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T'Challa Black Panther
Black Panther as depicted in Original Sin #2 (May 2014), by Gabriele Dell'Otto.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966)
Created by	Stan Lee Jack Kirby
In-story information
Alter ego	T'Challa
Species	Human mutate
Place of origin	Wakanda
Team affiliations	Avengers Fantastic Four Mighty Avengers Fantastic Force New Avengers Ultimates The Crew
Partnerships	Storm Shuri
Notable aliases	King of the Dead Black Leopard Black Panther Mr. Okonkwo Panther King Red Panther
Abilities	The power to draw upon the knowledge, strength and every experience of every previous Black Panther Enhanced strength, endurance, speed, agility, reflexes, stamina and senses Master hand-to-hand combatant and martial artist Highly proficient tactician, strategist and inventor Genius-level intellect Utilizing vibranium suit and equipment

Black Panther is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist-coplotter Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #52, published in July 1966. Black Panther's birth name is T'Challa, and he is the son of the previous Black Panther, T'Chaka. He is the king and protector of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, a technologically advanced society drawing from a supply of vibranium, a fictional metal of extraordinary properties. Along with possessing enhanced abilities achieved through ancient Wakandan rituals of drinking the essence of the heart-shaped herb, T'Challa also relies on his proficiency in science, expertise in his nation's traditions, rigorous physical training, hand-to-hand combat skills, and access to wealth and advanced Wakandan technology to combat his enemies. The character became a member of the Avengers in 1968, and has continued that affiliation off and on in subsequent decades.

The storylines of the 1970s written by Don McGregor were critically acclaimed and introduced T'Challa's nemesis Erik Killmonger. However, Black Panther was a somewhat neglected character of low popularity until his reinvention by Christopher Priest in the late 1990s. Priest re-emphasized the importance of Wakanda as an independent and technologically advanced African nation. Priest also introduced the Dora Milaje, Black Panther's female bodyguards. In subsequent series written by Reginald Hudlin, T'Challa married Storm of the X-Men and she featured prominently as a supporting character in stories of this period. The Hudlin stories emphasize Black cultural pride, and achieved greater commercial success. In Hudlin's era, the role of Black Panther and leadership of Wakanda was also temporarily given to T'Challa's sister Shuri while he was briefly in a coma. The Black Panther comics became particularly commercially successful in 2016, partly as a result of the literary fame of their writer, the journalist and essayist Ta-Nehisi Coates. The first issue of his series was the best-selling comic book of that month. Coates's series call into question the legitimacy of monarchy in Wakanda and articulate a more democratic vision.

Black Panther is the first Black superhero in American mainstream comics. The character is also an early example of the Afrofuturist aesthetic. He has made numerous appearances in various television shows, animated films, and video games. Chadwick Boseman portrayed T'Challa in Phase Three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's films: Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also voiced alternate versions of the character in the first season of the animated series What If...? (2021), which was released after his death. The Black Panther film was a notable critical and popular success. Following Boseman's death in 2020, Letitia Wright's character Shuri took on the Black Panther mantle in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

Publication history

Creation

The origin of the character has been disputed by both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, with both claiming the impetus for the idea. However, both of the creators have said they were motivated by general humanistic and inclusive values, rather than any social or political awareness of the civil rights movement.

Kirby claimed sole credit for creating the character in The Comics Journal #134 (February 1990), stating that he realized an absence of Black characters in his comics, and believed that they should be added for "human reasons".

In another interview, Kirby declared: "I came up with the Black Panther because I realized I had no blacks in my strip. I'd never drawn a black. I needed a black. I suddenly discovered that I had a lot of black readers. My first friend was a black! And here I was ignoring them because I was associating with everybody else."

Lee, in contrast, claimed he created the character because, in the mid-1960s, he wanted to include more African and African-American characters in Marvel Comics. Lee later recollected: "I suddenly realized that there were no black super heroes, and I felt we ought to have one. There were no black heroes that I knew about, and there were certainly no black heroes who were the king of their own country in Africa. He didn't live in a village with thatched huts--although that's what you saw on the surface. Underneath was that fantastic city that he had created, which was completely scientific and had all the latest equipment of every type in it. And we realize that the Black Panther is one of the world's great scientists-- Reed Richards. So, again, I wanted to go against ."

While there is no documentation to establish the veracity of either claim to originality, by 1966 Kirby is thought to have been largely plotting the book on his own and explaining the stories to Lee when the pages arrived in the Marvel offices. In a 1968 interview, Lee said:

Some artists, such as Jack Kirby, need no plot at all. I mean I’ll just say to Jack, ‘Let’s let the next villain be Dr. Doom’… or I may not even say that. He may tell me. And then he goes home and does it. He’s so good at plots, I’m sure he’s a thousand times better than I. He just about makes up the plots for these stories. All I do is a little editing.

Roy Thomas has made claims that support Lee's version of events, while Kirby is supported by his wife and prior artwork. In 1963, Lee and Kirby included a black character, Gabe Jones, in the ensemble cast of Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos, and Lee encouraged artists to include black characters in crowd scenes. In a 1998 interview, Lee explained his motivation: "I wasn't thinking of civil rights. I had a lot of friends who were black and we had artists who were black. So, it occurred to me... why aren't there any black heroes?" Soon after Black Panther was introduced, Marvel added two more recurring black characters: Jill Jerrold in Modeling with Millie, and Bill Foster in The Avengers.

Co-creator Stan Lee recounted that the name was inspired by a pulp adventure hero who had a black panther as a helper. Jack Kirby's original concept art for Black Panther used the concept name Coal Tiger.

There was some debate at Marvel, with Lee wondering how far to go with the introduction of a Black superhero, which was commercially risky in that era. In the first version of the cover for Fantastic Four #52, Kirby drew the Black Panther wearing a cowl that exposed his face. In the published version, the cowl became a full face-mask. Previews in other comics did not show the cover at all, indicating that Lee was hesitant.

Black Panther first appeared in Fantastic Four #52, published in July 1966, and the following issue in August of the same year.

Predecessors

The Black Panther is the first Black superhero in American mainstream comic books. Very few Black heroes were created before him, and none with actual superpowers. These included Lothar in the comic strip Mandrake the Magician and the characters in the single-issue All-Negro Comics #1 (1947). Marvel's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics also introduced Waku, Prince of the Bantu, who starred in his own feature in the omnibus title Jungle Tales. and the Dell Comics Western character Lobo, the first Black person to star in his own comic book. Previous non-caricatured Black supporting characters in comics include U.S. Army infantry private Gabriel Jones of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.

Influences on the character included historical figures such as 14th-century Mali Empire sultan Mansa Musa and 20th-century Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey, as well as Biblical figures such as Ham and Canaan. Other scholars have identified other precursors: Harry Wills, a champion boxer of the early 20th century nicknamed the Black Panther, and a predominately African-American armored combat unit in World War II also called the Black Panthers, the 761st Tank Battalion of the US Army. Lee and Kirby also borrow from typical pop cultural tropes of their era inspired by Edgar Rice Burroughs's Tarzan, but subvert or transform stereotypes common in the "jungle adventure" genre.

The name Black Panther predates the founding of the Black Panther Party in October 1966, though not the black panther logo of the party's predecessor, the Lowndes County Freedom Organization (LCFO). Scripter Stan Lee denied that the comic, which pre-dates the political usage of the term, was, or could have been, named after any of the political uses of the term "black panther", including the LCFO, citing "a strange coincidence".

