Before breaking down and reviewing Black Panther, I would like to take the time to recognize and celebrate the triumphs and glory that was Chadwick Boseman. The Black Panther actor, who also played Jackie Robinson in 42 as well as many other roles, was a symbol not only to Marvel or the black community but the world as a whole. His passing was something that fans of his saw coming for a while after rumors spread of his drastic weight loss, lack of exercise and nutrition, and other signs of sickness. Boseman had battled through colon cancer and even continued to film some of the spectacular Black Panther scenes whilst undergoing treatment. This blog post is long overdue, but I wanted to take the time to really study Black Panther for Chadwick and his performance. Rest in peace to a legend and a role model of mine, you will always be our king.
Black Panther was the hit we never saw coming. Although many were excited for the solo movie, following the spectacular performance of the character in Captain America: Civil War, the story, along with subtle comedy and tragedy, infused itself within lovable characters and pure African culture to make the Marvel Studio’s top-5 highest-grossing films and the highest non-Avengers movies in the category. The movie inspired (and featured) many implements of African and African American culture, featuring actual natives from African tribes as some of the citizens of Wakanda, hot songs from popular artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Future, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, and many more. Importantly, Black Panther used the past of T’Challa’s father, T’Chaka, and his cousin, Erik Killmonger, and his mentor, Yuri, to express the hardships of the slums and African Americans in big cities, such as Oakland, California. The movie educates and inspires many young Americans and Marvel fans to persevere the hardships present in the movie, while also presenting a great source of entertainment for the audience. Black Panther takes place following Captain America: Civil War and the character Black Panther does not appear in a movie until Avengers: Infinity War, and then again in Avengers: Endgame.
Prince T’Challa is introduced alongside his father King T’Chaka representing the nation of Wakanda at the United Nations meeting regarding the Sokovia Accords (or the laws set to jurisdiction superheroes following the tragedy of Sokovia in Avengers: Age of Ultron. For a more in-depth description, read our article on Iron Man). King T’Chaka is also the protector of Wakanda, known as the Black Panther. Here, the terrorist known as Helmut Zemo blows the UN building to pieces, killing many inside including King T’Chaka. Zemo had posed as the Winter Soldier, provoking the newly-kinged T’Challa to don the Black Panther mantle and hunt the Winter Soldier alongside Iron Man. As the movie progresses, T’Challa realizes his mistake, and while preventing Zemo from killing himself and face persecution, gives protection to Bucky Barnes in Wakanda as the White Wolf.
Following the events in Civil War, T’Challa returns to Wakanda to be crowned king. We see three important storylines immediately after that follow throughout the film, and that makes this movie as acclaimed as it is. The first is the history and culture of Wakanda and the Black Panther. The Black Panther is a mantle passed down by generation, to the king or queen of Wakanda. We learn that Wakanda began when a meteoroid of Vibranium crashed into an area of Wakanda. Five tribes settled on the meteoroid and clashed with each other. These five tribes still exist in modern Wakanda. These tribes are the River tribe, which T’Challa’s family is designated from, the Mining Tribe, the Merchant Tribe, the Border Tribe, and the Jabari. One of these is obviously not like the other, and for good reason as well. The Jabari do not worship the same god as the other four tribes. The Jabari worship Hanuman, an ape-like creature, whose faith is primordial, keeping the Jabari from using the technological advancements of vibranium, and based solely on tradition and brute strength. The Jabari are outcasts, living outside of Wakanda in the mountains, led by M’Baku, or the Man-Ape. The other four tribes worship Bast, the panther goddess. It is the legend that Bast led a shaman to a heart-shaped herb that granted him the powers and abilities of a panther, thus leading this shaman to become the first Black Panther. The four tribes that worship Bast agreed to be ruled under one united Wakanda, and all had equal rights and trial to insert a new king of Wakanda. The Jabari refused to be led by Bast, and thus seceded to the mountains. This establishes the culture and the tradition of the Wakandan civilization. The future of Wakanda rests in the hands of these tribes as Okoye, part of the Border tribe and the police force known as the Dora Milaje, clash with her boyfriend W’Kabi, also part of the border tribe, over the legality and rightfulness of Killmonger’s leadership. Okoye’s side wins, with an assist from T’Challa and the Jabari, and W’Kabi is arrested for his treachery towards Wakanda. The tribes, including the Jabari, conclude the film agreeing that T’Challa is the best fit for the mantle of Black Panther and king of Wakanda.
