We’re obsessed with Black Panther.

The film—the first with a black superhero, a black director, and a mostly black cast—is being hailed as nothing short of revolutionary. 

So, we’ve come up with some book selections for every kind of Black Panther fan, from the movie-goers who’ve never read the comics to the long-time completists. Whether you just saw the movie or think you've read every comic in the series, we think we have a suggestion for you.

If you’ve never read the comics before:
Start with the most recent reboot, beginning in 2016: the new series written by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

If you’ve read only the newer comics:
Try the originals! The first Black Panther comic debuted in 1966, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and set him up against classic Marvel heroes—like Daredevil and Captain America, in this volume from the epic collection.

If you want more go-to core material:
Check out the complete collections of Christopher Priest’s Black Panther.

If you think you’ve seen it all:
You can double-check! This illustrated history, released just in time for the movie this year, has the complete chronology of the series.

If you want the Black Panther universe to have a distinctly feminist twist:
Roxane Gay—yes, the one and only—wrote a brand-new comic, Black Panther: World of Wakanda, that tells the origin story of the Midnight Angels and the budding love story of Ayo and Aneka. 

If you want to see superheroes working together (or are they . . . ):
Check out the Jason Aaron series from the mid-2010s.

If you want to see the zombie version of Black Panther and the other Avengers:
Who wouldn’t? Check out the Marvel Zombies series.

And if you want another cinematic view of Black Panther:
Give the Reginald Hudlin series a shot! Hudlin is a successful director and producer who brought a filmmaker's eye to the comics.


 

Special thanks to Antonio Cuneo and Susen Shi for contributing their Black Panther expertise.

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Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you'd recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!