Posted in: Comics, Comics Publishers, Current News, Marvel Comics | Tagged: black panther, variant cover

Black Panther's New Champions Sidekick Makes Second Cover Appearance

One of the first of the New Champions sidekick covers was for Black Panther #5 with this cover by Ernanda Souz.

Published Sat, 09 Dec 2023 09:57:08 -0600

Last updated Tue, 30 Apr 2024 10:50:06 -0500

Article Summary

Black Panther's magic-wielding Wakandan sidekick graces #5 cover by Ernanda Souz.
Marvel’s variant cover program debuts new superhero sidekicks, including this one.
The sidekick returns on Black Panther #9 cover for Black History Month by Dotun Akande.
Speculation arises on whether the character will transition from covers to comic pages.

In October, spinning out of the surprise success that Marvel had with Spider-Boy created by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos as Spider-Man's long-lost sidekick, Marvel Comics ran a month-wide variant cover programme featuring the first appearance of lots of other superheroes' long-lost sidekicks, created for this cover and counting as their first appearance. Even if they were never to be used again. Well, one of the first was for Black Panther #5 with this cover by Ernanda Souz featuring a magic-wielding Wakandan.

BLACK PANTHER #5 ERNANDA SOUZA NEW CHAMPIONS VAR
MARVEL COMICS
AUG230865
(W) Eve L. Ewing (A) Chris Allen (CA) Ernanda Souza
THE MYSTERY OF THE GRAY WOLF!
After Black Panther's battle with Deathlok, tensions are high in Birnin T'Chaka as strife between the ruling crime families threatens to escalate into a full-fledged gang war. Can T'Challa restore peace in the city before it's too late? And what of the whispers of this evil spirit, Kivu'Ma? Who is the Gray Wolf that curses Wakanda? Rated T+In Shops: Oct 04, 2023 SRP: $3.99

Well, it looks like the character is back for the Black Panther #9 Black History Month variant cover by Dotun Akande.

BLACK PANTHER #9 DOTUN AKANDE BLACK HISTORY MONTH VAR
MARVEL COMICS
DEC230703
(W) Eve L. Ewing (A) Christopher Allen (CA) Dotun Akande
T'CHALLA'S ALLIES KIDNAPPED AND HIS CITY UNDER SIEGE!
Between Baba Nkisu and Cartier St. Croix teaming up, tensions being higher than ever among Birnin T'Chaka's crime families and the vengeful spirit known as the Grey Wolf on the prowl, Black Panther will need to gather all of his allies – from Shuri to Beisa – in order to keep the city from being torn asunder!
Rated T+In Shops: Feb 14, 2024 SRP: $3.99

Might this still-unnamed character be making the jump from covers to the pages any day now? Or will she remain on the covers, jumping from one variant to another?

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