“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” hit theaters on Nov. 11. This came after the tragic and sudden death of the film series’ frontrunner, Chadwick Boseman, who died of colon cancer in 2020.
There was quite some speculation of who would reprise the role of Black Panther after Boseman’s death. It was later decided that the role and title would pass down to T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, played by actress Letitia Wright.
Across the board, many were ecstatic about this adjustment, considering that it’s highlighting feminine strength and heroism. However, though I am grateful for the particular win for my sex, I do not approve of the decision.
Black Panther was the first set of comics that I had ever read. One of my aunt’s ex-boyfriends brought them to my attention prior to the release of the first film. Upon reading them, I fell in love with not only Black Panther’s character, but his story as well.
The first film was excellent cinematically and I wholeheartedly appreciate everything it did for my culture in America. However, since I was halfway through with the comics, it left something to be desired. I’m well aware that Marvel has never really been too keen on sticking to the comics, but I have a particular disdain for this series’ inaccuracy.
Firstly, I’d like to address Black Panther’s love interest in the film vs. the comics. In the film, T’Challa’s love interest is Nakia, a Wakandan native who engages in foreign espionage, particularly to fight for underprivileged women. It was made clear that T’Challa and Nakia had previously engaged in a relationship that didn’t work out, however, the two seem to still carry a torch for one another.
However, in the comics, Nakia is not Black Panther’s love interest at all. She’s just a Wakandan Dora Milaje who becomes obsessed with King T’Challa, despite the fact that he didn’t reciprocate her feelings and also had a girlfriend named Monica Lynne. Nakia then becomes a villain known as Malice because she attempts to kill Monica and some of T’Challa’s other female friends, which he banishes her for and it led to her being corrupted by Killmonger.
Black Panther’s main love interests in the comics were Monica Lynne and Ororo Monroe, also known as Storm from X-Men. Monica Lynne was an American musician and their relationship was short-lived due to distance and time constraints. Storm and T’Challa go on to get married and have children, as well as divorce later in the comics. Storm and T’Challa are still regarded as one of the most regal and powerful couples in Marvel history.
Secondly, I’d like to address Black Panther’s recasting in more detail. As I stated previously, I’m grateful for the recognition that black women are receiving due to Shuri taking on the role, however its inaccuracy still ruffles my feathers. In the comics, this replacement happens only one time and it’s when T’Challa is in a coma for a short while after fighting Doctor Doom. In this case, since Chadwick Boseman obviously couldn’t take the role back, I’m sure this transition made sense to Marvel. Even so, it doesn’t provide room for proper comic storylines to be executed and for Black Panther’s entire character development to unfold.
I have no current intention on watching the second film in the franchise. I love and appreciate everything that the film franchise does and accomplishes for my people, however, I believe that what it inaccurately portrays just hits a little too close to home for me.
Yet and still, I do encourage others to partake in the film and form their own opinions of it. Rest in peace to Chadwick Boseman and as they say in the film, “Wakanda Forever!”