Horns for Claws

So, its been recently revealed that after the whole Shadowland cross-over ends, Daredevil will be replaced as the 'Man Without Fear' by the Black Panther.

Yay?

I mean, Francisco Francavilla on the art is pretty hard NOT to be excited about, I admit. Dude can draw. And, I'm not all that enamoured of the current ninja-wrangling, Kingpin fightin' version of Daredevil who's been around quite long enough, thankyouverymuch.

Still, the Black Panther? T'challa, king of an African nation, is going to patrol the streets of Hell's Kitchen? Is this a call-back to that time when the character was a school-teacher in the inner city? You know that time that doesn't make a lot of sense in regards to the character and was done because the writers couldn't figure out what to do with him until Don McGregor came along? Or maybe it's an attempt to spark some renewed interest in the character ala Hercules in The Incredible Hulk/Incredible Hercules. Cause if so, fine. Makes sense.

Still, it's a bit of an odd choice. You've got home-grown heroes who would fit better, story-wise, I think. Characters that could use a bump in reader interest, and might make a better fit, baggage-wise. Kasper Cole, for instance. Who remembers him? Anybody? What about Joe Smith, whom I always thought was a neat character, with an interesting gimmick. I mean, the Black Panther is cool and all, but doesn't he still HAVE his own title? Will we have two Black Panthers?

Personally, I'd have gone for door number three. Just saying.