I was devastated when I read they weren't going to continue this run. It was SUPERB. ( )

A good setup to the various Black Panther arcs (Black Panther #1, Infinity Gauntlet/Wars, The Ultimates, etc.). Nothing super essential or game-changing, but good background history on Ayo/Aneka, Falomi, White Tiger, and Zenzi. ( )

I wanted to love this book so fiercely that I'm sure to some extent I set myself up for disappointment. On the other hand, maybe it would have also helped to have known more about this book going in. As it was, I was not really prepared for how much of this was a retread of Coates's arc of Black Panther. I kept getting to pieces and thinking, "Wait, didn't this already happen? Haven't I already read this? Why am I reading it again?" I did like the back story on Ayo and Aneka, but given how much of this was basically a repeat, there just wasn't enough here to make this feel satisfying as its own story. ( )

This comic is not so much about the Black Panther and more about the Dora Milaje the all-female guard who protect the royal family. It focuses mainly on two characters: Captain Aneka and trainee Oyo. The two feel an immediate attraction toward each other that Aneka tries to deny. Oyo pushes to break through both physically on the field of practices as well as emotionally after class.

Months later during the Avengers war against the X-Men, Namor attacks Wakanda and the Dora Milaje capture one of his men to interrogate. Later Namor floods Wakanda. The Dora Milaje take it upon themselves to gather up the dead bodies and clean up the streets. Oyo doesn't believe in doing this work. She is eager to go and get Namor. When they finally get the chance with the Black Panther, he tells them he has Namor but that he won't be punished because there is another purpose afoot and Namor is needed for it and must be set free. Oyo is furious and thinks he is wrong. Aneka believes in T'Challa and that whatever he has decided must be right.

Oyo and Aneka will finally consummate their relationship, but Aneka insists on keeping it a secret. The Dora Milaje must be available to T'Challa as possible brides. Oyo is becoming disillusioned by T'Challa who let Thanos come to Wakanda and wreak havoc looking for something. He is never there and his association with the Avengers has brought danger to their doorsteps. Also, what happened with Namor is unforgivable. She is trying to get Aneka to see things her way.

It is brought to the head of the Dora Milaje Zola that one of the chieftains is raping women in his village and no one is doing anything about it. Since T'Challa isn't here to help, they decide to look into it and look at other villages and see what is going on in them. But they have a serpent in the Dora Milaje who will be a problem with this. I really loved this book. In other Black Panther books, I have read about Oyo and Aneka and its great to read about how their relationship came together. Also included in this book is a short story of how Zenzi started out and another one about Officer Kevin "Kasper" Cole, the White Panther. This is a great book and I give it five out of five stars. ( )

Ayo and Aneka understand more about running Wakanda than T'Challa. Don't @ me. ;) ( )