Shuri, Vol. 2: 24/7 Vibranium

Shuri

by Nnedi Okorafor, Vita Ayala, Paul Davidson (Illustrator)

Collects Shuri #6-10.

Shuri faces her destiny! With T’Challa gone and Wakanda in peril, the Black Panther is needed — and Shuri must step up to fill the void. But she’s about to face a threat unlike any her home has seen before! Shuri heads to America to investigate a lead, but she’s not the only hero on the case. With New York City and New Jersey in danger as well, there’s no way Miles “Spider-Man” Morales and Kamala “Ms. Marvel” Khan are sitting this one out! And with her people in peril, Shuri takes up the Black Panther mantle once again! But this is a Panther you’ve never seen before — one who will change Wakanda forever. Prepare for a high-tech, star-studded adventure as only Shuri can serve up!

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Marvel, Fantasy, Superheroes, Science Fiction, Fiction

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 24, 2019

About the author

Nnedi Okorafor is a New York Times Bestselling writer of science fiction and fantasy for both children and adults. The more specific terms for her works are africanfuturism and africanjujuism, both terms she coined and defined. Born in the United States to two Nigerian (Igbo) immigrant parents and visiting family in Nigeria since she was a child, the foundation and inspiration of Nnedi’s work is rooted in this part of Africa. Her many works include Who Fears Death (winner of the World Fantasy Award and in development at HBO as a TV series), the Nebula and Hugo award winning novella trilogy Binti (in development as a TV series), the Lodestar and Locus Award winning Nsibidi Scripts Series, LaGuardia (winner of a Hugo and Eisner awards for Best Graphic Novel) and her most recent novella Remote Control. Her debut novel Zahrah the Windseeker won the prestigious Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature. She lives with her daughter Anyaugo in Phoenix, AZ. Learn more about Nnedi at Nnedi.com and follow Nnedi on twitter (as @Nnedi), Facebook and Instagram.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

"You are again 'ancient future,' the griot [a storyteller], Princess Shuri, and The Black Panther. Those are a lot of titles to carry." -- Turkana, former Black Panther

"I have strong shoulders." -- said with a smile by Shuri, current Black Panther

Yes she does, but I wish this smart heroine was starring here in a stronger sophomore effort. Vol. 2: 24/7 Vibranium is by no means awful, but it does not feature a particularly impressive story in the second half of the book - it has a somewhat ridiculous antagonist, and the Wakandan mythos is poured on with just a little too much syrup. However, the opening chapters - with Shuri traveling to America, and teaming with Miles Morales' Spider-Man and Kamala Khan's Ms. Marvel - was much better in terms of the energy and plotting. The trio jumps into action to save a teenage engineering genius who is in danger of falling to the dark side (as he is considering turning to crime to help his ailing family), and that's what I'll remember about this volume. The well-meaning young superheroes attempt to truly offer assistance and redirection, instead of just speeding him towards prosecution, and it's sort of reassuring that the Marvel Universe will be in good hands with these new characters.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take two parts superheroics and three parts Wakandan mumbo jumbo, shake well, and you get this book. It was fairly entertaining but I’m still not overly keen on Shuri; she’s just too arrogant and not in a charming Loki-type way, either. Trying to forcibly ram the movie Shuri into comicbook Shuri’s skin isn’t working well, either.

Storm also seemed out of character in her guest appearance. Ms. Marvel also seemed a little too sycophantic here but I’m always happy to see her. Miles Morales, on the other hand, was written well and he rocked, as always.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woof, the artwork in 6 and 7 was bad. They did Ms. Marvel so dirty. I hate the overly sketched yet half-assed Aeon Flux graphic style.

However, as soon as Shuri got back to Wakanda, the artwork resumed it's original beauty!

Anywho, this was a solid arc for Shuri, and I am really happy to have it wrapped up, although I definitely want more!

[Diz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like Shuri as a character, but I couldn't take this story seriously because the villain it features is a giant grasshopper from space that becomes addicted to Earth music. It announces its arrival by singing what seems to be a Wakandan cover of a Bruno Mars song (the word "gold" is replaced with "vibranium," so you know it's a Wakandan song). Oh, it's also called a "Space Lubber." Shuri demands more respect.

