Black Panther is a history maker, a king, and the protector of Wakanda who has been going strong for almost 60 years in Marvel Comics. There is probably no more prominent superhero in Black culture than the Black Panther. To honor his incredible legacy, it’s time to count down his top 10 defining moments in the history of Marvel’s first Black superhero.
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Black Panther has endured several hardships while continuing to make history and inspiring all cultures. He’s faced many dangerous villains such as Erik Kilmonger, M’Baku, and his own brother, the White Wolf. He’s triumphed alongside the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and the might of his own kingdom of Wakanda. From 1966 to 2023, here are the Black Panther’s 10 most important moments that start from his iconic debut to his shocking self-exile from Wakanda.
10 Black Panther Meets the Fantastic Four
In 1966, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby released Fantastic Four #52, which saw the iconic debut of the “Sensational” Black Panther. A milestone character created by Lee and Kirby due to the notion that Marvel Comics had no Black/African-born heroes, and it was long overdue. In this issue, the Fantastic Four are given a technologically advanced aircraft by the small nation of Wakanda and their king, T’Challa, who invites the team to visit his country. As the team arrives in Wakanda, the Black Panther ambushes them with the full might of his army and vibranium weapons. Thankfully, T’Challa unmasks and reveals it has been a test to see if they can handle a serious and personal mission.
9 Avenging the Death of King T’Chaka
The death of T’Challa’s father and the previous Black Panther, T’Chaka, is a huge motivating factor for the superhero going forward. In 1966’s Fantastic Four #53 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, T’Challa explains why he brought the Fantastic Four to Wakanda: to avenge his father who died protecting him. Years ago, King T’Chaka was murdered by Ulysses Klaw, a criminal who came to Wakanda to steal vibranium, the country’s most valuable resource, to create weapons. Also, Klaw lost his right arm thanks to a young T’Challa using a vibranium weapon to blow his arm off. This revenge mission sees Black Panther team up with the Fantastic Four to take down Klaw and his military base before he finds the vibranium. After battling Klaw’s minions and destroying his base, Black Panther established a long-term friendship with Marvel’s First Family.
8 Black Panther Joins the Avengers
Thanks to his heroic nature and abilities, Black Panther was a perfect fit for the Avengers. Shortly after befriending the Fantastic Four, T’Challa is recruited by Captain America to help take down his nemesis, Baron Zemo, in Avengers #51 by Roy Thomas and John Buscema. After they win their battle against Zemo, Captain Rogers offers the King of Wakanda a spot in the Avengers. T’Challa’s first mission with the Avengers sees him framed for the “deaths” of the Avengers thanks to the supervillain, the Grim Reaper. This event takes place in Avengers #52, also by Thomas and Buscema, where T’Challa discovers that the Grim Reaper has put the Avengers in a coma as revenge for his brother, Wonder Man, dying on their watch. After he wakes up the heroes and defeats the Reaper, Black Panther is made an official Avenger.
7 T’Challa is a Spy
Over the next three decades, Black Panther is a loyal and reliable member of the Avengers until the team discovers T’Challa’s secret. In 1999’s Marvel Knights: Black Panther #8 by Christopher Priest, Joe Jusko and Amanda Conner, Black Panther is forced to admit that he joined the Avengers, not because of Cap’s offer, but to spy on the team. The issue features the criminal Achebe who tries to start a bloody massacre during a peaceful protest led by the beloved Senator Rakim. While the Avengers protect the citizens, Achebe taunts T’Challa for being a failure as a king and a Black man for working with a predominantly white superhero team. This prompts Black Panther to reveal to his opponent and teammates that he never trusted the Avengers and always studied the heroes closely, just in case they got out of control.
6 Shuri Becomes Black Panther
The Black Panther lives on in T’Challa’s little sister, Princess Shuri. She debuted in 2005’s Black Panther #2 by Reginald Huldin and John Romita Jr. as a child prodigy, inventor and chief vibranium scientist for Wakanda. Thanks to her intelligence and training, she always had the potential to be Queen of Wakanda and the next Black Panther but never got the chance until T’Challa was put in a coma. Namor, an enemy of Black Panther, forms a team of villains known as the Cabal and they put T’Challa in critical condition. With the king out of commission, Shuri takes the Heart-Shaped Herb to gain the powers and mantle of the Black Panther in 2005’s Black Panther #5. Even after T’Challa finds a life without his powers, Shuri becoming the Black Panther is a landmark moment for the kingdom of Wakanda.
