Black Panther (vol. 5) #4
The Deadliest of the Species, Part 4
The Black Panther (T’Challa) was gravely wounded while on a state visit to Latveria.[1] The rumors that the King of Wakanda eventually reach the nearby Jabari Tribe. Their leader, the Man-Ape (M’Baku) rejoices that his mortal enemy may already be dead. However, before he can enact any plans to steal power, one of M’Baku’s followers reports that they are under attack. However, this is not an invading army, but a single entity that is being referred to as death itself! In reality, it is the totemic vampire known as Morlun, who is passing through the Crystal Forests of the Jabari on his way to consume the Black Panther’s life force.[2] He easily cuts through all opposition, draining their life forces as he goes. That is until he reaches the Man-Ape, who foolishly tries to attack the intruder as well. M’Baku doesn’t last longer than a few moments before he too is consumed.[3]
The lone survivor of this massacre makes his way into Wakanda. There he warns both S’Yan and W’Kabi, who are dubious about all this given the Man-Ape’s machinations against T’Challa in the past. However, the survivor reminds them that M’Baku was a honorable warrior and would have seen it as unworthy for a foe to be ambushed without warning. Deciding not to take any risks, they decide to close Wakanda’s borders from any possible threat.
Meanwhile, in the limbo between life and death, the Black Panther was almost lured into crossing over by the embodiment of Death. This was because she appeared before him as one of the Dora Milaje, but he realized the truth before she could take his hand. With her deception exposed, Death drops her disguise and tells T’Challa that he cannot resist her embrace. However, the Black Panther remains defiant because Wakanda and his wife both need him. Death then tries bargaining by summoning the spirit of his father, T’Chaka, to petition on her behalf.[4]
Back in the world of the living, S’Yan is monitoring things from his office. That’s when he is informed that Queen Storm (Ororo Monroe) and Ramonda deactivated the tracker on their shuttle. Given their last known location, S’Yan knows exactly where the two women have gone. Horrified by what they are attempting to do, he races to the home of the witchdoctor known as Zawavari. He then forces his way in and begins chastising Ramonda for coming here. He tells her how the people back home think their king is dead and they need Ororo to set everyone’s mind at easy. Willing to try everything to save the life of her step-son, Ramonda pulls rank on her brother-in-law and says that this is the only hope they have to bring T’Challa from the brink of death. Conceding to her authority, S’Yan decides to let them continue as Storm is already in a trance state to travel into limbo.
When S’Yan returns to the royal palace, Zuri is instructing Shuri on how to consume the heart-shaped herb that gives the Black Panther its powers.[5] She is annoyed that her mother couldn’t be there, and S’Yan scolds her for being petulant when their entire nation is at risk. Silenced immediately, Shuri consumes the herb and suddenly enters a catatonic state. Now, all they have to do is wait.[6]
Two events then occur simultaneously: For Shuri, she is transported to the astral realm to be judged by the Panther God (Bast), while T’Challa is encouraged to embrace death and cross over into the afterlife.
Shuri presents herself to Bast, and as the massive deity takes in her scent, she talks about how she has been striving to become the Black Panther for her entire life. Her assumption that she was entitled to this role offends Bast. The god shows her images of previous Black Panthers across history all the while dressing her down for her arrogance and hubris.[7] It ultimately decrees that she is unworthy of the mantle of the Black Panther and that she will never follow in her brother’s footsteps. The Panther God then turns its back on the sobbing Shuri, and walks away.
T’Chaka tells his son how proud he is to see that T’Challa has grown to be such a great man. He almost convinces T’Challa to give in and follow him into death. However, when he tells T’Challa to “give up”, something that his father would never say to him, T’Challa realizes that he has been speaking with an impostor. Seeing that T’Challa wont surrender without a fight, Death summons a massive legion of the dead. She boasts that this army will be endless and he will surrender before they do. Eventually, T’Challa is full swarmed by the undead skeletons risen by Death. They then begin dragging him toward the light. However, before he can be taken into Death’s embrace, the skeletons are suddenly blown apart by a strong wind. This announces the arrival of Storm, who has come to rescue her husband’s soul. “Now this is something you don’t see every day.” muses Death!
Recurring Characters
Black Panther, Storm, Shuri, Bast, Morlun, Death, Man-Ape, S’Yan, Ramonda, Zawavari, W’Kabi, Zuri, T’Chaka (possibly)
Continuity Notes
The Black Panther was gravely wounded in Black Panther (vol. 5) #1-2 and has been trapped between life and death ever since.
Last issue, members of various rival African tribes summoned Morlun to finish off the Black Panther.
A lot of resources have gotten it wrong about what happens here, particularly my favorite crowd-sourced punching bag. These sources say that M’Baku somehow was resurrected and appears in Villains for Hire #3-4 and All-New All-Different Avengers #8. In reality, as explained in Black Panther (vol. 6) #4, that wasn’t M’Baku at all, but his younger brother Mandla. M’Baku himself won’t be resurrected until Baron Macabre does so in Black Panther: Long Live the King #3. You’d have to be an sloppy researcher, idiot or illiterate not to look at these issues and realize the logic here.
T’Chaka was infamously murdered by Ulysses Klaw when T’Challa was still a boy. This tale was originally told back in Fantastic Four #53. That said, this could be very well an impostor. The Legion of the Unliving profile in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Horror 2005 #1 states, that there are many cases where those seen in the afterlife might be impostors. This would be the case here given T’Chaka is apparently acting out of character here.
Shuri was selected by Storm to succeed T’Challa as the Black Panther in Black Panther (vol. 5) #2. This is a role she has been training for many years, as detailed in Black Panther (vol. 4) #2. The successfully passed the test to obtain the needed herb last issue.
It’s odd that S’Yan asks what they have to do next. Being the brother of T’Chaka and filling in as the Black Panther himself prior to T’Challa (again, as seen in Black Panther (vol. 4) #2), it’s odd that he’d need to ask what happens next. One could assume that this dialogue is for the benefit of the reader more than anything else.
It is unclear which Black Panthers appear here. As of this writing (March, 2024), past Black Panthers at the time of this story include:
Mosi, the Black Panther from 1 million BC, as will be revealed in Marvel Legacy #1.
Negus, his existence won’t be revealed until Black Panther (vol. 6) #14.
Turkana the daughter of Negus and his successor. Her existence won’t be revealed until Shuri #10.
At the time of this story, the first Black Panther was believed to be Bashenga, who first appeared in Black Panther #1. However, as pointed out above, this has since been conclusively refuted.
After Bashinga came Mamadou Fall, who existence will be revealed in Black Panther (vol. 6) #18.
He was followed by Nehanda who is first mentioned in Mighty Thor (vol. 3) #7.
Then we got Djata, who is first mentioned in Black Panther (vol. 6) #4.
The next in line was Benhazin, also seen in Black Panther (vol. 6) #4.
Hu'Nahn and T’Konda were both referenced in Fantastic Four #608.
There is an as yet unnamed Black Panther from the 19th century that we saw in Black Panther (vol. 4) #1.
Azzuri (first appearing under the name T’Chanda) was the Black Panther of World War II, first seen in Fantastic Four Unlimited #1.
Then there’s Erik Killmonger who technically obtained the mantle in Black Panther (vol. 3) #20, but he has since been deposed from his title by issue #61 of that series.