Spinning out of Ta-Nehisi Coates' groundbreaking Black Panther comes The Crew, a new series co-written by Coates and his World of Wakanda collaborator, Yona Harvey, with art by the legendary Butch Guice. The team consists of Black Panther, Luke Cage, Storm, Misty Knight, and Manifold, who are investigating the death of a Harlem activist.

The art looks great, and it's certainly an excellent lineup for a super-team, but what I find really exciting about this book is that it's the first of Ta-Nehisi Coates' comics to be set in the U.S., and specifically to deal with race and politics in this country. When superhero comics attempt to tackle such weighty themes, it often goes very badly. But Coates is at the forefront of American race discourse, so I have a feeling he and Harvey can make it work like it's never worked before.

We'll find out how it goes when Black Panther & the Crew #1 comes out April 12. It features a cover by John Cassaday, as well as variants by Damion Scott, Rich Buckler, and Jim Cheung.

 

Art by Butch Guice / Marvel Comics
Art by Butch Guice / Marvel Comics
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Art by Butch Guice / Marvel Comics
Art by Butch Guice / Marvel Comics
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Art by Butch Guice / Marvel Comics
Art by Butch Guice / Marvel Comics
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Variant Cover by Damion Scott / Marvel Comics
Variant Cover by Damion Scott / Marvel Comics
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Variant Cover by Rich Buckler / Marvel Comics
Variant Cover by Rich Buckler / Marvel Comics
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Hip Hop Variant By Jim Cheung / Marvel Comics
Hip Hop Variant By Jim Cheung / Marvel Comics
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Here's the official word from Marvel:

Prepare for a whole new team to take on the vile underbelly of the Marvel Universe. It’s time to meet THE CREW – Black Panther, Storm, Luke Cage, Misty Knight and Manifold. And  they’re coming at you in the hard-hitting debut issue of BLACK PANTHER & THE CREW #1 – available April 12th. Co-written by Ta-Nehisi Coates (New York Times best-selling author of Between the World and Me and Marvel’s Black Panther) and Yona Harvey (Black Panther: World of Wakanda) and featuring legendary artist Butch Guice – the Crew will band together to take on a wave of crime unlike any New York City has ever seen! The death of a Harlem activist kicks off a surprising mystery that will unravel new secrets about the Marvel Universe’s past…and set the stage for its future! Fear, hate and violence loom. But don’t worry – The Crew’s got this! Don’t miss the debut issue of BLACK PANTHER & THE CREW when it comes to comic shops and digital devices on April 12th!

 

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