Black Panther (vol. 4) #21
World Tour, Part 3: Aqua-Boogie
The State Department of the United States is deeply concerned about the state visits that the Black Panther has been having with various other nations. They have called in their resident expert on Wakanda, Everett Ross to assess the situation for them.[1] There is news that T’Challa is now going to Atlantis, which is making the director of the State Department even more nervous. Everett also passes along a message from the Wakandan embassy requesting an audience with the President next. The Director refuses to allow that meeting to happen, prompting Ross to ask how are they going to figure out what the Panther is up to if they don’t ask him.
At that moment, the Black Panther and his wife, Storm (Ororo Monroe), are piloting a Wakandan submarine to Atlantis. Ororo is uncomfortable with the voyage just as she was in space.[2][3] When they arrive in Atlantis, they enter an air filled chamber where they are warmly greeted by the Sub-Mariner (Namor), who greets them with a seldom seen smile.[4] However, his good nature is quickly put aside as he mentions his concerns about Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic of the Fantastic Four) and Iron Man (Tony Stark), signaling he wants to get right down to talking about the civil war happening in America.[5] He is particularly annoyed about Reed Richards, believing that the genius scientist siding with Iron Man’s Pro-Registration forces to be a serious flaw in logic. T’Challa admits that he has his concerns. When Namor mentions the Illuminati, he has to explain to Storm that it was a cabal representing Earth’s superhero population that met in secret for years to discuss dealing with global threats.[6] He also reveals that her mentor, X-Men founder Professor Charles Xavier, was a member of this group. T’Challa on the other hand was not, refusing an offer to join when the group first formed.[7]
Namor quips that T’Challa is not one to join groups unless it is to keep his enemies closer, referring to the Panther’s original motivations for joining the Avengers.[8] T’Challa says that he only spied the group to determine if they were genuine heroes. This amuses the Sub-Mariner, who tells Storm that T’Challa’s honesty must come from the relative Namor met during the war.[9] This comes as news to T’Challa, and Namor realizes that he never told the tale before, blaming it on his decades long amnesia.[10] He starts by recounting the time Captain America ventured into Wakanda on the trail of Nazis who sought to exploit the nation.[11] The Panther, of course, knows this story about his ancestor’s encounter with Steve Rogers. Namor then reveals that Cap wasn’t the only one in Africa during World War II.
He then recounts an incident where he and the Invaders (the android Human Torch, Union Jack, and Spitfire) were on a mission in Egypt. There they had clashed with Nazi forces, as well as their superpowered operatives Master Man and Warrior Woman. For the Sub-Mariner, fighting in the desert was a challenge as his body was prone to strength sapping dehydration. While he and the other Invaders dealt with the Nazis, Union Jack sneaked into their camp to steal the plans that they had come to get. However, inside, he was shocked to discover that someone had killed all the Germans and stole the plans. Following the thief’s trail, they ended up following a Wakandan plane carrying that era’s Black Panther back home. He had stolen the plans to find out what the Nazi’s wanted with his homeland’s supply of Vibranium. As it turned out, they wanted the rare metal to assist in their atomic weapons programs. When Namor confronted the ship directly, he forced them to land. There, the Dora Milaje doused the Atlantean monarch with a dust that incapacitated him. The Panther then emerged from the ship and offered him a glass of water that would counteract the dust’s effect, but only if he agrees not to attack and to leave right after.
Concluding his story, Namor said it took three dousing with the dust before he calmed down sufficiently enough to talk with T’Challa’s ancestor. The Black Panther of that era couldn’t understand why Namor was involving himself in World War II, saying that he would just have to defend himself against his allies after the war was over. It turns out the Panther was way ahead of the game, having the forethought to predict the Cold War, the rise of superhumans, and the current civil war happening in America.[11] Namor then asks if T’Challa is as wise to see what will come next, that if Tony Stark’s side wins the war there will be a global arms race, as other nations build and bolster their own superhuman armies.[12]
T’Challa finds this amusing because this is the exact thing that Doctor Doom said to him during his visit to Latveria. Namor muses that a broken clock is right twice a day and says that T’Challa should be the one leading the global resistance if the American civil war spreads globally.[13] This is because the Panther is the only person with the credibility to lead such a counter offensive. Storm then speaks up, accusing Namor of using this conflict as a means of pursuing his vendetta against Reed Richards and winning the affections of his wife, Sue. Namor doesn’t deny it, but still insists that he is looking at the bigger picture. T’Challa then defends his wife’s protectiveness, and says that any decision on the matter will be a joint one between him and Ororo. Namor then leaves the room so they can discuss matters in private. On the way out, he tells his aide to remind him to never remarry.[14]
When alone, the Black Panther and Storm discuss the matter seriously. T’Challa is reluctant to get involved because of Wakanda’s traditional non-interference policy. However, Storm points out the times that his homeland has been lax on that usual rule historically. She even suggests that his time on the Avengers could be seen as bending those rules as well. Her exchange with Namor was just because she didn’t like him to play T’Challa into thinking he was the Malcolm X to his Martin Luther King. She is serious though about what her husband wants to do about the matter. T’Challa is uneasy about allying himself with Doom, Namor, and the Inhumans. However, Storm figures she could convince Captain Britain to join their cause. She also points out that Archangel, her fellow X-Man, is using his financial resources to fight the law as well. Lastly, she points out that Captain America is against registration and he never loses a fight. T’Challa is still uncertain, noting that not only would this put Wakanda at risk, they could find themselves imprisoned in the Negative Zone with the other dissidents. Ororo didn’t realize that Reed Richards built a prison in the anti-matter universe, and thinks Richards was insane to try and recruit T’Challa.[15]
Hearing the sound of raised voices, Namor re-enters the room, convinced that they made up their minds.[16] The Panther agrees that he will lead a global coalition against registration efforts when the time comes, but only if the Sub-Mariner agrees to follow his orders to the letter. Namor ponders this for a moment before pledging his loyalty. T’Challa then agrees to take this role and defend the oppressed.