The next storyline is that of Erik Killmonger. Killmonger is the unknown cousin of T’Challa, birthed when T’Chaka’s brother, Prince N’Jobu, went to America, fell in love with a woman there, and radicalized due to the opportunity and hardships of American society. One of these opportunities is to sell out Wakanda, a hidden civilization, to Ulysses Klaue, who infiltrates, steals and takes lives from the Wakandans. When T’Chaka tries to arrest his brother, who had been being spied on by fellow Wakandan Zuri, N’Jobu tries to kill his undercover best friend. T’Chaka intervenes, killing his brother. Killmonger finds his father’s dead body with claw marks on his chest and grew up resenting the Wakandan society, specifically the bloodline of T’Chaka. Killmonger grows up as an MIT student and a Navy Operative, marking his body with every kill he makes, growing up to try and uncover the truth of Wakanda and his related past. He teams up with his father’s old partner, Klaue, and begins stealing vibranium around the world, although with different intentions. We eventually see Killmonger challenge T’Challa’s kingship, and ultimately defeating the Black Panther (temporarily), and assuming the role of King and Black Panther (although he dons the Golden Jaguar suit), and destroying the rest of the heart-shaped herb preventing any more Black Panther’s to exist again. Killmonger dies to T’Challa’s hand when battling in the climax of the movie, overlooking all of Wakanda. Killmonger’s soul was always in the right place, but hate and emotion ruled his life due to the oppression faced by his skin color and the qualities of life stolen from him when his father died.
The final storyline present within the film is that of T’Challa himself. T’Challa is unlike most character arcs, where he is not learning to be a good person, or how to do the right thing, but instead learn how to govern a country. His role as the Black Panther, as impressive as it may be, is not the key factor when discussing T’Challas character progression. He learns how to be a king, and how to make decisions that would benefit the country of Wakanda, and the world as well. The Black Panther already protected the entire continent of Africa from illegalities such as human trafficking and smuggling, but now as a political leader, T’Challa has to make important decisions on and off the battleground. This has never been seen before as the only character who balances between the lives of an influencer and political/economical leader and a superhero was Iron Man, but even before Stark’s death in Endgame, he had forfeited his role in the company to his future wife, Pepper Potts. The balance between the two proves that T’Challa is not only a great man but an excellent leader and hero, who puts the needs of his people before his own and succeeds every day of doing so. He makes mistakes, such as, you know, almost dying and being thrown over a waterfall by Killmonger, but he eventually makes up for it when he saves the country. T’Challa’s juggle of personalities is, at least for me, the most interesting plot in the film, especially as it is not the most apparent. By the time Avengers: Infinity War comes around. T’Challa had adapted well to his becoming as king and formed a strong bond between the tribes, proving to already be one of the strongest leaders and Black Panthers of Wakanda. T’Challa also finds hope, inspiration, and a self-restoration of honor whilst talking to his father and the past Black Panthers in the Astral Dimension, where he draws the strength and the courage to be the afore-mentioned best leaders of Wakanda.
In Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther plays minor roles but has much importance. Serving as the site where the Avengers plan to remove the Mind Stone from Vision’s forehead, as well as the battleground full of Chitauri aliens, the Black Order and Thanos, facing the Wakandans and the Avengers while T’Challa’s sister Zuri proceeds Vision’s operation. T’Challa is also seen presenting Bucky Barnes with a new arm made of vibranium, the substance Captain America’s shield is made from and the number one resource in Wakanda. Although the protagonists fight a valiant battle, Thanos retrieves the Mind Stone and performs the inevitable snap. Black Panther is one of the confirmed deceased as he tries to rescue his friend Okoye from the ground. Okoye remains vital to operations in the Avengers following the snap, leading Wakanda in the absence of their king. Boseman makes his final live-action appearance in the MCU as the Black Panther during the Portals scene of Avengers: Endgame where he joins the fight, along with all the Wakandan warriors, against Thanos and his army. King T’Challa, alongside his family, also attend Tony Stark’s funeral during the movie’s conclusion.
Chadwick Boseman and T’Challa are not done yet for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new series on Disney+ called What If? features an episode that stars Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa as the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Star-Lord. However, as the series is not out yet, there is very little information regarding the episode, or even the series itself. It is unknown as well what Marvel Studios plans to do with the Black Panther franchise, and the mantle itself, but they do intend to keep Boseman in mind when making the decision. Whatever Marvel decides to do, we will always remember the legacy outlined in only four movies, by Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. I still can not believe it is true, but rest in peace Chadwick, and Wakanda Forever!
“I never yielded! And as you can see: I am not dead!” -King T’Challa, challenging Erik Killmonger for his kingship
rml5697 says
This blog was a very awesome read. You did such a nice job honoring Chadwick Boseman and gave a very detailed description of the Black Panther’s time in the MCU. While reading, I could tell you put a decent amount of time and effort to this blog and I appluade you on that.
iba5108 says
Your blog is just MWAH, chefs kiss! I love this week’s post and how you were able to teach me new stuff about this amazing story/character. Thank you for honoring Chadwick’s memory and legacy in such a beautiful way. I’m always here waiting for new posts! Keep the good work.
akk31 says
“I never yielded. And as you can see, I am not dead.” What a line, true king of Wakanda. Thank you for making this post, Kevin. As always, it is obviously lovingly-crafted. It is a pleasure to read and look upon.