this reimagining of Marvel’s classic character, and how his approach to this new take on the character differs from his previous work on the world of Wakanda.
“I’ve more space to create here since we're in the Ultimate Universe that Hickman has forged. It allows me to do something more epic, a little more world-building” he said. “So it's different in that way. Wakanda is its own ecosystem of narrative. Plenty of stories that can be told there - with the Black Panther, and without.”
Hill’s influences certainly evoke tales of epic proportions. “I'm approaching it like works such as Dune, or A Song of Ice and Fire” he explained. "It's got history, mythology, and so much to explore.”
One of the few details we know about this upcoming run is that Khonshu and Ra - deities that now form the new Ultimate Moon Knight - are set on expanding their control of Africa. While Moon Knight and Black Panther are characters of seldom crossover, both are intrinsically linked to the continent of Africa.
When asked if the history and culture of these characters will be driving factors in the story, Hill teased, “They’re definitely setting many of the conflicts in motion - I'll leave it at that.”
The Ultimate Universe succeeded through contemporary takes on the Marvel mythos without decades of continuity convoluting narrative. Hill went on to explain that it was this creative liberty that drew him to the project. “I like heading into something that can defy expectations but still satisfy fans,” he said. “There's freedom here to really dig in and create a unique experience.”
He continued, “I write comics for the sheer joy of it, not for money. I do other things for money!” he joked. “So I'm excited to explore the possibilities here and also advance my craft as a comic book storyteller.”
Variant by Karen Darboe
Notably, there has been no mention of who the Black Panther will actually be, yet a variant cover from Karen Darboe suggests T’Challa will at some stage hold the mantle.
Even after the recent Ultimate Universe #1, Wakanda and Black Panther remain the most mysterious elements of the imprint’s relaunch. However, considering the creative team behind it, there is certainly plenty to look forward to and find out.
Thanks to Bryan Edward Hill for his time in giving this interview. You can contact James Hagan, the author of this interview, here.
From Marvel Comics: THE NEW ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER!
In the wake of ULTIMATE INVASION, Khonshu and Ra - the force known together as Moon Knight - are seeking to expand their brutal control of the continent of Africa. In response, the lone bulwark against them, the isolated nation of Wakanda, will send forth its champion...its king...the Black Panther! From the creative minds of Bryan Hill (BLADE, KILLMONGER) and Stefano Caselli (X-MEN RED, AVENGERS) comes a bold new take on the world of Black Panther and Wakanda!
Ultimate Black Panther by Hill, Caselli, Curiel, and Moss is scheduled to be released on February 7th, 2024. In the meantime, catch up on the revamped Ultimate Universe by reading Ultimate Invasion #1-4 and Ultimate Universe #1, available now in comic stores. Buy Marvel Comics here.
Main Cover by Stefano Caselli