After two years of build-up to the grand finale, Ultimate Black Panther #23 hits the shelves as both a penultimate and pivotal moment in Marvel’s new Ultimate Universe line, marking it as one of the most consequential issues to date. For the most part, the series has arguably been one of the weakest when compared to its sibling Ultimate books for a variety of reasons: very little to no differentiation from its 616-counterpart series, glacial storytelling that spent far too much time setting up plot points, and a shocking lack of the innovation or reinvention when compared to the other more wildly beloved Ultimate books. Which is why, long-time followers of this series might find this particular instalment to be a tad more ambitious—serving as an explosive battle issue that sets the stage for the approaching climax of the storyline.
For those who have invested their time over the last two years, this issue seems designed to deliver on the promise of intricate world-building and narrative tension. It brings together a multitude of threads in a thrilling confrontation, propelling T’Challa, along with allies like Erik Killmonger and Storm, into their most intense clash yet. However, while the issue certainly excels in delivering a high-stakes payoff (albeit even that ends abruptly to set up the next issue), it also lays bare the full range of glaring structural and pacing challenges that have plagued the series since day one. Ultimate Black Panther has always felt like it had grand ambitions at its heart, intertwining elements of superhero action, mysticism, and geopolitical intrigue into its narrative, and issue #23 captures both the exhilarating peaks and the many pitfalls of that particular vision.
The Penultimate Tangle
The latest issue drops readers smack dab in the middle of a monumental battle forged from the seeds of conflict sown since the series' inception. Following a dramatic sequence of events, peace in Wakanda disintegrates as chaotic forces—including the formidable Progenitors and the eerie yet all-powerful Vodu-Khan sects—descend upon the nation. The fate of Wakanda hangs precariously in balance as Black Panther, Killmonger, the Dora Milaje, Inan the Sorceress Supreme, among others, rally together against overwhelming threats. While T’Challa and his allies stand united to protect their home from impending doom, Storm, after having faced her own harrowing experiences with her and T’Challa’s supernatural “Child of Light”—a menacing force of chaos—rejoins the fight with an all-new inner strength and plenty of rage to go around.
Structured around intense set-piece battles, the issue showcases Storm wielding her powers spectacularly, while Killmonger carves his way through the opposition with ruthless efficiency. T’Challa steps feet first into his role as king, enhanced by a powerful weapon crafted by Shuri (that would put even the almighty Voltron to shame) that literally weaponizes the Panther God Bast’s energy into a war machine of epic proportions. However, even despite the high stakes and tension throughout, the issue concludes rather abruptly, setting the stage for the climactic finale while leaving several character arcs in unresolved tension.
A Tale That Only Roars on the Surface
One of the standout strengths of Ultimate Black Panther #23 lies in its focused delivery of action and narrative payoff. For fans who have embraced the series from its very beginning, Bryan Hill brings much of the buildup to a thrilling climax, showcasing large-scale conflict and dramatic confrontations that feel fitting for a penultimate chapter. The emotional stakes are also understandably palpable, especially when Storm unleashes her formidable powers or as Black Panther wields Shuri’s mecha Panther in their unrelenting rage and quest for peace. However, this payoff is accompanied by very notable trade-offs. Perhaps the most significant is the abrupt ending; instead of providing closure to ongoing plots or delivering self-contained arcs, Hill’s penultimate issue reads more like a prelude to the finale, lacking the resolution that one might expect from such a climactic moment. This pacing issue can make the instalment feel more like a teaser, one that seems to have bitten off so much more than it can chew that the finale itself could potentially be bogged down by either addressing too many plot points all at once or not enough for any meaningful conclusion.
