New Wakanda comic expands the lore of Black Panther ahead of Wakanda Forever

Wakanda #1 cover (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

The world of Wakanda, home of the Black Panther in the Marvel Universe, will be the subject of a new five-issue limited series starting in October, spinning out of writer John Ridley's current run on the main Black Panther title.

Wakanda #1 variant cover (Image credit: Marvel Comics)

In Ridley's run, T'Challa has been exiled from Wakanda, with the limited series aiming to fill in the gaps of what's going on back in the Black Panther's homeland while he's abroad.

Each issue features different creators telling stories focused on the wider cast of characters from Wakanda, with Wakanda #1 featuring a story which spotlights T'Challa's younger sister Shuri from writer Stephanie Williams and artist Paco Medina.

"I've been such a huge fan of the Black Panther over the years, especially the evolution and expansion of the women of Wakanda," states Williams in the series announcement.

"It's truly an honor to kick off the new series with the Shuri story I wrote. I hope I can add to her and Wakanda's already impressive lore."

A former bearer of the Black Panther mantle herself, Shuri's tale will focus on the young hero's genius level intellect and her solutions for protecting Wakanda without its traditional ancestral guardian.

Alongside the main story from rotating creators, each issue of Wakanda will feature an installment of 'The History of the Black Panthers,' a back-up tale which will tell the first definitive history of the entire line of Wakanda heroes to take up the mantle of the Black Panther.

Wakanda #1 goes on sale October 12, just ahead of the November release of the film sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will also deal with T'Challa's absence in the wake of the death of actor Chadwick Boseman, who originated the role in the MCU.

Make sure you've read the best Black Panther stories of all time.

I've been Newsarama's resident Marvel Comics expert and general comic book historian since 2011, and now I'm the Entertainment Writer at GamesRadar+. I've also been the on-site reporter at most major comic conventions such as Comic-Con International: San Diego, New York Comic Con, and C2E2. Outside of comic journalism, I am the artist of many weird pictures, and the guitarist of many heavy riffs. (They/Them)