Black Panther Appreciation 2020

[Cville]

It depends on which sect of Wakandans we're talking about here. In Hudlin's Wakanda, the Desturi were an extremist group who would express their anti-mutant sentiments, referring to them as witches, monsters and mutant abominations.*

And Storm gets referred to as Weather Witch on more than one occasion by a Wakandan. Nakia even said to Storm once, that "my village would have drowned you at birth," after referring to her as a weather witch. **



The Crew was more of a Misty Knight story than a BP story. It was false advertising. That's why it sucked.

*See Doom War #1

** See X-Men: Wakanda Forever #1-2

"Mayberrys' Wakanda". He had fully taken over by then.

And he's next to Coates on the worst things to happen to Tchalla and Wakanda list. Lol.

[Common Writer]

The Desturi were a foreign backed coup and an extremist minority who said and did things virtually zero Wakandans would never agree with. I don't think what they said represents any anti-mutant bias in Wakanda. They could've easily been spouting rhetoric that meant nothing.

And Storm's been referred to as a weather witch by people who aren't anti-mutant iirc. Nakia's comment doesn't mean she was being anti-mutant. And she was mentally unstable and on drugs, so her comment about drowning presumably mutant babies is unreliable at best.

There's been no definitive statement that any Wakandans have an issue with mutants. Gentle, a half-Wakandan mutant even went as far as saying the X-gene is known and accepted in Wakanda but outsiders like him are not. Most of the negative interactions between Wakandans and mutants have the added aspect of those mutants being foreigners. There's only one recorded instance of a full-blooded Wakandan mutant and while he hid his mutancy from people it had nothing to do with fear of persecution and everything to do with wanting to be a complete non-entity for his hacking activities. The Wakandan people worship a mutant as a goddess (which is garbage but still canon) and the mutant hero Manifold is considered an ally and friend to the people of Wakanda.

We're talking about a vast nation of people here.

It's in the realm of possibility to have some Wakandans be pro-mutant while others be anti-mutant. Just like anywhere else.

And as for the Desturi, T'Challa himself describes them as "a fundamentalist group who are deeply xenophobic," who had "infiltrated all levels of the government, with agents planted in the military, the press everywhere."* Now If the very presence of the X-gene may be enough of a distinction for mutants to have their own scientific classification as a subspecies of humanity. Then a deeply xenophobic group, such as the Desturi would treat them as such.

And if the Desturi are powerful enough to infiltrate levels of government, plant agents in the military, the press and everywhere else, then they are also powerful enough to back certain bills, policies, and propaganda that would subjugate mutant population in Wakanda, relegating them to second class citizens in their own country.

This is the very story that Coates should have written for BP.

*Again, See Doom War #1

[XPac]

We're talking about a vast nation of people here.

It's in the realm of possibility to have some Wakandans be pro-mutant while others be anti-mutant. Just like anywhere else.

And as for the Desturi, T'Challa himself describes them as "a fundamentalist group who are deeply xenophobic," who had "infiltrated all levels of the government, with agents planted in the military, the press everywhere."* Now If the very presence of the X-gene may be enough of a distinction for mutants to have their own scientific classification as a subspecies of humanity. Then a deeply xenophobic group, such as the Desturi would treat them as such.

And if the Desturi are powerful enough to infiltrate levels of government, plant agents in the military, the press and everywhere else, then they are also powerful enough to back certain bills, policies, and propaganda that would subjugate mutant population in Wakanda, relegating them to second class citizens in their own country.

This is the very story that Coates should have written for BP.

*Again, See Doom War #1

Because this is fiction, they could credibly say there's a small group of anti-mutant Wakandans if the writers felt like it. It would have to be a small minority fringe group, as clearly the general populace of Wakanda seemed pretty accepting of Storm especially in recent months.

[chief12d]

We're talking about a vast nation of people here.

It's in the realm of possibility to have some Wakandans be pro-mutant while others be anti-mutant. Just like anywhere else.

And as for the Desturi, T'Challa himself describes them as "a fundamentalist group who are deeply xenophobic," who had "infiltrated all levels of the government, with agents planted in the military, the press everywhere."* Now If the very presence of the X-gene may be enough of a distinction for mutants to have their own scientific classification as a subspecies of humanity. Then a deeply xenophobic group, such as the Desturi would treat them as such.