In a guest appearance in Fantastic Four #119 (February 1972), the Black Panther briefly used the name "Black Leopard" to avoid connotations with the Party, but the new name did not last. The character's name was changed back to Black Panther in The Avengers #105, with T'Challa explaining that renaming himself made as much sense as altering the Scarlet Witch's name, and he is not a stereotype. Avengers writer Roy Thomas said that the Black Panther name "had more resonance," but that the political implications limited the character's prominence.

Early years: 1960s and early 1970s

Subsequent to his first appearance, Black Panther made guest appearances in Fantastic Four Annual #5 (1967) and with Captain America in Tales of Suspense #97–99 and Captain America 100 (January – April 1968). The Black Panther journeyed from the fictional African nation of Wakanda to New York City to join the titular American superhero team in The Avengers #52 (May 1968). He appeared in that comic for the next few years. During his time with the Avengers, he also made solo guest-appearances in three issues of Daredevil, and fought Doctor Doom in Astonishing Tales #6–7 (June & August 1971), in that supervillain's starring feature.

1970s and 1980s

He received his first starring feature with Jungle Action #5 (July 1973), a reprint of a story in The Avengers #62 (March 1969) that focused on Black Panther. A new series, titled "Panther's Rage," began running the following issue, written by Don McGregor, with art by pencilers Rich Buckler, Gil Kane, and Billy Graham, and which gave inkers Klaus Janson and Bob McLeod some of their first professional exposure. The critically acclaimed series ran in Jungle Action #6–18 (1973-1975).

One now-common format McGregor pioneered was that of the self-contained, multi-issue story arc. Critic Jason Sacks has called the arc "Marvel's first graphic novel":

here were real character arcs in Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four over time. But ... "Panther's Rage" is the first comic that was created from start to finish as a complete novel. Running in two years' issues of Jungle Action (#s 6 through 18), "Panther's Rage" is a 200-page novel that journeys to the heart of the African nation of Wakanda, a nation ravaged by a revolution against its king, T'Challa, the Black Panther.

"Panther's Rage" also introduces T'Challa's nemesis Erik Killmonger, a rival for the throne of Wakanda who recurs in subsequent series. Rebecca Wanzo, a scholar of African-American literature, describes "Panther's Rage" as "the first major step in decolonizing the character." The cast of the story arc is almost entirely Black.

The second and final arc in Jungle Action, also written by McGregor, was titled "Panther vs. the Klan" and ran in 1976. The subject matter of the Ku Klux Klan was considered controversial in the Marvel offices at the time, creating difficulties for the creative team.

African-American writer-editor Dwayne McDuffie said of the Jungle Action "Black Panther" feature:

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 and company did it in only 17 story pages per issue.

Qiana J. Witted points out that the artists in this period incorporated African American popular culture of the era, such as T'Challa wearing a "modified version of the gold-chain outfit worn by singer Isaac Hayes for the Watts, Los Angeles, community benefit concert that was released as the 1973 documentary film Wattstax."

Though popular with college students, the overall sales of Jungle Action were low. 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. In the series, Black Panther searches for a magic artifact called King Solomon's Frog. 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 (January 1977 – May 1979). Because the series was discontinued, the contents of what would have been Black Panther #16–18 were published in Marvel Premiere #51–53.

In 1980, Black Panther appeared as a guest star in The Defenders #84-86, written by Ed Hannigan. This story introduced Black Panther's rivalry with Namor and his kingdom of Atlantis, which becomes a recurring conflict in future story lines. Later in the year, Black Panther appeared in a back up story in Marvel Team-Up #100 that establishes his relationship with Storm of the X-Men.

A four-issue miniseries, Black Panther vol. 2, (July – October 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.–December 1989). The story takes place in South Africa. In the view of critic Todd Steven Burroughs, "'Quest' attempts to show how oppressive apartheid is for everyone involved."

1990s

McGregor later teamed with artist Dwayne Turner in the square-bound miniseries Black Panther: Panther's Prey (September 1990 – March 1991).

Writer Christopher Priest's and penciller Mark Texeira's 1998 series Black Panther vol. 3 re-invented the character. Scholar Todd Steven Burroughs describes the new vision for the Black Panther as "a combination of Frank Miller's Batman and South African president Nelson Mandela. Priest was the first Black creator to become an editor at Marvel. Inspired by the Eddie Murphy film Coming to America, Priest and his artists returned to the fundamental sovereignty of Wakanda. He revisited Erik Killmonger and other characters introduced in "Panther's Rage", together with new characters such as State Department attorney Everett Ross and the Dora Milaje, the Panther's female bodyguards. In their original characterization, the Dora Milaje are beautiful teenage girls who are, officially speaking, the Panther's potential wives. Dora Milaje is said to translate from Hausa to "adored ones." Priest made the Panther god another form of the Egyptian goddess Bastet, originally depicted as a black cat.

The Priest-Texeira series was under the Marvel Knights imprint in its first year. Priest's initial concept was inspired by Batman but also one of Batman's nemeses, Ra's al Ghul, the mysterious leader of a League of Assassins. Priest believed this "fearsome African warrior" would simply be too intimidating for the Marvel universe. Priest says the device of Ross's character contributed greatly to his ability to write the series: "I realized I could use Ross to bridge the gap between the African culture that the Black Panther mythos is steeped in and the predominantly white readership that Marvel sells to." He added his opinion that the Black Panther had been misused in the years after his initial creation by Lee and Kirby. Priest believed Black Panther was generally considered a dull "also-ran" with no evident powers.

To reinvent the character, he emphasized Black Panther's role as a monarch of a technologically advanced independent nation, and hence one of the most powerful figures in the Marvel universe. Influenced by Chris Claremont and Frank Miller, he aimed to introduce moral ambiguity and political complexity to the world of Black Panther. Priest also envisioned the series as a political satire, comparing it to The West Wing. In Priest's characterization, T'Challa actually joined the Avengers in order to spy on them, protecting Wakanda's national interests. Ta-Nehisi Coates has said that Priest "had the classic run on Black Panther, period, and that's gonna be true for a long time."

Jim Dandeneau of Den of Geek also states that Priest's is "probably the definitive run of Black Panther. This is where Wakanda stopped being backstory and started being a living, breathing place, with geography and politics and history that all contributed to its depth and beauty. It's also where a bunch of what's going on the screen started: Priest introduced Everett K. Ross and the Dora Milaje almost immediately in his first issue. Priest had been separated from Marvel for several years before coming back to write this book under a separate, independent line within Marvel as the rest of the company went bankrupt around it. So, he was given a lot of leeway to write the story he wanted to, and what came out was one of the greatest runs on any comic ever."

Cultural critic Douglas Wolk agrees that Christopher Priest's run established the canonical version of the character, although: "The tone of Priest's run was wildly different from any other Black Panther stories before or since--it's basically a political comedy--but Priest's central insight was that T'Challa isn't actually a superhero in the ordinary sense," but rather a monarch. He also says that the first issue of the run makes no sense at first reading, and requires a continuing interpretation of future issues. He argues that this is unique in mainstream superhero comics.

