Marvel Studios’ Black Panther

T'Challa battles Killmonger in a powerful clash of anti-heroes, exploring themes of justice, leadership and identity.

Marvel Studios' Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler, brings Marvel Comics’ first Black superhero to the big screen, following T’Challa’s (Chadwick Boseman) rise to the throne of Wakanda, a secretive and technologically advanced African nation. Set after the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), where the character was first introduced in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Marvel Studios' Black Panther follows T’Challa as he navigates the challenges of leadership while facing a formidable opponent: Erik "Killmonger" Stevens (Michael B. Jordan), a Wakandan exile who aims to use the kingdom’s resources to arm oppressed people around the world, and overthrow T'Challa.

The film complicates traditional ideals of hero and villain by presenting both T'Challa and Killmonger as layered anti-heroes. T'Challa, though often viewed as the hero, exhibits anti-hero traits: his upholding of Wakanda's isolationist policies, his reluctance to fully embrace his role as king, and his personal quest for vengeance. Killmonger, while seen as a villain due to his violent tactics, is driven by sympathetic motivations rooted in his tragic past and desire to liberate the oppressed.

This duality makes Marvel Studios' Black Panther a rich exploration of justice, leadership, and identity, with both characters embodying traits of the anti-hero. Their moral ambiguity adds depth to the film, challenging the clear lines between right and wrong and making the character dynamics more intricate and relatable.

– Professor Angela Ndalianis, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Transformative Media Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology