Black Panther vol. 3 #35

Title: "Gorilla Warfare: Book 2 of 2- Masks”

Writer: Christopher Priest

Penciller: Jim Calafiore

Inker: Livesay

Colors: VLM

Editor: Mike Martz

Q’NOMA VALLEY

Kimbay and W’Kabi are walking through the Q’Noma Valley in the rain looking at the devastation. W’Kabi says that there needs to be an immediate explanation, and that this massacre will not be tolerated. Kimbay explains that it is simple vengeance for their many crimes, for the blasphemy of the Dora Milaje that now calls herself Malice, bringing shame upon T’Challa. Kimbay says that they must forestall the wrath of the Panther God. W’Kabi says that with all due respect that is tribal nonsense. W’Kabi says that neither their god nor their king requires the blood of innocents. Kimbay says that they have been without rain for a long time, and that there needed to be an answer to the child’s blasphemy. W’Kabi asks if in their ignorance they believe that this was the answer. Kimbay does point out that it is raining. W’Kabi says that this is bad, and that T’Challa’s bid to defeat Malice has cost them dearly with the ignorant tribesman, present company excluded of course. He says that they have to tell the king, who is in the Crystal Forrest.

In Greenwich Village, Silver Surfer leads the group of Defenders against Mephisto. What the Defenders don’t realize is that Everett K Ross woke up this morning in the body of Mephisto.

As disturbing as it is, Ross, in Mephisto’s body, took the subway into Greenwich Village and goes unnoticed. As soon as Mephisto steps foot in Greenwich Village however, the Defenders are upon him. Silver Surfer blasts Mephisto. Ross tries to explain that he isn’t really Mephisto, but of course the Defenders don’t believe a second of it. Hulk smashes into Mephisto’s back. Hulk says that Red Man hurt his friends and that now Hulk is going to hurt him. Hulk pummels Mephisto through the concrete to the sewer below. Ross is pleased to discover that Mephisto’s body seems to be impervious to pain as Valkyrie cuts Mephisto’s head off. Hellcat leaps onto Mephisto’s shoulder and says that it has been a while. Ross somehow discovers how to use Mephisto’s powers and blasts Hulk and Hellcat back. Dr. Strange arrives and tells them to stop fighting. Strange had been trying to find a way to break the Defenders curse.

AH, THE GOOD OL’ DAYS

Henry Gyrich’s palm computer lies on the ground recalling M’Baku’s past. It shows scenes where M’Baku first poisoned the Avengers upon T’Challa’s return to Wakanda. It shows M’Baku, now as the Man-Ape, trying to destroy the Panther Idol that symbolizes T’Challa’s weak rule. Man-Ape succeeded, but he was buried under the rubble as the idol comes down. It also shows Man-Ape’s most recent excursion as part of the new Masters of Evil, and how he was taken out by the Thunderbolts. Man-Ape was in prison waiting to be sent back to Wakanda to stand trial for treason when Malice broke him out of jail. Apparently Malice knew more about the connection between M’Baku and the Brown girl.

Gyrich says that he never agreed to this. He says that the Tribal Challenge is a violation that cost his predecessor his job. Gyrich flashes his badge and says that he is a federal employee. He says that assaulting him is punishable by a year in jail and a $65,000 fine. Man-Ape swats the badge out of Gyrich’s hand. Gyrich uses the Wakandan law declaring D’Narga, so that the Tribal Challenge becomes one of skill and not to the death. Man-Ape shoves Gyrich to the ground.

Queen is running behind Black Panther. She asks T’Challa to tell her what M’Baku meant. T’Challa says that they don’t have the time. He says that they have to free Vibraxas from the palace while M’Baku is distracted. Queen says that she wants to know what M’Baku meant when he said that T’Challa killed her parents. She says that she has done everything he has asked. She says that she has played along with the “Dora Milaje” stuff, and left behind everything to follow him. She says that T’Challa knew that M’Baku wouldn’t hurt her because she is the last heir in a line of ascension to a tribe that T’Challa has outlawed. She says that he has said that he has much he should have told her. Queen says that if T’Challa loves her that he will tell her now.

Strange had been trying to find a way to break the Defenders curse, and that is why all the other Defenders were there with him. Later back in Strange’s house, tiny demons watch as Strange is mystically examining Mephisto and says that despite his protests that he is Mephisto. Strange wonders what Mephisto would have to gain from this ruse. Strange notices something odd about Mephisto’s distinctive energy frequency as if Mephisto’s magic were being simulated somehow. Hulk says that he thinks they should smash Red Man just in case and then go cook some beans.

Gyrich asks Man-Ape what it is he really wants. Man-Ape says that he wants Gyrich dead, but when pressed he says that what he wants is sanctuary. Gyrich says that more than that what Man-Ape wants is Wakanda. He says that the throne is the real prize. M’Baku says that he isn’t answering to any American. Gyrich says that Man-Ape’s stone face can’t hide the fact that he really loves the girl. Gyrich says that to Black Panther she is just a pawn, but to M’Baku she is family and the only hope he has left. He says that Man-Ape will install her as their tribal quuen knowing that T’Challa would never raise arms against her, and thus she would legitimize M’Baku as chieftain. Man-Ape gets flustered and throws Gyrich down. Gyrich says that without the Brown girl Man-Ape is a bald guy in a gorilla suit, a wannabe.

DAMOLA’S KING

Queen and T’Challa find Vibraxas hanging upside down in a type of cocoon. Queen says that Vibraxas is still unconscious. She says that T’Challa still has a chance to bring her up to speed. She says that she keeps waiting for him to say that it isn’t true, that he didn’t drive her parents out of Wakanda, that he didn’t kill them. Queen looks at Panther, and when he doesn’t answer she realizes that it is because he can’t say those things. Panther says that the years after his father’s death were a dark time.

There was much war and much bloodshed. The Jabari had taken to worshipping the great white gorillas of the Crystal Forrest. This was considered blasphemy by the same fundamentalists who opposed T’Challa’s introduction of technology. The Jabari were dedicated to conquering all of Wakanda. T’Challa says that for the peace and harmony of the realm he had to disperse the tribe. Reactionaries decided that this gave them the license to destroy the Jabari. The tribe became outcasts and Damola, the chieftan, became a hunted man. So one day Damola afraid for his life left Wakanda for America. He thought that he was safe there, but one day he and his wife were killed in their home. Their daughter was found alone in the park and was reported to the Wakandan consulate. T’Challa wept bitterly and was deeply ashamed. He dispatched Toyosi, who presented herself as the girl’s maternal grandmother, but was actually a member of T’Challa’s elite guard. She was to guard her until one day the girl’s people sought her out. T’Challa explains that he brought her to him to prevent her from rejoining her people. Quuen says that T’Challa brought her into the Dora Milaje to keep her from being assassinated by tribal fanatics and to keep her from being recruited by the Jabari. She asks if that this is the “honor” he has bestowed upon her. She says that she is a pawn, a tool, or a political prisoner. She says that Panther never really cared about her, and that all he really cares about is the sovereignty and security of the kingdom. Panther says that they can deal with this later. Queen says that she isn’t going anywhere with him, and that she quits. Queen goes to try and free Vibraxas, but steps on a switch and Vibraxas starts to fall down a shaft.

Man-Ape throws Gyrich again and says that he is tired of toying with him. M’Baku tells him to submit or he will crush him now. Gyrich says that Man-Ape can rant as long as he wants, but that he has his number now. Gyrich says that it would kill him to watch Panther walk out with the Brown girl. He says that she is like his own child, his only hope for any future at all. Gyrich says that without her he goes back to oblivion. M’Baku says that oath or no, Gyrich dies now. Gyrich says that if Man-Ape breaks his oath to his queen that all he will have left is this. Gyrich holds up his palm computer with an image of Man-Ape defeated by the Thunderbolts. He wonders how Man-ape’s troops will think of video footage like this. M’Baku is about to kill Gyrich, but Panther finally returns and punches Man-Ape’s face. Panther requests permission to reclaim his challenge. Gyrich of course grants it.

Man-Ape says that at last the Dog King comes to him and that he will have him. Panther says that M’baku is a pitiable soul. He says that he was once a brother to him, but now he is some fanatic leading the tattered remains of a dead tribe. T’Challa asks if M’Baku’s insanity can truly be fueled by hate. M’Baku says, “Yes! M’Baku has perfected hate in his hate of you! Of your will! Of your ways! Of your lies!”

WE DARE YOU TO TELL US WHO THIS IS

Strange notices an extremely rare energy, and says that he should call in Iron Fist. Everett K Ross’ body walks into the room. “Mephisto” starts yelling for Hulk to smash him. Hulk yawns and says that he likes Ross, a little. Strange says that it is not Ross. “Mephisto” says that it is Mephisto in his body. Strange says that it isn’t Mephisto, but rather has been acting as an imposter of Mephisto. Strange starts to say what “Ross” is, but then a huge energy burst later and “Ross” says that what he is, is late for an appointment called Armageddon.

NOW I HAVE YOU

Queen lays at the bottom of the shaft with Vibraxas. Queen tells him to wake up, and that she really needs him. She says that she relly likes him, and that they are a lot alike; both orphans, both in weird situations with the king of their country. Queen says that it is weird to call it her country. She says that so many of her friends in Chicago don’t know where they come from, but that she does. She says that she has a home… a tribe… and she has him. Queen kisses Vibraxas. Suddenly a high pitch noise starts to occur.

M’Baku tells T’Challa to yield to him. Man-Ape says that Panther has never defeated him. He tells him to yield and live. He says to yield in the name of the friendship that they once shared. He says that the Jabari will secede from Wakanda and use this land he has condemned as their own kingdom. T’Challa says, “With M’Baku as king? Which will only encourage the next chieftan to challenge his throne… splintering the realm into dozens of warring factions? And how long before you mass an army from these lands?” M’Baku says, “It’s war now, you fool! Your saber-rattling in Q’Noma Valley has seen to that. Leave this place, leave our queen, and leave your darkest secret intact in the bargain!” M’Baku says that he has ferreted out the truth of why T’Challa quarantined these lands. He says that it has nothing to do with white gorillas or cultists, but rather his secret long buried in the Crystal Forest that can topple his entire kingdom. M’Baku tells him to yield and he will give his oath to protect the realm at all costs. T’Challa says to save his empty pledges and that M’Baku and his followers will be the ones defeated today. M’Baku says that they will see. M’Baku says that he warned him and begged him to leave them in peace, and now everyone will pay the price. M’Baku says that T’Challa has killed them all.

The high pitch noise starts to scream and the ground starts to split open. Suddenly Queen is there with T’Challa. She starts to say that Vibraxas did this, but Panther says that he couldn’t help it because of the control bands that M’Baku took from him. Queen says that she is scared that he may have broken every bone in his body. Suddenly Queen spots something. She asks what that is. M’Baku says, “That, O Queen, is your “king’s” worst nightmare… the true reason he has come here… why he has ordained these as forbidden lands… the secret he’d kill us all to protect! That, my Queen… is the true, the original Black Panther!” There stands a giant crystal containing the body of a man dressed in the Black Panther outfit.

Leader's Lair review: 9 out of 10

Black Panther is always one of my best reads of the month. I might be the only one, but I love M'Baku! Christopher Priest's circular storytelling can take an issue or two to get into, but once you do it makes the read that much better. He is a unique talent that I hope I get to see some more work done by him. Califore also does a tremendous job pencilling the book. Great style, great feel. It's hard to believe that this book was ever close to cancellation. Long live the King!!!!

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