Black Panther (character)

Black Panther
File:Jungleaction23.png Jungle Action #23 (Sept. 1976) Cover art by John Byrne and Dan Adkins.
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
Team affiliations	Fantastic Four Avengers Defenders Fantastic Force
Partnerships	Storm
Notable aliases	Luke Charles, Black Leopard (alternate translation of his Wakandan title), His Majesty The King of Wakanda, Mr. Okonkwo
Abilities	Senses and physical attributes have been enhanced to near-superhuman levels by the heart-shaped herb Genius level intellect Skilled combatant, gymnast, hunter, and tracker Wields vibranium uniform, boots, and equipment Wields retractable anti-metal claws

The Black Panther (T'Challa) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and penciller-co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966). He is the first black superhero in mainstream American comics, debuting several years before such early African-American superheroes as Marvel's the Falcon and Luke Cage, and DC Comics' Tyroc, Black Lightning and John Stewart.

Concept and creation

Name

The Black Panther's name predates the October 1966 founding of the Black Panther Party, though not the black panther logo of the party's predecessor, the Lowndes County Freedom Organization, nor the segregated World War II Black Panthers Tank Battalion. He is the first Black modern superhero in mainstream comic books; few black heroes were created before him, none with actual super powers. These included Waku, Prince of the Bantu, who starred in his own feature in the omnibus series Jungle Tales, from Marvel's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics and the Dell Comics Western character Lobo, the first Black man to star in his own comic book. Previous non-caricatured Black supporting characters in comics include Daily Bugle managing editor Joseph "Robbie" Robertson in The Amazing Spider-Man, and U.S. Army infantry private Gabriel Jones of Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos.

Publication history

Following his debut in Fantastic Four #52-53 (July-Aug. 1966) and subsequent guest appearance in Fantastic Four Annual #5 (1967) and with Captain America in Tales of Suspense #97-99 (Jan.-March 1968), the Black Panther sojourned from the fictional African nation of Wakanda to New York City, New York to join the titular American superhero team in The Avengers #52 (May 1968), appearing in that comic for the next few years. During his time with the Avengers, he made solo guest-appearances in three issues of Daredevil, and fought Doctor Doom in Astonishing Tales #6-7 (June & Aug. 1971), in that supervillain's short-lived starring feature. He later returned in a guest-appearance capacity in Fantastic Four #119 (Feb. 1972) during which he briefly tried using the name Black Leopard to avoid connotations invoking the Black-militant political party the Black Panthers.

He received his first starring feature with Jungle Action #5 (July 1973), a reprint of the Panther-centric story in the superhero-team comic The Avengers #62 (March 1969). A new series 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 #6-24 (Sept. 1973 - Nov. 1976).

One now-common innovation McGregor pioneered was that of the self-contained, multi-issue story arc. The first, "Panther's Rage", ran through the first 13 issues, initially as 13- to 15-page stories. Starting with Jungle Action #14, they were expanded to 18- to 19-page stories; there was additionally a 17-page epilogue. Two decades later, writer Christopher Priest's 1998 series The Black Panther utilized Erik Killmonger, Venomm, and other characters introduced in this arc.

Critic Jason Sacks has called the arc "Marvel's first graphic novel":

[T]here were real character arcs in Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four [comics] 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.

The second and final arc, "Panther vs. the Klan", ran as mostly 17-page stories in Jungle Action #19-24 (Jan.-Nov. 1976), except for issue #23, a reprint of Daredevil #69 (Oct. 1970), in which the Black Panther guest-starred. The subject matter of the Ku Klux Klan was considered controversial in the Marvel offices at the time, creating difficulties for the creative team. The arc ended mid-story and Jungle Action folded, with Jack Kirby—newly returned to Marvel after having decamped to rival DC Comics for a time—immediately writing and drawing the new series Black Panther, which ran 15 issues (Jan. 1977 - May 1979).

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

A four-issue miniseries, Black Panther vol. 2 (July-Oct. 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.-Dec. 1989). He later teamed with artist Dwayne Turner in the square-bound miniseries Black Panther: Panther's Prey (Sept. 1990 - March 1991).

Writer Christopher Priest's and penciller Mark Texeira's 1998 series The Black Panther vol. 3 utilized Erik Killmonger, Venomm, and other characters introduced in "Panther's Rage", together with new characters such as State Department attorney Everett Ross, the Black Panther's adopted brother, Hunter, and Panther's protégé, Queen Divine Justice. The Priest-Texeira series, which was under the Marvel Knights imprint in its first year, earned critical plaudits, but sales of the comic were never high. Priest said the creation of character Ross contributed heavily to his decision 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," adding that in his opinion, the Black Panther had been misused in the years after his creation.

The last 13 issues (#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 - Nov. 2008). It was initially written by filmmaker Reginald Hudlin (through issue #38) and penciled by John Romita, Jr. (through #6). Hudlin said 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.

Black Panther vol. 5 launched in February 2009, with Hudlin, again scripting, introducing a successor Black Panther, T'Challa's sister Shuri. Hudlin co-wrote issue #7 with Jonathan Maberry, who then became the new writer, joined by artist Will Conrad. The Panther was also a featured player, with members of the Fantastic Four and the X-Men, in the Doctor Doom-based, six-issue miniseries Doomwar (April-Sept. 2010).