Meanwhile, on the surface, Iron Man has learned that the Black Panther has been insisting on a meeting with the President of the United States. Since Storm is classified as an omega level mutant, Tony Stark issues orders to Sentinel Squad ONE, asking them to deal with any potential threats to the President should this be more than diplomatic mission.[17]
Recurring Characters
Black Panther (T’Challa), Storm, Sub-Mariner, Everett Ross, Sentinels, Iron Man, Sentinel Squad ONE, (in flashback) Invaders (Captain America, Human Torch, Union Jack, Spitfire), Nazis (Master Man, Warrior Woman), Black Panther (Azzuri)
Continuity Notes
Over the last two issues, the Black Panther has visited Doctor Doom in Latveria and the Inhumans on the Moon, both of whom are hostile toward the United States. Everett is an expert because he spent a lengthy period of time as an attaché to T’Challa from Black Panther (vol. 3) #1-49.
Storm is uneasy about being crammed in a submarine because she suffers from claustrophobia, something we learned in X-Men #99. This is because she was buried alive when she was a child in a building collapse that also killed her parents, as explained in X-Men #122.
To try and calm his wife, and establish a difference between space travel and voyaging beneath the sea, T’Challa points to the unique sea life at the lower depths. Storm quips that you can see such unique lifeforms depending on the sector of space you happen to be in. She is likely referring to Acanti, a race of whale-like creature that can survive in the vacuum of space. Storm first encountered these majestic creatures in Uncanny X-Men #156.
Here, Namor references his late wife, the Lady Dorma. Technically he and Dorma were never truly married. Although Namor proposed to her back in Sub-Mariner #33, he was tricked into marrying Llyra instead in issue #36. when he learned the truth, he also found that Dorma was already dead in the following issue. As of this writing (Feb, 2024), Dorma remains among the deceased.
This story occurs around the time that the Super Human Registration Act was passed in the United States. This caused a rift in the superhero community as heroes who supported the new law (led by Iron Man) clashed with those who did not (led by Captain America). This plays out in Civil War #1-7. Namor’s dislike of Reed Richards here is particular in that he has pined after Richard’s wife, Sue Storm, since Fantastic Four #4, even after the couple were married in Fantastic Four Annual #3.
The reason that Reed Richards decided to side with the Pro-SHRA side is because he had come up with a mathematical equation to try and solve all of the world’s problems. The solution included backing this law as a means of achieving that goal. See Fantastic Four #538-542.
The Illumanti was first formed following the Kree/Skrull War (Avengers #89-97). T’Challa was offered to join, but he refused seeing a secret organization as more of a determent to their causes. Despite this, he remained silent about their existence for years. See New Avengers: Illuminati #1.
As revealed in Black Panther (vol. 3) #8, when T’Challa first joined the Avengers (circa Avengers #52) it was to spy on the group.
Between the 1950s and the start of the Modern Age, Namor had wandered the surface world with amnesia after his memories were blocked by a telepath named Destiny, as seen in Sub-Mariner #1. His memory was later restored in Fantastic Four #4.
Captain America’s first adventure to Wakanda was told in the pages of Black Panther (vol. 3) #30. However, in that version of the tale, it was said that it was T’Challa’s father, T’Chaka that was the Black Panther of that era. This issue marks the first time it is said that it was actually T’Challa’s grandfather, although he is unnamed here. See below for more details regarding this.
Azuri apparently predicted the Modern Age, aka the Age of Heroes, which started with the birth of the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four #1. When Namor is recounting the dawn of the Modern Age, we see a montage of members of the Avengers and the X-Men. They are depicted as they appeared on the covers of Avengers #4 and X-Men #1, respectively.
We next see an image of Reed Richards and Tony Stark at a computer with a number of monitors. Each one showing a scene taken from various issues of the Civil War series as well as its various crossover issues. Some of them are indistinct of of something not overly interesting so this isn’t a comprehensive list:
An indistinct image of Siryn, taken from either X-Factor (vol. 3) #8 or 9, it’s hard to tell.
