The Beast in the Jungle!

T’Challa has decided that it is finally time for Wakanda to open itself up to the world.[1] From the newly opened Wakandan embassy, he meets with American officials who are desperate to know what how Wakanda will affect America’s policies on Africa, and what sort of deals it plans on making with other nations. T’Challa says that he has much to think about what part his country is going to play on the world stage and that he will meet with them soon. As the officials leave, T’Challa’s teammates in the Avengers come by for a visit.

The Vision has already deduced that the governments of the world are anxious to know what Wakanda’s plans are because of interest in the rare mineral of Vibranium and asks why he chose now to open Wakanda to the world. T’Challa tells them of his recent encounter with Kiber the Kruel and how his isolated hideout reminded him how Wakanda is cut off from the rest of the world and decided that it was time for his people to become more active outside of his nation.[2] When it is time for the Avengers to leave, T’Challa pulls Captain America aside so that they might speak in private. He admits that the real reason he opened up Wakanda was after the entire world was almost destroyed by Jakarra setting off the Vibranium Mound. Exposure to raw Vibranium gave T’Challa mental powers that have since faded into heightened instincts that allow him to sense that things are coming to a crisis point and that doing things the old way is not good enough anymore.[3]

That evening, the Black Panther goes out on patrol and takes in the sight of New York City from the top of the Empire State Building. Looking down at the crowd below, he spots someone he recognizes and decides to follow after them. That person wanders into Harlem, where he is confronted by the Thunderbolts gang who try to mug him at gunpoint.[4] When their victim refuses, their leader shoots the man, who then drops a strange looking horn. Seeing the act of cold blooded murder, T’Challa leaps in to try and stop the hoods from escaping. However, one of the gang members picks up the strange horn and uses it to blast the Panther with sonic energy, allowing them to escape.

Recovering from the blast, the Black Panther checks on the Thunderbols’ victims. Getting a closer look confirms that this is his old foe, Klaw the Master of Sound. Surprisingly, even though Klaw had been shot, there are no bullet wounds. Still, the villain appears to be in some kind of coma. T’Challa then takes Klaw back to Avengers Mansion where his body can be examined. Joining him are Captain America, Iron Man, and the Beast. He explains to them how Klaw murdered his father, T’Chaka, many years ago in order to gain access to Wakanda’s Vibranium. To avenge his father, T’Challa used one of Klaw’s own sonic weapons to cripple his own hand. Many years later, Klaw came back for revenge but the Black Panther defeated him with the help of the Fantastic Four, but not before Klaw was transformed into a being made out of solid sound.[5] The Panther intends to bring Klaw back to Wakanda to stand trial but needs to recover his sound horn from the Thunderbolts before somebody gets hurt.

Meanwhile, at the Port Authority, Monica Lynne and Kevin Trublood have just arrived at the New York Port Authority by bus. They have come looking for T’Challa, little knowing that they are being followed by his old foe, Wind Eagle.[6] At that same moment, back in Harlem, the Thunderbolts have met up with Jackie, a young musician who bought stolen musical equipment from them in the past. They want Jackie to use his technical know how to turn Klaw’s sonic horn into a weapon they can use. When threatened with violence, Jackie realizes he has no choice in the matter and gets down to work.

Later that evening, the Black Panther has returned to Harlem and begins looking for the Thunderbolts. He thinks how much the street gang has changed since he last encountered them. When he comes upon the warehouse they are working out of, T’Challa is unprepared for the weapon that Jackie made out of Klaw’s horn. Possessed by Klaw, Jackie uses the device to create a solid sound construct of an elephant to attack his foe. The beast then grows wings and talons and carries T’Challa up into the sky. Luckily, Captain America arrives and when he strikes the beast in the head with his shield, it lets the Black Panther go. Grateful that his friend has come to his aid, Black Panther and Captain America brace themselves for another attack.

Recurring Characters

Black Panther, Klaw, Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Vision, Beast), Monica Lynn, Kevin Trublood, Thunderbolts (Herbie, Levon, Jackie), Wind Eagle, Aubrey Pearson, T’Chaka (flashback)

Continuity Notes

1. This story seems to contradict the events of Rise of the Black Panther #1-6, which details T’Challa’s early days prior to joining the Avengers. In that story, the existence of Wakanda was revealed to the world at a much earlier date. However, despite the public revelation, they country’s geographic location is kept secret and much of its dealings with the United States, SHIELD, and the outside world is shrouded in secrecy, so the two stories could not be considered mutually exclusive. This index views the potential conflicts as such: Wakanda revealed itself publicly prior to T’Challa joining the Avengers, but kept its dealings with the outside world at arms length, choosing to only deal with choice allies until this story when the country became completely open to the rest of the world.

2. T’Challa fought Kiber the Cruel in Black Panther #11-13.

3. T’Challa saved the world from Jakarra in Black Panther #10.

4. Later, T’Challa recounts the last time he encountered the Thunderbolts gang with Daredevil. That happened in Daredevil #69.

5. T’Chaka’s murder, and Klaws transformation into solid sound was detailed in Fantastic Four #53-54. The murder of T’Chaka has a number of conflicting alternate accounts. I go into those in more detail here.

6. Monica and Kevin are looking for T’Challa because he disappeared on them while trying to solve the murder of Monica’s sister Angela. It’s later revealed that T’Challa’s mind was wiped by the Dragon Circle so he wouldn’t get involved in his plans. See Jungle Action (vol. 2) #19-24 and Marvel Premiere #51-53.

Topical References

• Russia is referred to as the Soviet Union in this story. This should be considered a topical reference as the USSR dissolved in 1991.