2000s

Black Panther #25-27 (December 2000-February 2001) reintroduce Storm as a major character in Black Panther's world. Storm immediately says, "I have been away from Africa far too long." Storm is called to Wakanda to protect a child from aliens. The dispute eventually involves Doctor Doom and Namor. In their renewed interactions, Storm compares Black Panther's sense of commitment and certainty to that of Magneto. The issue establishes that Storm continues to believe that someday she and T'Challa may have a permanent marriage, but this must be deferred because of T'Challa's exclusive commitment to his nation.

The last 13 issues of Priest's series (#50–62) saw the main character replaced by a multiracial New York City police officer named Kasper Cole, with T'Challa relegated to a supporting character. This Black Panther, who became the White Tiger, was placed in the series The Crew, running concurrently with the final few Black Panther issues. The Crew was canceled with issue #7.

In 2005, Marvel began publishing Black Panther vol. 4, which ran 41 issues (April 2005 – November 2008). It was initially written by filmmaker Reginald Hudlin (through issue #38) and penciled by John Romita, Jr. (through #6). Hudlin is a Hollywood writer and director who was at that time the president of the entertainment division of Black Entertainment Television. He wanted to add "street cred" to the title, although he noted that the book was not necessarily or primarily geared toward an African-American readership. As influences for his characterization of the character, Hudlin has cited comic character Batman, film director Spike Lee, and music artist Sean Combs. The Black Panther comics that Hudlin wrote sold much better than any previous series featuring the character, including Priest's. According to Diamond Comic Distributors, Black Panther (2005) #1 was the 27th best-selling comic book in February 2005. Hudlin's series also received positive notice from figures outside the comic book world, such as Ice Cube and Ziggy Marley.

In 2006, during Hudlin's run, T'Challa marries Storm of the X-Men, and she appeared as a prominent supporting character in many subsequent storylines. Readers and critics compared the wedding to the relationship of Jay-Z and Beyoncé, although they did not marry until two years later. Briefly, the two characters replace Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman in the Fantastic Four. Douglas Wolk observes that the wedding is the most well-known moment in Hudlin's run, and contends that the "mutual admiration leading to matrimony seemed to come out of nowhere," that neither have much in common "besides being superheroes with somewhat formal speech patterns and connections to Africa and divinity," and that while "one is a champion of a cross-sectional group, the other is a monarch of a physical nation." Hudlin responded to such criticisms in a 2010 interview, declaring that the wedding was set up for months by two different storylines and that the two characters are perfectly matched.

In Hudlin's series, the Dora Milaje are a clearly military organization, with shaven heads, rather than the attractive teenage girls previously established by Priest. In addition, Hudlin established T'Challa's complex friendship with Luke Cage, another prominent Black superhero created several years after Black Panther. While T'Challa is from an African nation that was never colonized, Cage is a street-level New York superhero of a vastly different culture. Hudlin explores these differences in the interactions between the two heroes. Hudlin's run introduces greater connections with the history of African-American culture; for example, in his world Malcolm X met with the previous Black Panther, T'Chaka. Like Priest, Hudlin emphasizes Black Panther's power and independence; as he puts it, T'Challa is "an INTERNATIONAL player who's equally at home at the Davos Conference in Switzerland, meeting with Colin Powell in D.C., kicking it in Harlem with Bill Clinton and Al Sharpton, and brokering deals off the coast of Cuba with Fidel Castro and Prince Namor." While the possibility of conflict with Namor and Atlantis appeared briefly in Priest's earlier stories, Hudlin made the power rivalry between T'Challa and Namor, as well as Doctor Doom and Latveria, a perennial theme. Black Panther vol. 5 launched in February 2009, with Hudlin, again scripting, introducing a successor Black Panther, T'Challa's sister Shuri.

Tyler Huckabee of IGN included Hudlin's Black Panther comic book series in their "10 Best Black Panther Comic Books" list, stating, "Reginald Hudlin's run is more traditionally superhero-esque in nature than many other titles on this list, featuring costumed villains and super guest stars like the X-Men and Namor. It also introduces a number of characters who've become key players in the Black Panther's life (like his sister Shuri) and tells what has now become the definitive origin story."

Hudlin co-wrote issue #7 with Jonathan Maberry, who then became the new writer, joined by artist Will Conrad.

2010s

Both T'Challa and Shuri fight Doctor Doom, alongside members of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, in the six-issue miniseries Doomwar (April – September 2010). Doomwar introduces the Midnight Angels, an armored division of the Dora Milaje. In this period, T'Challa has given up his powers and has been replaced by his sister. At the conclusion of the story, Doom steals Wakanda's supply of vibranium, and T'Challa destroys all of it in response.

T'Challa then accepts an invitation from Matt Murdock, the superhero Daredevil, to become the new protector of New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. He became the lead character in Daredevil beginning with issue #513 (February 2011), when that series was retitled Black Panther: The Man Without Fear. Under writer David Liss and artist Francesco Francavilla, he takes on the identity of Mr. Okonkwo, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and becomes the owner of a small diner to be close to the people. He fights street crime and various enemies of Daredevil, in this case relying on his own athletic ability and without the traditional Black Panther powers and Wakandan technology. He also confronts a new version of the Hate-Monger, a Silver Age emblem of bigotry who represents contemporary racist and anti-immigrant ideology.

A new Black Panther series written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and drawn by Brian Stelfreeze was launched in 2016 and concluded in 2021. Coates was previously a correspondent for The Atlantic and won the National Book Award for his essay Between the World and Me. As Todd Steven Burroughs writes, "The announcement that Ta-Nehisi Coates––the writer whom Toni Morrison called the heir to novelist and essayist James Baldwin––was going to write a new, ongoing Black Panther title shook both the Marvel Universe and café society." In Coates's first storyline, titled A Nation Under Our Feet, T'Challa faces a popular uprising against his monarchy. At the conclusion of the story, Wakanda is reformed into a constitutional democracy, with the Black Panther continuing as a figurehead king rather than a ruler. This series introduces a new version of The Crew, now including Storm, Luke Cage, Misty Knight, and Manifold.

According to Diamond Comic Distributors, Black Panther (2016) #1 was the best-selling comic book in April 2016, while #2 was the 9th best-selling comic book in May 2016. The first issue received positive reviews from Comics Beat and IGN. Critics found the second issue compelling and unusual, but enigmatic. Critic Todd Steven Burroughs characterizes the story as "ultra-cerebral," and suggests that some of the previous authors of the character may have found it pretentious. He interprets the story as a fascinating deconstruction of Wakanda that removes "what might call the intellectual crutch of Black nationalism" from the mythos of Black Panther.

In Coates' second storyline, Avengers of the New World, Wakanda's mythology was expanded, showing the panther goddess Bast as a member of a pantheon known as The Orisha, the term orisha, a Yoruba word for spirit or deity from Yoruba mythology, the pantheon is composed of Egyptian gods and other origins, such as Kokou, an orisha from Benin. Coates also wrote a six-issue series called Black Panther and the Crew that addresses the problem of police killings and also suggests that the Marvel universe includes a number of previously unknown superheroes from the Bandung Conference.

In 2017, the Africanfuturist writer Nnedi Okorafor wrote the series Black Panther: Long Live the King.

In February 2018, Christopher Priest, Don McGregor, and Reginald Hudlin each contributed one story to the Black Panther Annual #1.

In spring 2018, Coates wrote a new Black Panther series. Titled The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, this is a space opera. According to Diamond Comic Distributors, Black Panther (2018) #1 was the 5th best-selling comic book in May 2018.

