The long-awaited Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, directed by Ryan Coogler, has finally here, and while the reviews appear to be all over the place, readers of the Black Panther comic books, myself included, are generally pleased. Shuri’s rise to power as the new Black Panther after Chadwick Boseman’s unexpected death is a major plot point in the comics. The film finds numerous moments to honor Boseman and his life and legacy after his untimely passing. Still, the influence of Boseman and, by extension, the movie, is undeniable and will continue to provoke debate and discussion about the significance of the Black Panther film. Here are eight memorable scenes (spoilers included):
Introduction
Only Chadwick Boseman in the opening credits for #WakandaForever pic.twitter.com/I37wRAz2k4
— Khaled Abdallah (@khaled74) November 11, 2022
Everyone knows that every Marvel film has the same boring flipbook opening. Usually, it features Marvel heroes and villains from throughout the years, but this time, it was all about Boseman. A solid argument was made for keeping him in the role as the Black Panther indefinitely.
Acting
This should put to rest any doubts regarding Leticia Wright’s ability to carry the movie. Obviously, she had the support of a superb ensemble, but she stood up and proved that she could do it. Angela Bassett also provided a fantastic performance as Ramonda. Together, Bassett and Wright were unbeatable, thus they should be considered for every honor.
Comicals
Winston Duke, in the role of M’Baku, once again impressed. His interactions with Wakanda were generally amicable, although not without lighthearted banter. He managed to make people laugh even while at war. As the Black Panther Series continues, I hope that this character will get much more depth.
Grief
The film opens with Ramonda and Shuri completely consumed by their sadness over T’Challa’s death. Ramonda struggles to keep her composure for the sake of her only living family, her daughter Shuri, who at first is paralyzed by her grief over the death of her brother and her inability to do anything to help him. It was something she had a hard time getting over, and since she didn’t believe in the ancestral world, she felt hopeless about the situation. Ramonda’s murder by Namor, however, sets off a chain reaction of wrath and the necessity for action that ultimately leads to Shuri assuming the role of Black Panther. Although the comic book idea of death and sorrow as plot drivers is cliche, it serves this story well.
Namor Got The Smoke
Namor as envisioned by Ryan Coogler improves upon much of the comic book history. It’s cliché that in the comics, Namor is the monarch of Atlantis. Namor and his country Takolan are influenced by Mesoamerican culture throughout the film. They, like the people of Wakanda, desire to remain nameless to the outside world in order to avoid the drama associated with neo-colonization, and their language is based on that of the ancient Mayans and Aztecs who lived along the Yucatan. The lack of interest in diplomacy is a major difference between them and Wakanda. Namor simply intends to defend his realm with great ferocity. That’s how he typically appeared in the comics, and it appears that will continue to be the case.
LGBTQ Representation
While queer characters have been increasingly included in comics in recent years, the MCU has yet to do so. Although Dora Milaje Aneka (Michaela Coel) and Ayo (Florence Kasumba) only had a brief kiss at the end of BP2, it is memorable for being the first onscreen lesbian couple in the franchise. It was brief; the comics (where Okoye and Ayo are the leads) were not adapted into a film. It would be fascinating to see how this sequence compares to the one that was cut from the original Black Panther to prevent it from being banned in conservative countries.
Representation Matters
As much progress as we have made in understanding the importance of representation, there is still much more to do. The inclusion of myths and heroes from a variety of cultures is a welcome addition to the cinematic landscape. Black Panther is the most diverse Marvel comics film to date, expanding the options available to cosplayers looking for a change and giving kids who want to wear superhero costumes that aren’t just Captain America more to choose from.
