#BlackPantherSoLit: Ta-Nehisi Coates's Groundbreaking Comic Book Is Officially a Hit
Marvel Studios' Black Panther has millions of fans excited for the upcoming film. But the Black superhero is making news far away from the screen, as author Ta-Nehisi Coates's Black Panther has now become this year's best-selling comic book.
The Between the World and Me author was tapped to write the Marvel Comics long-running Black superhero series last year, and the first issue came out in April. The sales numbers for last month's comic releases came in, and not only is Black Panther the top-selling comic of the month, it is also the top-selling comic of this calendar year, with an estimated 253,259 copies sold. The second place finisher lags far behind at 175,322 copies.
Fans took to Twitter to share their excitement over the comic book's success.
Black Panther is significant historically as being the first Black superhero in mainstream America. His 1966 debut predates that of other Black heroes such as Falcon, Luke Cage and DC Comic's Green Lantern John Stewart.
The Marvel Studio's film, which is set for a 2018 release, is raising temperatures for racking up an A-list cast. Creed's Ryan Coogler is set to direct, and his friend Michael B. Jordan will star in the film alongside Chadwick Boseman, who recently portrayed the masked hero in Captain America: Civil War. Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o was also recently announced.
Black Panther is ready to take over the Marvel universe, for real.