T'Challa: The Black Panther Appreciation 2024

[Frontier]

The reality is that Storm isn't the issue. Marvel will not allow a BP solo writer to put T'Challa in a relationship to keep that door open. They keep hinting a some future relationship where T'Challa and Storm have kids and grandkids. Meanwhile the X-office is under no restriction when it comes to having Storm in a relationship with other characters.

I don't have any problem with that. I have an issue with Marvel constantly undercutting and undermining T'Challa at every turn. Can't be king, can't be in a relationship, can't have solid wins. I don't understand why they that think this is a sustainable model for BP.

I think the problem is Storm writers using her to take potshots at T'Challa and Wakanda.

[Marvell2100]

I think the problem is Storm writers using her to take potshots at T'Challa and Wakanda.

I think they used to lurk in the thread and do that crap just to annoy BP fans. But I guess they didn't care enough about her to just focus on continuing her development in the X-books.

[Mantis-Ray]

I think they used to lurk in the thread and do that crap just to annoy BP fans. But I guess they didn't care enough about her to just focus on continuing her development in the X-books.

I think writers in general have an issue of buying into Storm's hype too much.

Like I was just told that Storm's story in the new Women of Marvel Voices special, she once again steals from her friends to avoid having a conversation, this time breaking into Asgard and killing some Nidhoggs instead of just asking Thor. Even worse is that it doesn't work as intended, only causing a lot of noise and pissing of the bad guys.

So once again Storm is written as a bad friend and makes terrible decisions born of her own impulse.

[Marvell2100]

I think writers in general have an issue of buying into Storm's hype too much.

Like I was just told that Storm's story in the new Women of Marvel Voices special, she once again steals from her friends to avoid having a conversation, this time breaking into Asgard and killing some Nidhoggs instead of just asking Thor. Even worse is that it doesn't work as intended, only causing a lot of noise and pissing of the bad guys.

So once again Storm is written as a bad friend and makes terrible decisions born of her own impulse.

"But it's so cool how she snuck in and stole stuff and made everyone look bad!"

Lol, why ask when you can just steal from your friends. And if your friends so no, just steal it anyway.

[Ezyo1000]

Well they better do something. If there are no romantic feelings between T'Challa and Okoye, then he should have somebody. It's not a matter of being disloyal to Okoye if they don't love each other.

That what I mean by this is a rare opportunity to really organically grow a relationship between them, like, the last time we saw anything like that for T'Challa was McGregors Panthers Rage with Monica, and I hope for something like that, where BOTH developed real feelings and want to be together. It's been almost 20 years since T'Challa got together with Storm and all this time he is left hung up on her. Let the man have a healthy relationship

[chief12d]

In House of M, Shanna was in his harem with Monica Lynn.

I’m surprised no modern writer has brought Malaika back.

That Shanna stuff really came out of nowhere during the Hudlin run lol. They hinted they might’ve been a thing (I think in 616 too) and I still don’t understand how that works continuity-wise. In another universe that could be funny.

I would like to see T’Challa interact more with Savage Land characters like Shanna and Ka-Zar since it’s home to vibranium and dinosaurs like Wakanda. I imagine T’Challa would see strategic value in making sure the Savage Land is protected from exploitation. And maybe Wakandans have visited there in the past for pilgrimage or exile. Could be a fun story and a great excuse to do something besides a “Wakanda is falling apart” arc.

I think the next BP series is gonna have to go hard on the mysticism and pulpiness aspect of BP to distinguish itself from recent failures. T’Challa as a poor man’s Batman is clearly not a winning formula and with Ultimate BP finally doing a traditional take, I think the next BP series needs to be adventurous and lighter. If it’s more T’Challa dealing with BS in Wakanda while learning about himself for the 100th time post-Nation Under Our Feet the book will be cancelled like Ewing and Ridley. 616 T’Challa is ruined until the direction changes.

[Marvell2100]

That Shanna stuff really came out of nowhere during the Hudlin run lol. They hinted they might’ve been a thing (I think in 616 too) and I still don’t understand how that works continuity-wise. In another universe that could be funny.

