Ultimate Black Panther #9

History

The series was conceived as the second pillar of Marvel's rebooted Ultimate Universe line, with writer Bryan Hill — whose prior Marvel work included the Killmonger and Blade titles — teamed with Italian artist Stefano Caselli, a Marvel veteran whose credits span Avengers: The Initiative, Secret Warriors, and the Krakoa-era Marauders and X-Men Red. Issue #9 falls squarely in the series' second arc, which had been building the 'Who is the Sorcerer Supreme?' mystery since the earlier issues established that, in Earth-6160, the Maker had imprisoned Stephen Strange and seized the Eye of Agamotto, leaving the mantle vacant for an unknown successor. Editor Wil Moss and assistant editor Michelle Marchese shepherded the issue, with colors by David Curiel and lettering by Cory Petit rounding out the creative team that remained consistent throughout the run.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of Inan (Earth-6160), the Ultimate Universe's Sorcerer Supreme — an entirely original character, not a variant of Doctor Strange or any pre-existing Marvel magic-user.
• Inan debuts unnamed and partially obscured (muzzled in H.A.N.D. captivity), with her name not revealed until Ultimate Black Panther #10, making issue #9 a cameo-level first appearance by the standard of most key-issue databases.
• Created by writer Bryan Hill and artist Stefano Caselli; published October 2, 2024, with a December 2024 cover date.
• The issue's story splits between two threads: Killmonger and Storm infiltrating an Eastern European H.A.N.D. facility to locate the captive Sorcerer Supreme, while T'Challa — affected by an anti-vibranium wound — goes undercover to observe Lord Khonshu preaching to African villagers, and Shuri talks him out of a premature confrontation.
• Inan's backstory, established across issues #9–10, reveals she rose from a clandestine Eastern European community of magic practitioners to claim the Sorcerer Supreme mantle after the Maker imprisoned Stephen Strange; H.A.N.D. subsequently captured and held her in a maximum-security black site.
• The issue advances the series' central redefinition of vibranium in the Ultimate Universe: T'Challa's anti-vibranium-laced wound induces visions of killing Moon Knight, establishing vibranium as a quasi-living, cosmically significant substance rather than simply a Wakandan resource.
• Variant covers for the issue include a 1:25 Rafael Albuquerque incentive variant and a Mitsuhiro Arita variant, with the main cover and interior art both by Caselli.
• The Ultimate Black Panther series is set on Earth-6160 and is the second ongoing in Marvel's 2023–2026 Ultimate Universe line — a continuity distinct from both the original 2000–2015 Ultimate Marvel imprint and the main 616 universe, built on the aftermath of Jonathan Hickman's Ultimate Invasion.

Cast · 8 characters

Full credits

Variants (2)