Black Panther takes place after the events of Avengers: Civil War. Following the conflict that killed his father, T\u2019Chaka, T\u2019Challa is tasked with the responsibility of leading Wakanda. While he may be used to the mantle of Wakandan protector as Black Panther, he is now tasked with the arguably more important task of acting as king. That means learning how to lead as his own man, without his father, but also confronting some unfortunate truths about Wakandan history.<\/p>\n
Much like Thor: Ragnorak, Black Panther\u2019s story centers around a kingdom in distress and a new leader having to come into his own. However, if Thor was a depth charge, Black Panther would be a concussion grenade. The crux of this story isn\u2019t T\u2019Challa coming into his own so much as it\u2019s what that is supposed to mean for Wakanda and how it relates to the rest of society.<\/p>\n
Black Panther stars Chadwick Boseman reprising his role as T’Challa (Black Panther), Wakandan king and Protector, Michael B Jordan as Killmonger, Lupita Nyong\u2019o as Nakia, T\u2019Challas former lover and Wakanadan War Dog, Danai Gurira as Royal army general Okoye, Daniel Kaluuya as Border Tribe leader W\u2019kabi, Martin Freeman as CIA Agent Ross, Latitia Wright as T\u2019Challa\u2019s sister and resident tech expert Shuri, Winston Duke as M\u2019Baku, leader of the Jabari tribe, and Andy Serkis as black market arms dealer Klaue<\/p>\n
Let’s get this out of the way, this movie is Black as fuck. Look at the cast. Look at the setting. Look at the themes. It’s a universe in which Africa is home to one of the most advanced, most powerful nations in the world, self sufficient and hidden in plain sight. They\u2019re skeptical of western nations (and, if we’re honest, white people in general) and have NO chill about it. It\u2019s an action romp with the utmost reverence for the motherland and its culture. It would be no surprise if it resonates with a large portion of the African American populace <\/p>\n
Cut to the Chase<\/span> – The film posits an easily accessible fantasy for many, but it doesn\u2019t rest on its laurels by merely revelling in it. It goes one step further to say \u201cWakanda is a quiet superpower. So what?\u201d For all of its wealth and power, Black Panther offers just as much of a scathing indictment of Wakanda as it ever does of those \u201ccolonizers\u201d<\/p>\n Social Commentary<\/span> – If there\u2019s one thing I\u2019ve figured out that people don\u2019t seem to like, especially in fictional media, is social commentary on current events. Black Panther is full of it. Remember how I said this film has no chill? Shade is thrown at past injustices against Africa and African Americans. But more striking may be the parallels between Wakanda\u2019s isolationist doctrine and more recent attitudes surrounding american immigration policies.<\/p>\n I say all that to say this: Black Panther is a comic blockbuster with a reverential African flavor. That makes it important culturally and is easy to miss if you view it only as just another comic book movie. But even if the historical context is lost on you, you need not worry. It\u2019s an enjoyable ride with a good soundtrack, which includes the likes of Snoop Dogg, PSY, Kendrick Lamar, The Weekend and more. It\u2019s a good \u201cstart\u201d to the Black Panther segment of MCU and you should go see it in preparation for Infinity War later this spring.<\/p>\n I give Black Panther a Caveats<\/h2>\n
verdict<\/h2>\n