T'Challa then accepted 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 (Feb. 2011), when that series was retitled Black Panther: The Man Without Fear. Under writer David Liss and artist Francesco Francavilla, he took on the identity of Mr. Okonkwo, an immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and becomes the owner of a small diner in order to be close to the people.

Fictional character biography

Early life and background

File:Avengers52.jpg

Cover detail, The Avengers #52 (May 1968): Debut of the short-lived cowl mask. Art by John Buscema

The Black Panther is the ceremonial title given to the chief of the Panther Tribe of the advanced African nation of Wakanda. In addition to ruling the country, he is also chief of its various tribes (collectively referred to as the Wakandas). The Panther habit is a symbol of office (head of state) and is used even during diplomatic missions. The Panther is a hereditary title, but one still must earn it.

In the distant past, a meteorite made of the (fictional) vibration-absorbing mineral vibranium crashed in Wakanda, and was unearthed. Reasoning that outsiders would exploit Wakanda for this valuable resource, the ruler at the time, King T'Chaka, like his father and other Panthers before him, concealed his country from the outside world. T'Chaka's first wife, T'Challa's birth mother N'Yami, died while in labor with T'Challa, so T'Challa would be raised by his father and his father's second wife Ramonda, at least until T'Chaka was murdered by the adventurer Ulysses Klaw. With his people still in danger, a young T'Challa used Klaw's sound weapon on him, gravely injuring him and forcing him to flee. Around the same time, his stepmother Ramonda visited her old home in South Africa. While on this trip she was kidnapped and taken prisoner by Anton Pretorius (T'Challa would not learn of this until years later).

T'Challa was next line to be the king of Wakanda and Black Panther, but until he was ready to become the leader of the nation, his uncle S'yan, T'Chaka's younger brother, successfully passed the trials to become the Black Panther. While on his Wakandan walkabout rite of passage, T'Challa met and fell in love with apparent orphaned teen Ororo Munroe, who would grow up to become the X-Men member Storm. The two broke off their relationship due to his desire to avenge his father's death and to become the type of man who could suitably lead Wakanda, but they would see each other over the years when they could.

T'Challa earned the title and attributes of the Black Panther by defeating the various champions of the Wakandan tribes. One of his first acts was to disband and exile the Hatut Zeraze—the Wakandan secret police—and its leader, his adopted brother Hunter the White Wolf. Later, to keep peace, he picked dora milaje ("adored ones") from rival tribes to serve as his personal guard and ceremonial wives-in-training. He then studied abroad for a time before returning to his kingship. T'Challa next invited the American superhero team the Fantastic Four to Wakanda, then attacked and neutralized them individually in order to prove himself worthy as his people's defender and to test the team to see if it could be an effective ally against Klaw, who had become a supervillain made of living sound. After the ruler made proper amends to the superhero team, the four befriended and helped T'Challa, and he in turn aided the heroes against the supervillain the Psycho-Man.

T'Challa later joined the Avengers, beginning a long association with that superhero team. He first battled the Man-Ape while with the group, and then met the American singer Monica Lynne, with whom he became romantically involved. He helped the Avengers defeat the second Sons of the Serpent, and then revealed his true identity on American television. He encountered Daredevil, and revealed to him that he had deduced Daredevil's secret identity.

Return to Wakanda

The Panther eventually leaves his active Avengers membership to return to a Wakanda on the brink of civil war, bringing Lynne with him. After defeating would-be usurper Erik Killmonger and his minions, the Panther ventures to the American South to battle the Ku Klux Klan. He later gains possession of the mystical time-shifting artifacts known as King Solomon's Frogs. These produced an alternate version of T'Challa from a future 10 years hence, a merry, telepathic Panther with a terminal brain aneurysm, whom T'Challa placed in cryogenic stasis.

Later, while searching for and finding his mother, the Panther contends with South African authorities during Apartheid. T'Challa eventually proposes and becomes engaged to Monica Lynne, though the couple never married.

Years later, the Panther accepts a Washington, D.C. envoy, Everett K. Ross, and faces multiple threats to Wakanda's sovereignty. Ross assists him in many of these threats, often fighting side by side (or attempting to). In gratitude, the Panther often risks much for Ross in return. The first main threat to Wakandan soveriengty he and Ross encounter is 'Xcon'—an alliance of rogue intelligence agents—backs a coup led by the sorcerer Reverend Achebe. Afterward, Killmonger resurfaces with a plot to destroy Wakanda's economy. This forces T'Challa to nationalize foreign companies. Killmonger then defeats him in ritual combat, thus inheriting the role of Black Panther, but falls into a coma upon eating the heart-shaped herb—poisonous to anyone outside the royal bloodline, which had a hereditary immunity to its toxic effects. 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. There he mentors police officer Kasper Cole (who had adopted an abandoned Panther costume), an experience that gives T'Challa the strength to face his illness, reclaim his position, and return to active membership in the Avengers, whom he helps secure special United Nations status.

