Overall, this is the best Black Panther volume since the first, thanks in large part to its new focus on new characters and a new, more down-to-earth locale. 
 Black & White (50-56). Priest's Black Panther often ended up a little too muddled in its later days. This return to New York and introduction of a new Black Panther was what it needed to reduce the complexity and offer a more readable story. And, it's a pretty great story: a noir story of dirty cops, bad choices, worse results, and (ultimately) revenge. And, there's still just enough complexity, thanks to nice flashbacks throughout. The grayed artwork nicely complements all of this. Though the story is far from Panther's Africa, and though it doesn't have the humor of some of Priest's earliest Panther, the change in direction and tone nonetheless creates one of Priest's best Panther stories to date [8/10]. 
 Ascension (59-62). The idea that Cole could become a true Black Panther by repeating the Rite of Ascension is quite a nice one, a good extension of his story. Unfortunately, it also moves away from the noir of his previous outing, returning to the more standard tropes of Priest's Black Panther, which just aren't as interesting as the story that was being told about Cole. Still, this is a good conclusion (or turning point at least) to Cole's story -- other than a rather surprising revelation about a death, which was actually quite unwelcome. It's obvious that the ending came a bit quickly, as we don't wrap up what's going on with the gangs that Cole is targeting, but so it goes. [7/10]. 
 The Crew (1-7). A brand-new comic featuring a team-up of White Tiger (the new Black Panther), Jim Rhodes, Josiah X, and Junta. The first five issues are entirely great. They're strong character pieces defining our new team and they play fun games with chronology, as they jump back and forth between the past and the present. The last two issues are notably weaker, probably because the comic was cancelled and everything had to be suddenly wrapped up in two violent issues [7/10].