At a presentation held in New York City in April 2008, BET announced that it had signed a deal with Marvel Comics to turn Black Panther into a primetime half-hour animated series. In July 2008 at the San Diego Comic-Con International, the first footage of the series was shown publicly, indicating that the series was essentially just motion comic versions of the mini-series released by Marvel Comics.
…yeah I remember hitting the boards and reading about how limited the animation was how it sucked. But I was just interested in seeing how they were going to tell the character’s story, hoe they were going to market this property. Essentially, I don’t believe that the BLACK PANTHER is marketable as a sole property (I.e., film or otherwise) because there aren’t too many folks that could get into the character.
[Note: This is more likely the reason Wesley Snipes never portrayed the role and ended up doing BLADE (1998) as the inaugural project for his then emerging Amen-Ra production imprint/company).]
Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see a film about the Black Panther that fully involves his origins in Wakanda, the Vibranium Mound & his initial excursions into America.
I just don’t know if mainstream America is “really” ready for a BLACK SUPERHERO & MONARCH, a depiction of an African as mentally and technologically superior to the average Joe Blow at M.I.T.
I remember after the initial positive reviews of BLADE, the special edition DVD was scoffed at by a number of critics who wondered out loud why Blade was being packaged this way when all it essentially was ‘just” an “Action flick”.
I felt like BLADE was a hell of a first start for MARVEL COMIC’S initial foray into comics, setting up a rich and detailed world for Snipes signature character to inhabit. This movie started the ball rolling on all of the other MARVEL Comics properties.
I still have online arguments and debates with various trolls about this issue to this very day.
The BLACK PANTHER is a thoroughly fascinating character with an even more fascinating history.
The BLACK PANTHER was created by none other than JACK KIRBY and a credited STAN LEE.
The character as written is devoid of the degrading jive talk and minstrel comedy mannerisms that would plague some other characters notably Luke Cage (SWEET CHRISTMAS, anybody) and to a certain extent, even Captain America’s partner The Falcon.
So, that being said … I was looking forward to the “motion comic” BLACK PANTHER television series (even if it was to air on BET). I feel that it was a step in the right direction and an alternative for young impressionable african american children.
SO, WHERE IS IT?!! WHERE IS THIS SUPPOSED BLACK PANTHER IS CARTOON SERIES?!! …on PRIME TIME NO LESS?!!
Currently all I’ve personally seen is the opening of what was labeled as episode one of a story arc labeled “Who is the BLACK PANTHER?”
The series was only broadcast on the Australian children's channel ABC3 in January 2010.
Reportedly, it has premiered online as well for ZUNE, iTUNES, XBOX Live & the PLAYSTATION Network.
So that being said, the question is posed…
“WHY CAN’T THIS SHOW FIND AIR TIME ON ANY OF THE VAST STATESIDE NETWORKS?!!”
BET?
Adult Swim?
Boom?
Cartoon Network?
Any of the Disney Cartoon channels?
Hate to say it, but it’s as plain as the nose on your face. The powers that be simply don’t want this program to be seen. Probably not because they have something better planned for the character, not because of the horrible limited animatics passed off as animation …
…but it’s simply not that kind of party her in the states. I feel that they don’t have a clue about how to market this character.
BLACK PANTHER the movie? I don’t know honestly.
And I really don’t want to see him shoehorned into the AVENGERS in 2012 or even beyond that.
Me, I just wanted to see this crappy television series for myself, so excuse me while I fire up my playstation 3 and search for something “different”.
Shadowgeek10 returns to the shadows once more.