Black Panther facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black Panther |
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Art by Gabriele Dell'Otto.
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | T'Challa |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Place of origin | Wakanda, Africa |
| Team affiliations |
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| Partnerships | Storm Shuri |
| Notable aliases | King of the Dead Mr. Okonkwo |
| Abilities |
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Black Panther is a famous superhero from Marvel Comics. He first appeared in the comic book Fantastic Four #52 in July 1966. This character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.
Black Panther's real name is T'Challa. He is the wise king and protector of Wakanda, a secret and advanced nation in Africa. T'Challa gets his special powers from a magical heart-shaped herb. He is also very smart, a skilled fighter, and uses amazing technology from Wakanda.
Black Panther was the first major superhero of African descent in American comics. He appeared years before other well-known Black heroes like the Falcon and Luke Cage. Sometimes, other characters have also taken on the role of Black Panther, like T'Challa's sister, Shuri.
Black Panther has appeared in many TV shows, animated movies, and video games. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he was played by Chadwick Boseman in movies like Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Black Panther (2018). Later, Letitia Wright played Shuri as the new Black Panther in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).
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What are Black Panther's Powers?
The title "Black Panther" is a special role, like being the leader of the Wakandan Panther Clan. To become the Black Panther, a person must eat a unique heart-shaped herb. This herb gives them amazing powers.
These powers include super sharp senses, like being able to smell things from far away. The Black Panther also has enhanced strength, speed, agility, and can heal faster than normal. These abilities are also connected to the Panther Goddess, Bast.
T'Challa, as the "King of the Dead," can also connect with and gain knowledge from all the past Black Panthers. This gives him even more wisdom and strength. He can even summon spirits or create mystical energy weapons.
Black Panther is also a brilliant scientist and inventor. He has a PhD in physics from Oxford University. He uses his intelligence to create advanced technology and strategies. As king, he has access to Wakanda's incredible resources, including magical items and powerful military gear.
Black Panther's Special Suit
Black Panther's suit is made from vibranium, a super-strong and rare metal found only in Wakanda. This special suit can absorb energy, like the force from punches or explosions. It can then release this energy back as powerful bursts.
The suit also has sharp, retractable claws. It often includes other high-tech gadgets, like an "energy dagger" and a portable supercomputer called a "Kimoyo card."
Who Else Has Been Black Panther?
The title of Black Panther is usually passed down through the royal family of Wakanda. However, it must always be earned through a tough selection process. Many brave warriors have held this important role throughout history.
Ancient Black Panthers
- Mosi was a Black Panther from a very long time ago, around 1,000,000 BC. He was part of an ancient team of heroes, like the Avengers from the Stone Age.
- Olumo Bashenga was the first Black Panther. He lived when the vibranium meteorite crashed in Wakanda. He united the different tribes and founded the nation of Wakanda, becoming its first king and the first Black Panther. He had a special connection with the Panther Goddess.
- Nehanda was a Black Panther in the 11th century. She was also a member of the Avengers of her time.
Black Panthers in Recent History
- T'Chanda (Azzuri the Wise) was the Black Panther during World War II. He was known for being very wise and compassionate. He even fought off Nazi super-powered forces that tried to invade Wakanda.
- T'Chaka was T'Challa's father. He became king and Black Panther after his father, T'Chanda. T'Chaka worked hard to protect Wakanda and keep it safe from outsiders. He was sadly killed while protecting his kingdom from a villain trying to steal vibranium.
- S'Yan was T'Chaka's younger brother and T'Challa's uncle. He became Black Panther and ruled Wakanda for a short time after T'Chaka's death, until T'Challa was old enough to take over. He was a beloved leader.
- Shuri is T'Challa's younger sister. When T'Challa was unable to rule, Shuri bravely stepped up to become the Black Panther and queen of Wakanda. This was a special time because it meant there were two Black Panthers at once!
Black Panther in Other Media
Black Panther is a very popular character and has appeared in many different forms of media.
Television Shows
Black Panther has been featured in several animated TV series:
- He had his own show called Black Panther, where he was voiced by Djimon Hounsou.
- He appeared in Fantastic Four and X-Men.
- A younger T'Challa appeared in Iron Man: Armored Adventures.
- He was a main character in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by James C. Mathis III. This show explored his origin story and how he joined the Avengers.
- He also appeared in Avengers Assemble, where he became a leader of the All-New, All-Different Avengers. This series also showed past Black Panthers like T'Chanda and Bashenga.
- More recently, Black Panther appeared in Spidey and His Amazing Friends.
Movies
Black Panther has been in animated and live-action films:
- In animated movies, he appeared in Ultimate Avengers 2 and Next Avengers: Heroes of Tomorrow.
- In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Chadwick Boseman played T'Challa / Black Panther. He was a major character in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.
- After Chadwick Boseman's passing, his voice was used for alternate versions of T'Challa in the animated series What If...?.
- In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), T'Challa's sister, Shuri, took on the mantle of Black Panther.
Video Games
Black Panther is a popular playable character in many video games:
- He has appeared in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2.
- He is in many Lego Marvel games, including Lego Marvel Super Heroes and Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2.
- You can play as Black Panther in mobile games like Marvel Contest of Champions and Marvel Future Fight.
- He is also a downloadable character in Marvel's Avengers and a purchasable outfit in Fortnite Battle Royale.
Books
Several novels have been written about Black Panther:
- Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther? by J. Holland, Jesse (2017).
- Black Panther - The Junior Novel by Jim McCann (2018), which is a book version of the Black Panther movie.
- Black Panther: The Young Prince by Ronald L. Smith (2017).
See also
