I think for me, Coates still has to prove he can even write a T'challa I like. He hasn't done it yet, at all. Its been 4 issues of Mopey Pants.
So, despite all the positive energy coming from his interviews, I am still not even close to excited or optimistic. I am more curious. What version of T'challa is this in peak form? Priest? Hudlin? Liss? Jungle Action?
Hell, in 4 issues, a new reader wouldn't even know T'challa is superhuman......
And can Coates even translate it over? He is already having issues translating stuff from his brain to the page 4 issues in. Can he translate HIS "come correct" T'challa to page? Remember, he thinks t'challa WON that confrontation with Tetu and Zenzi in #3 when everyone here thought it was a horrible showing.
I personally don't think it was a horrible showing for T'Challa (imho) as he seemed to have learned from his previous encounter with Zenzi. In fact, there was a bit of strategy I think:
-Took out a bunch of goons quickly.
-Being aware of what Zenzi can do, he knocks her out immediately.
-Once he knocks out Zenzi, he quickly calls out the HZ, which is a recall from #2 (him not wanting his troops to be used against him via Zenzi.). He then faces Tetu and we all know how that went.
All that being said, I def agree: T'Challa didn't win that battle, no matter how Coates wants to spin it. Despite some of the stuff that could be deemed an improvement depending on one's perspective, the fact is T'Challa needs a W. Not just because of the stuff he's gone through since the past few years, but even for this book's sake. T'Challa has to be shown as someone who is not only capable but is someone who decisively gets things done. The MAs, Zenzi, and Tetu have been shown to do just that. That hasn't happened to T'Challa et.
I think it was Ezyo who mentioned that one missed opportunity for that scene was T'Challa and the HZ apprehending Zenzi. That would big for T'Challa and, funny enough, could've setup a very interesting scene between T'Challa and Zenzi that I feel would've fit very well with issue 4. Coates went a different direction unfortunately.
A lot of pressure on issue 5 as a result. That issue has to hit the ground running especially with T'Challa talking all that talk.