Black Panther #13
Black Panther #13 (vol. 3, December 1999) marks the first appearance of Queen Divine Justice (Chanté Giovanni Brown / Ce'Athauna Asira Davin), a Chicago-raised teenage activist of secret Wakandan royal lineage who would go on to become one of the Dora Milaje and one of Christopher Priest's most politically charged original creations of his celebrated run. The issue simultaneously inaugurates the Priest–Sal Velluto–Bob Almond art team, the partnership that would define the visual identity of Priest's Black Panther for the majority of its 62-issue run. It also pivots the ongoing story into a new phase: Nakia is expelled from the Dora Milaje by T'Challa and falls into the orbit of Achebe, while Erik Killmonger is re-established as an active antagonist — threads that build directly toward the landmark confrontation in issues #18–20. Together, these elements make it the clearest turning-point issue in one of the most critically significant Black Panther runs in the character's history.
In "The End," T'Challa races to find Monica Lynne in Wakanda while a hijacked plane carries Dzhokhar Gapon under threat from Hydro-Man. Back in New York, T'Challa names Everett Ross his regent before returning to the U.S., and in Chicago, Chante Giovanni Brown—known as "Queen Divine Justice"—receives a summons from Wakanda to join the Dora Milaje. Written by Christopher Priest and illustrated by Sal Velluto, with cover art by Sal Velluto, this 1999 issue blends political tension and personal stakes in a pivotal chapter of the Black Panther saga.
In "The End," T'Challa tracks Monica Lynne through Wakanda as tensions rise, while Hydro-Man seizes a plane with Dzhokhar Gapon aboard. Back in New York, T'Challa appoints Everett Ross as regent before returning to the city, where Chante Giovanni Brown—known as "Queen Divine Justice"—receives a summons from Wakanda to join the Dora Milaje.
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We Buy Collections ▸History
Priest's Black Panther launched in 1998 as part of Marvel's Marvel Knights imprint, with the first twelve issues illustrated primarily by Mark Texeira; issue #13 was the first produced after the series transitioned out of the Marvel Knights banner, bringing Sal Velluto on board as the new ongoing penciller alongside inker Bob Almond and colorist Brad Vancata. Editor-in-chief Bob Harras oversaw the title at this point. Priest had already established the run's signature narrative engine — Everett K. Ross as an unreliable, politically awkward State Department narrator — and issue #13 extends that framework while introducing Queen Divine Justice, a character Priest designed as a vocal, socially conscious foil to the more diplomatically restrained T'Challa.
Trivia · 8 facts
- First appearance of Queen Divine Justice (real name Ce'Athauna Asira Davin / Chanté Giovanni Brown), a Chicago teenager of secret Wakandan Jabari Tribe royal heritage recruited to join the Dora Milaje.
- Written by Christopher Priest; pencilled by Sal Velluto; inked by Bob Almond; colored by Brad Vancata — the debut of this core art team on the series.
- Issue #13 is the first issue of Priest's run produced outside of the Marvel Knights imprint/banner.
- Erik Killmonger and Hydro-Man (Morris Bench) appear as antagonists; Killmonger hires Hydro-Man to attack the Panther as part of his return to the storyline.
- Nakia ('The Beloved'), a Dora Milaje member, is expelled by T'Challa and falls into Achebe's hands — a story beat with major consequences across subsequent issues.
- Spider-Man (Peter Parker) appears only as a mention in this issue; the catalog-listed characters Flash Thompson and Harry Osborn do not appear to be directly present or mentioned per the Marvel Database character index.
- The issue is collected in Black Panther by Christopher Priest: The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (ISBN 978-0785192671), which collects Black Panther (1998) #1–17.
- Cover art is by Sal Velluto, marking his first cover on the title as the new ongoing artist.
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Reprints
Reprinted in Marvel Knights #14 (2000), Black Panther: Enemy of the State #[nn] (2001), Black Panther by Christopher Priest: The Complete Collection #1 (2015), Marvel Héroes #85 (2018), Black Panther by Christopher Priest Omnibus #1 (2022), Black Panther by Christopher Priest Omnibus #1 (2022)
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