He’s a monarch. He’s an Avenger. He wears a suit equipped with vibranium claws. He’s the leader and defender of Wakanda. He’s one of the standout characters in Captain America: Civil War (and had the warmest costume on set). He’s starring in his own solo film, directed by Ryan Coogler, on July 6, 2018. Above all else, he is T’Challa of the Panther Tribe, better known as Black Panther.
On May 6, Captain America: Civil War opens in theaters across the United States, thus officially ending the dark chapter in our nation’s history in which Black Panther was not yet a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But, apart from the fact that he is played by Chadwick Boseman and seems to have a penchant for drop-kicking the Winter Soldier in the face, most people know very little about him. And that’s a crying shame, because Black Panther is a seminal part of comic book history.
Created in 1966 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Panther made his first appearance in Fantastic Four #52 in a story where he lured the Fantastic Four to Wakanda, the highly advanced African nation over which he rules, and promptly thrashed them into submission… before asking for their help. It was an auspicious debut that launched a character who would not only become a mainstay in the Marvel canon, but the first black superhero to be the protagonist of his own monthly comic book. In addition to being a skilled martial artist, a deft diplomat, and the ruler of one of the most technologically advanced nations on Earth, T’Challa is a talented physicist, chemist, and hunter. In the years that followed, T’Challa would go on to become an Avenger, a member of the Illuminati, the King of the Dead, and so much more. In short, he kicks ass, takes names, and has the brains and brawn to back it up. And on today’s episode of The Dan Cave, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Black Panther.
What are your favorite Black Panther stories? What do you hope to see from the Black Panther solo film? Let us know in the comments below.
Sources: Marvel, Marvel Wikia, Polygon, Comic Vine
Need More Panther Posts?
- Here are 6 Black Panther comics you NEED to read.
- Check out this badass jewelry inspired by the characters.
- And finally, did you know black panthers aren’t technically a species?
Images: Disney/Marvel
Dan Casey is the senior editor of Nerdist and the author of books about Star Wars and the Avengers. Follow him on Twitter (@Osteoferocious).
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