Annie Banks is a Rotten Tomatoes–approved critic, and CBR editor and writer specializing in anime, comics, and superheroes. Their work has also appeared in Collider and The Mary Sue, where they covered pop culture, fandoms, and entertainment trends. A lifelong fan whose love for storytelling began with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Annie blends critical insight with genuine passion for geek culture, from sci-fi to K-pop.
As Black Panther prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, Marvel Comics has offered a celebratory comic special featuring never-before-seen team-ups.
Per an official Marvel Comics press release, "writer Evan Narcisse (Wakanda, Sam Wilson: Captain America) and artist George Jeanty (Star Wars: Mace Windu) bring back former Black Panther, Kasper Cole! In this framing story, join Cole as he searches for Wakanda’s exiled king, learning about some of T’Challa’s never-before-told adventures in the process." Fans can expect Storm, Blue Marvel, and Magneto to make appearances throughout Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special #1, with each character recounting their relationship with the Black Panther.
"CELEBRATING SIX DECADES OF THE KING OF WAKANDA! This landmark over-sized issue features brand-new, thrilling stories from a lineup of fan-favorite writers and artists who have defined T'Challa's legacy. Don't miss this must-have tribute to T'Challa, Wakanda and 60 years of the world's greatest protector!" the official solicit for Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special #1 proclaims. Included in Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special #1 are Storm writer Murewa Ayodele, Eder Messias (Sam Wilson: Captain America), Cody Ziglar (Miles Morales: Spider-Man), Christopher Priest, and Javier Pina. Each creative force contributes their own personal touch while celebrating Black Panther's significance across the Marvel Comics universe.
AIPT Comics reports that, alongside the Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special #1, Marvel Comics will be rolling out a line of Black Panther variant covers that will see T'Challa cross over with other Marvel Comics fan-favorites.
Black Panther's Cultural Prominence, Explored
Image via Marvel ComicsBefore Black Panther became a Marvel Cinematic Universe staple, the character made his debut in The Fantastic Four #52 and has since had a significant cultural impact. While the first Black comic book character is Lion Man, Black Panther broke ground as Marvel Comics' first Black superhero. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Panther's earlier comic storylines emphasized sociopolitical issues in the 1970s, touching on delicate themes such as apartheid and other forms of racial prejudice.
Black Panther regained popularity in the 1990s due to Christopher Priest's reintroduction of the character and the greater inclusion of Wakanda as a key country in Marvel Comics' lore. Black Panther's introduction and decades of featuring the hero in Marvel Comics additionally begin to introduce the unique concept of Afrofuturism, furthering its importance throughout Marvel as a whole.
In 2018, Marvel Studios' Black Panther reiterated how culturally important T'Challa, the Dora Milaje, and Wakanda continue to be. The full incorporation of Black Panther into the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn't just a cinematic event, but a pop culture milestone. "Black Panther is a Hollywood movie, and Wakanda is a fictional nation. But coming when they do, from a director like [Ryan] Coogler, they must also function as a place for multiple generations of Black Americans to store some of our most deeply held aspirations," Carvell Wallace wrote for The New York Times in response to Black Panther's triumph as a comic book movie.
Black Panther 60th Anniversary Special #1 is expected to stand as a testament to Black Panther's legacy and importance as a hero. Black Panther fans can pick up the book for themselves on Feb. 18, 2026, wherever comics are sold.
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