Black Panther became the highest-grossing Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film in the first week–more than doubling its $200 million budget at the box office. After Prince T’Challa’s father is killed in Captain America: Civil War, he seeks vengeance and the story dives deeper into Wakanda’s background and the origin of the Black Panther. The movie incorporates advanced futuristic technology with primitive African tools and concepts. The African American director, Ryan Coolger took inspiration from the continent of Africa as well as Oakland, California, where Coogler was born.

In the opening scene we see T’Challa, the Black Panther, inside an advanced aircraft along side with his most trusted female warrior servant, Okoye. The Black Panther descends from inside the aircraft and begins to ambush Human Traffickers holding a love interest to whom he has big news to tell. This scene showed off some of the exotic weaponry and technology in the film, such as Kimoyo Beads with features such as EMP, holographic control center, and medical aid and records. The Kimoyo EMP was featured in this scene to sabotage vehicles and gain the upper hand with swiftness and precision.

In this Marvel universe, years ago the Wakandan people were broken up into five factions. When a new king is ready to be appointed, any one of the representatives from the five factions can challenge the current King for the throne. One of the elders of Wakanda, Zuri, played by Forest Whitaker, asks all of the tribes present if they would like to challenge T’Challa for the throne. All of the tribes honorably deny the opportunity to take the throne out of respect for his father. M’Baku is the leader of the last tribe who resides deep within the mountains, isolated from the other four tribes. He found T’Challa unworthy of the throne and attempted to strip him of his families legacy. During this combat, T’Challa fought smarter and was able to suppress M’Baku into defeat, thereby gaining the throne. This opened up a new challenger to oppose his rule.

The main antagonist, Killmonger, played by Michael B. Jordan, has sort of a long history with the Royal Family of Wakanda. Going back to  T’Chaka’s reign as king of Wakanda, the king had a brother, T’Shan, who was sent to America to be one of many spies they have spread out all over the world. During T’Shan’s time in America, he took part in business that goes against his own people and caught the attention of his brother. After a dispute between the two brothers, T’Chaka was forced to pick between his people or his family and had to take T’Shans life, leaving his brother’s child (Killmonger) and thus allowing his hatred for his father’s country to flourish before planning to ascend the throne himself.

Killmonger spent years planning his vengeance on Wakanda’s royal family. He was granted the rights to the throne through traditional combat with T’Challa and soon became the Black Panther. His suit sported a gold and black, mesh-like fabric which stood out fantastically compared to the original suit. The intense combat severed the people of Wakanda and many of the countries people were lost in battle. With the help of Shuri, T’Challa was able to outwit Killmonger but was honorable enogh to fulfill his dying wish.

**FUN FACTS**

Vibranium is the main resource that makes the country thrive. This is also the element that Captain America’s shield is made out of as well as the Black Panther suits. Vibranium has the ability to absorb kinetic energies and disperse the energy evenly, resulting in a bulletproof like material.

The first time The Black Panther appeared in comics was in a Fantastic Four comic book in 1966.

M’Baku, leader of the Jabari tribe in the comics, has powers similar to the Black Panther but gained his powers through killing and consuming a Mystical White ape.

Shuri, T’Challa’s sister is considered the smartest character in the MCU. (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Erik Killmonger’s birth name is N’Jadaka.

Viewer alert:  Make sure to stay after the end credits because there are two post-credit scenes you don’t want to miss!