The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda

The sheer number of comic books out there are a blessing and a curse. There are so many stories to catch up on and different versions of the same characters. It is wonderful for the explorer, but for the casual fan it can be daunting. We all know something about Black Panther, the character, Wakanda etc, but did you know about The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda a whole other multi solar system of Wakandan people? Ta-Nehisi Coates knew about it in their comic book run that took an alternative look at The Black Panther and now Suyi Davies Okungbowa has the task of telling the tale in prose form. 

The stranger wakes up with no memories of who they are. They are on some sort of mining planet, a slave. Although they cannot remember their name, the body seems to recall. They are faster and more powerful than the guards, trust your instincts and you can escape. Who is this mysterious stranger? Could it be T’Challa, the latest reincarnation of The Black Panther, a hero the people need right now? 

Marvel is as good/bad as any comic book creators at creating alternative versions of well-known characters from stories set in the past or future, to the multiverse. This novel is based on a story that is not an alternative to the Earth Black Panther, but as a companion piece. It is set far away in a separate Wakanda society that explored the stars long ago. They hold the beliefs of Wakanda Prime, but over time these have become distorted, their T’Challa now calls himself Emperor, who controls planets, wipes the memories of dissidents and uses the stored knowledge to keep himself in power. 

This version of Wakanda is so far removed from what the reader may be used to, that I was instantly worried that I would be lost. However, you need not worry as Okungbowa focusses on the right things. There is a rich vein of lore that feels familiar, but we are also introduced to this alternative space opera. It has the feel of Star Wars as the plucky rebellion fights the Empire, but there is no Luke Skywalker. Instead, you get a kick arse Black Panther. 

Adapting graphic novels into prose is an art, and one that Okungbowa has achieved. A book lacks the visual nature of the comics, so you need to describe the action. Okungbowa does this well, but they also focus on the characters and the lore. These are areas in which prose can shine. We see the development of T’Challa into becoming the King those around him believe him to be. There is more insight than perhaps a comic could provide. 

As an adaptation, it reads like Okungbowa made some choices about what to cover. Some action is described in short order, almost off screen. This feels wise, if that was the case, as it allowed the book to focus on what it does best and that is the development of the characters, both good and bad. Even with selected editing, the book does suffer a little from being based on a comic run (or runs I would suspect). The acts feel a little disjointed and not fully connected, at one point abandoning T’Challa completely for a while. 

The book is certainly strongest in its first act. A section that sees the imprisonment, rescue, and early development of T’Challa. More happens in the concluding section, but it is too much. More characters and more action mean that it is harder to picture what is happening. Even at its more explosive and confusing Intergalactic Empire remains an enjoyable book to read and an impressive adaptation of a graphic novel. Okungbowa has intelligently leaned into the positives of the written format to delve deeper into the characters, and this is where it is strongest. The book would work well for any Marvel or Black Panther fan, but also those that like action science fiction with interesting characters and setting.