Tag: Wakanda

Marvel, Movies

‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Explores Geopolitics and Shows the MCU Can Go Further

Swara Salih

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is, at its core, a moving drama about the grief of a nation for their lost King T’Challa and the grief of his closes loved ones. But the film also takes a deeper dive into the geopolitics of the MCU, and really our own world and how the legacy of colonialism, European slavery of Africans, Indigenous genocide, and the pillaging of resources of Black and brown countries continues to this day.

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Interview, Marvel, Movies

Alex Livinalli on the Indigenous Story Within ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Mike Manalo

Talocan is coming for the surface world! After decades of stories on the printed page, Namor, Namora, and powerful behemoth Attuma are finally making their grand cinematic debuts in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever this Friday! And we, at The Nerds of Color, were blessed to have gotten an opportunity to speak with the man behind Attuma, Alex Livinalli!

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Fandom, Marvel, Scholarship

What Are We Saying When We Say, ‘Wakanda Forever?’

Shawn Taylor

It’s been four years and a few weeks since Marvel’s Black Panther leveled the pop-sphere with a $1.344 billion USD box office and a legion of new and reinvigorated fans. Before his big screen debut in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War — an appearance that all who saw it could not stop talking about — he was a C- or D-list comic book character in Marvel Comics’ overstuffed roster.

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Marvel, Movies

‘Shang-Chi’ Is Not NOT Like ‘Black Panther’

Dominic Mah

As Bruce Lee might say, we must start with dispelling what is not useful and replace it with what is useful. I won’t rehash any arguments comparing Shang-Chi to Black Panther which are based in speculation, impulse-tweeted, or otherwise made in bad faith. The phrase “Asian American Black Panther” has been tossed around (including by me), in various contexts, since Black Panther came out in 2018.

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Animation, Marvel, Streaming

Black Panther, Star-Lord, and the Great Chadwick Boseman

Jamal Michel

Like nearly all viewers tuning in to this week’s episode of Disney’s animated reimagining What If…?, I was excited, anxious, and sad about seeing and hearing Chadwick Boseman on screen in his last project. The second episode, directed by Bryan Andrews and written by Matthew Chauncey, was a bittersweet exploration of a possible reality where T’Challa takes the role of Star-Lord instead of its original figure Peter Quill. While heartwarming and hilarious, the episode felt like a rush through a journey that could have potentially been explored further but was unfortunately cut short.

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Movies, News, Television

Stand Up to Cancer to Honor Chadwick Boseman With a Special Tribute

Jamal Michel

When Chadwick Boseman passed away last year at the age of 43 after a private battle with colon cancer, communities across the globe were stunned. His ability to battle the debilitating disease all while filming physically demanding roles spoke to his drive and commitment as a creator. Because of this, and his tireless efforts off screen, Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) will honor the beloved activist and creator with a special tribute by his wife Simone and host Anthony Anderson at this year’s fundraising special.

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Marvel, Movies

Michaela Coel Set to Join Incredible Cast of ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’

Jamal Michel

Today, Variety dropped some exclusive news regarding Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Insiders at Variety reported earlier today that Coel would be joining the elite cast of the film amid airtight details surrounding the ensemble.

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Marvel, Video Games

Christopher Judge to Voice T’Challa in ‘Marvel’s Avengers’

Jamal Michel

Since the passing of legend, icon, and super hero Chadwick Boseman last year, the idea of passing the mantle of the Black Panther off to anyone else has been met with understandable apprehension. The entertainment, comic book, and pop culture world was stunned by the news of Chadwick’s passing last year after learning about his personal battle with colon cancer and countless roles and activities he committed to while battling his illness.

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Marvel, Movies, News4 Comments

Marvel Studios Sneakily Drops a TON of Movie Announcements

Mike Manalo

Kevin Feige, you sly dawg! Earlier today Marvel Studios dropped a very inspiring video commemorating our return to the movies. And as wonderful as it was to see footage from our favorite films within the MCU legacy, they rewarded everyone who watched it with a truckload of very cool updates about their slate coming between now and 2023. Before we break down what all of it means, watch the video first and get hyped:

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Hard N.O.C. Life, Marvel, Streaming

Hard NOC Life 211: Captain Act a Fool Up in Here

Hard NOC Media

Dominic, Keith, Britney remember the life of DMX before breaking down the latest episode of Disney+’s The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and getting hyped for Snake Eyes which is now coming out in July.

