Gorilla Warfare, Book 1 of 2: Hell(o), I Must Be Going

Everett Ross wakes up and goes to the bathroom in the dark. When he feels a strange burning sensation as he pees, he decides to turn on a light and sees what is going on. When he does so, he is shocked to discover that he is trapped in the body of Mephisto and that his piss melted his toilet.[1] Deciding that this is too much to handle, Ross crawls back into bed. That’s when he gets an angry phone call from his new boss, Henry Gyrich. He’s pissed that the Black Panther has not shown up for their 9 am appointment. Ross tells Gyrich that T’Challa isn’t late, he is either detained with something else or is intentionally makin him wait. He then tells Gyrich to get used to that and hands up so he can cry for his mother.

As soon as Gyrich puts his cell phone away, T’Challa steps off a city bus. He apologizes for being late as he was detained by a security briefing. He explains that he took the bus to meet as he intended to travel incognito given the current anti-Wakandan sentiment in the United States presently.[2] T’Challa is impressed that Gyrich already knows about how his step-mother Ramonda and Queen Divine Justice are missing in the Crystal Jungle, the domain of the Jubari (White Gorilla) Tribe a group that is outlawed in Wakanda.[3] Gyrich assumes that T’Challa wants to head off to mount a rescue mission and offers to make the proper clearances. However, T’Challa assures him that the matter is being resolved itself and suggests they get some coffee instead.

While they are talking, Everett Ross manages to get himself out of bed. Thinking that the Black Panther can help him, he heads to the Wakandan Embassy. However, he is turned away by a police officer who thinks Ross is added trouble between the protestors and counter-protestors standing outside the front gate.

By this time, Gyrich has made his position clear, that his intentions are to keep T’Challa on a short leash. T’Challa finds this amusing as Gyrich’s current position is punishment after his involvement in the Omega-32 conspiracy.[3] When they leave the coffee shop from the back door Okoye is waiting outside with a parked Wakandan fighter plane. When Henry tells T’Challa to call him when he gets back to America, the King of Wakanda says that won’t be necessary as Gyrich will be coming with him.

Meanwhile, Everett Ross passes by an electronics shop window and catches a news interview with the person who stole his body. He is shocked to see that his impostor has managed to get involved in a case that Ross was trying to get. He only catches a snippet of the report before the owners of the shop come out and chase him off with a baseball bat.[4]

Later, the Black Panther and Henry Gyrich arrive over the Crystal Forest in Wakanda. T’Challa has Gyrich put on a parka before the two air drop out of their plane. When they land, the Panther spots an abandoned vehicle with Vibraxas’ scent. He tells Henry that they should hurry as the youth could be in serious trouble who has by now made it to the Gorilla Palace, home of the Jabari Tribe.[5]

Back in America, Ross has discovered that his impostor has also made the front page of the magazines. Continuing his search for T’Challa, he arrives at Avengers Mansion hoping to get help there. When he identifies himself at the front gate, Jarvis recognizes his voice and buzzes him in. However, when Ross walks onto the property the security systems scan him and identify him as Mephisto and start attacking. Breaking free with powers he didn’t realize he had, Ross flies off, apologizing for the damage he caused.[6]

Simultaneously, as the Black Panther and Gyrich race to save Vibraxas, Queen Divine Justice has learned that she is the ruler of the Jabari Tribe. As she is being fitted for a new dress, she learns — to her dismay —that they have no television. That’s when Vibraxas (N’Kano) vibrates through the wall to rescue her. Now that he has found her, N’Kano asks why she didn’t tell him that she was part of the Dora Milaje.[7] Before Queen can answer, he is ambushed by the Man-Ape (M’Baku). Before he can fight back, Queen’s new servants cold clock him and knock the young hero out from behind, bringing the fight to an abrupt end. However, when M’Baku orders him kill, Queen Divine Justice stays their hands. The Man-Ape can tell that QDJ has feelings for N’Kano and warns her that they could never have a relationship due to the rules of the Dora Milaje. Queen is well aware of this and thinks these laws are outdated and stupid. He tells her that she is viewing African culture through the lense of western culture as opposed to tradition.