[Ashley Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! I hope Nnedi comes back for more, because her Shuri stories are fantastic. Vita Ayala's issues about going to Brooklyn and teaming up with Spider-Miles were great too - they have a good dynamic together. Vita's definitely on my radar now too. More please!

[Matěj Komiksumec · Rating 2 out of 5]

No sakra, po první skvělý knize jsem nečekal, že druhá polovina bude tak plytká tupá Superhero mlátička. V prvních dvou issue se nám změní nejen scénáristické jméno ale i kreslířské což strašně sérii srazilo ale příběh z New Yorku byl ještě Oukej. Jenže návrat do Wakandy byl příšernej i když se vrátila původní scenárista Okorafor tak jsem nevěřil tomu, že jde o tu stejnou ženu která stojí za prvním volume. A i do posledních 3 issues se zase změnila kresba která byla odporná alá Joe Quesada takže jsem si dost potrpěl. Jinak celé gro tohohle volume je "vyzveme pár nepřátel a zjistíme, že všichni jsou vlastně hodní a sluníčkoví" a i tohle mě vlastně zklamalo. Doufal jsem, že víc bude Shuri o sobě pochybovat po událostech prvního booku a víc se zaměří na povinnosti které je potřeba ve Wakandě vykonat.
Strašně velký zklamání a neuvěřitelný mainstream na rozdíl od svého předchůdce.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope we get to see more of Shuri, I'm sad this series has come to an end. I think Nnedi Okorafor did a fantastic job and I loved the whole series!

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Reviewed as a whole series]

While T'Challa's away creating the Intergalactic Empire Of Wakanda (yeah), it falls to Shuri to protect their home the best way she knows how - by fighting a big space bug for 10 issues.

Shuri as a main character should really work - she's fun, she's full of pop culture references, but she knows when to lock in and get things done. Nnedi Okorafor's voice for her rings fairly true, and melds her technological side with her new mystical side pretty well across these ten issues.

The issue I think for me is that the main driving plot here is a weird focus. Giant singing space bug to me reads two issue arc and done, not a whole series arc. The thing can't even talk, and yet it causes problems for Shuri, Rocket & Groot, Iron Man, and Storm too. It's a big bug. It's not that deep. The first volume also details some of the search for the Black Panther that causes the bug problem in the first place, but that gets put to the side pretty quickly as we focus on said bug.

The Wakandan politics stuff is more interesting, with a couple of new secret groups (Wakanda loves those) causing problems and solving them too. Shuri chafes against the idea of becoming the Black Panther again, which is definitely a good way to take her when she's trying to forge her own destiny, but even then she ends up giving in to the peer pressure around her eventually.

The artwork's also a bit of a sticking point. Leonardo Romero draws the first five issues, but his artwork, which is usually awesome, ends up coming across really pedestrian here, which is weird considering he draws the space issues and a battle in a black hole. There's 2 issue fill-in art by Paul Davison which is fine, and then Rachael Stott, an artist I've never really gelled with (I find her proportions weird) finishes off the series.

Shuri's not a bad book, but it feels like it has weird priorities, and ill-suited artwork for its entire ten issue run.

[Renata · Rating 3 out of 5]

(read as single issues)

HMM I understand that Nnedi left this book because of other commitments (rather than cancellation?) but it does feel like an abrupt ending. Still, loved the crossover w/Miles and Kamala and hope for more Shuri soon!

[Mimi.Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love how Nnedi Okorafor continue from the Black Panther movie and add some of her own twist on it!!

[Monte Price · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was on the fence after the first volume, and after this I think I'm done.

I appreciate what Okorafor brought to Shuri in terms of the world. It worked for me in a way that the two issues penned by Ayala didn't? Overall though this just felt very clunky and wasn't the most enjoyable reading experience.

I also just haven't been able to connect with any of the artists that have worked on these issues. The first two were just not at all pleasant to look at, and while the art that accompanied Okorafor's work was definitely easier on the eyes Storm was suddenly light-skinned and I'm just not here for it.

As I said, it was clunky with moments I was really able to enjoy. On the whole, though I think I'll just wait for the movies to get my dose of Shuri.

[Tali · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars!

I read this out of order accidentally lol but it didn't matter cause the author did a great job of contextualizing and recapping everything!

