When Marvel’s “Black Panther” made his cinematic debut in “Captain America: Civil War” two years ago, there may have been a few who thought that he was a new superhero. But this warrior and rebel has been around since 1966, the year of ABC’s “Batman” and “The Green Hornet”. But it was truly the year of Black Panther as the world’s first black superhero, debuting during the height of the civil rights and Black Power movements. Black Panther has been seen on the small screen in Disney XD’s “Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” and “Avengers: Secret Wars”, but he still remains within the shadows of our world.
But now, after 52 years of being a ghost, an phantom, he is finally ready to step into the superhero spotlight thanks to Chadwick Boseman, who suits up real well in this tailor-made role for him. Passed down from father to son, the Black Panther has been the protector of the fictional Wakanda, the nation responsible for the metal that made the shield for Captain America. To the rest of the world, the neutral Wakanda is a poor and oppressed third world country. But thanks to vibranium, Wakanda has become the most technological and advanced country in the world. However, the sins of the father are about to be visited upon the son when T’Challa, the newly appointed king of Wakanda, faces a formidable threat in the form of a stranger (Michael B. Jordan), who’s at every bit as fierce and fearless as T’Challa. This stranger, though, only has one thing on his mind: vengeance, which consumed T’Challa once upon a time in avenging and revenging his father.
The film and the titular character does it right and might with justice in T’Challa standing up to rise and reign supreme as the king of Wakanda … and as the Black Panther.
Marvel’s “Black Panther” makes a defiant statement that 2018 is indeed the year of black superheroes, and he is definitely taking charge in doing so. Marvel’s “Black Panther” is all that and more.
Overall Rating: **** (4/4)
