Black Panther (vol. 4) #23
War Crimes, Part 1
Civil War continues from Fantastic Four #541…
Goliath (Bill Foster) is dead, a casualty in the war between those who support and are against the Super Human Registration Act (SHRA).[1] At the funeral, Foster’s family is appalled that they were unable to find a way to reduce his size and has to be buried in a tarp because a coffin could not be made for his giant size.
Paying their respects are the King and Queen of Wakanda, the Black Panther (T’Challa) and Storm (Ororo Munroe), who offer to give Bill a heroes funeral in Wakanda, complete with a proper coffin. They don’t get a straight answer, because even in their grief the Foster family is still trying to figure out what exactly happen. Bill’s sister believes that it was systemic racism personified given that they used a Nordic thunder god to kill a black Goliath.[2] But, Bill’s father will not accept this reasoning blindly without absolute proof.
Soon everyone makes statements to the media, T’Challa says that the tragedy in Stamford has steered supporters in the SHRA in the wrong direction, saying that Goliath’s death was senseless and avoidable.[3] The Foster family, who have filed a wrongful death suit against both Stark Enterprises and Fantastic Four Incorporated echo T’Challa’s words. His father is particularly disappointed with Yellowjacket (Hank Pym) who is responsible for his son’s death because they had been colleagues for years.[4]
Meanwhile, in Washington, government officials are looking at ways to spin this story to reflect Bill Foster in a negative light. Digging through his past, they find nothing they can use to tarnish his reputation as a superhero. The worry is that come next election they’ll the Black community might prop up Foster as a modern Emmet Till and vote against the current administration. Shockingly, some of the politicians don’t know who Till was.
By this time, the Fosters are saying their goodbyes to T’Challa and Storm. Bill’s nephew wants to speak to T’Challa in private. He tells the Wakandan King that he is graduating from MIT soon and a member of the Reserves. He is in good health and plans on cracking the secret to the Pym Particles that allowed his uncle to become Goliath. He plans on doing this with or without T’Challa’s help and in spite of the law. He doesn’t tell the boy not to, but says he will be in touch to discuss things further.[5]
On their way back to the Wakandan Embassy, Storm comments about the meeting. She views this as T’Challa recruiting another soldier for the coming conflict. She is not being critical of her husband, since that’s exactly what her mentor, Professor Charles Xavier did when he recruited her into the X-Men.[6] She admits that they are going to need soliders since she cannot rely on aid from her teammates in the X-Men this time around.[7] When T’Challa says nothing, she reaffirms that she loves him.
When they arrive they discover that both W’Kabi and S’Yan waiting for them. They express their concerns about T’Challa’s involvement in the United States. It is raising concerns back home about T’Challa’s priorities when he has a nation of his own to rule. They feel that his recent marriage to Storm (an American citizen) is causing him to break a long rule of non-interference in the affairs of other nations that Wakanda has held for thousands of years.[8] He warns that every time that T’Challa has been away from his homeland, someone has come to try and take it over.[9] However, the ultimate decision is up to the King, so S’Yan and the others leave the room so T’Challa and Ororo can discuss matters in private. When they discuss the matter, Storm says she will accept going back home to Wakanda if that’s what T’Challa chooses to do. However, he is unconvinced that his involvement will affect much. People said much the same thing when Wakanda interacted with the outside world following both World Wars and the creation of the atomic bomb. It will also no shield his home from invaders, as it will always be repelling invaders as it has for thousands of years. Still he doesn’t have any clear answers. Storm tells him it is okay to not have any, however he retorts that this isn’t true when you’re a king. Understanding the weight of responsibility imposed on her husband, Storm can only hug him. Meanwhile, S’Yan and W’Kabi are heading back home to Wakanda. S’Yan is of the mind that they don’t need to convince T’Challa to come back, but his wife, and expects they’ll be home soon enough.