Marriage and superhero Civil War

Main article: Civil War (comics)

File:Stormbpmarriage.PNG

The marriage of Storm and the Black Panther: Promotional art for Black Panther #18 (Sept. 2006) by Frank Cho.

T'Challa then helps Ororo Munroe (alias Storm), with whom he had a brief romance during his teens, reunite with her surviving family members in Africa and the U.S. He shortly afterward proposes, and the two are married in a large Wakandan ceremony attended by many superheroes. However, he failed to reunite both Captain America and Iron Man because of their opposing views on the Superhuman Registration Act.

One of the couple's first tasks is to embark on a diplomatic tour, in which they visit the Inhumans, Doctor Doom, the President of the United States, and Namor, with only that last ending well. After the death of Bill Foster, the Black Panther and Storm side with Captain America's anti-registration forces. During the end battle between both sides, the Wakandan embassy in Manhattan is heavily damaged, though no Wakandans were hurt. After the confrontation, the Panther and Storm briefly fill in for vacationing Fantastic Four members Reed and Sue Richards before returning to Wakanda.

T'Challa served as one of the pallbearers at the memorial service for Captain America, along with Tony Stark, Ms. Marvel, Rick Jones, Ben Grimm and Sam Wilson.

Passing the mantle

Upon returning to Wakanda, Black Panther and Storm face Erik Killmonger, defeating him with assistance from Monica Rambeau (a.k.a. Pulsar). Afterward, Wakanda fends off the alien shapeshifters the Skrulls, who had infiltrated as part of their "Secret Invasion" plan to conquer Earth. Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner, attempts to recruit T'Challa for the Cabal, a secret council of supervillains. Attacked by the forces of fellow Cabal member Doctor Doom, T'Challa is left comatose. His sister Shuri is trained as the next Panther, with the mantle passing onto her officially after T'Challa awakens from his coma and attempts to recover from his injuries.

After he was tricked and ambushed by Doom and the passing of the Panther mantle, T'Challa lost all of his enhanced attributes given to him by being the panther totem. As a result, he has been working with his sorcerer, Zawavari, to accumulate a replacement. He has since made a pact with another unknown Panther deity, returning his attributes to an even higher level as well as placing incantations on his body, making himself highly resistant to most magic and mystic assaults. This has all been done in preparation for the imminent battle with Doctor Doom, which culminated in T'Challa rendering all of the processed vibranium inert to give his people a chance to rebuild without their dependence on the element.

The Man Without Fear

After the events of Shadowland, Matt Murdock asked T'Challa to replace him as guardian of Hell's Kitchen, giving T'Challa a chance to discover himself.

With the help of Foggy Nelson, T'Challa became Mr. Okonkwo, an immigrant from the Congo and manager of the Devil's Kitchen. That was his choice of learning to understand the denizens as an ordinary man, like Murdock did as a lawyer. He learned quickly and got on well with two of the Kitchen's staff - Sofija, a migrant from Serbia who was formerly involved in violent Serbian nationalism, and the busboy Brian. He also got to know some of the neighbors from his apartment block - Mr. Nantakarn and his son Alec, as well as Iris, a social worker assigned to handle cases of child abuse.

T'Challa soon found himself up against an ambitious new crime lord, an ethnic Romanian, Vlad Dinu, who styled himself "the Impaler". He also sought an understanding with the police through Detective Alex Kurtz. Luke Cage and Spider-Man kept an eye on T'Challa and helped despite the latter's rejection of their assistance. Meanwhile, a serial-killer ran loose seemingly to target victims at random.

Vlad turned out to be a survivor of an earlier Romanian program which sought to produce their own super-soldier. Feigning the treatment he received failed, Vlad managed to escape to USA and became a henchman of the Kingpin. He successfully kept a low profile while observing Wilson Fisk in his dealings, and vowed not to make the same mistakes. Vlad had his own powers which allowed him to transmute matter into energy briefly. He also successfully created a facade of a well-to-do businessman residing in Greenwich Village with his older son Nicolae from his deceased Romanian wife, and Gabe from a beautiful American wife, Angela.

During an attempt by Vlad to terminate the Panther, as T'Challa came to be known in his new disguise, Brian from the Devil's Kitchen was seriously injured after suffering an energy blast from Vlad, and was shortly reported dead. The conflict between Vlad and the Panther became more intense and personal, especially after Vlad arrived home and discovered the Panther over his wife Angela dead from a gunshot wound.

It was revealed in the end that Iris was the serial shooter who killed abusers of children - Gabe was apparently abused secretly by Angela. Brian was actually still alive and kidnapped by his doctor, Dr. Holman, at the behest of Nicolae who wanted to use someone who received a dose of Vlad's power. After being subjected to torturous experiments, Brian lost the ability to think for himself but was rescued by Gabe who also stole the serum produced from the experiment meant to endow the recipient with Vlad's powers.

The Panther managed to obtain evidence of Vlad Dinu's crimes as well as clues to Iris as the serial shooter, and turned the evidence over to Kurtz. In the final showdown, Vlad killed his own son Nicolae before being subdued by the Panther. Gabe had injected the serum on himself but was too new to his powers and was arrested for attempting to take Iris' life. Before being taken away, Gabe revealed to the Panther Brian's fate.