Captain America, Daredevil, and the Thing, from Fantastic Four # 539
Hercules from Amazing Spider-Man #534.
Peter Parker unmasking from Civil War #2
A Sentinel from Wolverine (vol. 3) #42.
Anti-Registration forces staging a prison truck rescue and coming face to face with Iron Man’s forces from Fantastic Four #539
The armored prisoner transports from Amazing Spider-Man #
Cable from Cable & Deadpool #32
The Prowler from Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #6.
Deadpool from Cable & Deadpool #30
Cyclops firing his optic blast from X-Factor (vol. 3) #9.
Colossus being struck by a sonic scream from X-Factor (vol. 3) #9.
Speedball attacking Speedfreak from Civil War #1.
A billboard reading “Registration Act Becomes Law” from Civil War #2.
Wolverine and Amir from Wolverine (vol. 3) #45.
Namor refers to T’Challa as a former Avenger. As I stated above he joined in Avengers #52 and had membership on and off over the years. His most recent stint on the team was in Avengers (vol. 3) #58-Avengers #503. Namor has also been an Avenger, serving full time twice from Avengers #262-293 and again from issues #305 and 310.
At the time of this story, Namor has been married twice. I mentioned the Lady Dorma situation, but he also married Marrina of Alpha Flight fame in Alpha Flight #40. That marriage ended in tragedy when Marrina was seemingly killed in Avengers #293.
Reed tried to recruit T’Challa to the cause in Civil War #3. Prison 42 (as it was called) was built by Richards and other scientific superhumans in support of the SHRA. It opened its doors in Civil War: Front Line #5.
Namor states that he has prepared for this contingency. He is referring to having Atlantean sleeper agents living on the surface world. This is explored further in Wolverine (vol. 3) #41-47, Civil War: Front Line #1-10, and Civil War #7.
Following the decimation of the mutant race, the Office of National Emergency formed the Sentinel Squad, a team of soldiers in piloted Sentinel robots to police and defend the remaining mutants, as seen in Decimation: House of M - The Day After #1. This Squad would ultimately be wiped out in Uncanny X-Men #493.
Topical References
The Black Panther of World War II is referred to as T’Challa’s grandfather, when it was previously stated as being his father. This is an example of the Sliding Timescale in motion. Until this publication (2006) it was still likely that T’Challa’s father could have been born and lived through World War II. However, as the Sliding Timescale pushes the Modern Age forward, it makes the gulf of time between these two periods grow larger. This necessitated the change from it being his father to it being his grandfather. However, as time progresses this will need to be changed again as not doing so will prematurely age everyone. Marvel seems content by saying Azzuri is the Black Panther during World War II. As such, Modern Readers should interpret T’Challa being directly related to Azzuri, but their specific relation (great-grandfather and beyond) should be considered topical and always relative to the date of publication.
Storm compares the Black Panther and Sub-Mariner to Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Since she is referring to these real world individuals in a historical context, these would not be topical references.
Captain America’s Meeting the Black Panther of World War II and the Invaders
As originally established in Black Panther (vol. 3) #30, it was said that Captain America traveled to Wakanda in 1941 and it was during that time he obtained the Vibranium that was used to create his trademark round shield. Namor states here that all of the Invaders were in Africa at that time. This would contradict long established continuity, as Captain America’s change of shields happened between Captain America Comics #1 and 2, where occurred in late 1940 and early 1941. The Invaders were formed shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearly Harbor in December of 1941, as per Giant-Size Invaders #1. More over, Master Man and Warrior Woman were not created until Giant-Size Invaders #1 and Invaders #18, respectively. The latter of whom did not get her powers until 1942.
That said, this flashback is expanded upon in Captain America/Black Panther: Flags of our Fathers #1-4. That story tells the tale which includes Master Man and Warrior Woman, but not the Invaders. While one could explain there being a Master Man and Warrior Woman in early 1941 (Either predecessors to the ones seen in the Invaders, or the same individuals prior to having any powers, perhaps) Explaining the existence of the Invaders during that period is not so easily handwaved.
I think that there is a simpler explanation. When Namor is referring to this period he at first apologizes for thinking T’Challa already knew the story, citing his decades long amnesia and subsequent memory problems as an explanation. One could assume that these deficiencies in memory are causing him to conflate two separate incidents that actually happened years apart. This idea is supported by the Marvel Chronology Project.
Moreover, when recounting this story, Namor states that “all of us were in Africa at the time.” He never really specifies any particular year, nor does he specifically state that Cap’s adventure to Wakanda and the Invaders being in Egypt happened at exactly at the same time. Given that Atlanteans are long lived (having longer lifespans than ordinary humans), Namor’s concept of time probably reflects his long life, making events that happened years apart being perceived as happening closer than they do to a human’s reckoning.