Back at the State Department, officials are still trying to figure out how to handle the current situation with the Black Panther. They don’t like how his anti-SHRA stance is gaining support from countries in Europe and along the Pacific Rim. They have to tread carefully finding allies to go after T’Challa, but they have to exercise caution because it could be a public relationsh nightmare.[10]
Soon, the news media begins spinning the story about the Black Panther’s opposition of the SHRA. It spins the fact that he is married to Storm of the X-Men. When it comes to interviewing people on the street. Many express their mistrust in the Black Panther and his mutant bride.[11] A lot of this stems from America’s history of defying royalty. Still, media pundits wonder how Black leaders in the United States will response or assist T’Challa moving forward.
That evening, the Wakandan embassy is under observation when six vehicles leave the building. The men observing are ordered to stay back as they will be discovered if they try to pursue. They are assured they have someone who will be able to track them. Soon the vehicles all split up and go into different directions, leaving the spies to wonder which vehicle contains the Black Panther.
However, T’Challa is in none of the vehicles that are on the road. In fact, he has used a secret passage in the embassy to leave unseen and is traveling through the sewers on foot. 15 miles later, he emerges from the sewers in an alleyway where he finds the Black Widow (Natasha Romanov) waiting for him. He is unsurprised because he knew she was sent to track him.[12] When he tries dismissing her, she tries to stop him by force. That’s when she is ambushed by two members of the Dora Milaje who were following her, while she was following T’Challa. While they give the Widow a good beating, T’Challa manages to slip away.
He manages to track down Steve Rogers, aka Captain America, who is disguised as a mailman when he is not in costume.[13] He allows Rogers to know he is being tailed and lets himself be lured into an abandoned subway station. There, T’Challa drops his disguise, prompting Steve to drop his as well. While T’Challa wants to talk, Captain America won’t do so until he has neutralized any threat the Panther poses to him. The two spar until T’Challa brings up the death of Bill Foster, and asks how many more heroes have to die while Steve waits for opinions to shift.
Steve stops fighting and explains that it’s not about changing hearts and minds, its a war that will have to be fought and won. T’Challa agrees but fears that Steve is outmatched against Iron Man and SHIELD and offers to provide Wakandan technology to help in his war effort. Steve asks if the Panther and Storm will join the cause if they need Wakandan warriors. T’Challa admits that he joined the Avengers and then left another group to prevent something like this from happening.[14] Steven then asks T’Challa if he will help his resistance break into Prison 42, the SHRA’s superhuman prison in the Negative Zone.[15]
At the same time, the Black Widow has returned to Iron Man (Tony Stark) and updated him about what’s going on. Their primary concern is with Storm rallying mutants to Captain America’s cause. Stark is concerned about this as well and, looking at the clone of Thor he created, believes it is time to bring out the big guns.
… Civil War continues in Punisher: War Journal (vol. 2) #2
Recurring Characters
Black Panther, Storm, Tom Foster (unnamed), W’Kabi, S’Yan, Black Widow, Captain America, Iron Man, Goliath (corpse), Thor clone (corpse), SHIELD
Continuity Notes
Goliath was killed in Civil War #4 during a clash between pro and anti SHRA forces. His spirit will next be seen in Hades in Incredible Hercules #129. As of this writing (Feb, 2024) he is still considered among the deceased. At the time of this story, Thor was believed to have perished during Ragnarok (hence the need for a clone) in Thor (vol. 2) #80-85. He will return from the dead in Thor (vol. 3) #1.
Bill is referred to here as Black Goliath by his sister because that’s what he first called himself back in Power Man #24 until he started simply calling himself Goliath starting in Marvel Two-in-One #55.
The Stamford Tragedy was the inciting incident that led to the SHRA getting passed into law in Civil War #1. The New Warriors had tracked down a group of villains to a safehouse in Stamford, Connecticut and attacked them with no regard to the civilians that were around because they were more interested in filming footage for a reality TV show. The destruction from the battle killed hundreds, including school children.
Bill Foster has been a friend of Hank Pym since Avengers #32. However, the man who appears to be Yellowjacket at this time is actually a Skrull spy named Criti Noll, as part of a Skrull invasion of Earth that will occur in Secret Invasion #1-7. Noll took Yellowjacket’s place around House of M #1, as will be revealed in Mighty Avengers #17.