Oliver Vestal of ComicsVerse gave Black Panther (2018) #1 a score of 97%, writing, "Black Panther #1 made for a strong start to the series. Ta-Nehisi Coates uses thorough world-building to establish a plot and characters. Daniel Acuña uses a mix of blurry and clear details and a dark palette to reflect the tone of the issue." Jesse Schedeen of IGN gave Black Panther #1 a grade of 8.6 out of 10, asserting, "Black Panther #1 is a promising start for this new era of Coates' run. It's certainly different enough from previous incarnations. And Acuna's art ensures that the book looks better than it has since Brian Stelfreeze was drawing it. Issue #1 gives readers a fresh start with the character while also offering plenty of incentive to stick around and see where this strange odyssey is heading."

2020s

In 2021, John Ridley wrote a new five-issue Black Panther series.

According to Diamond Comic Distributors, Black Panther (2021) #1 was the 10th best-selling comic book in November 2021.

Hannibal Tabu of Bleeding Cool gave Black Panther #1 a grade of 8.5 out of 10, saying, "This John Ridley script is a rush of adrenaline and smarts all at once, with clever elements introduced along the way. T'Challa's secret balances both the old ways of Wakanda as personified by the White Wolf and the modern egalitarian Wakanda he's trying to build. Then there's the visual storytelling from Juann Cabal, Federico Blee, and Joe Sabino, which will tickle the fancy of fans of, well, any Marvel project featuring Sebastian Stan, basically. They feature a great Avengers fight scene (that also mixes in wonderful character work) with a gorgeous view of an evolving Wakanda. "A king's business is getting things done," T'Challa says at one point. With a great espionage-tinted take, this issue takes that business very seriously." Tim Adams of ComicBook.com gave Black Panther #1 a grade of 4 out of 5, saying, "Marvel's new era of Black Panther gets off to a captivating start. Whereas the previous volume by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuna primarily took place in the stars, John Ridley, Juann Cabal, and Federico Blue deliver the beginnings of an espionage tale. Marvel Stormbreaker artist Juann Cabal is quickly rising as a superstar artist after fan-favorite runs on X-23 and Guardians of the Galaxy. His work with Blee on Black Panther remains top-notch, and watching T'Challa balance his responsibilities between being the chairperson of the Avengers and ruler of Wakanda is even stressful for the reader. The main plot reveals some major secrets Black Panther has been keeping, which has those closest to him questioning his actions in an understandable way. Something I always enjoy with a first issue is an end-of-page teaser offering clues to future storylines, and this one has some juicy scenes of stories-to-come."

In July 2022 the limited series Wakanda was announced, written by Stephanie Williams and illustrated by Paco Medina, the series will have a backup series titled History of the Black Panthers, written by Evan Narcisse and illustrated by Natacha Bustos. In August 2022, Marvel announced the one-shot Black Panther: Unconquered, written by Bryan Edward Hill and illustrated by Alberto Foche.

In January 2023, a new Black Panther series was announced, written by Eve Ewing and illustrated by Chris Allen.

According to the ComicHub system at local comic book shops selling American comics, Black Panther (2023) #1 was the 11th best-selling comic book in June 2023.

Hannah Rose of Comic Book Resources wrote, "Black Panther #1 is a subtle and humane study of a changing character and shifting fictional landscape. Although a slow burn in turns of action, and offers questions with no easy answers, this issue is worth checking out precisely for those reasons." Charlie Ridgely of ComicBook.com gave Black Panther #1 a grade of 5 out of 5, stating, "If a king has no kingdom, what does he become? That's one of the central questions that writer Eve L. Ewing sets out to answer in her exciting new Black Panther series at Marvel Comics. This new take on the iconic character strips away so much of what we've always thought the Black Panther to be, focusing on who T'Challa is at his core. The result, at least in this week's debut issue, is a fantastic exploration of a character readers have known for years, making him seem both brand new and entirely familiar."

Bryan Edward Hill writes Ultimate Black Panther with art by Stefano Caselli, which takes place in an alternate continuity from the mainstream Marvel universe. The comic is about Black Panther defending the continent of Africa from the deities Khonshu and Ra. Hill said "I was invigorated by this opportunity because in addition to my immense respect for Jonathan Hickman's detailed storytelling, the idea of shepherding this bold new take on Black Panther in this event gives me a platform to do the kind of broad, epic, storytelling I've always wanted to do in comics. My influences range from the history of Black Panther comics, to Ryan Coogler's incredible work with the recent films, to Frank Herbert's world-building capacity of Dune. This is something people won't expect, in the best of ways, and full credit to Marvel and editors Wil Moss and Michelle Marchese for bringing this creative possibility to me."

Characterization

Fictional character biography

T'Challa is born to T'Chaka, the Black Panther, and Queen N'Yami. N'Yami dies in childbirth, and T'Chaka's second wife, Ramonda, gives birth to Shuri. Ramonda vanishes shortly after. T'Challa defeats his uncle during the a ritual event and becomes Black Panther. As an adolescent, T'Challa goes on a walkabout manhood ritual and meets a young orphan in Cairo, Ororo Munroe (who will later become Storm). He is sent abroad and graduates from Oxford University. Klaw then invades Wakanda and murders T'Chaka, but is subsequently driven away by T'Challa.

T'Challa invites the Fantastic Four to Wakanda, then attacks and attempts to neutralize them individually, to test himself as preparation to battle Klaw, who has replaced his shattered right hand with a sonic weapon. After the ruler makes proper amends to the Four, they befriend and help T'Challa, and he in turn aids them against the supervillain the Psycho-Man. T'Challa later joins the Avengers, on Captain America's recommendation.

After receiving numerous urgent official letters requesting him to return to his increasingly troubled homeland, the Panther leaves his active Avengers membership to return to a Wakanda on the brink of civil war. T'Challa eventually proposes and becomes engaged to Monica Lynne, though the couple never marry.

Killmonger then defeats T'Challa in ritual combat, thus inheriting the role of Black Panther, but falls into a coma upon eating the heart-shaped herb. T'Challa preserves his rival's life rather than allowing him to die.

Later, T'Challa finds he has a brain aneurysm like his alternate future self, and succumbs to instability and hallucinations. After his mental state almost causes tribal warfare, the Panther hands power to his council and hides in New York City. While recovering, he trains a police officer, Kasper Cole, to be the new Black Panther. T'Challa eventually recovers, Cole becomes White Tiger, and T'Challa returns to Wakanda.

He marries Storm. They tour the world. Subsequently, Black Panther faces Erik Killmonger, defeating him with assistance from Monica Rambeau (a.k.a. Pulsar). Attacked by the forces of fellow Cabal member Doctor Doom, T'Challa is left comatose. His sister Shuri is trained as the next Black Panther, with the mantle passing onto her officially after T'Challa awakens from his coma and attempts to recover from his injuries. In the aftermath, T'Challa loses all of his enhanced attributes given to him by being the Panther totem. As a result, he works with his sorcerer, Zawavari, to accumulate a replacement.

Matt Murdock (the superhero Daredevil) asks T'Challa to replace him as guardian of Hell's Kitchen, giving T'Challa a chance to discover himself and explore his new limits while Murdock takes a leave of absence.

Upon his return to Wakanda, T'Challa serves as a second to his sister, Shuri, who remains the kingdom's active ruler. In preparation for an upcoming attack on Wakanda, the Panther Goddess returns T'Challa's abilities. Empowered by the Phoenix, Namor destroys Wakanda with a massive tidal wave. Returning to help, Storm is stunned when the Panther informs her that their marriage has been annulled.

