12 Facts You May Not Have Known About Black Panther

Everyone loves comic book trivia, but with 75 years of superhero comics behind us right now, there’s always some new obscure fact to learn. That’s why ComicsAlliance is going deep into the minutiae of your favorite names in comics in our continuing video series. You think you know comics? Well, here’s a few things you might not know!

This week we're taking a look at King T'Challa, the chief of the Wakandas, aka the battling Black Panther! T'challa will be making his long-awaited cinematic debut in the forthcoming Captain America: Civil War, so take this opportunity before this movie hits to bone up on the history of comics' first black superhero, from his debut in Fantastic Four to his time on the Avengers to his solo adventures in America, in Africa, and across the world.

Show notes:

If you can find a copy of Essential Black Panther vol 1 for a reasonable price, snatch it up. It's out of print, but it's a veritable treasure trove, containing all of the Jungle Action stories, including that one where he fights the Klan, and the beginning of Kirby's solo run on T'challa's first headlining turn.
The good news is, the first nine issues of Kirby's Black Panther are available on Comixology. Speaking personally, this is some of my favorite Kirby material from this era, with a globe-trotting T'challa, avaricious billionaires who will stop at nothing to complete their collections, and King Solomon's frogs!
Even better news: the best ever Black Panther run is getting a complete collection for the first time. To read the Marvel Knights era of the title, written by Christopher Priest with art by Mark Texeira, Joe Jusko, Sal Velluto and other, start here.
There is a somewhat...let's call it polarized reaction to the Black Panther run written by Reginald Hudlin (with art by John Romita Jr, among others), but if you're curious, you can start here, or skip to his wedding with Storm here (digital), or see T'challa get replaced by his sister here (digital).
On the other hand, I think most of us can agree that Black Panther and Storm just wrecking some Skrulls is pretty awesome, and that can be had digitally here.
Black Panther and Storm leading the Fantastic Four was also really great and picks up on some elements from the Jack Kirby solo series. Check that out here.
To see Black Panther as the protector of Hell's Kitchen, start here.