Despite being aware of the Panther's identity as Mr. Okonkwo, both Iris and Sofija promised to keep silent. In the epilogue, Dr. Holman was shown hiring Kraven the Hunter to hunt down Brian to avoid exposure of her culpability.

Powers and abilities

The title "Black Panther" is a rank of office, chieftain of the Wakandan Panther Clan. As chieftain, the Panther is entitled to eat a special heart-shaped herb which, in addition to his mystical connection with the Wakandan Panther god, grants him superhumanly acute senses and increases his strength, speed, stamina, and agility to the peak of human development. He has since lost this connection and forged a new one with another unknown Panther deity, granting him augmented physical attributes as well as a resistance to magic. His senses are so powerful that he can pick up a prey's scent and memorize tens of thousands of individual ones.

As king of Wakanda, the Panther has access to a vast collection of magical artifacts, advanced Wakandan technological and military hardware, as well as the support of his nation's wide array of scientists, warriors, and mystics. The Wakandan military has been described as one of the most powerful on Earth. His attire is the sacred vibranium costume of the Wakandan Panther Cult.

He is a skilled hunter, tracker, strategist, politician, inventor, and scientist—he has a Ph.D. degree in physics from Oxford University. Considered one of the eight smartest people on the planet, he is a genius in physics and advanced technology, and is a brilliant inventor.

T'Challa is a rigorously trained gymnast and acrobat, showing mastery in various African martial arts as well as contemporary ones and fighting styles that belong to no known disciplines. In the miniseries Doomwar, he created a new form of martial arts incorporating both science and sorcery.

In Volume 3, writer Christopher Priest expanded the Panther's day-to-day arsenal to include equipment such as an "energy dagger", a vibranium-weave suit, and a portable supercomputer, the "Kimoyo card." In Volume 4, writer Reginald Hudlin introduced such specialized equipment as "thrice-blessed armor" and "light armor" for specific tasks, and for a short while outfitted him with the Ebony Blade of the Black Knight.

Supporting cast

Allies

• Afrikaa - Afrikaa Ngala first appears in Black Axe #5 Marvel UK. Draws power from a magma pool known as the "Heart of Afrikaa". Marvel UK. Ruler of the African nation of Monhannda. Founding member of the "Pan African Congress on the Treatment of Superhumans".
• Black Axe - Scottish ally of Black Panther from Marvel UK.
• Black Musketeers - The trio of Dr. Joshua Itobo, Ishanta, and Khanata were all members of the royal family of the African kingdom of Wakanda. They were usually called to assist the king.
• Brother Voodoo - Jericho Drumm. The most powerful houngan on the planet. He was temporarily replaced by a Skrull agent trying to help the Skrulls take over Wakanda, but the scheme was thwarted. Recently, Brother Voodoo has replaced Doctor Strange as Earth's Sorcerer Supreme
• Zanti Chikane - A black South African gold miner during Apartheid.
• Kasper Cole - The third White Tiger.
• Doctor Crocodile - President Joseph N'Dingi ruler of Mbangawi, former employee of MI-13. Founding member of the "Pan African Congress on the Treatment of Superhumans".
• Gentle - Young Wakandan who is a member of the New X-Men, who has extreme strength, by temporarily increasing the muscle mass of his body to impossible levels.
• Jiru - Assistant to N'Gassi, loyal warrior.
• Monica Lynne - A singer who saved T'Challa from drowning after being bested by Killmonger. His longest love interest, whom he pledged eternal devotion towards.
• Mokadi - A Wakandan mutate who can teleport.
• Mubaru - Was a Wakandan cabinet member who represented the Mountain Tribes.
• N'Gassi - Adviser to T'Challa, acting regent when he goes away on missions.
• Okoye - One of the former Dora Milaje, a ceremonial betrothed/bodyguard of T'Challa. Okoye is of the J'Kuwali tribe and acted as a traditional, proper concomitant to the king, speaking only to the king and only in Hausa, an African dialect not widely spoken in Wakanda and thus affording the king and his wives a measure of privacy.
• Queen Divine Justice - The street-smart queen of the Jabari tribe of Wakanda raised in Chicago, and former Dora Milaje (ceremonial betrothed/bodyguard) of T'Challa. She originally went by the name Chanté Giovanni Brown.
• Storm - Ororo Iqadi T'Challa (née Munroe), a member of the X-Men mutant team; she is the Black Panther's wife and Queen of Wakanda.
• Vibraxas - The master of vibration. A Wakandan noble, and former member of the Fantastic Force. In a relationship with Queen Divine Justice.
• Shuri - T'Challa's sister. She has taken up the role of Black Panther, and as a result is current ruler of Wakanda.
• W'Kabi - T'Challa's competent second-in-command, and completely loyal to his liege.
• Zuri - A grumpy and gigantic elderly warrior. A close friend of the late T'Chaka, and one of T'Challa's most trusted advisers.
• Azari - T'Challa's son in the near future.

