Long Live the King. In February 2018, Christopher Priest, Don McGregor, and Reginald Hudlin each contributed one story to the Black Panther Annual #1. In May 2021, Marvel Comics announced the screenwriter and director John Ridley will write Black Panther comics. In July 2022 the limited series Wakanda was announced, written by Stephanie Williams and illustrated by Paco Medina, the series will have a backup series titled History of the Black Panthers, written by Evan Narcisse and illustrated by Natacha Bustos. In August 2022, Marvel announced the one-shot Black Panther: Unconquered, written by Bryan Edward Hill and illustrated by Alberto Foche. In January 2023, a new Black Panther series was announced, written by Eve Ewing and illustrated by Chris Allen. Fictional character biography Early life and background The Black Panther is the ceremonial hereditary title given to the chief of the Panther Tribe of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. In addition to ruling the country, he is also paramount chief of its various tribes (collectively referred to as the Wakandas). The Panther habit is a symbol of office (head of state) and is used during diplomatic missions. In the distant past, a meteorite made of the fictional mineral vibranium crashed in Wakanda, and was unearthed. Reasoning that outsiders would exploit Wakanda for the resource, the ruler, King T'Chaka, concealed his country from the outside world. T'Chaka's first wife N'Yami died while in labor with T'Challa, and his second wife Ramonda was taken prisoner by Anton Pretorius during a visit to her homeland of South Africa. For most of his childhood T'Challa was raised by his father alone. T'Chaka was killed by Ulysses Klaw in an attempt to seize the vibranium. With his people still in danger, a young T'Challa used Klaw's weapon on Klaw and his men, shattering Klaw's right hand and forcing him to flee. T'Challa was next in line to be the king of Wakanda and Black Panther, but until he was ready to become the leader of the nation, his uncle S'yan (T'Chaka's younger brother) successfully passed the trials to become the Black Panther. While on his Wakandan walkabout rite of passage, T'Challa met and fell in love with apparent orphaned teen Ororo Munroe, who would grow up to become the X-Men member Storm. The two broke off their relationship due to his desire to avenge his father's death and to become the type of man