After witnessing an alternate Earth over Wakanda being destroyed by the Black Swan, T'Challa reforms the Illuminati—with Beast replacing the now-deceased Charles Xavier—to confront the threat of the Incursions, parallel universes colliding with each other to the destruction of both. As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel, Black Panther is a member of the Ultimates.

Black Panther represents Wakanda on the Alpha Flight Space Program's Board of Governors. During Hydra's reign over America led by Arnim Zola, Baron Zemo and Steve Rogers, Panther is captured for opposing this regime, and brought into a containing room. After the defeat of Supreme Hydra Steve Rogers, Black Panther establishes his quest to go across the universe with his people, and found an Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda on Planet Bast, located in the Benhazin Star System.

Personality and motivations

"Black Panther" is a title that is partly hereditary, but also must be validated in combat. In Hudlin's series, a US government representative describes the tradition as a "spiritually-based warrior cult," and interprets the position as "sort of like being Pope, president and head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all at once."

T'Challa is a shrewd political actor whose main concern is the survival and prosperity of his nation, Wakanda. He is extraordinarily skilled in combat, but often applies deception and strategy to achieve his goals. While he often works independently or alongside the Avengers in order to achieve the collective good, he also has the vast resources of Wakanda at his disposal. He is cautious about his personal relationships, and his romantic connections are characterized by strict monogamous commitment. While he views his primary responsibility as his own nation-state, he also has some feeling of connection and loyalty to the larger African diaspora and at times is involved in political and social efforts to improve the circumstances of African Americans. In Ta-Nahesi Coates's characterization, T'Challa has an adventurous spirit and does not actually enjoy the burden of being king.

Powers, abilities and equipment

Black Panther has acute senses as well as extraordinary "speed, strength, reflexes, durability, healing, and stamina." These capacities partly come from his own training and partly from the properties of a Wakandan heart-shaped herb. The relationship between the heart-shaped herb and Wakanda's vibranium resources is unclear.

Black Panther has "peak human" athletic abilities and is one of the most effective fighters in hand-to-hand combat in the Marvel Universe. In his first published appearance, he defeats all of the members of the Fantastic Four single-handedly. For decades after, he was represented as much less formidable, with no distinct powers. Christopher Priest believes this was one of the reasons why the character was under-utilized.

In his contemporary incarnation, he has an armored, bulletproof suit with razor-sharp claws in its finger gauntlets. His mask includes communications equipment, his eye lenses can read ultraviolet and infrared signals, his suit can switch to a camouflage mode, and he has vibranium lacing in his soles to absorb impact. In addition, he has special armor for unusual occasions. Black Panther is unique among superheroes in that he generally has the resources of an entire nation supporting him.

Themes and motifs

Racism and Black pride

While the early writers of the story were white men, the subsequent authors Priest, Hudlin, and Coates are all Black American men. These writers used the character also to comment on US racism and stereotypes. For example, a cognitive psychologist has argued that Priest's depiction of assumptions made by white characters in his stories are an early media representation of microaggressions. This is particularly evinced in the character of Everett Ross, who is constantly misunderstanding his experiences of Africa and Black people because of his unconscious prejudices. Particularly in the Reginald Hudlin period, Black Panther is positioned as a uniquely Black superhero, representing the best and most powerful aspects of contemporary Black masculinity.

Colonialism and decolonization

The stories also explore imaginary approaches to the circumstances, opportunities, and difficulties of small, resource-rich nations in the Global South. Black Panther's character and his fictional kingdom, Wakanda, constitute an early example of what was later called Afrofuturism. As Scott Bukatman writes, Wakanda is "an African nation never conquered, never colonized, never subservient. Small wonder Wakanda was foundational to the ethos and aesthetic later labeled Afrofuturist." Black Panther's first story also establishes that Wakanda is in possession of a valuable natural resource (vibranium) and that various powers wish to violate Wakanda's sovereignty in order to obtain that resource. While Lee and Kirby disavowed political motivation, historians of popular culture have commented on the coincidence of Black Panther's creation at the same time as Third World revolutionary movements and US Black Power organizations, such as the Black Panther Party and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Adilifu Nama reads T'Challa as "an idealized composite of third-world Black revolutionaries and the anticolonialist movement of the 1950s that they represented," and compares him to Jomo Kenyatta, Patrice Lumumba, and Kwame Nkrumah. However, while many third-world revolutionaries believed in some version of socialism, Wakanda is portrayed as a monarchy. Moreover, while African independence movements were usually skeptical of US national interests they perceived as imperialist, Black Panther is a friendly ally of Captain America and other American superheroes. Martin Lund suggests that the early appearances of Black Panther are partly meant to suggest a clearly anti-communist model of independent African state, to calm Western anxieties about decolonization. Later writers of Black Panther comics such as Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay and Nnedi Okorafor, in the 2010s and '20s, explicitly make the ideal of monarchy problematic and strive to portray a more democratic and inclusive vision of African nationalism. Coates and Gay also emphasize the agency of women and lesbian characters.

Challenges and transformation of the human body

The series often emphasizes the vulnerability of the human body, or, conversely, a technologically armored heroic body. In Billy Graham's illustrations for Don McGregor's 1970s Black Panther stories, his costume is often destroyed and he is frequently depicted as resisting or overcoming immense exertion or suffering. Todd Steven Burroughs describes McGregor's rendition of the Panther as "a kind of warrior-priest who could endure suffering as well as any Hindu yogi." In contrast, Priest's and Hudlin's runs of Black Panther depict him as extraordinarily powerful, with an armored, bulletproof suit that is rarely damaged. In addition, the later version of the Panther suit includes razor-sharp claws.

War

Black Panther comics often depict war. Sometimes this is portrayed as heroic, such as instances when Wakanda protects its freedom and independence, but in other instances war is depicted as random and cruel. For example, in Don McGregor's "Panther's Rage," the narrator intones, "War not only affects its perpetrators and its participants. It ravages all it touches, and scars much past that. Innocents die alongside warriors, and some warriors are as innocent as the civilians whose fates await the outcome of the conflict." This reflects an awareness of the various contemporary African wars. The comics also sometimes depict the African wars that affect Wakanda as a product of labyrinthine rivalries among different world powers. For example, in Priest's series the villain Achebe is described as a refugee from a "war instigated by Latin American terrorists who were financed by Russian mob money – all of this courtesy of rogue factions within the U.S. Intelligence community," with the intent of destabilizing Wakanda. The comics also depict economic warfare. For example, in Priest's series, Killlmonger crashes the Wakandan economy by deflating the value of vibranium and devaluing the currency; T'Challa responds by nationalizing foreign interests.

Supporting characters

Allies

Black Panther draws from the combat skills of his bodyguards, the Dora Milaje. When facing cosmic threats, he works together with the Avengers, and has a particularly respectful relationship with Captain America. He also works together with the Crew, which includes Luke Cage and Misty Knight. T'Challa also sometimes works together with an agent of the Central Intelligence Agency, Everett Ross, who is generally hapless.

Other Black Panthers

The mantle of the Black Panther is passed down from generation to generation among the rulers of Wakanda In the diegetic world of the character, there have been thousands of Black Panthers. In the comics, these include a Stone-Age Black Panther named Mosi, an 11th-century incarnation named Nehanda, and a nineteenth-century version named M'Teli. During World War II, the Panther was named T'Chanda, who first defeated Captain America and then allied with him to fight the Nazis.

