'Black Panther' Series in the Works, Marvel Comics Sets Spring Release Date

A new "Black Panther" series is in the works, and Marvel Comics has tapped Ta-Nehisi Coates to take on the series that will begin next spring.

If you're unfamiliar with his work, Coates, as The Hollywood Reporter noted, is a national correspondent for The Atlantic and author of the critically-acclaimed memoir "Between the World And Me." He is also noted to be a winner of the Hillman Prize For Opinion and Analysis Journalism. He was a lauded writer for pieces such as September 2012's "Fear of a Black President" and 2014's "The Case for Reparations."

His accolades may be on a different plane than writing for a comic book series, but according to Coates there is no problem about his diverse writing. He shared, "I don't experience the stuff I write about as weighty. I feel a strong need to express something. The writing usually lifts the weight. I expect to be doing the same thing for Marvel."

He told The New York Times that he's excited to venture on this project as Marvel was "an intimate part of my childhood and, at this point, part of my adulthood." He cited characters such as Storm, Monica Rambeau and War Machine as influences from his childhood.

"I'm sure it meant something to see people who looked like me in comic books. It was this beautiful place that I felt pop culture should look like," Coates also said.

His "Black Panther" storyline, called "A Nation Under Our Feet" is inspired by a 2003 book of the same title by Steven Hahn. It will follow the story of T'Challa, the Black Panther, who is facing an uprising in his kingdom of Wakanda. Brian Stelfreeze will handle the illustration for the new storyline.

In an effort to change their image, Marvel has addressed the concern of many fans citing lack of diversity in the forthcoming "All-New, All-Different Marvel" relaunch, in terms of racial and sexual identities of their superheroes. Black Panther will be the fourth solo title with a black lead, following the likes of Sam Wilson (Captain America), Miles Morales (Spider-Man) and Blade.

"Black Panther" is said to be launched in 2016, close to the time as the character's film debut in "Captain America: Civil War". He will also have his standalone film in 2018.

What do you think about the upcoming series so far, are you happy with Marvel's choice for their "Black Panther" writer?