And if the Desturi are powerful enough to infiltrate levels of government, plant agents in the military, the press and everywhere else, then they are also powerful enough to back certain bills, policies, and propaganda that would subjugate mutant population in Wakanda, relegating them to second class citizens in their own country.

This is the very story that Coates should have written for BP.

*Again, See Doom War #1

I'm not denying that there aren't Wakandans who are against mutants. I'm saying that there hasn't been a single story or panel that conclusively confirms there's a faction who do or shows it to be a big issue. It's a possibility though, we can agree on that much. Writers can do whatever they want, even if it doesn't make sense.

Xenophobia is fear of outsiders. A full-blooded Wakandan is not the same as an outsider because they were born and raised inside the kingdom. They are a subspecies that despite the ravings of the X-Office, are effectively human. Mutants have been in Wakanda for as long as there has been a Wakanda. Xenophobes can hold their beliefs but still respect/not mistreat Wakandans who happen to be mutants, Gentle said as much.

My whole point is that the Desturi relied on outsider help to gain power and otherwise were a marginal faction whose actions and rhetoric were influenced by Doom. They only got as far as they did due to foreign assistance. Even during Doomwar we see the Wakandan people engaging in a silent protest, refusing to work or attend school in opposition to the new regime and the means they took to rise to power.

Their power was never shown to be absolute which is why T'Challa could so easily cut the head off their operations when he attacked alongside his allies. There's no evidence to suggest there was any brewing anti-mutant legislation or that such things would have been a priority. Nor is there any evidence to suggest that they had the capacity to fully implement it since they were having trouble with people showing up to work. Even without T'Challa, the Desturi had tenuous control over Wakanda. In fact, the only mutant we see the Desturi go after also happens to be the foreign queen with enough power to single-handedly wipe them out.

And I never want to see a story about Wakandan anti-mutantcy, especially if written by Coates.

[chief12d]

Because this is fiction, they could credibly say there's a small group of anti-mutant Wakandans if the writers felt like it. It would have to be a small minority fringe group, as clearly the general populace of Wakanda seemed pretty accepting of Storm especially in recent months.

Writers can do whatever they want, my point is that outside of the Desturi's leader and a drugged up Nakia making some vague statement to a romantic "rival" there's no conclusive evidence to suggest there's a fringe of Wakandans who hate mutants. Even within the Desturi there was opposition to using an outsider to overthrow T'Challa, meaning its fair to suggest that the number of anti-mutant Wakandans within the Desturi and outside it is either non-existent or minuscule to the point of irrelevance. At least as far as we know.

[XPac]

Writers can do whatever they want, my point is that outside of the Desturi's leader and a drugged up Nakia making some vague statement to a romantic "rival" there's no conclusive evidence to suggest there's a fringe of Wakandans who hate mutants. Even within the Desturi there was opposition to using an outsider to overthrow T'Challa, meaning its fair to suggest that the number of anti-mutant Wakandans within the Desturi and outside it is either non-existent or minuscule to the point of irrelevance. At least as far as we know.

The easiest way to tell a story like that, if one wanted to tell that story, I suppose is to just use mutants who are outsiders. That mixes the mutant issue with the pre-existing xenophobia aspect already established.

Gentle obviously got a lot of hate. Storm generally speaking is loved, but it's very easy to imagine some Wakandans resenting an outsider dating the King. Plus the AvX stuff. Eden likewise is an outsider, who supposedly is dating another member of the Royal family. That's 3 mutants right there which potentially could trigger some degree of backlash from the more xenophobic Wakandans. If they create one or two new characters, you have a team book.

[chief12d]

The easiest way to tell a story like that, if one wanted to tell that story, I suppose is to just use mutants who are outsiders. That mixes the mutant issue with the pre-existing xenophobia aspect already established.

Gentle obviously got a lot of hate. Storm generally speaking is loved, but it's very easy to imagine some Wakandans resenting an outsider dating the King. Plus the AvX stuff. Eden likewise is an outsider, who supposedly is dating another member of the Royal family. That's 3 mutants right there which potentially could trigger some degree of backlash from the more xenophobic Wakandans. If they create one or two new characters, you have a team book.

I think the point of contention is whether Wakandans are biased against full-blooded Wakandan mutants, those born and raised in the kingdom. None of the mutants who have had less than ideal experiences in the kingdom fit that profile. If there was gonna be a team of Wakandan mutants (which I don't and never will want) it'd have to be composed of Muti from that Shuri ongoing and a bunch of new mutant characters. Though I could see Gentle, Storm, and Manifold getting involved.