T'Challa's father is T'Chaka, who appeared for the first time in Fantastic Four #53 (August 1966) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The eldest son of King T'Chanda and Queen Nanali, T'Chaka inherits the throne and the title of the Black Panther on his father's death by being helped in his monarch duties by his younger brother and trusted adviser S'Yan. After having married a woman named N'Yami, believing she cannot have children, he adopts a child with her, Hunter; however, she later becomes pregnant and dies giving birth to her first child, T'Challa; from the relationship with a woman of another tribe T'Chaka then has a second son, Jakarra, and finally remarries with Ramonda, with whom he has his only daughter, Shuri. When Ramonda subsequently disappears into nothingness, leading him to believe that he has been abandoned, he raises his children alone. To protect the kingdom, T'Chaka instituted a policy of strong isolationism, but in the course of his life he often collaborated with agents of the U.S. government. He is killed by Ulysses Klaw after having surprised him when he was trying to illegally extract vibranium in his kingdom.

In Black Panther vol. 3 #15 (February 2000), Erik Killmonger challenges and beats T'Challa in a duel for the throne, overthrowing him as king of Wakanda and taking on the role as the Black Panther. He becomes comatose after attempting to ingest the heart-shaped herb to acquire the Black Panther's powers, as he is not of royal blood. Killmonger's time as king is short-lived however, as he is killed by Monica Rambeau during T'Challa's attack to reclaim Wakanda.

When T'Challa ends up in a coma because of Doctor Doom, Shuri becomes his substitute as the Black Panther and queen of Wakanda which, after the rise of her half-brother to "king of the dead" creates, for the first time in history, two avatars of the Panther Goddess.

Romantic interests

In the Don McGregor period, T'Challa's romantic partner was Monica Lynne, an African-American singer. He also had a long-standing relationship with Ororo Munroe, also known as Storm of the X-Men, and they were married for years. Since their divorce, they maintain a close and intimate relationship.

Villains

T'Challa has frequently battled Erik Killmonger, his rival for the throne of Wakanda. He is also frequently in conflict with Doctor Doom and Namor.

Other versions

A number of alternate universes and alternate timelines in Marvel Comics publications allow writers to introduce variations on Black Panther, in which the character's origins, behavior, and morality differ from the mainstream setting. In some stories, someone other than T'Challa is Black Panther.

Age of Ultron

In the 2013 Age of Ultron miniseries, Black Panther contacts the Fantastic Four and informs them that Ultron has invaded Earth with an army of Ultron Sentinels. Black Panther was later seen with Red Hulk and Taskmaster in Chicago spying on some Ultron Sentinels. When Taskmaster takes out a Sentinel that was sneaking up on him, alerting the other Sentinels, Red Hulk holds off the Sentinels while Black Panther and Taskmaster flee. During Red Hulk's fight against the Sentinels, the building they were in collapses resulting in Black Panther falling several stories and breaking his neck, killing him instantly.

Amalgam Comics

The Bronze Tiger is the ruler of Wakanda and is named B'Nchalla; he is an amalgamation of the Bronze Tiger (DC) and the Black Panther (Marvel). A similar character (or perhaps the same character) called the Bronze Panther (also an amalgamation of the Bronze Tiger (DC) and the Black Panther (Marvel)) appears later.

Avengers Forever

In the 1998–1999 limited series Avengers Forever, Captain America and Goliath visit an alternate future timeline where Martian invaders have ravaged the Earth. An aged Black Panther leads this reality's version of the Avengers, who consist of Jocasta, Living Lightning, Killraven, Crimson Dynamo and Thundra.

Civil War

In an alternate reality where the Civil War between Iron Man and Captain America never ended, the Black Panther was killed alongside Maria Hill after activating Prison 42's self-destruct mechanism. He is succeeded by his son, Azari, who takes on the Black Panther name. It is later revealed that the Black Panther who destroyed Prison 42 was actually Queen Veranke of the shape-shifting alien race the Skrulls, who had stolen T'Challa's identity to manipulate and prolong the Civil War to suit her own needs.

Earth-355

T'Chaka is the Coal Tiger, Sersi kills the Avengers, and the Coal Tiger is the only survivor.

Earth-6606

T'Challa is Chieftain Justice, a Captain Britain Corps member, in Excalibur #44 (1991).

Earth X

In the alternate universe of Earth X, T'Challa has been affected by the mutative event that drives the plot. Like most of humanity, he is mutated; in this case to become a humanoid black panther. He is entrusted with the Cosmic Cube by Captain America, who knows that T'Challa would be the only one to resist using it and to never give it back if asked. In fact, Captain America does ask for it back and T'Challa is forced to refuse.

Exiles

An alternate version of the Black Panther, called simply the "Panther", is drafted into the interdimensional superhero team the Exiles. The Panther is the son of T'Challa and Storm and named T'Chaka, after his grandfather. Originating from Earth-1119, he was ambushed by Klaw while examining some ruins. Caught in Klaw's blast, the Panther was plucked out of time and placed on the team. Unlike the stoic 616-Black Panther, The Panther is a wisecracking flirt. After his assumed death on Earth-1119, his sister took up the mantle of the Black Panther.

An alternate T'Challa later appears in the third Exiles series. His universe is still in the Wild West and he goes by King. He is a gunslinger equipped with vibranium clothing and bullets.

Fox Kids

The Black Panther appears in issues #1 and 6–7 of Marvel Comics/Fox Kids comic book series based on the TV show The Avengers: United They Stand.

Infinity Wars

In Infinity Wars, the Ghost Rider is fused with the Black Panther. Prince of Wakanda T'Challa was an arrogant boy who, because of his conflict with his father, was exiled from his place. He went to America where he found Jericho Simpson, who became his new father figure and gave T'Challa a new name as Johnny Blaze. During a stunt performance, he sensed his father T'Chaka dying and got distracted, which resulted in his own death. He was then revived by Zarathos, half-sister of Bast and offered to him powers in exchange of eating the souls of sinners. At first, he was reluctant, but when battling his father's killers, he accepted the offer, became the Ghost Panther and battled Erik Killraven (a fusion of Erik Killmonger and Killraven).

Marvel 2099

In the Marvel 2099 continuity, a greatly weakened Wakanda is soon to be governed by its princess, Okusana. Fearing that she is not ready, she requests Doom's help in resurrecting Thandaza, her grandfather and a former Black Panther. Doom (who claims to have agreed to the proposal out of respect for T'Challa) and the Wakandan scientists revive Thandaza in a cyberbetic body made from vibranium, but the plan goes awry when Mkhalali, the current Panther Guard, opens fire on Thandaza, believing his resurrection to be an abomination. The attack throws off the calibrations and leaves Thandaza in a maddened state and constant pain, causing him to go on a bloody rampage. Doom is ultimately forced to kill Thandaza, who thanks him for ending his suffering.

In the unified Marvel 2099 reality of Earth-2099, T'Shamba is the Black Panther. He appears as a member of the 2099 version of the New Avengers. During the fight with the 2099 version of the Masters of Evil, Black Panther lost his hand when it was sliced by Melter's melting ray. Despite what happened to his hand, Black Panther managed to defeat Melter.

