Black Panther is a popular and one of the strongest superheroes in the Marvel universe. The fans were demanding a solo film on him for years. Stan Lee made an announcement in Comic-Con that it is in the works and as always he was right. We finally got it.
Marvel hired Ryan Coogler who became the first black person to direct a Marvel movie and he has done an outstanding job. Chadwick Boseman is playing the lead character and is quite phenomenal in the shoes of Black Panther. He was asked about his experiences doing this movie and he said:
“It’s funny, because on one hand, the Marvel movies that I’ve liked the most are the ones that are funny. I love Ant-Man. But for me, most of the time the darker superhero movies are the ones that I gravitate towards, that I love the most. So I’m glad that I’m not in an Ant-Man. I’m glad that the tone of Black Panther may be a little grittier. I just wanted to establish that from the beginning, that that’s what we were doing. That that’s what I intend to do. I feel like we’ll end up in a place that I’ve always wanted to be when I look at superhero movies. Those are the ones I like the most. It’s exciting to do that.”
T’Challa aka Black Panther is King of Wakanda which is a country of farmers for the rest of the world but in reality the most technologically advanced nation on the planet. He wears a suit made of world’s strongest metal Vibranium which powers the entire city of Wakanda including its weapons. He is sometimes also known as ‘King of the Dead’ as the wealth of knowledge and power of all previous Black Panthers transferred to his body. He is facing someone who wants to avenge his past and wants to right the wrongs were done to people of African descent but T’Challa disagrees, hence a rivalry.
With the release of Black Panther in theatres, fans have thronged from all over the world to watch T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) to fight his way through any threats (internal and external alike) and rightfully ascend to the throne of Wakanda as it’s true king.
Spoilers ahead so read at your own risk!
When T’Chaka dies in Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa automatically ascends the throne of Wakanda and take the mantle of Black Panther. He then uses the powers given to him by the suit and the enhanced physical abilities granted to him by then unknown heart-shaped herb to hunt and take down both the winter soldier and Captain America.
This heart-shaped herb, as revealed in the events of Black Panther is no joke. It grants a normal human being capabilities that allow them to go toe to toe with the likes of Steve Rogers himself. That’s quite formidable considering that Steve Rogers’ super soldier serum grants him the Pinnacle of the human form. He is the best of humanity and yet there are plenty who dares to oppose him in barehanded combat.
But the question remains, what is this heart-shaped herb, where does it come from, and what role does it have in the Black Panther universe
In the comics, the heart-shaped herb was first introduced as the source of T’Challa’s inhuman capabilities. It was introduced as the miracle drug that allows T’Challa super strength, enhanced stamina and inhuman speed. This drug was even dubbed so powerful that the usage was only allowed to the kind of Wakanda which has been the leader of the Panther tribe for numerous generations.
With regard to the events that led to the origin of the drug, the heart shaped plant was first sighted near the area where the meteor fell that introduced Vibranium to the Wakandan people. The metal and the drug can both be considered alien in origin. Vibranium was brought to Earth by a meteor that was pulled in by Earth’s gravitational force and which landed and leveled a portion of ancient Wakandan land.
However, the metal was not the only thing that the meteor brought to earth. You see, when the meteor fell on the soul of Wakanda it also mutated the soil and the atmosphere around it. It is possible that the weather conditions that the meteor created on its entry into the Earth’s atmosphere and the chemical composition of its landing zone created a synergy. This incredible turn of events first led to the suo mouto growth of the heart-shaped drug in ancient Wakanda. This was seen by the ancient Wakandans as a gift from the Panther God upon discovering the incredible powers that the heart shaped plant held within itself
Once the Panther tribe became the rulers/ leaders of the Wakandan people, they reserved the right to the usage of the drug to the leader of the tribe which was to be Black Panther until a Challenger rose to defeat the king. This brings us to the events of Black Panther and Erik Killmonger.
Killmonger, I have never in my life seen a perfect name for a villain. Alas! In this case, the villain seems more like a righteous rebel than an actual evildoer. He was the child left behind by T’Challa’s father when he killed his own brother who was threatening to hurt a child. He developed a lot of angst against first family of Wakanda and joined US armed forces first, then JSOC where he was entrusted with the task to take down rogue governments at the behest of US government. He then collaborated with Ullyses Klau first and then later killed him. He went straight to Wakanda and challenged the throne of T’Challa and guess what….he won.
The golden Jaguar of Erik Killmonger is more of an anti-hero than an actual villain in the regard that his contention and agenda seem more righteous than that of T’Challa’s Black Panther.
Killmonger’s contention while challenging the throne is simple, Black Panther’s competence and his shared attention leading to a possibility of Wakanda’s exposure to the outer world. Although it is highly debatable whether Killmonger’s accusations have any actual merit it is pertinent to note that these seem like causes which can rally masses. There are always factions in a population unhappy with the ruler, ALWAYS. This is what Killmonger uses to his benefit, conduct befitting a Challenger to the Throne of Wakanda.
Another incident that takes place in the movie is the systematic burning of the aforementioned heart-shaped drug by Erik Killmonger, leading to a weakened or rather a humanized T’Challa whom he then challenges for the throne of Wakanda. To give Killmonger due credit, it’s a sound strategy but T’Challa has the power of plot armor on his side.
Considering the eradication of the drug the future of Black Panther is now uncertain, but you can be sure just as a Phoenix rises from the ashes , T’Challa will be back in form for his appearance in Infinity War. An official synopsis for Avengers Infinity War has also been revealed where Black Panther will be seen fighting with Cap, Winter Soldier, Hulk, Falcon etc. to save Wakanda from Black Order’s invasion.
“As the Avengers and their allies have continued to protect the world from threats too large for any one hero to handle, a new danger has emerged from the cosmic shadows: Thanos. A despot of intergalactic infamy, his goal is to collect all six Infinity Stones, artifacts of unimaginable power, and use them to inflict his twisted will on all of reality. Everything the Avengers have fought for has led up to this moment – the fate of Earth and existence itself has never been more uncertain”.
And for everything Black Panther, stick around. Here is the official movie synopsis released by the Marvel studios, read it below:
“After the death of his father, T’Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king — and as Black Panther — gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people”.
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