Black Panther’s Sister Shuri Has Her Own Comic Book Series On The Way

Art by Leonardo Romero

This October, fans will become even more acquainted with Black Panther’s Shuri, made possible through a brand new comic book series created by artist Leonardo Romero and Afrofuturist author Nnedi Okorafor.

As Bustle reports, the series will center on Shuri’s journey following a tragic event where Black Panther is lost in a mission in space, leaving Wakanda without a leader. Because Shuri is Black Panther’s little sister, she is the next in line for the throne, but this comes with a major sacrifice: being taken away from her lab and gadgets, where she finds the most joy. The official Marvel synopsis reads: “Shuri is happiest in a lab, surrounded by gadgets of her own creation. She’d rather be testing gauntlets than throwing them. But a nation without a leader is a vulnerable one — and Shuri may have to choose between Wakanda’s welfare and her own.”

Okorafor, who is best known for her critically acclaimed novel Who Fears Death, which has been picked up by HBO, has already contributed extensively to the Black Panther storyline. So far, the Nigerian-American author has written issues of Black Panther: Long Live The King for Marvel, along with her ongoing Wakanda Forever series, which features Wakanda’s warrior ladies (the Dora Milaje) as they pair up with other heroes from the Marvel Universe such as Spider-Man and the X-Men.

Shuri holds a special place in the author’s heart, and she’s deeply excited for the release of the series. “[Shuri is] an African young woman of genius level intelligence who is obsessed with technology and has traveled spiritually so far into the past that she’s seen Wakanda before it was Wakanda. The Ancestors call her Ancient Future. And she’s super ambitious. What do I love about her? Alllll that and more,” Okorafor tells Bustle. “She’s a character in the Marvel Universe who really sings to me.”

Ready to spend more time with the incredible super-genius Shuri? Okorafor has just announced that the first issue of Shuri, titled “Gone,” will be released on October 17th, and we’re stoked.  

Issue #1 is off to the printers and it’s fantastic. The series has a hell of a team.

I can officially say I have written the start of a Marvel unlimited series. 😎 It’s due out October 17. #Shuri #Marvel #wakandaforever pic.twitter.com/ZdFUYTBLPS

— Nnedi Okorafor, PhD (@Nnedi) September 26, 2018