<P> African - American writer - editor Dwayne McDuffie said of the Jungle Action "Black Panther" feature: </P> <P> This overlooked and underrated classic is arguably the most tightly written multi-part superhero epic ever . If you can get your hands on it...sit down and read the whole thing . It's damn - near flawless, every issue, every scene, a functional, necessary part of the whole . Okay, now go back and read any individual issue . You'll find seamlessly integrated words and pictures; clearly introduced characters and situations; a concise (sometimes even transparent) recap; beautifully developed character relationships; at least one cool new villain; a stunning action set piece to test our hero's skills and resolve; and a story that is always moving forward towards a definite and satisfying conclusion . That's what we should all be delivering, every single month . Don (McGregor) and company did it in only 17 story pages per issue . </P> <P> Though popular with college students, the overall sales of Jungle Action were low, and Marvel relaunched the Black Panther in a self - titled series, bringing in the character's co-creator Jack Kirby--newly returned to Marvel after having decamped to rival DC Comics for a time--as writer, penciler, and editor . However, Kirby wanted to work on new characters and was unhappy at being assigned a series starring a character he had already worked with extensively . He left the series after only 12 issues and was replaced by Ed Hannigan (writer), Jerry Bingham (penciler), and Roger Stern (editor). Black Panther ran 15 issues (Jan. 1977--May 1979). Due to the series's cancellation, the contents of what would have been Black Panther #16--18 were published in Marvel Premiere #51--53 . </P> <P> A four - issue miniseries, Black Panther vol. 2, (July--Oct. 1988) was written by Peter B. Gillis and penciled by Denys Cowan . McGregor revisited his Panther saga with Gene Colan in "Panther's Quest", published as 25 eight - page installments within the bi-weekly anthology series Marvel Comics Presents (issues #13--37, Feb.--Dec. 1989). He later teamed with artist Dwayne Turner in the square - bound miniseries Black Panther: Panther's Prey (Sept. 1990--March 1991). McGregor conceived a fifth arc in his Black Panther saga, titled "Panther's Vows", but it failed to get off the ground . </P>

When did black panther become a comic book