I would like to see T’Challa interact more with Savage Land characters like Shanna and Ka-Zar since it’s home to vibranium and dinosaurs like Wakanda. I imagine T’Challa would see strategic value in making sure the Savage Land is protected from exploitation. And maybe Wakandans have visited there in the past for pilgrimage or exile. Could be a fun story and a great excuse to do something besides a “Wakanda is falling apart” arc.

I think the next BP series is gonna have to go hard on the mysticism and pulpiness aspect of BP to distinguish itself from recent failures. T’Challa as a poor man’s Batman is clearly not a winning formula and with Ultimate BP finally doing a traditional take, I think the next BP series needs to be adventurous and lighter. If it’s more T’Challa dealing with BS in Wakanda while learning about himself for the 100th time post-Nation Under Our Feet the book will be cancelled like Ewing and Ridley. 616 T’Challa is ruined until the direction changes.

I agree that the model of the last few years for BP and Wakanda has been disastrous.

I wouldn't mind them bringing back an Agents of Wakanda/X-Force type book where T'Challa leads a team that deals with some of the hidden, underlying threats not only to Wakanda but to the world.

[chief12d]

I think the problem is Storm writers using her to take potshots at T'Challa and Wakanda.

Ewing wrote the best modern Storm epic in years and I don’t think T’Challa was brought up once, we don’t gotta do that. And a little jab in a bad Wolverine ongoing is not stopping T’Challa from getting with Monica or Zanda.

The Storm/T’Challa dynamic is about Black Panther writers using it to deconstruct T’Challa’s failures as a person, hero, and king (just look at Ridley and Coates). That’s why it sucks, it only exists to show T’Challa mess up and be wrong because writers focus on the “leaders of different peoples” trope and create conflicts that Storm will never be written to lose because we all know why. It’s why Coates never had Ororo be confronted about AvX the way T’Challa was and why Ridley has him groveling on his feet after she physically attacked him.

T’Challa’s next love interest should not be a leader or political rival. Like Storm herself, he needs a love interest who takes backseat in the pair because there’s something more important than either of them, Wakanda. I never understood this idea T’Challa needs an “equal” in romance (or what that even means). He’s the king, the ultimate representative of his god, and the one with his name in the title. Everyone in Wakanda should be secondary in his book, including his love interest. Making them some ruler in their own right is not compelling and a misunderstanding of the core appeal of T’Challa himself.

[dkrook]

I think the problem is Storm writers using her to take potshots at T'Challa and Wakanda.

Agreed, and that type of petty goes a long way in showing just how lacking In vision and talent those writers are. They access to a character with such potential and the most you do is childishly snip at another character, a black one at that. You really see the contrast between boys and men when Ewing (Al) got hold of Storm, he WROTE her, built up her legacy without the need to snip at anyone, especially Black Panther. I've said it there and I'll say it again, best thing for X-Men is to just ship all those other clique, fan boy writers away and start fresh with good young talent with the edict to write a team book as a team. Don't write Wolverine or Cyclops and just float some other mutants around them.

[chief12d]

I agree that the model of the last few years for BP and Wakanda has been disastrous.

I wouldn't mind them bringing back an Agents of Wakanda/X-Force type book where T'Challa leads a team that deals with some of the hidden, underlying threats not only to Wakanda but to the world.

I never quite liked the Agents of Wakanda name because it felt a bit too derivative of the SHIELD title but the book itself was a lot of fun. It had a wacky roster and it felt like a solid return to T’Challa’s swashbuckling from his earlier appearances. Honestly I think a BP-led team like that may be on the table again instead of another solo. If Marvel wanted it could do another

[Frontier]

Agents of Wakanda deserved more issues.

Ewing wrote the best modern Storm epic in years and I don’t think T’Challa was brought up once, we don’t gotta do that. And a little jab in a bad Wolverine ongoing is not stopping T’Challa from getting with Monica or Zanda.

