- Written by: Joe Quesada, Christopher Priest
- Art by: Joe Quesada
- Colors by: Richard Isanove
- Letters by: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
- Cover art by: Joe Quesada, Richard Isanove (cover A)
- Cover price: $5.99
- Release date: June 4, 2025
Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1, by Marvel on 6/4/25, imagines a dystopian future where water is in short supply and the throne of Wakanda is at the heart of generational conflict.
Is Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1 Good?
Plot Synopsis
Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1 sets the stage for the future on an Earth limping along after the ravages of war. Water is hoarded, resistance pockets remain to fight a war that no longer exists, and the throne of Wakanda is occupied by an old man. The issue begins when the old king dies.
The issue runs in reverse time, interspersing snippets of an older T’Challa, aka Black Panther, fighting in ritual combat against the one man who wants to assume the role of king, Ketema (pronounced Kah-TOM-ah), T’Challa’s only biological son. The issue is narrated by an old rebel belonging to a resistance group called the Aquamarines as he recounts the history of Wakanda’s lineage to a young member of the Dora Milaje who came to see him to report the king’s death.
Years earlier, we see that T’Challa’s mother encourages him to marry and have children, hoping to beget an heir to the throne. T’Challa’s marriage to the mutant Ororo ended, so his mother encourages him to try again with someone who isn’t part of Wakanda’s tribes. T’Challa proposes to an old flame and Jazz singer, Monica Lynne. Monica accepts.
Years later, we see T’Challa pleading with his son to yield the fight. Even when Ketema falls over the waterfall, T’Challa saves him and begs him to yield. Ketema is a zealot for the ancient ways of Wakanda spirituality and won’t stop until the throne is his. The issue ends with a shocking reveal. When Ketema takes off his panther mask, we see that he’s a white, blonde-haired man.
First Impressions
No, I’m not kidding. Christopher Priest and Joe Quesada teamed up for a special Marvel project that’s (according to the letters page) years in the making, and the net result is a super-serious comic designed to bring an Internet meme to life. Well, okay then.
How’s the Art?
The art is fantastic. Joe Quesada hasn’t missed a step in his post-Marvel years. And in a year where legendary artists are picking up the pen again for runs that helped make them famous (Quesada on Marvel, Jim Lee on Hush 2), Quesada’s work is far and away better than Lee’s in terms of detail, cinematic quality, and overall wow factor. It may sound odd to assess an artist’s visual presentation by comparing them to another artist, but you could do worse than saying they’re a legend who’s better than another legend.
What’s great about Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1?
If you’re a Black Panther fan and super-invested in learning what happens to the kingly superhero in his later years as he grapples with the pressures of legacy, politics, and tradition, this one is for you. Marvel has a long history of “Old Man XXX” stories, so T’Challa’s turn on the premise is filled with plenty of intriguing tidbits that urge the reader to keep reading. Plus, that last-page twist is sure to generate conversations.
What’s not great about Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1?
In typical Christopher Priest fashion, the narrative jumps around in time and locations for no clear reason, so it’s tougher to follow than necessary. Considering his work over the last several years, he likes it that way. In this case the general path of telling the story in reverse time actually works against the plot because you see the end, so the hook falls to the awesomeness of the journey and how captivating it is (or isn’t).
In this case, the journey isn’t very compelling because you get a sense that the future is rough, and that’s about it. In parallel, you get a side plot about T’Challa fighting with his adult son about taking over as king, and the twist that the adult son is a white man. Is it shocking? Yes. Is there a good reason for the shocking twist other than to garner attention? TBD. Frankly, we’ve had enough of these scorched earth, bait-and-switch tactics from writers like Tom King over the years to learn it almost always never turns out well. Given Priest’s track record over the last few years on titles like Vampirella, U.S. Agent, and Black Adam, there’s little reason to believe he can pull off what others could not.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Marvel Knights: The World to Come #1 is going to get people talking. Not for the wonky narrative flow that’s become a Christopher Priest hallmark, the dour post-apocalyptic story, or the impressive Joe Quesada art. No, people will only bother talking about this comic because of the last-page twist. This comic should more accurately be titled Marvel Knights: Short-Term Internet Clicks.
6/10
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