He then takes her out to the balcony so they can overlook the other members of the Jabari tribe. M’Baku tells her that the Jabari are already shunned by the rest of Wakanda as it has been decreed that their worship of the white gorilla has been deemed forbidden, forcing them to live in exile. When discussing her kidnapping, the Man-Ape explains that it was the Black Panther who kidnapped her to begin with. He reveals that Queen’s parents were members of the Jabari Tribe that were living in exile before they were killed as per a royal edict.[8]

Back in America, Everett Ross goes to the Sanctum Sanctorum hoping that Doctor Strange can help him out. However, it is Valkyrie of the Defenders who answers the door. Once again mistaken for Mephisto, Silver Surfer orders Valkyrie to attack him.[9]

At this same time, Queen Divine Justice is putting on a beautiful dress made out of diamonds. She is briefly visited by T’Challa who has managed to sneak into her dressing room. She tells him how Man-Ape has Vibraxas prisoner and all of the things she told him about her family. She thinks they are lies, but T’Challa admits that there is much he regrets not telling her. When her aides come to get her, T’Challa disappears before being seen.

QDJ is then brought out to the balcony again for a ceremony she thinks is a wedding. Man-Ape points out that this is not the case as they are cousins. He tells her that this is actually a declaration of war. That’s when the Black Panther (disguised as a priest) doffs his robes and attacks M’Baku. The Man-Ape accuses T’Challa of trying to undermine his people by exiling and murdering their chieftan — Queen’s father — and then making her part of the Dora Milaje. When T’Challa asks M’Baku to choose his challenge, he decides that this shall be settled for a one-on-one battle. However, the Black Panther has decided that his part in the contest will be fought by proxy and that Henry Gyrich will be his champion. Henry doesn’t hear this because he is too busy fiddling with his electronics. When he looks up to see what is going on, it is as the Man-Ape is charging at him to wage battle!

Recurring Characters

Black Panther, Man-Ape, Queen Divine Justice, “Mephisto”, Everett Ross, Vibraxas, Valkyrie, Henry Gyrich, Okoye, Edwin Jarvis (voice only), Silver Surfer (voice only)

Continuity Notes

1. Everett was subject to a body swap following the events of Black Panther (vol. 3) #30. However, appearances to the contrary, he is not actually trapped in the body of Mephisto. In fact, he is in the body of Chaintang, a shapeshifting dragon as we’ll learn in issue #38.

2. The United States and Wakanda have had strained relations since T’Challa called the US out on a failed coup (Black Panther (vol. 3) #1-12) and more recently because Wakanda was perceived as almost starting a world war during its conflict with Deviant Lemuria (Black Panther (vol. 3) #26-29).

3. Queen Divine Justice and Ramonda were captured by the Man-Ape in Black Panther (vol. 3) #32. Here, T’Challa refers to Gyrich as the former government liaison to the Avengers. Gyrich took on this job in Avengers #165 until he was replaced by Raymond Sikorski in Avengers #235. He also mentions how Gyrich is making amends for the Omega-32 conspiracy. Gyrich had been used as a pawn of Hydra to infect the world’s superhumans with nanites so they could all be simultaneously destroyed. This conspiracy occurred throughout Thunderbolts #34-50 and explained in more detail in Citizen V and the V-Battalion #1-3.

4. It’s mentioned here how Everett Ross recently won a case that went before the US Senate. That was defending T’Challa’s actions following a conflict between Wakanda and Deviant Lemuria that almost plunged the United States and the world into war in Black Panther (vol. 3) #26-29. The trial took place in Black Panther (vol. 3) #30.

5. Gyrich quickly goes over the Vibraxas’ origins — how he was orphaned and got his powers in a vibrational powers in a Vibranium accident — as well as how he was a member of Fantastic Force before it disbanded. N’Kano’s origins were first told in Fantastic Four #391, he joined the Fantastic Force in (you guessed it) Fantastic Force #1. He remained a member until the group was disbanded following the events of Fantastic Four #416.

6. The Avengers are not at home in this story because it takes place during the Kang Dynasty storyline which took place between Avengers (vol. 3) #41-54. There are also protestors outside Avengers Mansion, although not implicitly stated, they are likely there due to the Avengers recent opposition of the Triune Understanding religious cult of whom they had been in a muddy PR battle with since Avengers (vol. 3) #15. This adversity will pretty well resolve itself in Avengers (vol. 3) #50.

7. As stated in Black Panther (vol. 3) #1, the Dora Milaje are women representing each tribe that makes up Wakanda. They are chosen to be “brides in waiting” to the king. Traditionally, the King of Wakanda would eventually choose one to be hide mate. In recent history, this has become more a symbolic position and they are trained to be the king’s bodyguards and soldiers. However, some of the traditions still stand, such as the fact that the Dora Milaje are forbidden to have relations with anyone other than the king. Vibraxas and QDJ have been having a fling since they first met in Black Panther (vol. 3) #26. However, N’Kano originally thought she was merely a cook and didn’t learn the truth about her position until issue #31.