The Storm/T’Challa dynamic is about Black Panther writers using it to deconstruct T’Challa’s failures as a person, hero, and king (just look at Ridley and Coates). That’s why it sucks, it only exists to show T’Challa mess up and be wrong because writers focus on the “leaders of different peoples” trope and create conflicts that Storm will never be written to lose because we all know why. It’s why Coates never had Ororo be confronted about AvX the way T’Challa was and why Ridley has him groveling on his feet after she physically attacked him.

T’Challa’s next love interest should not be a leader or political rival. Like Storm herself, he needs a love interest who takes backseat in the pair because there’s something more important than either of them, Wakanda. I never understood this idea T’Challa needs an “equal” in romance (or what that even means). He’s the king, the ultimate representative of his god, and the one with his name in the title. Everyone in Wakanda should be secondary in his book, including his love interest. Making them some ruler in their own right is not compelling and a misunderstanding of the core appeal of T’Challa himself.

I'm not sure if it was in SWORD or X-Men Red or Guardians but I feel like there was as scene where Storm threw shade at T'Challa for the Ridley stuff and going all "no thrones!!!"

I don't think a love interest should overtake T'Challa in the narrative of the book but it's easier for people to buy in and support a relationship where both halves feel like equals in terms of the relationship. That's what separates the good romances from the generic love interests.

[Marvell2100]

Agreed, and that type of petty goes a long way in showing just how lacking In vision and talent those writers are. They access to a character with such potential and the most you do is childishly snip at another character, a black one at that. You really see the contrast between boys and men when Ewing (Al) got hold of Storm, he WROTE her, built up her legacy without the need to snip at anyone, especially Black Panther. I've said it there and I'll say it again, best thing for X-Men is to just ship all those other clique, fan boy writers away and start fresh with good young talent with the edict to write a team book as a team. Don't write Wolverine or Cyclops and just float some other mutants around them.

It says alot. Like you said, writers who engage in that kind of crap have a lack of ideas and use cheap tactics to draw attention to their work. They rely on reality TV drama instead of trying to tell a good story.

[Marvell2100]

Agents of Wakanda deserved more issues.

I'm not sure if it was in SWORD or X-Men Red or Guardians but I feel like there was as scene where Storm threw shade at T'Challa for the Ridley stuff and going all "no thrones!!!"

I don't think a love interest should overtake T'Challa in the narrative of the book but it's easier for people to buy in and support a relationship where both halves feel like equals in terms of the relationship. That's what separates the good romances from the generic love interests.

I think it was in X-Men: Red where that happened. It also helps when the writers/editors are on the same page working together instead of one group trying to undermine the other.

[Will Evans]

Ewing wrote the best modern Storm epic in years and I don’t think T’Challa was brought up once, we don’t gotta do that. And a little jab in a bad Wolverine ongoing is not stopping T’Challa from getting with Monica or Zanda.

The Storm/T’Challa dynamic is about Black Panther writers using it to deconstruct T’Challa’s failures as a person, hero, and king (just look at Ridley and Coates). That’s why it sucks, it only exists to show T’Challa mess up and be wrong because writers focus on the “leaders of different peoples” trope and create conflicts that Storm will never be written to lose because we all know why. It’s why Coates never had Ororo be confronted about AvX the way T’Challa was and why Ridley has him groveling on his feet after she physically attacked him.

T’Challa’s next love interest should not be a leader or political rival. Like Storm herself, he needs a love interest who takes backseat in the pair because there’s something more important than either of them, Wakanda. I never understood this idea T’Challa needs an “equal” in romance (or what that even means). He’s the king, the ultimate representative of his god, and the one with his name in the title. Everyone in Wakanda should be secondary in his book, including his love interest. Making them some ruler in their own right is not compelling and a misunderstanding of the core appeal of T’Challa himself.

I guess you wouldn’t like the idea of Zanda being a friends with benefits type thing.

[Marvell2100]

I guess you wouldn’t like the idea of Zanda being a friends with benefits type thing.

I have no problem with Zanda filling that role at all .