If anything, I'd like a team of superpowered Wakandans composed of mostly martial artists and vibranium mutates, which is a massively underused concept in the BP mythos and something completely original. Okoye, Vibraxas, Muti, Kaspar Cole, and K'Maria, that one Wakandan SHIELD agent from back in the day. Featuring appearances from Manifold and Asha. Something like that should've been the Agents of Wakanda (renamed to War Dog Network).

[Devaishwarya]

Comics by Perch gives a hopeful little tidbit regarding Black Panther after Coates.
"A new Black Panther title...adventure, classic take tying into the movie...less politics and less space more solid James Bond meets Black Panther."

[Cville]

I think the point of contention is whether Wakandans are biased against full-blooded Wakandan mutants, those born and raised in the kingdom. None of the mutants who have had less than ideal experiences in the kingdom fit that profile. If there was gonna be a team of Wakandan mutants (which I don't and never will want) it'd have to be composed of Muti from that Shuri ongoing and a bunch of new mutant characters. Though I could see Gentle, Storm, and Manifold getting involved.

If anything, I'd like a team of superpowered Wakandans composed of mostly martial artists and vibranium mutates, which is a massively underused concept in the BP mythos and something completely original. Okoye, Vibraxas, Muti, Kaspar Cole, and K'Maria, that one Wakandan SHIELD agent from back in the day. Featuring appearances from Manifold and Asha. Something like that should've been the Agents of Wakanda (renamed to War Dog Network).

This could be tied into Hickmans' info sheet that said Wakanda has three economic protectorates. This team could travel around those countries solving problems for the new status quo.

Comics by Perch gives a hopeful little tidbit regarding Black Panther after Coates.
"A new Black Panther title...adventure, classic take tying into the movie...less politics and less space more solid James Bond meets Black Panther."

Link?

[XPac]

Comics by Perch gives a hopeful little tidbit regarding Black Panther after Coates.
"A new Black Panther title...adventure, classic take tying into the movie...less politics and less space more solid James Bond meets Black Panther."

James Bond Black Panther could be fun. We got a bit of that in the movie with the casino stuff.

[Devaishwarya]

This could be tied into Hickmans' info sheet that said Wakanda has three economic protectorates. This team could travel around those countries solving problems for the new status quo.



Link?

It's up on YT.
He was talking about certain "rumours" about Marvel in general going forward. His mentioning BP was pretty much that one line, give or take a word or two.

[chief12d]

This could be tied into Hickmans' info sheet that said Wakanda has three economic protectorates. This team could travel around those countries solving problems for the new status quo.



Link?

I'd actually wanna push them as the Wakandan equivalent to SHIELD, who should consider the War Dogs a geopolitical rival. Globetrotting espionage and international politics that takes them from Azania one issue to Sokovia the next. I frankly don't give a damn about Hickman and the X-books status quo and would prefer BP writers to treat whatever comments that are made in that line like an alternate reality. I don't like the idea of Wakandan protectorates for a lot of reasons and Wakandan intelligence should have much bigger adventures than just what's happening across the border.

[Cville]

I'd actually wanna push them as the Wakandan equivalent to SHIELD, who should consider the War Dogs a geopolitical rival. Globetrotting espionage and international politics that takes them from Azania one issue to Sokovia the next. I frankly don't give a damn about Hickman and the X-books status quo and would prefer BP writers to treat whatever comments that are made in that line like an alternate reality. I don't like the idea of Wakandan protectorates for a lot of reasons and Wakandan intelligence should have much bigger adventures than just what's happening across the border.

Unless its world ending or a direct threat to Wakanda, I dont see agents doing much outside of Wakandan interests. Why would they care about what's going on in Sokovia?

[Ezyo1000]

Comics by Perch gives a hopeful little tidbit regarding Black Panther after Coates.
"A new Black Panther title...adventure, classic take tying into the movie...less politics and less space more solid James Bond meets Black Panther."

Link?

I don't need it to tie into the movie, I want it to tie into Priest and Hudlins run

[Ezyo1000]

Of I got my hands on AoW, I would turn it into essentially a war dog ghost recon team, highly trained HZ doing high profile espionage and defense for Wakanda. T'Challa can't be everywhere so that's were the repurposed HZ come in. I would even ha e then team up with the DM as well for joint missions