Black Panther No. 1 from Marvel Comics, the book authored by bestselling nonfiction writer Ta-Nahesi Coates, is the highest-selling comic book so far in 2016.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the first issue of Coates and Brian Stelfreeze’s series sold 253,259 copies in its first month.
The release coincided with the debut of the movie version of Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman, in the recent Marvel movie Captain America: Civil War.
Black Panther will get his own standalone Marvel movie in 2018, to be directed by Creed’s Ryan Coogler.
Black Panther’s alter ego is T’Challa, the prince of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. In addition to the successful book and movie, the character’s 50th anniversary is this year as well. A preview video series for Black Panther has also been launched by Marvel.
Coates, a longtime journalist on topics concerning race, politics and police misconduct, had another bestseller last year with Between the World and Me, which won both a National Book Award and a MacArthur “genius” grant. He wrote the book along with Stelfreeze, a veteran comic book illustrator.
The second issue of Coates’ Black Panther run is now available as well.
What do you think? Does Black Panther No. 1 deserve to be the year’s best-selling comic?
