Writer Reginald Hudlin

Penciler Scot Eaton

Inks Klaus Janson

Colors Dean White

Letterers VC’s Randy Gentile

Cover Dated August 2006

Bride of the Panther, Part Four of Five

Cover by Joseph Michael Linsner, is it wrong or amazing that I recognized the cover was done by Linsner, simply based off of Storm’s eyes?

The Apartment of Luke Cage and Jessica Jones.  We sneak in a Jessica Jones issue!  Cage is setting up an epic Bachelor Party.  I like Cage’s desk – especially that he keeps a picture of his old school Heroes for Hire with his pal Iron Fist, and how the photo is nice, front and center.  Jessica enters the room with their baby and he quickly pretends that he is doing personal business.

Midtown Manhattan.  T’Challa and Storm are at a press conference – it isn’t really his style but he recognizes the media need for it.  Someone asks about Storm’s ring, it isn’t a Wakandan custom but he presents Storm with an engagement ring.  Someone else asks about Black Panther’s opinion on the Superhero Civil War.  It is his policy to not comment on American politics.

Storm takes this opportunity to express her thoughts on the Civil War.  Storm has faced discrimination as – An African, a Woman and a Mutant, enough is enough.  She promotes how Wakanda doesn’t waste time with discrimination – that is why they are the world leaders in technological advances and human rights.  With that, T’Challa ends the press conference.

In their limbo, T’Challa and Ororo (I finally remembered her name!) make out as he is quite happy with her.

Avengers Tower.  Wolverine wants to help Cage with the party plans.  T’Challa does not want a Bachelor Party.  He isn’t a fan of the tradition and he doesn’t want his wedding to be the excuse that Cage gets to party hard.

Fifth Avenue Manhattan.  I really like how Storm and Kitty are shopping and Susan is along for the ride.  If only Susan and Storm had an established friendship.  For some reason, Susan finds the need to wear a Fantastic Four button, is there not a more fashionable way to show that she is a member of that team slash family.  They are shopping for Storm’s dress.  I wish this storyline sparked Kitty and Susan having a closer friendship, or any sort of friendship.

Susan asks if Storm blow dries her hair, it is the only way she can keep it that long.  You know, girl talk.  Is “Retail Therapy” a thing?  Apparently my wife does it and my gal pal, Valerie does as well – but I’m not familiar with the term.  I guess that means, that I don’t do it.

Kitty references “O” Magazine and Storm doesn’t know what that is.  Which seems silly.  Kitty doesn’t just keep her copy of O on the coffee table in the main lobby or in another common place?  Though I do like the idea of how the X-Men don’t have time for magazines.

The three ladies enter a store.  Susan asks the manager to lock the door.  He makes a comment about how thrilled he is that Storm has come back to his store, though this is her first time.  The always race conscious Kitty isn’t happy with the manager.  The man defends that he recognizes Storm, when he sees her.  He reveals that Other-Storm paid with cash, which forces the ladies to think of who it could have been.  How many tall African women with long white hair, cold there be?  Also with blue eyes?

Later.  Ororo and T’Challa chase each other in their apartment – it is pretty fun.

Falcon meets with Black Panther’s cousin, who works in the state department.  Falcon is there to ensure that Captain America will be at the wedding, as he is – at the moment – an enemy of the state.

Meanwhile, Somewhere in Africa.  Man-Ape is trying to build an army.  Man-Ape is the leader of the other Wakandan tribe, the minority.  He would have liked Black Panther to marry someone of their tribe, to bring peace between the factions.

The Next Morning, after some love making.  T’Challa wants to know what Ororo wants to do this Friday night.  They can have dinner at the White House or Prince’s house.  If you get invited to Prince’s house, you drop everything and go go go!  She has plans, which surprises him.  She has a Bachelorette Party to get to!  We get the first hint that T’Challa does not care for the X-Men, as he insults that Rogue would hire Eros as a stripper.  No one would invite Eros to any function, if they wanted to have a good time.  Ororo tells him that he should have his party on Friday.

On a Quinjet, Cage is trying to get T’Challa to lighten up but he is not looking forward to this.  Wolverine wishes they were going to Madripoor but Cage is taking them to Brazil.

That flashback of T’Challa’s cousin, that didn’t make any sense – apparently a Malice type of character has taken over the cousin’s body.  Malice wants to take over Storm’s body to then jump to T’Challa’s body.  Maybe she needs to jump between genders, or something?

At the strip club, we are treated to three character’s catch phrases.  Thing’s My Sweet Aunt Petuna.  Luke Cage’s Sweet Christmas (my personal favorite).  Namor’s Imperius Rex.

The cousin’s name is, T’Shan, I’m glad someone finally name checked him.  Thanks Hudlin slash Cage.

I’m not a fan of strip clubs.  I do think I could run one, rather well.  Mine would specialized in ladies who don’t have any tattoos, or one that doesn’t allow stripes that have giant body part tattoos.  I think it would be a real hit.

Midtown Manhattan.  Storm, Kitty and Susan discover that it is Princess Zanda, who is impersonating her.  I like Storm calling Zanda, the Paris Hilton of Africa.

Kitty makes a “Flavor of Love” reference, Hudlin writes Kitty pretty hip, and I like that.

Zanda gets to counter Storm’s earlier comment and calls Storm a, street urchin.

Storm lightning strikes Zanda’s dumb face.  Zanda stands ready for round two.  Kitty is ready to start punching fools but Storm tells her to stand down, as they are above this.  Storm punches her out, Batman style.

Ororo and T’Challa meet up again, he came home early.  He is glad to report that Thing and Namor never traded blows.  Issue ends with both of them stating that they are ready for the big wedding.

Mail to the King! Letters page.  Ed Francis of St. Louis, MO / Guido Cuadros F.A. of Lima, Peru / Lakethius Johnson.