Adding to the plot is what appears in Jack Kirby’s original drawing for Black Panther from his first film. Fantastic Four #52. Unlike fans of the iconic Black Panther costume, T’Challa’s appearance was initially much more Panther-like, with the lower half of his face still exposed. This design was modified for Black Panther’s comic book debut.
The presence of another hero from the Golden Age of 1941 named Black Panther further complicates matters. This Black Panther appeared exactly once and is so obscure that it’s unlikely to have any connection to the hero who shares his name. A more likely influence for T’Challa’s background is “Waku, the Bantu Prince” by Don Rico and Ogden Whitney from Atlas’ Tales from the Forest #1. Again edited by Stan Lee, this tale of an African prince avenging his father and fighting off poachers and pretenders to the throne.
Sadly, the comics themselves and what little has been said in past interviews is all that is needed today to understand the creative process that led to Black Panther. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have sadly passed away, and any image of the birth of their greatest creations will forever contain the voids only they can fill. The Panther might not be a name everyone knows, but he and Waku the Bantu Prince probably inspired someone at Marvel Black Panther.
Source: Changing the ego #104
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Black Panther’s Origin: Did T’Challa Copy an Early Marvel Villain?
Adding to the intrigue is what is revealed in Jack Kirby’s original pencil art for Black Panther from his debut in Fantastic Four #52. Unlike the iconic Black Panther suit fans know today, T’Challa’s look was initially much more similar to that of the Panther, with the bottom half of the face still exposed. This design was changed for Black Panther’s actual comic debut.
To complicate matters further is the existence of another golden age hero called the Black Panther from 1941. This Black Panther made exactly one appearance and is so obscure it’s unlikely he has any connection to the hero that shares his name. A more likely influence for T’Challa’s backstory is “Waku, Prince of the Bantu” by Don Rico and Ogden Whitney from Atlas’ Jungle Tales #1. This story of an African prince who avenges his father and battles poachers and pretenders to the throne was, once again, edited by Stan Lee.
Unfortunately the comic books themselves and what little was said in interviews from the past are all anyone has to go on today to understand the creative process that led to Black Panther. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have sadly passed, and any picture of how their greatest creations came to be will forever contain gaps only they could have filled in. The Panther may not have been a household name, but he and Waku, Prince of the Bantu likely helped inspire one in Marvel’s Black Panther.
Source: Alter Ego #104
#Black #Panthers #Origin #TChalla #Copy #Early #Marvel #Villain
Black Panther’s Origin: Did T’Challa Copy an Early Marvel Villain?
Adding to the intrigue is what is revealed in Jack Kirby’s original pencil art for Black Panther from his debut in Fantastic Four #52. Unlike the iconic Black Panther suit fans know today, T’Challa’s look was initially much more similar to that of the Panther, with the bottom half of the face still exposed. This design was changed for Black Panther’s actual comic debut.
To complicate matters further is the existence of another golden age hero called the Black Panther from 1941. This Black Panther made exactly one appearance and is so obscure it’s unlikely he has any connection to the hero that shares his name. A more likely influence for T’Challa’s backstory is “Waku, Prince of the Bantu” by Don Rico and Ogden Whitney from Atlas’ Jungle Tales #1. This story of an African prince who avenges his father and battles poachers and pretenders to the throne was, once again, edited by Stan Lee.
Unfortunately the comic books themselves and what little was said in interviews from the past are all anyone has to go on today to understand the creative process that led to Black Panther. Stan Lee and Jack Kirby have sadly passed, and any picture of how their greatest creations came to be will forever contain gaps only they could have filled in. The Panther may not have been a household name, but he and Waku, Prince of the Bantu likely helped inspire one in Marvel’s Black Panther.
Source: Alter Ego #104
#Black #Panthers #Origin #TChalla #Copy #Early #Marvel #Villain
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