Enemies

• Achebe (later known as Reverend Achebe) - A poor farmer somewhere in South Africa, Achebe sold his soul to the demon Mephisto. He is portrayed as a grinning, unpredictable, lunatic, warrior-mystic, regularly talking to his hand-puppet Daki without delusions that it's truly alive, and engineering complex plots of social unrest for profit or entertainment.
• Baron Macabre - Skull-faced ally of Eric Killmonger.
• Black Dragon - An extra-dimensional dragon from K'un-L'un (Iron Fist).
• Blue Talon - Martial artist and agent of Damon Dran.
• Dragon Circle - A multicultural hate organization.
• Cockroach Hamilton - A hitman who worked with the villainess known as Nightshade.
• The Collectors - A loosely affiliated organization, brought together because of a common interest in obscure artifacts. The Collectors are ruthless and will do anything to get the prize.
• Colonel Klaue - A WWII Nazi with an iron hand who existed in an apparently alternate continuity Wakanda where Chanda ruled during WWII instead of T'chaka.
• Gore
• Hellrazor - Operative of Roxxon Oil with kineto-synthetic powers, killed by Scourge.
• Icon - A Black Panther villain named Dr. A'kurru whose body was made of living wood.
• Jakarra - Former Wakandan General turned world conqueror. Mutated by vibranium into a hulking purple brute. Living generator of sonic vibration, meaning he could generate waves of vibratory force.
• Kiber the Cruel - Frederick Kiber was a brilliant but mentally unstable black scientist who apparently created teleporter technology in the Marvel Universe. His body was altered by a teleporter accident. Black Panther vol 1 #12.
• Kiber's Guards - Brown-skinned androids with super strength and the ability to phase through solid matter.
• Erik Killmonger - A powerful warrior and strategic genius in politics and economics. He has consistently bested the Panther in personal combat.
• King Cadaver - Wakandan mutate. Had the ability to generate great psychic pain, causing delusions and possibly even controlling the minds of others.
• Lord Karnaj - Wakandan Mutate, ally of Eric Killmonger. Used handheld vibranium-powered sonic disruptors that fired destructive energy blasts.
• Madame Slay - Ally and operative of Eric Killmonger.
• Moses Magnum - The ruler of Canaan, a small offshoot of Wakanda. Founding member of the "Pan African Congress on the Treatment of Superhumans".
• Malice - Agent of Eric Killmonger, Wakandan Mutate with superhuman strength, speed, and agility. She is a former Dora Milaje (ceremonial betrothed/bodyguard) of T'Challa.
• Man-Ape - Ruler of the Jabari Tribe a recognized micronation within Wakanda's borders. Now labeled a villain, M'Baku was Wakanda's greatest warrior second only to the Black Panther. He plotted to usurp the throne with the help of the outlawed White Gorilla cult who were ancient rivals of the Black Panther cult, which basically made them heretics since Panther worship is the state religion. Founding member of the "Pan African Congress on the Treatment of Superhumans".
• N'Gamo - Former aide to the Man-Ape.
• N'Grith - Alien race that experimented on human subjects, attempted to invade Earth.
• Anton Pretorius - South African politician and racist during apartheid.
• Solomon Prey - A villain and enemy of the Black Panther, he possesses bat-like wings that enable him to fly. Also has razor sharp claws.
• Princess Zanda - Ruler of Narobia, admirer of T'challa. Founding member of the "Pan African Congress on the Treatment of Superhumans".
• Radioactive Man II - A Russian mutant who accompanied Klaw in his attack on Wakanda.
• Rhino - A rhinoceros-themed villain who is usually an enemy of Spider-Man. He once accompanied Klaw in his attack on Wakanda.
• Salamander K'Ruel - A Wakandan Mutate, ally of Erik Killmonger.
• Sekmeht the Lion God - Leader of the Lion Cult of Wakanda. Believes he is an actual god, opposed to the Panther Cult whose worship diminished his own followers. Banished to another dimension by Iron Man and Mantis.
• Six-Million-Year Man - A being named Hatch-22 who hailed from an alternate future in which human beings have evolved into nearly unrecognizable forms and live beneath Earth's surface in numbered hatches.
• Sombre - An agent of Eric Killmonger and enemy of the Black Panther. Sombre's touch is highly corrosive and painful.
• Sons of the Serpent
• The Soul Strangler - An evil supernatural creature that referred to itself as the master of the Ku Klux Klan.
• Supremacists - Agents of the Azanian government, promoted apartheid and invaded Wakanda. The members were Barricade, Captain Blaze, Harrier, Hungyr, Voortrekker, and White Avenger. Appeared in Black Panther vol. 2 #2.
• Ulysses Klaw - Murderer and betrayer of T'Chaka and personal archenemy of T'Challa. A powerhouse with near-absolute control of sound.
• Vatican Black Knight - An unnamed Vatican agent who accompanied Klaw in his attack on Wakanda.
• Venomm - Horatio Venomm was a hideously-scarred human snake charmer with a corpse-like face.
• Vibranium - The former king of Canaan. Baru was deposed by Moses Magnum and transformed into living vibranium by the villain Diablo.
• Wheeler - Former member of the Wakandan Air Patrol a group of armored warriors. Married T'Challa's cousin M'Koni. Used his Air Patrol suit to rob a bank in order to pay off gambling debts, but reforms by the end of the story. Appeared in Daredevil vol. 2 #245 (1987).
• White Avenger - Leader of the Azanian Supremacists, blindly patriotic national symbol. His powers included superhuman strength and durability, flight, enhanced vision, infravision, and hyper-awareness.
• White Wolf - T'Challa's adopted elder brother and the former leader of the Hatut Zeraze, the espionage elite police of Wakanda. Exiled by T'Challa, due to using recurrent torture and assassinations in his zeal to root out potential threats to national security.
• Windeagle - Wore an anti-gravity costume which enabled him to fly and glide on wind currents.

