Spoiler warning: This article contains spoilers for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
Inhumans and a powerful figure in Marvel Comics lore, to the MCU. Anson Mount reprised his role from the Inhumans ABC television series, though the canonicity of that show remains in limbo. Everything remains on the table for the MCU to consider though, including some of the best Black Bolt comics.
A lot of great comics exist for fans looking to learn more about Black Bolt after watching the movie. Black Bolt's best comic books include major confrontations with the Secret Invasion, a major comic book storyline now being adapted into a streaming series for Disney+.
Fantastic Four #46
The best Black Bolt comics to read after the movie begin at the very start of the Marvel Universe. Though Black Bolt cameos at the end of Fantastic Four #45, his true first appearance comes in the following issue, when he reveals himself as the ruler of the Inhuman Royal Family.
Black Bolt's unique visual look, a product of the legendary Jack Kirby, emerges from the outset along with the unique Stan Lee curse/blessing approach to superpowers. Black Bolt generates devastating sound waves with his voice, preventing him from speaking.
Thor #146
Black Bolt's origin unfolds in a backup feature running through the Thor monthly title. Issue #146 begins the saga of Black Bolt's painful backstory. Comic book fans know the Inhumans have great power and technology and they use it to contain Black Bolt's sonic ability.
They place him in a soundproof container as a boy, isolating him from others for much of his early life. He forces himself to learn complete discipline over his body so he never utters a sound, even involuntarily, though this didn't help him in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The Incredible Hulk Annual #1
The Incredible Hulk Annual #1 ranks as a must-read issue for a few reasons, including the outstanding Jim Steranko cover. The issue pits Black Bolt against the Hulk, who defeated the other of the Inhumans in a titanic battle.
Black Bolt uses his tremendous sonic ability to stop the Hulk, demonstrating the character's power against arguably the strongest member of the Avengers. The issue also hints at a possible MCU showdown in the future between the two titanic figures.
The Avengers #95
The Avengers #95 reveals key details of Black Bolt's ascension to the throne of the Inhumans, making it a key issue to read after the movie. The story also reveals more details about his conflict with his brother Maximus, who rivaled him for the throne. Black Bolt inadvertently drove his mother to madness as a consequence of using his voice again him.
The issue, one of the late Neal Adams' best comics, also includes details on the link between the Inhumans and the Kree. The Kree experimented on ancient humans in a bid to gain an advantage in their ongoing war with the Skrulls.
Captain Marvel #53
The prospect of intergalactic war spilling over onto Earth recurs throughout Inhumans comics, especially Captain Marvel #53. This issue teams Black Bolt with the original Captain Marvel, Mar-Vell, to stop the Kree and Skrulls from taking their war to Earth.
Black Bolt plays a major role in diffusing such cosmic crises, especially involving the Kree and Skrulls, throughout Marvel Comics and he seems likely to do the same in the MCU. His role in the Illuminati emerged directly from such concerns.
New Avengers #7
Comic book fans know the Illuminati brings together the most powerful figures in the Marvel Universe, including Black Bolt. His role in the secret council unfolds for the first time in New Avengers #7, a key issue to read after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
The Illuminati first emerge in the Marvel Universe in the run-up to Secret Invasion, but they form in response to an earlier Skrull conflict. The council first coalesces after the Kree-Skrull War, taking place in the pages of The Avengers in the early 1970s.
The Avengers #188
Black Bolt shares a deadly connection with the Scarlet Witch in the MCU. In Marvel Comics, they share a family bond. Fantastic Four #131 sees Black Bolt intervene in the rivalry between the Human Torch and Quicksilver over Crystal.
This romance eventually results in real ramifications for the comics, with Quicksilver and Crystal eventually marrying. If Quicksilver returns in some form in live-action, he could marry Crystal as he did in the comics and wed the Maximoffs and Inhumans in marriage.
What If..? #4
What If..? #4 presents an intriguing possible universe that may pay off in the MCU. In this alternate reality, Peter Parker succumbs to the alien symbiote. Venom acquires Thor's hammer before Black Bolt arrives and destroys him with his sonic scream.
Venom left behind a little bit of alien goo at the end of Spider-Man: No Way Home, leaving open the possibility some version of the symbiote emerges in the MCU. It if does, Black Bolt's power ideally positions him to deal with the threat.
Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1
Secret Invasion: Inhumans #1 reveals that the Skrulls replaced Black Bolt in advance of their massive invasion of Earth. The Skrulls kidnapped the real Black Bolt and tried to use his unique power to create a deadly superweapon. This likely plays some role in the Secret Wars streaming series.
Black Bolt's experience undoes the premise of the Illuminati, somewhat. Not only do the Skrulls infiltrate the secret council, Black Bolt's perspective on how superheroes should handle crises shifts. He decides to attack enemies preemptively, leading to a deadly war with the Kree.
Inhumans Vs. X-Men #1
Inhumans Vs. X-Men #1 sees the two groups clash in a potential MCU conflict. This 2016 event pits the two teams against each other after mutants begin to experience severe side effects from the Terrigen Mists unleashed by the Inhumans on Earth.
Some people benefitted from them, like Ms. Marvel, but many did not. While the circumstances of Kamala Khan's origin in the MCU likely differ from the comics given clues in the trailers for her series, the X-Men and Inhumans could still find themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield.