It was really fun to spend time with Shuri in comic book form after falling in love with her in the Black Panther film! She's ambitious, intelligent, and honestly a really fun hero to follow. She's trying to balance both her familial / hero obligations while also finding herself and her own independence. I'm excited to go back and read the first volume, but overall her character arch felt very satisfying. Good job Nnedi Okorafor! My favorite part was definitelyyyy the team up with Ms. Marvel and Miles Morales in Jersey City! I was totally not expecting that and it was so epic. I want more of them collabing together! I also really enjoyed all the interactions with the Ancestors of Wakanda. Such a special and unique take on superhero magical powers. I will say the "vilian"/beast arc was wrapped up a little too easily and neatly for my taste though.

Also, don't listen to the haters lol, the art in this book was BEAUTIFUL! It felt cohesive, fresh and fun even thought they changed artists after issues #6.
I definitely recommend this to all marvel fans and especially black panther/shuri fans <3

"My name is Shuri I am not the Black Pather. But I am everything my country needs me to be."

[Tinomutenda Mpunganyi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nnedi Okorafor’s Shuri Vol. 2 expands Shuri’s journey in ways that feel both cosmic and grounded. We get to see her team up with iconic characters like Ororo (Storm), adding a layer of depth and fun to the storyline. One of the villains this time manipulates gravity and force fields—an intriguing and devastating power that raises the stakes dramatically.

One of the most striking parts of this volume is the exploration of Djalia, Wakanda’s Ancestral Plane. Unlike fleeting glimpses in movies or earlier comics, here we actually see an action sequence unfolding in the spirit world itself. That blew me away. The idea that battles could be fought and resolved in the spiritual before manifesting in the physical resonated deeply with me. As a Christian, I often believe that what happens in our lives first stirs in the unseen, the supernatural. To see this mirrored in Wakanda’s lore—where history, ancestors, and legacy shape the present—was both powerful and moving.

Through the Djalia, we also get to meet ancestral heroes beyond just past Black Panthers, adding a richness to Wakanda’s mythology. It felt like a window into history itself, reminding us how layered and resilient this fictional nation is.

Of course, Shuri’s wit and arrogance still come through (sometimes to a fault), and a few moments of corniness linger. But credit to Okorafor—this is a beautifully feminist story, one that reimagines power, heritage, and responsibility through the lens of a young Black woman stepping into her own. For me, Shuri Vol. 2 hit harder than the first volume, particularly because of how it braided together spirituality and science, legacy and futurism.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

[Derek Newman-Stille · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is crushing to read in this comic that this will be the last Shuri comic that Nnedi Okirafor will be writing for a while. Shuri has been a powerful and complex hero who is as dynamic as she is brilliant. In this collection, Shuri continues to discover her role in Wakandan society and her relationship to the spirit world(Djalia), continuing to walk between them and learn from both worlds. She is faced with the challenge of whether to take up the mantle of Black Panther and whether this means she needs to give up the title of Ancient Future that she gained in Djalia or as Wakandan engineer, or as princess. Shuri is a character walking between multiple titles and identities and having to balance multiple aspects of her complex identity.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm unsure what to think of this one, and I feel like three stars might be generous even if the end redeems it a little, but two stars might be a little stingy. The couple interlude issues are a big part of the problem. That story's very standard young hero stuff [is this just to boost Champions?], and it means Shuri jumps around in this series from being ready to run Wakanda to being just another kid. What could have been Silver Age wackiness just turns into an obsession with black holes and ridiculous fixes.

I'm not sure Storm works well in this series, and only some of what goes on makes sense. The Space Lubber story is way too drawn out, so even though we get some surprises and some nice twists, it doesn't pay off quite enough for me.

[Alex Sarll]

Wakanda's princess/tech genius/griot gets a two-issue fill-in crossover with Miles Morales and Ms Marvel, before heading home to wrap up the series' main story, in which an ingeniously plausible and plausibly annoying Wakandan pop hit plays a key role dealing with an alien invading both the real world and its mystical counterpart. It's genial more than essential, feeling squarely aimed at kids who loved the lead in the Black Panther film, but then there's nothing wrong with that as a goal.  

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This continues the story from the first volume with five more issues. The first two, with a different writer and artist, were weak; they tied Shuri's story into the greater Marvel world but didn't really advance the plot. The last three were set back in Wakanda, and the story and art were better. The plot with the black-hole-creating music-loving insect was resolved, or at least fizzled out. But the art is beautiful and the characters come through. I'm still waiting to find out what's up with Shuri's brother, and so is she; she wants him to take the Black Panther mantle so she can go back to her life. Which, with the ancestors in her head and other factors, will never be the same as before.