Reception

Black Panther was ranked the 71st greatest comic book character of all time by Wizard magazine. IGN also ranked the Black Panther as the 51st greatest comic book hero stating that Black Panther could be called Marvel's Batman. Not because they have the same silhouette, but because he too is a man of immense resources and a fierce will that pushes him to be the best at what he does; IGN also stated that readers are reminded that T'Challa is a hero and a force to be reckoned with regardless of his technology and resources.

Volume 2

Journalist Joe Gross praised Christopher Priest for his characterization of the Black Panther, stating, that the writer "turned an underused icon into the locus of a complicated high adventure by taking the Black Panther to his logical conclusion. T'Challa (the title character) is the enigmatic ruler of a technologically advanced, slightly xenophobic African nation, so he acts like it". Gross applauded the title's "endless wit, sharp characterization, narrative sophistication and explosive splash panels".

Comics reviewer and journalist Mike Sangiacomo, however, criticized the narrative structure. "Christopher Priest's fractured writing is getting on my nerves. Like the Spider-Man comics, I want to like Black Panther, but Priest's deliberately jumbled approach to writing is simply silly. I know it's a style, but does he have to do it every issue?"

Reporter Bill Radford cited similar concerns when the title had just launched. "I appreciate the notion of seeing the Black Panther through the eyes of an Everyman, but the Panther is almost relegated to secondary status in his own book. And Ross' narration jumps around in time so much that I feel like his boss, who, in trying to get Ross to tell her what has happened, complains: 'This is like watching 'Pulp Fiction' in rewind. My head is exploding.'"

Volume 4

Publishers Weekly gave a negative review to the first arc, "Who Is The Black Panther?", a modern retelling of the character's origin, saying, "Hudlin's take is caught between a rock and a hard place. His over-the-top narrative is not likely to appeal to fans of the most recent version of the character, but it's too mired in obscure Marvel continuity to attract the more general reader. The plot manages to be convoluted without ever becoming absorbing".

Journalist Shawn Jeffords, citing the lack of appearances of the title character in the first issue, called the new series a "fairly unimpressive launch". Jeffords also said general-audience unfamiliarity was a hindrance. "He's never been a marquee character and to make him one will be tough".

Other versions

Amalgam Comics

Bronze Panther - Is the ruler of Wakanda and is named B'Nchalla. An amalgamation of the Bronze Tiger (DC) and the Black Panther (Marvel).

Earth-6606

T'Challa is Chieftain Justice a Captain Britain Corps member who featured in Excalibur vol. 1 #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 Black Panther, called simply "Panther", is drafted onto 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 Black Panther.

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.

Mangaverse

T'Challa appears in the Marvel Mangaverse 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 was romantically attracted to Tigra. T'Challa's sister, T'Chana, later reveals herself to be this universe's Doctor Doom.

Marvel Knights 2099

A Black Panther was featured in the Marvel Knights 2099 one shots. A new Black Panther, K'Shamba, rose to fight and thwart the mounting invasions by the successor of Doom. While the victory over the new Doom appeared triumphant, the new Wakandan king was ultimately revealed to be a puppet of Doom.

Marvel Zombies

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. 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. Decades later, T'Challa has married one of the Acolytes, Lisa Hendricks, and they have a son. 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 in order 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 lead the Black Panther and many of his allies to be tossed through the 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.

File:UltimateCapAmerAnl01.jpg

Promotional art for Ultimate Captain America Annual #1 (Dec. 2008), by Brandon Peterson.

MC2

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

Mutant X

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

Ultimate Marvel

In the alternate-reality Ultimate Marvel imprint, the Black Panther is T'Challa Udaku, a mutant who is experimented on in Weapon X program of Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D..

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 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 S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Weapon X program. Over a year later, a healthy T'Challa, in his full Black Panther garb, has enhanced speed, strength, night vision, and 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. now considers his son an asset of the U.S. and S.H.I.E.L.D. He subsequently contacts 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.

Captain America later impersonates Black Panther during the an Ultimates confrontation with the Juggernaut.

After Ultimatum, Black Panther joins the New Ultimates.

In other media

Television

File:Black Panther Fantastic Four ep 20.jpg

The Black Panther in the 1994 Fantastic Four animated series.