Marvel Knights 2099

Black Panther was featured in the Marvel Knights 2099 one shots, which were not tied to the main 2099 continuity. A new Black Panther, K'Shamba, rose to fight and thwart the mounting invasions by the successor of Doom, named Lucian. While the victory over the new Doom appeared triumphant, the new Wakandan king was ultimately revealed to be a puppet of Doom.

Marvel Mangaverse

T'Challa appears in Marvel Mangaverse Volume 2 as a man with a pet panther. When summoning the spirits, T'Challa and his panther combine to become the Black Panther. He also became the Falcon. This Black Panther found himself the object of affection of the Mangaverse version of Tigra. T'Challa's sister, T'Channa, reveals herself to be this universe's Doctor Doom.

Marvel Zombies

The Black Panther is, for the most part, one of the few uninfected superheroes in the alternate-universe series Marvel Zombies, where he is kept as a food supply for the Zombie Giant-Man, who keeps the Panther imprisoned and cuts off various limbs so that he can maintain his intelligence via a ready access to fresh meat without infecting the Panther with the zombie "virus". Despite having lost half of his right arm and his left foot, the Panther escapes — with the severed head of zombified superheroine the Wasp in tow — and joins forces with the mutant group the Acolytes. While with the Acolytes, T'Challa briefly talks with his Earth-616 counterpart, where he expresses surprise at his marriage to Storm, but offers him all the information he can provide about the zombie plague. Decades later, T'Challa has married one of the Acolytes, Lisa Hendricks, and they have a son, with Forge having provided T'Challa with artificial limbs to compensate for his injuries. Facing retirement, the Panther is stabbed and critically wounded by an agent of an Acolyte splinter group, and the Wasp — now a willing ally after having lost her zombie hunger — zombifies the Panther to grant him continued existence. With the Wasp's help, he survives to the post-hunger stage himself and continues to lead his people, despite his status. Further internal betrayal leads the Black Panther and many of his allies to be tossed through dimensions. He ends up involved with another Earth that is threatened by the zombie virus. His attempts to save this new planet fail and he is destroyed, leaving only one hand displayed as a trophy by his enemies.

MC2

In the MC2 universe, the Black Panther has a son named T'Chaka II, who joined the A-Next as the Coal Tiger.

Mutant X

In the Mutant X reality, the Black Panther had the appearance of a humanoid black panther. He is among the second wave of heroes who died fighting the Beyonder.

Sky Spider/Vibranium Man/Star Panther

On an unnamed alternate Earth where King Killmonger conquered Wakanda and Asgard, one baby version of T'Challa was placed into a rocket and was shot into outer space to protect him from being killed by King Killmonger. He landed on the planet Chandilar of the Shi'ar Empire. Years later, T'Challa was operating as Sky Spider where he saved an alien from King Killmonger's mercenaries called the War Panthers after the alien got thrown out a window. Sky Spider claims that the War Panthers are marauders and mercenaries who do not deserve the Panther name. Sky Spider fights the War Panthers as King Killmonger attacks the village from his ship. Many tomorrows later, T'Challa is on the trail of King Killmonger as Vibranium Man complete with the Dora Milaje A.I. and attacks a War Panthers ship. When he finds the one that King Killmonger is on, Vibranium Man goes on the attack as he claims that his suit flows with the blood and spirit of the fallen Wakandans. King Killmonger called him a second-rate Tony Stark as he mentioned that his armor was forged by the gods that fell before his axe as he throws Vibranium Man off his ship quoting "Wakanda Nevermore". Three days later, Robbie Reyes, his Deathlok companion, and Ant-Man of Earth-818 find Vibranium Man in a solid Vibranium cocoon in an active star. After the cocoon is removed from the star, T'Challa comes out with the powers of the "white-hot heavens" as he takes the name of Star Panther where he will use his new abilities to kill King Killmonger.

When the Council of Red attack Avengers Tower in the God Quarry, Star Panther took on the members who were giant size and slayed most of them. After the remaining Council of Red members were either slain by the arrival of Old Man Phoenix and the granddaughters of King Thor, Doom Supreme arrived at the God Quarry with Doom the Living Planet and the Doctor Doom variants loyal to him. Star Panther assisted Old Man Phoenix in attacking Doom Supreme.

Ultimate Marvel

In the alternate reality Ultimate Marvel imprint, the Black Panther is T'Challa Udaku, a young man who is experimented on in the Weapon X program before being liberated by Nick Fury.

T'Challa, the younger son of King T'Chaka of Wakanda, is severely injured during the "Trial of the Panther" from which the protector of the nation is selected. His older brother M'Baku finds T'Challa bloodied, mute, and near death but derisively calls him a fool for attempting the trial. Later, M'Baku adds that he, not T'Challa, should have taken the trial. Angry that his father has decided to share Wakanda's technology in exchange for America's help in saving T'Challa's life, M'Baku leaves the kingdom.

To save T'Challa, T'Chaka turns him over to the Weapon X program. Over a year later, a healthy T'Challa, in his full Black Panther garb, has enhanced speed, strength and night vision and a healing ability. Additionally, he can summon short, cat-like adamantium claws from his knuckles by balling his hands into fists. T'Chaka becomes outraged upon learning that S.H.I.E.L.D. (who had shut down Weapon X and freed T'Challa) now considers his son an asset of the U.S. and S.H.I.E.L.D. He subsequently sends M'Baku a letter, claiming that M'Baku, not T'Challa, is the titular "favorite son", and he implores M'Baku to return.

Fury has Captain America train and mentor the Panther, who reveals his damaged throat. Captain America, sympathizing for the Panther's plight, encourages Fury to place the Panther in the superhero team the Ultimates. This turns out to be a ruse in which Captain America impersonates the Panther, allowing T'Challa to escape and return home to Wakanda.

After Ultimatum, the Black Panther joins the New Ultimates.

Ultimate Universe

During the "Ultimate Invasion" storyline, Maker visited Earth-6160 and remade it into his own image. T'Challa is the ruler of Wakanda who has Okoye as his queen. Following a nightmare, T'Challa goes to the Citadel of Knowledge where his father T'Chaka works. When T'Chaka assumes that T'Challa had another nightmare, he claims to T'Challa that the Gods are trying to speak to him. He is told by T'Challa to speak with the Divine Mother of the Voduk-Khan who wants T'Challa's counsel. Arriving at the Temple of the Vodu-Khan, T'Challa meets with Matron Imala who states that enemies will be in Wakanda's midst. At the Royal Court of Wakanda, T'Challa is told by Faxul and Anon about Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu who make up the duo Moon Knight. All T'Challa and Okoye can recommend at the time is a reconnaissance mission to see if they are a threat. During Wakanda's annual Celebration of Life, a female suicide bomber working for Lord Khonshu and Lord Ra crashes the event to take out T'Challa only for T'Chaka to push T'Challa out of the way and take the blast. Upon T'Challa becoming Black Panther and seeing his father's burning remains, he gives the orders to call Okoye, Shuri, and the Vodu-Khan as he quotes "Our enemies call themselves Moon Knight. Wakanda is at war".