Bill’s nephew is unnamed here, but he will be identified as Tom Foster in Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #107. He will live up to his promise and become the new Goliath in World War Hulk: Aftersmash - Damage Control #1.
Charles Xavier has champions mutant rights and formed the X-Men by recruiting young mutants to fight for a future where humans and mutants could live in peace, as first seen back in X-Men #1 (obviously). Storm herself was recruited onto the team when she in early adulthood when she believed herself to be a goddess, as seen in Giant-Size X-Men #1.
The X-Men have decided to sit out the Civil War event because the mutant race had been decimated following the events of House of M #1-7, as seen in Civil War #3. Storm found this out last issue. However, the X-Men will find themselves dragged into the conflict anyway, as we’ll see in Civil War: X-Men #1-4.
T’Challa and Storm were married in Black Panther (vol. 4) #18. The Black Panther’s decision to involve himself in the American civil war is at the behest of Dr. Doom, the Inhumans, and Atlantis, out of fear that the US might expand its SHRA to deal with global superhumans as well as detailed in Black Panther (vol. 4) #19-21. Wakanda was an isolationist nation for its own protection, which included this non-interference clause as details in Black Panther (vol. 4) #1-2. However, Wakanda was opened to the world by T’Challa in Black Panther #14.
When S’Yan gives his lecture about threats to Wakanda, we see a montage of three past Black Panthers defending Wakanda, and he rhymes off various foes that have tried to take over the country in the past. These are:
The Black Panther of the 19th Century, who is known for repelling white colonizers from Wakanda. We saw him in Black Panther (vol. 4) #1. As of this writing (Feb, 2024), he has yet to be identified.
Bashenga, believed to be the first Black Panther at the time of this story. He was active during the Bronze Age, as seen in Black Panther #7.
We also see Azzuri, the Black Panther during World War II. We first learned about him in Fantastic Four Unlimited #1.
Erik Killmonger: A displaced and forgotten Wakandan who vowed to conquer the nation to get revenge for being abandoned by his King. He has twice tried to conquer Wakanda in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #6-17 and Black Panther (vol. 3) #13-20.
Achebe, a madman secretly backed by the United States to stage a coup d’etat of Wakanda while T’Challa was away from home. Although he briefly seized the country, he was eventually defeated. See Black Panther (vol. 3) #1-12.
Here there is mention of the Black Panther’s recent fight with Iron Man, which was ended thanks to intervention from Jim Rhodes, that happened last issue. We also see an image of T’Challa fighting the Man-Ape, another foe who has threatened his rule since Avengers #62.
It is stated here that T’Challa originally joined the Avengers in order to spy on them. He joined the team way back in Avengers #52. However, his motivations for joining the team were not revealed until relatively recently at the time of this story, as seen in Black Panther (vol. 3) #8.
T’Challa states that Natasha was the best spy ever created by the Soviet Union. This is not a topical reference because Natasha is very long lived thanks to being injected with a derivative of the Super Soldier Serum. This was first revealed in Black Widow (vol. 3) #4-5.
Captain America’s “Secret Avengers” have been operating under false identities during the day, as seen in Civil War #3.
T’Challa is referring to when he joined the Avengers, and when he refused to be part of the Illuminati, a secret cabal of the superhuman community that met to discuss global threats. The latter of which we saw in New Avengers: Illuminati #1.
It will actually be Baron Zemo who will give Cap the means to break into Prison 42 in Thunderbolts #105. Prison 42 was built in the Negative Zone to imprison superhumans who refused to register with the government. It opened its doors in Civil War: Front Line #5.