• The Black Panther appears in the "Prey of the Black Panther" episode of the 1994 Fantastic Four animated TV series, voiced by Keith David. He lures them to Wakanda to see if they are worthy enough to help fight Klaw.
• The Black Panther has a non-speaking cameo in the "Sanctuary" episode of the X-Men TV series.
• In The Avengers: United They Stand, a portrait of the Panther hangs in Avengers Mansion in Episode 1. While the Black Panther does not appear in the animated series, he does appear in issues #1 and #6-7 of the comic book series based on the show.
• Black Panther appeared in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Panther's Prey" voiced by Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. In this show, Black Panther's father T'Chaka was killed by Moses Magnum and pursues him after he steals a piece of Vibranium. He does have some encounters with Iron Man up to the point where he learns of Iron Man's identity. When it came to confronting Moses Magnum on a bridge during his exchange with A.I.M., Moses Magnum has his men use their sonic weapons on Black Panther where his Vibranium suit had absorbed the attacks enough to be at critical condition. Iron Man came to his rescue and told him to exhaust the sonic energy in him by attacking the A.I.M. agents. With Iron Man's help, Black Panther manages to defeat Moses Magnum. In "Line of Fire," Black Panther returns and does various attacks on the fronts of Hammer Multinational when they started to smuggle Vibranium out of his country. This causes Justin Hammer to call in Black Knight to dispose of Black Panther. Black Knight ends up attacking Black Panther during a press conference at the Wakandan Embassy until Iron Man arrives. Black Panther manages to damage Black Knight's hover cycle enough for Black Knight to retreat. Black Knight and Black Panther's assistant Nakea meet up with a Stark International operative named Rykland until Black Panther and Iron Man arrive. While Iron Man fights Black Knight, Black Panther ends up fighting the operatives from Stark International and Hammer Multinational. When both opponents have been defeated, Black Panther questions Nakea about her involvement where she states that she did to get back at Black Panther for killing her brother. Black Panther states to Nakea that her brother was warned what would happen if he ever returned to Wakanda. When Black Knight, Nakea, and those involved are arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents and remanded to the Vault, Nick Fury tells Iron Man and Black Panther that Obadiah Stane and Justin Hammer denied any involvement in the caper.
• Black Panther appeared in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Tremble at the Might of MODOK" voiced by Taye Diggs. Like the comics, Black Panther is in a relationship with Storm. He appears with Storm when Iron Man calls them in to help stop MODOK after to the squad when Thor, Wolverine and the Hulk have been drained of their powers.
• Marvel Animation and BET began producing a primetime animated series. Djimon Hounsou was cast as the voice of Black Panther. The series is produced in the motion comic style. The world premiere of the show was in Australia, on ABC 3 on January 16, 2010. The series premiered online in the United States on June 23, 2010, and was finally released on DVD in the US in January 2011.
• Black Panther appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by James C. Mathis III. In "The Man in the Ant Hill," T'Challa was present when his father was killed in combat by Man-Ape who had some unseen assistance from Klaw. With Wakanda under their rule, T'Challa became the next Black Panther and plans to find a way to take Wakanda back. He initially appears as a shadowy figure stalking the team and studying their weaknesses. When it came to the episode "Panther's Quest," he made himself known to the Avengers and had a brief fight with them. After seeing how capable they were, Black Panther revealed his purpose where they ended up helping him reclaim Wakanda from Man-Ape and Klaw. While the other Avengers defeated Klaw, Black Panther managed to defeat Man-Ape and liberate Wakanda from Man-Ape's rule. Iron Man accepts Black Panther's offer to let him join the Avengers and has Wakanda ruled in his absence by the Wakandan Elders.

Film

Animated

• The Black Panther appears in the direct-to-DVD animated feature Ultimate Avengers 2 (2006) as a central character, voiced by Jeffrey D. Sams.
• In the direct-to-DVD film, Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow, the Black Panther has a son named Azari. Black Panther was called one last time to fight with the Avengers against the robot Ultron....but Black Panther did not survive. It is unknown what happened to Azari's mother, for after the Battle with Ultron, Tony Stark (Iron Man) raised Azari along with the children of the fallen members of the Avengers.

Live action

• In June 1992, Wesley Snipes announced his intention to make a film about the Black Panther. By August, Snipes had begun working on the film. In July 1993, Snipes announced plans to begin The Black Panther after starring in Demolition Man. Snipes said in August 1993, "We have a wide-open field for comic book characters on the big screen and we've yet to have a major black comic book hero on the screen. Especially the Black Panther, which is such a rich, interesting life. It's a dream come true to originate something that nobody's ever seen before." Snipes expressed interest in making sequels to The Black Panther. In January 1994, Snipes entered talks with Columbia Pictures to portray the Black Panther in the film adaptation of the comic book superhero. The following March, Stan Lee joined the development process for a film about the Black Panther. By May, the film was in early development with Columbia Pictures. In January 1996, Stan Lee said that he had not been pleased with the scripts he had encountered for the Black Panther. In July 1997, the Black Panther was listed as part of Marvel Comics' film slate. In March 1998, Marvel hired Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti to work on the Black Panther film adaptation. In August, corporate problems at Marvel had put the Black Panther project on hold. In August 1999, Snipes was set to produce, and possibly star, in the film featuring the Black Panther. In Marvel's June 2000 deal with Artisan Entertainment to develop film and television adaptations, the Black Panther was one of the four names (among Captain America, Thor, and Deadpool) that surfaced. In March 2002, Snipes told Cinescape magazine that he planned to do Blade 3 or Black Panther in 2003. In August 2002, Snipes said he hoped to begin production on Black Panther by 2003. In July 2004, Blade 3 director David S. Goyer said that Wesley Snipes would not likely be Black Panther. "He's already so entrenched as Blade that another Marvel hero might be overkill," said Goyer. In September 2005, Marvel chairman and CEO Avi Arad announced Black Panther as one of the ten Marvel films that would be developed by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. In June 2006, Snipes told Men's Fitness magazine that much work had been done toward a film adaptation of the Black Panther, and that he hoped to have a director soon. In February 2007, Kevin Feige, president of production for Marvel Studios, stated that Black Panther was on Marvel's development slate. In July 2007, director John Singleton said that he was approached to do Black Panther. In 2009, Marvel attempted to hire a gathering of scribes to help come up with creative ways to launch its lesser-known properties, such as Black Panther, Cable, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist, Nighthawk and Vision. In January 2011, Marvel Studios hired documentary filmmaker Mark Bailey to write a script for The Black Panther to be produced by studio head Kevin Fiege.

