Once You Slay the Dragon!

Now

The Black Panther is leading a war party into the village of N’jadaka, named after Erik Killmonger, the insurrectionist trying to overthrow T’Challa’s rule. Things have gotten serious as the Panther has uncovered that Killmonger has been looting Wakanda’s Vibranium and weapons caches. Before they attack, T’Challa asks Taku — his chief of communications — if they can trust the intel gained from their prisoner, Venomm. Taku assures him that the information is good, and expresses his displeasure of betraying Venomm’s trust. The Panther reminds Taku that Venomm murdered a number of their countrymen. Still, Taku looks forward to finally avenging his people by attacking Killmonger. T’Challa sees that Taku has become obsessed and warns him that his desire to slay a “dragon” will have unforeseen consequences that will only become apartment when the war is finally over.

In the village, Killmonger’s minions Tayete and Kazibe are enjoying a meal of matoke when they are suddenly ambushed yet again by the Black Panther. The arrival of the Wakandan army prompts a response by Killmonger’s forces who are led by yet another one of his new generals, Lord Karnaj. Karnaj is armed with high tech sonic blasters. He is joined in battle with Baron Macabre. However, the Black Panther leads his armies in battle he regains the respect of W’Kabi, his second-in-command, who is pleased to see that his king is back to his old self. As the two men shake hands, the Black Panther’s mind drifts back to earlier that day…

Earlier

T’Challa was visiting Monica Lynne in the cell she has been confined in since being accused of murdering Zatama.[1] The pair talk about the current instability in Wakanda and Monica feels that she — as an outsider — is being used as a scapegoat and that maybe her innocence will only be recognized 100 years from now when future Wakandan’s reflect back on the barbarism of the past. T’Challa assures Monica that he will soon have the evidence he needs to clear her name.

That evening, the Black Panther was on a prowl looking for clues. Running into W’Kabi, T’Challa learns that he came to assist his king after he left the palace. The pair then stake out the area waiting for Zatama’s real killer to make their move. Spotting someone moving in the darkness, T’Challa catches Tanzika trying to bury something in the ground. He confronts her about murdering Zatama, revealing the “spear” that was used in the murder were actually the meat skewers that Tanzika used to serve meals over the past few days. The skewers can have their length adjusted with sections that can be screwed on. He points out that Monica’s finger prints were on the skewers that she ate from the night before and were attached to the murder weapon in order to frame her. He then opens the package and finds pictures of Tanzika with Zatama that reveal her motive for murder. She and Zatama had an affair, and such a romance between senior staff and the palace’s royal ladies is frowned upon. When Zatama eventually ended their affair, she became mad enough to commit murder, and tried to frame it on Monica.

With her conspiracy exposed, Tanzika attempts to kill the Black Panther with the same murder weapon, but he easily evades the attack and took her into custody.

Now

The Black Panther and W’Kabi are reminded that they are in the middle of a battle when Malice arrives and attempts to kill T’Challa with a spear. Luckily, the Wakandan monarch is able to evade the attack.

Meanwhile, Lord Karnaj continues to fire his sonic blasters widely to try and destroy the Wakandan army. Taku is horrified when a young boy gets cut down by one of Karnaj’s blasts. Furious, Taku rushes at Karnaj, shrugging off his blasts and begins savagely beating the killer. Before Taku can take his life, he is stopped by the Black Panther who tells him the battle is over. As Taku leaves to bury the body of the dead boy, T’Challa points out that the cost of “slaying the dragon” often ends with more than just bloody hands.

Recurring Characters

Black Panther, Lord Karnaj, Baron Macabre, Malice, Monica Lynn, Taku, W’Kabi, Tanzika, Kradada, Tayete, Kazibe

Continuity Notes

1. Zatama was actually murdered by Tanzika back in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #9.