Issue(s): Black Axe #5, Black Axe #6, Black Axe #7
Cover Date: Aug-Oct 93
Title: "Afrikaa aflame!" / "Afrikaa at bay" / "Afrikaa at war!"
Credits:
Simon Jowett - Writer
Edmund Perryman - Penciler
Rodney Ramos - Inker
Michael Bennent - Editor

Review/plot:
According to the UHBMCC, this series was solicited through issue #13, but these are the last three issues. They have Black Axe teaming up with Black Panther and a new African superhero named, well, Afrikaa.

Since Afrikaa will never appear again (and that's nearly true of Black Axe as well), there isn't really a point in going into the story in much detail, especially since it isn't very good. It really doesn't do anything with the idea of Black Axe as an immortal warrior; he's basically here as a mercenary and takes a back seat to Afrikaa and the Black Panther. The plot is about a civil war in Mohannda, a country bordering Wakanda. An arms dealer named Jonathan Cardinal is supplying both sides of the conflict and he also tries to get the Black Panther to invest in his company. T'Challa declines, citing the fact that Cardinal is arming both sides and also has "advisors" in mecah suits - the Cardinal's Guard - taking an active role in the conflict. Cardinal was hoping to get Vibranium from Wakanda, and instead targets a Vibranium shipment that Wakanda was sending to what turns out to be Black Axe's company (as Robert Hyde). Black Panther cancels a meeting with the Latverians to personally protect the shipment.

Black Panther initially fails, but that's how he gets involved. The Black Panther is actually assumed dead at one point, and a news report says that "members of the superhero community around the world have expressed their sorrow" but of course none get involved in this story and this won't be referenced elsewhere.

Black Axe, meanwhile, is working for one side of the conflict, and the leader of that side has decided to open peace talks with the other. But Cardinal takes steps to keep the war going. And further complicating matters is Afrikaa, who is targeting the side that Black Axe is protecting. But they're both attacked by the Cardinal's Guard.

Afrikaa is actually the son of the dictator whose death started the civil war. The dictator was trying to modernize the country, and he also sent his son to school abroad. When the dictator was killed, an aide helped his son flee the capital, but they were found by a traditional tribe who subjected the son to a ritual that caused him to become powered up with lava in some way.

He even gets a full lion form.

The characters eventually team up and stop Cardinal and the war. Black Axe's big gun was apparently too much peer pressure for the Panther, who uncharacteristically uses a gun of his own (on the cover too).

There's actually a fair amount of plausible complexity to the political situation, but the story is very light on character, which is a big flaw when you're introducing a new character after barely having established your titular character. It's basically a bunch of ciphers running around. I also find the art to be unappealing. It's definitely very stylized and that's obviously a matter of personal preference, but the style involves big block characters in empty splash panels and so it doesn't leave a lot of room for nuance or development.

Quality Rating: D+

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A