• The 2010 film Iron Man 2 features a scene where Nick Fury shows Tony Stark a digital map which pinpoints various metahumans across the globe. One of these electronic indicators was shown in Africa, and according to director Jon Favreau, this was meant as an explicit reference to Black Panther.

Video games

• The Black Panther is a playable character in the video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance voiced by Phil LaMarr. He can be unlocked by collecting 5 of his action figures. When the player asks about how Black Panther came to be, he will bring up his history which involved his father being killed by Klaw and passing every trial to become the next Black Panther. He has special dialogue with Nick Fury, Namor, Ghost Rider, Doctor Doom, and Deathbird. In his simulator disc, he has to battle Dark Captain America in Arcade's Murderworld.
• The Black Panther is an NPC in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 voiced by Tim Russ. He is one of the few characters in the game to not be taken under the control of The Fold, providing the heroes with a base prior to the final assault on the Fold as Wakanda is now the last bastion of resistance against the nanites. He is now playable as a new downloadable character for PS3 and Xbox 360.
• Black Panther appears as an NPC in Storm's ending for Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds.
• Black Panther is a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online.

Toys

• Black Panther is the 30th figurine in The Classic Marvel Figurine Collection.
• A figure of Black Panther was released in wave 10 of Toy Biz's 6" Marvel Legends line. There was also a chase variant with a minor paint variation.
• Black Panther first appeared in wave 5 of the Marvel Super Hero Squad line, packaged with Storm. The same figure was repainted and re-release in the Super Teams: The New Fantastic Four 4-pack, packaged with Human Torch, Thing, and Storm.
• A figure of Black Panther was released in wave 29 of the Marvel Minimates line. A version of Panther from the Marvel Zombie series was released as a retailer exclusive.
• A figure of Black Panther was released in wave 1 of Hasbro's 3.75" Marvel Universe line. Another was released in a retailer exclusive 2-pack with Iron Man.

Collected editions

• Marvel Masterworks: Black Panther Volume 1 (Jungle Action #6-24)
• Essential Black Panther Vol. 1 (Jungle Action #6-22, 24; Black Panther Vol. 1 #1-10)
• Black Panther By Jack Kirby Vol. 1 (Vol. 1 #1-6)
• Black Panther By Jack Kirby Vol. 2 (Vol. 1 #7-12)
• Black Panther Vol. 1: The Client (Vol. 3 #1-5)
• Black Panther Vol. 2: Enemy of the State (Vol. 3 #6-12)
• Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther (Vol. 4 #1-6)
• House of M: World of M Featuring Wolverine (Vol. 4 #7)
• X-Men/Black Panther: Wild Kingdom (Vol. 4 #8-9)
• Black Panther: Bad Mutha (Vol. 4 #10-13)
• Black Panther: The Bride (Vol. 4 #14-18)
• Black Panther: Civil War (Vol. 4 #19-25)
• Black Panther: Four the Hard Way (Vol. 4 #26-30)
• Black Panther: Little Green Men (Vol. 4 #31-34)
• Black Panther: Back To Africa (Vol. 4 #35-38, Annual #1)
• Black Panther: Secret Invasion (Vol. 4 #39-41, plus extras)
• Black Panther: The Deadliest of the Species (Vol. 5 #1-6)
• Black Panther: Power (Vol. 5 #7-12)
• Doomwar (Doomwar #1-6)
• Black Panther: Tha Man Without Fear Vol. 1 (Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #513-518)
• Fear Itself: Black Panther: The Man Without Fear (Black Panther: The Man Without Fear #519-523, Black Panther: The Deadliest Man Alive #524)
• Black Panther - The Most Dangerous Man Alive: The Kingpin of Wakanda (Black Panther: The Deadliest Man Alive #523.1, 525-529)

See also

• African characters in comics

References

• Black Panther at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
• Black Panther at the Marvel Directory

External links

• World of Black Heroes: Black Panther-T'challa Biography
• World of Black Heroes: Black Panther-Shuri Biography

Black Panther at Marvel.com

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