Topical References
The politicians worrying about the Black vote invoke the name of Emmet Till. Till was a young African-American who was murdered for allegedly whistling and propositioning a white woman, pissing off her racist husband who dragged Till out of his house, shot him in the head, and dumped his body in a river. Historians view this as the inciting incident of the Civil Rights movement of the late Mid-20th Century. As this is a historical reference, it wouldn’t be considered topical. However, if you wanted to, you could find a more contemporary example to use its place since the US still has a problem of disproportionately killing Black people, time of this writing (Feb, 2024)
When discussing the global response to the Black Panther, there is specific mention of his support from France. The Civil War event is partially an allegory about the global response to the United States “War on Terror” following the terrorist attacks on US soil that happened on September 11, 2001. Following that tragedy, the US ramped up defense efforts and created stronger laws, many of which were in violation of individual rights. When the War started and the US was looking for allies in the United Nations to assist, France was one of the most outspoken countries against the invasions of Iraq and Afganistan. This led to a bunch of stupid backlash from ignorant Americans including renaming French Fries. These allusion should be considered a topical reference for the usual reasons.
When the media is doing their vox pop, one of the people commentating is depicted to resemble real estate mogul, former President, and all around piece of shit, Donald Trump. This depiction should be considered topical as he is a real world person, but also fuck that guy. He refers to how the US overthrew a king 200 years earlier. He is referring to the American Revolution. While reference to this historical event is not topical, the length of time between that moment in history and this story is as the date is relative to the date of publication. As the Sliding Timescale moves the Modern Age forward, the number of years between American Independence and the Modern Age will continue to grow over time.
We also see depictions of Black rights activists Al Shaprton and Louis Farrakhan who are 69 and 90 at the time I am writing this in February, 2024. Their appearance here are topical because they are real world people who aren’t going to be long for the world.
Civil War Reading Order
Road to Civil War: Amazing Spider-Man #529, 530, 531, Fantastic Four #536, 537, New Avengers: Illuminati #1
Main Event: Civil War #1, She-Hulk (vol. 2) #8, Wolverine (vol. 3) #42, Amazing Spider-Man #532, Civil War: Front Line #1
Civil War #2, Thunderbolts #103, Civil War: Front Line #2, X-Factor (vol. 3) #8, New Avengers #21, Wolverine (vol. 3) #43, Amazing Spider-Man #533, Fantastic Four #538, Civil War: Front Line #3, Thunderbolts #104, Civil War: X-Men #1
Civil War #3, Cable & Deadpool #30, Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #1, Civil War: Front Line #4, X-Factor (vol. 3) #9, New Avengers #22, Wolverine (vol. 3) #44, Amazing Spider-Man #534, Fantastic Four #539, Civil War: Front Line #5, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #6, Civil War: X-Men #2, Heroes for Hire (vol. 2) #1, New Avengers #23, Wolverine (vol. 3) #45, Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #2, Cable & Deadpool #31, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #7, Civil War: X-Men #3
Civil War #4, Wolverine (vol. 3) #46, Heroes for Hire (vol. 2) #2, Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #3, Civil War: Front Line #6, Captain America (vol. 5) #22, Cable & Deadpool #32, Amazing Spider-Man #535, Civil War: Choosing Sides #1, Fantastic Four #540, Civil War: Front Line #7, Civil War: X-Men #4, Ms. Marvel (vol. 2) #8, Wolverine (vol. 3) #47, Heroes for Hire (vol. 2) #3, Captain America (vol. 5) #23, New Avengers #24
Civil War #5, Civil War: Young Avengers & Runaways #4, Iron Man (vol. 4) #13, New Avengers #25, Punisher: War Journal (vol. 2) #1, Civil War: Front Line #8, Amazing Spider-Man #536, Black Panther (vol. 4) #22, Captain America (vol. 5) #24, Civil War: War Crimes #1, Civil War: Front Line #9, Iron Man (vol. 4) #14, Fantastic Four #541, Black Panther (vol. 4) #23, Punisher: War Journal (vol. 2) #2
Civil War #6, Civil War: Front Line #10, Amazing Spider-Man #537, Fantastic Four #542, Civil War: The Return #1, Punisher: War Journal (vol. 2) #3, Black Panther (vol. 4) #24
Civil War #7, Amazing Spider-Man #538, Civil War: Front Line #11, Black Panther (vol. 4) #25, Civil War: The Initiative #1, Iron Man: Director of SHIELD #15, Mighty Avengers #1, Captain America (vol. 5) #25, Civil War: The Confession #1, Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Fantastic Four #543-544, Avengers: The Initiative #1