Writing Black Panther

A timely look at contemporary African American creative works through the lens of Ta-Nehisi Coates''s ground-breaking entry into the comic book industry. Writing Black Panther traces Ta-Nehisi Coates''s presence in comic books from 2015-2023, focusing on his contributions as the writer for Black Panther . His ambitious 50-issue run of the Marvel comic coincided with ongoing and multifaceted debates concerning diversity and inclusion - what we might call representation struggles - at a key moment in the history of comics with respect to Black writers. Howard Rambsy II locates Coates''s contributions at the intersection of African American literary studies and comic book studies, showing a dynamic convergence that redefines both fields and broadens the scope of Black creativity. Writing Black Panther demonstrates key aspects of Coates''s comics narratives that overlap with major themes and topics in African American literature. These include the depiction of multiple Black characters, exploration of intra-racial and interracial conflicts, excavations of Black histories, displays of Afrofuturist aesthetics, and attention to cultural geography. As a prominent essayist, bestselling author, and popular comic book writer, Coates stands out as a notable gateway figure who bridges multiple genres. His time as a comics writer constitutes an important, defining phase of his professional career. And as this book shows, Coates''s work on Black Panther went a long way to dispelling the myth that "diversity doesn''t sell" in the comic book industry.

About the author

Howard Rambsy II is Distinguished Research Professor of Literature at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA, where he specializes in African American fiction, poetry, and comic books. He is the author of The Black Arts Enterprise (2011) Bad Men: Creative Touchstones of Black Writers (2020). He is the creator of Remarkable Receptions, a podcast series on African American literature.

Product details

• Authors: Howard Rambsy II
• Assisted by: Abimbola Adelakun (Editor), Toyin Falola (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 14.05.2026
• EAN: 9798765150955
• ISBN: 9798765150955
• No. of pages: 192
• Series: Black Literary and Cultural Expressions
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative literary studies; Media Studies, Cultural Studies, LITERARY CRITICISM / Comics & Graphic Novels, Graphic novels: history & criticism, Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers, Literary studies: fiction, novelists and prose writers, Black & Asian Studies, LITERARY CRITICISM / American / African American & Black, Relating to African American / Black American people