|
For more than 50 years, the Black Panther has stood at the forefront on the Marvel Universe. With T’Challa appearing on the big screen again this year in both Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” take a look back at over five decades worth of comic book adventures for the King of Wakanda!
His mind troubled by the Tomorrow Fund and the coup in Wakanda, T’Challa fell under the gaze of the demon Mephisto in BLACK PANTHER #3, which led to a full-blown confrontation between the two in BLACK PANTHER #4. Subsequently, Mephisto sent the hero and U.S. representative Everett Ross to Hell in BLACK PANTHER #5 to cause them even more trouble and turmoil.
Later, at a state dinner in New York, the Panther fended off an attack from Kraven the Hunter in BLACK PANTHER #6, and set up a rematch with him in BLACK PANTHER #7. The Avengers joined their old compatriot in BLACK PANTHER #8, when Michael Achebe, the man behind the Wakandan coup, orchestrated a riot.
The Black Panther stood with Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in AVENGERS #19 during an assault on the team by Alkhema, a female version of the robotic Ultron. Afterward, T’Challa and his teammates learned of Ultron’s destruction of the small European country Slorenia in AVENGERS #20, and made plans to lead a multi-nation invasion to stop him.
Once in Slorenia, Captain America instructed the Panther and Firestar to hunt down Ultron’s location in AVENGERS #21, and when they accomplished their task, the Avengers seemingly destroyed their foe…until a multitude of Ultrons arrived to battle them. New team member Justice’s timely arrival with Antarctic Vibranium helped turn the tide in AVENGERS #22.
T’Challa decided to confront Achebe directly in BLACK PANTHER #9, but as the situation in Wakanda grew grimmer, in BLACK PANTHER #10 he accused the U.S. intelligence community of fostering the coup. Back in Wakanda in BLACK PANTHER #11, the king fought valiantly against his enemy, but even though he escaped Achebe’s deathtrap in BLACK PANTHER #12, he faced the threat of The White Wolf, too.
BLACK PANTHER #13 revealed T’Challa’s quest for Monica Lynne, while the mystery of the woman known as Queen Divine Justice expanded in the background.
While The Black Panther tracked down the villainous Hydro-Man in BLACK PANTHER #14, his friend Everett Ross settled into his new position as regent to Wakanda. Later, Ross found the job to be fraught with danger as The Hulk appeared during a ritual elephant hunt in INCREDIBLE HULK #15.
T’Challa continued his search to find old foe Erik Killmonger in BLACK PANTHER #16, while back in Wakanda, Killmonger met with Ross and revealed his plan to take over the nation. The Panther mused briefly on the news of Sue Richards marrying Doctor Doom in FANTASTIC FOUR #27, and then joined Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and The Falcon to battle Killmonger’s Harlem-based agents in BLACK PANTHER #17.
Brother Voodoo and Everett Ross urged T’Challa to return to Wakanda in BLACK PANTHER #18 to confront Killmonger’s ever-increasing boldness. Voodoo and the Panther fought Killmonger and his Death Regiment directly in BLACK PANTHER #19, leading to the two eternal foes’ struggle to the death at Warrior Falls in BLACK PANTHER #20.
Moon Knight entered the land of the dead with Brother Voodoo’s help to rescue a dying T’Challa in BLACK PANTHER #21, while Killmonger rose to the role of Chieftan of the Panther Clan in the waking world. The Panther battled Nightmare in BLACK PANTHER #22 to reform his mystical bond to the Panther God. In Wakanda, a war broke out in the Techno Jungle between the Avengers, Deadpool, and Killmonger’s forces in BLACK PANTHER #23.
Still weakened from his ordeal, T’Challa held off an attack by Malice in BLACK PANTHER #24, and Killmonger lost his life while attempting to secure the heart-shaped herb that allows the Black Panthers their strength and abilities. In BLACK PANTHER #25, T’Challa and Ross dealt with the global Maximum Security situation of aliens designating the Earth as a prison world.
|