8. Here, M’Baku mentions how Malice got him out of prison. He was a member of the Masters of Evil who were arrested in Thunderbolts #25. He’s been on the loose again since Black Panther (vol. 3) #31.

Topical References

• Everett states that he has been working with T’Challa for about a year at the time of this story. This is more or less accurate, give or take a few months per the Sliding Timescale. This can be accepted as accurate as it is vague.

• As usual, Everett makes references to a number of real world products. Namely the soft drink Sprite, and pain medication Asprin. Sprite can be considered topical as it is a real world product and interchangeable. Aspirin, while a brand name, has become a propritary eponym and its use here wouldn’t necessarily be topical.

• Henry Gyrich is depicted using an analogue flip model cell phone, complete with visibe antenna and buttons. These were a a common model around the time this comic was published in 2001. However, they have since fallen out of common use and are more or less obsolete. As such, its depiction here should be considered topical.

• T’Challa and Gyrich are depicted going into a Starbucks coffee shop. This is topical because it is a real world brand.

• The scene where Everett (as “Mephisto”) watches the news report about himself is chock full of topical references:

  • First off, all of the TVs in the shop windows are CRT models, which are now obsolete.

  • There’s an add in the window for DirectTV, which is a cable TV provider that has been active in the United States since 1994. Its depiction here should be considered topical as this is a real world company.

  • Lastly, and I might be reading too much into this, the case that “Ross” is representing is “Ryan v. State”, which could be reference to a real trial that happened in 1999. There isn’t enough context to tell if this is a real world reference or if this just happens to be a coincidence. If you’re going to take it as a real world reference, then it would be topical since that trial is long over.

  • Later, we see Everett with a copy of People magazine. This is also topical as this is a real world publication.

  • He also makes a reference to hanging around Bergdoff Goodman, which is a high end luxury store in New York City that has been in business since 1899. Its reference here should be considered topical as well as this is yet another real world business.

• When asking if the Jabari have television, Queen Divine Justice references a number of television shows. The common theme here is that they all prominently feature Black actors and cater to that demographic. These references should all be considered topical as they were relevant to the era of publication and could be replaced with more contemporary examples. For the record, these shows are:

  • Moesha (1996-2001) a sitcom that starred R&B singer Brandy Norwood in the titular role.

  • The Hughleys (1998-2000) another sitcom starring African-American comedian H.L. Hughley in a fictional portrayal of his life as a vending machine salesman.

  • Living Single (1993-1998): This sitcome starred Yvette Lee Bowser (of Cosby Show fame). This series was notable as it was the first African-American woman to write and produce her own Prime Time series. Living Single was also ranked one of the most influential series of the era.

• This story is where Queen Divine Justice starts jokingly calling Vibraxas “NFL”, because his costume resembles the type of padding that is commonly worn by athletes in the National Football League. Typically, a real world commercial organization like this would be considered topical. However, making it so in this instance could make the joke no longer work. Also, I don’t think the NFL is going to disappear in my lifetime so you do the mental gymnastics to sort that out if you’re reading this in some future where the NFL no longer exists.

• Queen makes a passing comment about African culture, particularly the treatment of women. Historically, women have had a bad time of it in Africa over the centuries, to put it mildly. They are disproportionatly the targets for slavery, rape, murder and in some regions, they have had their genitals mutilated. Things have gotten marginally better since this story was published after the African Union passed the 2005 Maputo Protocol, which created broad protections to women specifically. As of this writing (January, 2024) most countries in Africa have at least signed the protocol and efforts to implement and succeed in these goals is still on going. Queen’s statements reflect the situation as it was in 2001 and any specific connotations to that time period should be considered topical.

• Another nickname she gives M’Baku is “Magilla”, this is a reference to the titular character of the cartoon Magilla Gorilla which ran for two seasons in 1964 and 65. It was produced by Hannah Barbara (now owned by Warner Brothers) as this is a dated reference to a character not owned by Marvel or its parent company this should be considered topical.

• Gyrich is depicted using a Palm Pilot. These were hand held personal computers that were quite common at the time this story was published. However, they have fallen out of popular use and have mostly become obsolete thanks to the advent of the smart phone, which puts most of these functions into a cell phone.