While the action sequences are visually arresting, some character moments feel rushed or insufficiently developed. Inan’s introduction as the Sorceress Supreme earlier in the series raised high expectations as one of the better character reinventions for the series, but her insanely quick and uncharacteristic elimination from the series feels like a massively squandered opportunity. Inan, more than most, was a character who promised a lot of potential—a character that was seemingly more of a reinvention of her 616 Doctor Strange counterpart than pretty much any other character in current Ultimate Black Panther book. Which is why this incredibly jarring exit is certain to leave readers feeling as though her potential was utterly squandered. And even though mainstay characters like Killmonger and Storm have impactful moments during the battles, their motivations and emotional arcs occasionally miss the depth required to elevate the conflict beyond mere spectacle. Hill’s mismanagement of the previous 22 issues has now led to a situation where cramming multiple characters into one issue dilutes the emotional resonance of each story arc, leading to a sense of absolute chaos rather than a cohesive narrative.
For longtime readers who appreciate the blend of mysticism, political intrigue, and insurgency that the series offers, issue #23 might enjoy that some of the threads they’ve followed have come to fruition in such a grand spectacle. Still, it’s hard to look past the major shortcomings when it comes to narrative clarity or tighter plotting, which may leave them feeling somewhat disoriented by its execution. When even the much-awaited appearance of the “Child of Light,” the prophesied offspring of T’Challa and Storm, results in such a damp character (especially when compared to Ra and Khonshu from earlier in the series), it’s a matter of concern that even the expectation of the series' overarching payoff comes across as so lifeless. And this is an example of the larger issue with Ultimate Black Panther as a whole: the issue far too often prioritizes action over deeper exposition and, once again, simply does not make any real attempt to distinguish this book as an Ultimate title, even as it hurtles towards the finale.
It's Getting Wild Out There
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Visually, Ultimate Black Panther #23 is one of the strongest entries in the series. Carlos Nieto’s pencils are dynamic and fluid, rendering battle sequences with clarity and unmatched energy. Whether it’s Storm summoning tempestuous lightning storms, the Dora Milaje charging in formation, or Killmonger slicing through foes with ruthless precision—the action has a cinematic urgency that keeps the eye moving and the stakes feeling tangible. The graphical world-building in this issue—from mystical battlegrounds to Wakanda’s iconic landscapes—is rendered with intricate detail, giving the page layouts a sense of scale that befits this issue’s lofty ambitions.
David Curiel’s color work amplifies that effect. The palette is bold and varied, especially in clashes between dark, robed villains and the vibrant costumes of Wakanda’s defenders. Storm’s electrified sequences crackle with glowing blues and stark contrasts to the backgrounds, helping her powers feel truly elemental. However, the very ambition of the visuals can contribute to the issue’s shortcomings in a way. The sheer number of figures on the page sometimes makes key moments feel rushed or visually congested, repeating the story’s broader challenge of sloppily packing too much into a single chapter. The art, however, remains strong, but its intensity sometimes highlights the script’s structural integrity rather than complementing it.
No Sense in Beating a Dead Panther
Ultimate Black Panther #23, purely on the surface level, is a vivid and action-driven chapter that delivers spectacle and payoff for fans willing to forgive its narrative imperfections. The issue’s strengths lie in its bold visuals, dramatic set pieces, and satisfying escalations: Storm’s electric fury and Black Panther’s mecha-based weaponry are definite highlights. But for a penultimate issue with such high stakes, the pacing, abrupt ending, and uneven character focus ultimately hold it back from feeling fully earned.
Readers invested in deep character arcs or tight plotting may find the issue simultaneously exciting and frustrating—its ambition within claw’s reach, but its execution far too often scattered. In this sense, #23 exemplifies both the promise and the challenges of the Ultimate Black Panther series as a whole: bold thematic goals, dazzling art, and seeming moments of culmination, but also a need for tighter narrative discipline and clearer character focus in a series that simply does not dare to be different or deviate from rote tropes of classic Black Panther storytelling.
Final Verdict: A flashy penultimate throwdown that satisfies the itch for spectacle while exposing the glaring flaws that have plagued the series since day one.