[Leensey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as compelling as the first volume, but has some great story beats for Shuri- finding her path to accepting her responsibilities, while also establishing her own identity outside the shadows of expectations from all the people who depend on her.

[Megan Sanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the crossover with Miles and Kamala!

[Sara Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this! (It was definitely helpful for my reading goal) I also enjoyed this more than the first one and I liked the art style better.

[João Pedro Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorei, história ótima e bem fechadinha. Fico triste q é só uma minissérie, super leria mais histórias da Shuri

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Brigid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun second installment to this run of Shuri comics! There were a few loose ends that felt unfinished. But perhaps they will continue in further issues.
All in all- a fun, colorful, and exciting read!

[Phobean · Rating 3 out of 5]

The art didn't move me much in this 2nd Shuri graphic novel, but I enjoyed the writing and story. Boy is Shuri charming. Also, fun to see Storm rocking casual clothing. I wished there was an actual "24/7 Vibranium" song to listen to while I read. Maybe Marvel is commissioning it? Maybe the song will be in the next Black Panther movie.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars. I was disappointed with the first Shuri Novel because I didn’t love the writing but more than that, this is a graphic novel about a scientific prodigy and it had some MAJOR scientific inaccuracies. Unfortunately, the second volume wasn’t any better. Obviously the science transferred over to volume two but there were other problems too. I’ll start with saying though, that I actually did like the beginning. In the first few chapters we get to see Shuri work with Miles Morales and Kamala Khan (Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel), and that was super fun to read. I loved seeing three great characters work together. Unfortunately, once Miles and Ms Marvel leave, the book goes down hill. It continued with the mediocre writing and poor science, but it’s the ending that made this book bother me so much. Throughout both novels, there is a plot line, the plot line that got the whole story going, and at the end they just don’t solve it. Like ???? There was an ad at the end for a second series by the same author about T’Challa and maybe it’s resolved there, but it should have been wrapped up in the Shuri books. All in all, I’m giving this book 2 stars. It would be two stars but I did really like the beginning.

[Meepelous · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as the art goes, I have to say I really enjoyed it. Not hyper realistic, there's a tasteful fade to black with Shuri's costume so you generally aren't seeing how all her "bits" fit into some sort of slick vacuum sealed shell thing that shows every wrinkle. The way that detail was used felt very focused and helped pull the eye along. The frames were really dynamic and there's lots of action for people who like that sort of thing.

As far as gender goes, while things appear to remain within the strict binary, the shear number of apparently cis women was really nice. They are each pretty different both mentally and physically, and there's a concentrated focus on group cooperation. I would say this is a stereotype for women, but that's only for people who feel schools are anti-men. Generally in comics I feel like women can't be friends is more the stereotype. Either way, this is still a pretty narrow representation of gender (let alone sexuality) diversity. And Black Panther is still at the center of everything. But, yeah it's still better then what has been the status quo.

Race is another highlight of this series when it comes to intersectionality. Okorafor's stated aim of bringing more African countries into the discussion was, by my limited understanding, pretty successful. And again, highlighting different ways of cooperation that are distinctly none "western" was nice. Shuri's relationship to Wakanda's ancestors and learning from them was also pretty coolio. Our social construct of nationality is certainly not the same as our social construct of race, but Okorafor is very successful as showing Wakanda as more aligned with none whiteness. This story would not have worked with 99.9% of the rest of the Marvelverse.

Class is not a thing touched upon by this series.

As far as ability and disability there is a short discussion about Shuri designing a vehicle, taking into consideration another character's claustrophobia. Does that count? It's certainly pretty unique to a super hero comic in my experience. Related, but not the same thing, there did seem to be an effort for body diversity in the comic which was also very nice.

I'm not terribly familiar with Shuri pre-movie, but apparently this series is also noted as an effort to bridge the character from pre-movie reality to more aligned with what everyone loved in the movie. So that's a thing. I am planning on slowly but surely working through Black Panther from Priest forward so I guess eventually I may have a better understanding of this.

[Saimi Korhonen · Rating 2 out of 5]

“I, better than most, know the difficulty of living in an elder brother’s shadow.” – “Good thing we’re both our own butt-kicking people then, huh?”