In light of what happened to T'Chaka, T'Challa is told by Okoye about different Wakandans being suspected of being collaborators of Moon Knight. He states to Okoye that he will speak with the Vodu-Khan. At the Temple of the Vodu-Khan, Matron Imala tells T'Challa that a woman of light will come to him as their fates are intertwined. She will give him an heir. Outside the perimeters of Wakanda, the Dora Milaje are holding their own against Moon Knight's forces as Shuri tells T'Challa that it's time to turn the tide. Black Panther uses his vehicle to fell the attackers. In the war room, T'Challa learns from Shuri that Moon Knight is targeting resources. T'Challa states that someone is feeding Moon Knight information as they are not in the war room. Faxul and Anon reveal that Moon Knight is moving their resources to an area that the migratory animals avoid as T'Challa states that he will go there alone. When Faxul and Anon state that they are T'Challa's spies and should do the job, T'Challa states that they are needed in Wakanda to keep his family safe. While Faxul will protect Okoye, Anon will protect Shuri. As Black Panther arrives at the location, his ship crashes and he is ambushed by some soldiers. Just then, lightning from the sky strikes the soldiers as Black Panther sees his flying rescue who he claims is the "woman made of light" that Matron Imala has foretold of.

Following the rescue, Black Panther is taught by Killmonger how to hunt for his own food as seen when Killmonger kills a gazelle and coordinates Black Panther how to harvest the meat while leaving the carcass behind. At the campfire, Black Panther learns that Killmonger used to live in Wakanda before he "got tired of living in paradise while people who looked like me suffered in the world beyond it". To show Black Panther something with help from Ororo Munroe (who goes by the name of Storm and Wind-Rider), he had his head covered with a hood. Upon arrival being told to take the hood off, they arrive at a cave where they meet Ororo in an underground cave of Vibranium. Black Panther is shown a large green orb that Killmonger and Ororo don't want to fall into the enemy hands.

Black Panther returns to Wakanda and saves Shuri from a Moon Knight operative that used to be a Dora Milaje. He states that Lord Khonshu has infected her and that the Vodu-Khan will probe her mind. Just then, the Moon Knight operative is reduced to a skeleton in front of them. As Okoye confronts Black Panther about why he was away for a long time, he tells her that Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu think that they are gods. At the Temple of the Sacred Dead the next morning, T'Challa introduces Shuri and Okoye to Killmonger and Storm.

Shuri is shown a large metal orb that is not Vibranium as T'Challa asks Storm to use her abilities on it. Once that was done, a bunch of plants emerge from it causing it to be incinerated. T'Challa considers its properties to be alchemical as it enhances life. With Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu being silent, T'Challa advises Shuri not to inform anyone about it as he needs to speak to the Vodu-Khan about it. At the temple of the Vodu-Khan, T'Challa speaks with Matron Imala about what he has learned. Matron Imala states that the large green orb spreads life like a plague and has been blind to all of existence. Then she states that Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu want it for its power and that she has seen what is to come. Black Panther is told not to let the large green orb fall into Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu's hands.

Cultural impact and legacy

Black Panther became widely popular since the release of the film Black Panther in 2018. Many sources have commended the significance of the character, particularly with regard to the representation of Black people. For example, Anubhav Chaudhry of Sportskeeda described Black Panther as a "powerful, regal, and intelligent black hero," writing, "The introduction of the Black Panther in 1966 marked a pivotal moment in the history of comic books, opening the doors for diverse characters to enter the mainstream." Laura Bradley of Vanity Fair included Black Panther in their "Stan Lee's Most Iconic Characters" list, describing him as the "first superhero of African descent in the comics world." Fred Bluden of Screen Rant asserts, "As a technological genius, diplomat, statesman, and superhero, Black Panther helped to encourage the creation of other prominent black superheroes who were more than stereotypes. As a character, and a cultural milestone, his importance cannot be overstated." The A.V. Club ranked Black Panther 1st in their "100 Best Marvel Characters" list. Joseph J. Darowski, in the introduction to The Ages of Black Panther: Essays on the King of Wakanda, argues that "The Black Panther's place in popular culture history is secured even as it is constantly evolving." Darren Franich of Entertainment Weekly ranked Black Panther 26th in their "Let's Rank Every Avenger Ever" list, writing, "The Black Panther has one of the most interesting backstory/mythologies in comic books." Wizard Magazine ranked Black Panther 79th in their "200 Greatest Comic Book Character of All Time" list.

In 2020, following the death of Chadwick Boseman, Disneyland unveiled a mural at Anaheim's Downtown representing the actor giving the Wakanda salute to a young fan wearing a Black Panther mask. In 2021, a wax figure of T'Challa / Black Panther was unveiled at Madame Tussauds London, inspired by the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) incarnation of the character. In 2022, BuyCostumes.com announced that T'Challa's Black Panther costume was the 8th most popular Halloween costume for kids.

In other media

In 2018, a film adaptation titled Black Panther was released, starring Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa and directed by Ryan Coogler. Black Panther was met with positive reviews from film critics. It became the highest-grossing solo superhero film of all time, the third-highest-grossing film of the MCU and superhero film overall, the ninth-highest-grossing film of all time, and the highest-grossing film by an African-American director. It is the fifth MCU film and 33rd overall to surpass $1 billion, and the second-highest-grossing film of 2018. It made history as the first superhero film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Chadwick Boseman also portrayed T'Challa / Black Panther in other media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. T'Challa appears in the live-action films Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). The actor voices three alternate timeline versions of T'Challa in season one of the Disney+ animated series What If...?, which were released posthumously. In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), T'Challa's sister Shuri (portrayed by Letitia Wright) takes over the mantle of the Black Panther.

Black Panther's first animated appearance was in Fantastic Four, voiced by Keith David. In 2010, he later appeared in a self-titled animated TV series on Black Entertainment Television, voiced by Djimon Hounsou. This series was a literal adaptation of Reginald Hudlin's arc of the comic series. Subsequently, Black Panther appeared as a supporting character in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by James C. Mathis III. and Avengers Assemble, voiced again by James C. Mathis III. The fifth season of the show is named "Black Panther's Quest", with the narrative focus on Black Panther, Shuri, and Wakanda rather than the Avengers. The season was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con, and Daisy Lightfoot provided the voices for Shuri. For young children, the Black Panther appears in Spidey and His Amazing Friends, voiced by Tru Valentino. In 2023, Disney announced a new animated series called Eyes of Wakanda that will tell the stories of T'Challa's ancestors.

Black Panther has also featured in several video games, such as Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, voiced by Phil LaMarr.

See also

• African characters in comics
• American comic books

Notes

1. Yoruba is one of the official languages of Wakanda.

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Bibliography

• Bukatman, Scott (2022). Black Panther. University of Texas Press. ISBN 978-1-4773-2535-3.
• Burroughs, Todd Steven (2018). Marvel's Black Panther: A Comic Book Biography from Stan Lee to Ta-Nehisi Coates. Diasporic Africa Press. ISBN 978-1-937306-64-9.
• Culver, Dennis (2018). Black Panther: The Illustrated History of a King. Insight Comics. ISBN 978-1-68383-185-3.
• Los Angeles Times Special Edition: Black Panther (2023).
• McGregor, Don, Rich Buckler, Billy Graham, Stan Lee, and Jack Kirby. Black Panther. Penguin Classics. ISBN 978-0-14-313580-7.
• Priest, Christopher. Black Panther: The Complete Collection: Volume 1, 2016.
• Wiacek, Stephen "Win" (2018). Black Panther: The Ultimate Guide. DK. ISBN 978-1-4654-6626-6.
• Wolk, Douglas (2021). All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told. Penguin Press.

External links

• The Origin of Black Panther and Wakanda
• Black Panther (character) series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database

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