5 Black Panther and Storm Get Married
The relationship between Black Panther and the X-Men’s Storm goes back to before T’Challa gained his powers. While performing his rite-of-passage travels outside of Wakanda, a young T’Challa finds and saves a young Ororo Munroe aka Storm from kidnappers. After they defeat her captors, the two bond and catch feelings for each other before their romance is cut short thanks to T’Challa’s duties as prince. In 2006’s Black Panther #15 by Reginald Hudlin and Scott Eaton, after years apart, T’Challa proposes to his long-lost love Storm. The union between King T’Challa and his new queen takes place during the infamous Civil War story arc and their wedding causes both sides to call a temporary truce to celebrate. However, even after a beautiful ceremony and the promise of a brighter future, a new war between heroes and mutants would end the marriage.
4 Namor Floods Wakanda
In the midst of a war between the Avengers and the X-Men, Namor decides to start a war of his own against Wakanda. The 2012 Avengers vs. X-Men event sees the Avengers and the X-Men come to blows over the handling of the new vessel of the Phoenix Force: Hope Summers. While under the influence of the Phoenix Force, Namor’s rage goes haywire as he floods the entire kingdom of Wakanda. This act of war takes place in Avengers vs X-Men #8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Adam Kubert and sparks a long and bitter rivalry between Black Panther and Namor. After this event, the feud gets even more personal when Shuri destroys Namor’s home of Atlantis as vengeance. Namor then sends Thanos and the Black Order to Wakanda to find the Infinity Stone hiding there.
3 The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda
Wakanda isn’t just its own country on Earth; its size has extended beyond the galaxy. The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is a conglomerate of planets and systems started by a group of explorers sent into space by T’Challa. When they are sent into the past, they start an empire named in honor of their homeland. This huge concept was introduced by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuña during 2018-2021’s Black Panther #1-25, which features T’Challa being recruited by the Empire to create an alliance with Earth. However, the Emperor of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, N’Jadaka, seeks to conquer the original Wakanda on Earth. Luckily, T’Challa, Nakia and his army of allies are able to put a stop to his evil plans. With the Emperor destroyed, T’Challa nominates M’Baku to lead the Empire as Regent during Dormmamu’s planned conquest of the universe.
2 Black Panther Leads the Avengers
After years of battling the likes of Kilmonger, Doctor Doom, and evil Celestials, Black Panther is given the keys to the Avengers kingdom. In Avengers #8 by Jason Aaron and David Marquez, the Avengers have defeated the Dark Celestials and to celebrate, they decide to make some big changes. They build a brand-new HQ dubbed “Avengers Mountain” and set about changing the starting lineup of the team. In a unanimous vote among the heroes, Black Panther is elected the new leader of the Avengers. Though T’Challa has his own doubts considering his allegiance to Wakanda, the big three (Thor, Captain America, and Iron Man) assure him that this is the right decision. After years of building back his trust with the Avengers, T’Challa is ready to lead his own superhero team.
1 T’Challa Steps Down As King
The most unthinkable moment in the history of Black Panther sees T’Challa step down as the King of Wakanda indefinitely. This shocking decision to have T’Challa leave his throne behind takes place at the end of 2023’s Black Panther #15 by John Ridley and Germán Peralta. T’Challa is now dealing with the consequences brought by his paranoia in spying on his Avengers teammates. His top spy turned anarchist, Jhai, leaks to the Avengers that T’Challa is still gathering info on them to replicate and counter their abilities. Without the Avengers to help, this leads to Black Panther teaming with his family and trusted Wakandan allies to fight Jhai and his rebel army. In the aftermath, T’Challa expresses guilt over his decision to spy on his friends and decides Wakanda is better off without him on the throne. Now free from his duties as king, Black Panther must learn from his mistakes to become a better leader and hero.