One of the most anticipated comic book series of the year has finally released its first issue. "Black Panther" was the first Black superhero in mainstream comics and debuted in 1966. "Black Panther" was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. "Black Panther" first appeared in "Fantastic Four #52." Black Panther's real name is T'Challa the King of Wakanda, a fictional African country never touched by the West. While "Black Panther" is a popular character, it's the writer of this series which has garnered much of the hype, and that writer is Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Coates is an award-winning writer of novels "Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, an Unlikely Road to Manhood," and "Between the World and Me." Coates also is a correspondent for "The Atlantic." He has received multiple awards, such as the "National Book Award for Nonfiction," "The MacArthur Fellowship," and the "George Polk Award for Commentary." Coates is known for his commentary on social, political and cultural problems that face African-Americans. Coates is a prestigious writer, so there was much excitement when it was announced that he would write "Black Panther."

I recently read "Black Panther," issue #1, and thoroughly enjoyed it. This was the first comic book I have ever read and I intend on reading Coates' entire run. I loved the drawings by Brian Stelfreeze; they are sleek and perfectly exemplify Wakanda's advanced society. The story was also interesting and I like the idea that instead of being mind controlled into hating their king, that this antagonist brought out feelings that were already present, because this makes it so Black Panther has to deal with the animosity held by his people instead of having to defeat the evil mind controller and then having his people worship him again. The concept forces Black Panther to redeem himself and I love a redemptive arc. I would recommend this comic to anyone who enjoys great storytelling.