In anticipation of high sales, Marvel Comics is already sending the debut issue of Ultimate Black Panther back to the printers.
Ultimate Black Panther #1 hails from writer Bryan Edward Hill and artist Stefano Caselli (the latter of whom also provides the main cover art). On Monday, February 5 — two days before the comic’s release — Marvel announced that a second printing would hit comic shops in March (the same day as Ultimate Black Panther #2, no less). The second printing features all-new cover art by R.B. Silva.
Check out R.B. Silva’s Second Printing Variant Cover for Ultimate Black Panther #1 below:
What is Ultimate Black Panther about?
Ultimate Black Panther introduces King T’Challa and the nation of Wakanda to Marvel‘s new Ultimate Universe — Earth-6160. In this reality, T’Challa/Black Panther rules the hidden African nation alongside his wife, Okoye. The Black Panther and his people must step out of the shadows in order to battle Khonshu and Ra — the duo known collectively as Moon Knight — who wage a brutal campaign across the continent. Fortunately, Wakanda has some backup in the form of freedom fighters Erik Killmonger and Storm.
“I think the difference between what’s going on now in the 616 and what’s going on in ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER is I’m using a broader philosophical canvas,” Hill recently told ComicBook.com. “I think that Wakanda and the world of Black Panther is vast and extends into history up until now, headed towards the future. It’s a lot. I’ve been using Frank Herbert’s Dune as an analog to what I’m doing in the sense that you have a rich world with varying philosophical ideas and the sort of conflict and synergy between ancient spiritualism and modern practical politics.”
Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe is here to stay
Hill and Caselli’s Ultimate Black Panther is the second ongoing series of Marvel’s new Ultimate line. It follows Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto’s Ultimate Spider-Man, which launched in January. (Notably, Ultimate Spider-Man #1 itself got a second printing following massive sales.) Up next for the Ultimate Universe is Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men, which launches in early March.
Ultimate Black Panther #1 goes on sale Wednesday, February 7 from Marvel Comics. Issue #2 arrives on Wednesday, March 13 alongside the second printing of issue #1.
