Black Panther Sparks a War Against Moon Knight

The mounting tensions between Black Panther and Moon Knight are on the brink of boiling over into an all-out conflict. The “Ultimate Black Panther” series is one of the new offerings from Marvel’s revival of the Ultimate Universe, shedding new light on familiar Wakandan characters. T’Challa continues to reign as the King of Wakanda, but in this reimagined narrative, he is married to Okoye. Additionally, Erik Killmonger and Storm have taken on roles as freedom fighters, and Moon Knight is composed of Ra and Khonshu, who are integral to The Maker’s malevolent council that exercises control over the Ultimate Universe. As Moon Knight takes aggressive actions against Wakanda, Black Panther is compelled to respond.

*WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for Ultimate Black Panther #6. Continue reading at your own risk!

“Ultimate Black Panther” #6, crafted by Bryan Hill, Carlos Nieto, David Curiel, and VC’s Cory Petit, centers on Moon Knight. Readers are shown how Ra and Khonshu wield a mysterious green ore that grants them god-like powers. Using this ore, they gain the favor of local populations by healing the sick and manipulating the Earth, in an effort to gather loyal followers willing to sacrifice their lives to participate in Moon Knight’s mission to topple Wakanda.

One of Moon Knight’s terroristic actions is thwarted by Black Panther, leading to a direct confrontation between the two. Their encounter results in a stalemate, with Moon Knight ultimately walking away and declaring, “Then I suppose we’ll have a war.” The crux of their impending battle will revolve around the green ore, which stands as a counter to Vibranium, and determining which side controls this powerful resource.

In “Ultimate Black Panther” #4, King T’Challa goes missing after venturing out to investigate an assault orchestrated by Ra and Khonshu, the Ultimate Universe’s iteration of Moon Knight. He is later rescued by freedom fighters Killmonger and Storm. During T’Challa’s absence, which lasts for several weeks, Queen Okoye is compelled to deceive their citizens into believing everything is under control.

However, after an assassination attempt on Okoye’s life, Black Panther reappears to neutralize the threat. Collaborating with his sister Shuri, they uncover that the assassin was a former Dora Milaje. T’Challa informs Okoye that with spies embedded within Wakanda, trust must be limited. To address this, they decide on a new, trusted inner circle.

T’Challa sends Okoye to the Temple of the Sacred Dead, instructing her to confide only in those present alongside him when she arrives. Upon entering, Okoye sees Black Panther flanked by Shuri, Erik Killmonger, and Storm. Together, this formidable group stands as the last line of defense against Ra and Khonshu’s attempts to bring Wakanda to its knees.

Source: Marvel Comics, ComicBook