Marvel videos will help 'Black Panther' readers catch up

Superhero comics are a notoriously difficult medium for beginners to jump into. Where to begin? So many are a continuation of long-running series, constantly referencing prior events or other characters' books. Marvel's latest attempt to solve the problem is a video series that will complement its "All-New, All-Different" Black Panther line. It's narrated by Ta-Nehisi Coates, the comic's writer and a national correspondent for The Atlantic. The first instalment will be an introduction to the character, but the plan is for subsequent episodes to act as "previously on..." style recaps.

It's a fresh take on a problem that has plagued Marvel and DC comics for years. The videos will be released every month and serve as a trailer for the next issue, teasing what's to come or unpacking prior events. Production house Bow & Arrow will be putting them together and plans to feature music from a number of rising hip-hop artists. Coates will always be at the core of each episode, however, explaining his vision for the superhero.

[embed=https://player.vimeo.com/video/165181590]

The move makes sense, given the proliferation of YouTube channels explaining Marvel and DC lore. ComicsExplained, for instance, has accrued over half a million subscribers diving into prolific characters, items and storylines. Black Panther is an ideal candidate for Marvel's new experiment — last month, the first "All-New, All-Different" issue racked up more than 330,000 sales in its first week. For a graphic novel that's impressive, and will likely improve now that Captain America: Civil War is in theaters. Black Panther is one of the standout characters in that movie, giving fans all the more reason to start reading the hero's counterpart comic series.