In this second volume Shuri continues her fight against the Space Lubber, a music-loving, black hole-creating giant grasshopper, that's threatening Wakanda, while also trying to figure out why her powers are acting up and whether to continue being the Black Panther in her brother's absence. Just like in the first volume, in 24/7 Vibranium Shuri also teams up with other famous superheroes: this time she works with Miles Morales and Ms. Marvel.

This second volume did not really work for me, which was a shame. I liked the exploration of the spirit realm Djalia, I enjoyedShuri and Miles working together and I appreciated the way Shuri's arc ended (I liked that she decided not to be the Black Panther anymore - after finding out in the spirit world that T'Challa is still alive - and to just continue to be herself. As she says in the end, she is not the Black Panther, but she is everything Wakanda needs her to be. I thought that was a nice ending to her personal journey in this series. ) but otherwise I didn't really like the story. The Space Lubber is too ridiculous for my taste (it was a bit funny in the first volume but in the second one I just found it a bit awkward) and I thought the way it was defeated in the end was just a bit lame. I also think the way situation with T'Challa's disappearance was handled was very disappointing - I liked that they at least clarified if he's alive but the story just ends with no explanation as to where they are, what is wrong etc. I also found it a bit weird that Shuri just gives up her search for her brother when the ancestors tell her he's alive: he could still be in danger! I thought that could've been done a lot better and in a much more satisfying way.

I am very disappointed that I didn't enjoy this comic series as much as I'd hoped - the first volume I gave 3/5 and this one, as you can see, 2/5. I guess I would recommend checking it out if you're intrigued cause it's not all that long and it might just work for you even though it wasn't for me.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second volume of this series so I have to guess at the brilliance that I missed in volume one. However, even in this sequel, this author’s version of Shuri accords very well with the gifted, whip-smart woman that we get to see in the Marvel film Black Panther.

Shuri was apparently reluctant to take on the role of this iconic superhero after her brother was lost on a space mission. She doesn’t care for the fighting and feels her talents are best served in the laboratory rather than on the field of battle. But the Shuri of the film didn’t hesitate to put on the gauntlets and fight against a royal urusper and this one can bring the fight with the best of them.

Still, she shines in scenes that require keen intelligence. The panels that display her sharing her scientific acumen with the likes of Miles Morales, Kamala Khan and a shy tech wizard named Augustin Torres (whom I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot of in future volumes), are a perfect showcase for her obvious talents. Like Wonder Woman, Shuri prefers peace to punching and wants to give Augustin a better outlet for his gifts at working with quarks than becoming a superpowered criminal.

The novel also brims with female solidarity and I don’t just mean the Dora Milaje. She’s part of a secret society called the Elephant Trunk and is advised by them when she needs guidance.

I very much enjoyed this comic novel and want to see more of this character. Comic nerds need more examples of strong female protagonists with clever minds and, in capable hands, Shuri comics are bound to deliver.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm writing a combined review of "Shuri, Vol. 1: The Search for Black Panther" and "Shuri, Vol. 2: 24/7 Vibranium" because it was originally issued by Marvel as a 10-issue miniseries focused on the coming of age of Wakandan princess Shuri. Most on-going comic series divide themselves in to somewhat loose arcs which in turn determine the shape and length of each trade released in the title. Dividing the "Shuri" miniseries into two separate trades works to the detriment of the overall whole.

What seems forced and vaguely ridiculous in the first volume (including appearances by Rocket Raccoon, Groot and the music of Aretha Franklin ) makes absolute (albeit somewhat odd) sense in the 2nd volume. In addition, the art which seems a little too "teenage-y"/Saturday morning cartoon-y in the 1st volume gradually takes on a more "mature" look as Shuri comes into her own personhood, with an identity uniquely her own instead of one thrust upon her by others.

I especially enjoyed the deeper exploration and elaboration of what seemed like a "Cliff Notes" version of ancient African history (in the first volume) as the young protagonists (in the second volume) learn to embrace the past, present and future of a united Africa.

As the ancient spirit of another young woman who had also borne the mantle of the Black Panther remarks: "You are again Ancient Future, The Griot, Princess Shuri, head engineer and The Black Panther. These are a lot of titles to carry."

Shuri's reply completely encapsulates her character by the end of the two volumes:

"I have strong shoulders."