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Hard N.O.C. Life, Television

Hard NOC Life 202: Wakanda Vision

Hard NOC Media

Shawn, Dominic, Keith, and Jamal return for an all-new episode of Hard NOC Life. This week, the fellas discuss the latest episode of WandaVision, news of a Wakanda series for Disney+, and what the latest DC Comics event reboot means for The Rock.

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Fandom, Marvel, Movies, Scholarship

Wakanda and Migration: #BlackFreedomBeyondBorders

Shawn Taylor

We are living in a world where people are moving around the earth almost as fast as information. Most of us will not be buried in the soil of our birth. We move for different reasons: safety, opportunities, whims. What is gained and lost from these migrations?

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Marvel, Movies

DMV Nerds: Win Tickets to a Screening of ‘Black Panther’

The Nerds of Color

Did your browser crash when trying to buy early tickets for Black Panther? Is the movie sold out opening day at your local cinema? Well, if you’re in the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia), we’re teaming up with Fantom Comics to offer a lucky NOC follower two first class tickets to Wakanda!

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Comics, Marvel2 Comments

Heavy is the Panther’s Cowl

Shawn Taylor

2016 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most iconic characters in comics, The Black Panther.

Springing to life in the pages of Fantastic Four #52, the Panther’s comic journey has been one fraught with fits and starts. Some people look at Christopher Priest’s run as the definitive arc. Other’s look at Reginald Hudlin’s take as the best representation of the character. One guy at Dr. Comics and Mr. Games comic shop in Oakland felt Jonathan Hickman’s version in Secret Wars was, “The best look for the Panther. No one else got it right.” I’m going to have to refute that and argue that Ta-Nehisi Coates, Brian Stelfreeze, and Laura Martin’s Black Panther relaunch will be the definitive version of T’Challa, King of the Wakanda, for a long while to come. Instead of gold, the Panther received the gift of a fantastic creative team.

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Comics, Marvel4 Comments

Who Are The Dora Milaje?

Dennis R. Upkins

The second trailer of Avengers: Age of Ultron featured more than a few surprises. Most notably, a scene that featured a mysterious woman in the cave which had the internet abuzz.

Unfortunately the shot-callers at Disney decided to snatch defeat out of he jaws of victory. After pulling rank on director Joss Whedon with the cave scene,  Disney ultimately pulled a bait & switch in advertising the woman in the second trailer and then removing her from the film.

Based on what is known regarding the plans for Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character was most likely either Shuri, princess of Wakanda and co-Black Panther, or the Dora Milaje: the elite personal bodyguards of the Black Panthers.

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Comics, Marvel5 Comments

Character Study: Shuri

Dennis R. Upkins

The Black Panther himself isn’t the only reason I’m eagerly awaiting the the live action film when it hits theaters in 2018.

Although T’Challa in action is more than reason enough.

The opportunity to see the mythical land of Wakanda, and the fiercely “Adored Ones,” the Dora Milaje, on the big screen is also well worth the price of admission alone.

But as the Captain America, Iron Man and Thor films have illustrated, the supporting players, (Falcon, Bucky Barnes, War Machine, and Lady Sif) will also get an opportunity to take center stage.

This is why I’m hoping T’Challa’s younger sister and fellow Black Panther, Shuri has a featured role in the film.

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Marvel, Movies5 Comments

Why’d They Do Black Panther Like That?

Shawn Taylor

Originally posted on Ebony.com

What was meant to be a celebratory moment for (Black) comic book fans turned out offensive. This week’s Entertainment Weekly turned the highly anticipated reveal of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s interpretation of the first Black superhero into a fiasco of epic proportions. T’Challa, king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda (also known as the hero Black Panther), got sonned by EW.

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Comics, Marvel5 Comments

Between the World and Wakanda: Ta-Nehisi Coates to Write Black Panther

Keith Chow

Black Panther is having a moment. And it’s looking evidently clear that 2016 will officially be the Year of the Panther.

Not only is the character being primed for his big screen debut next summer in Marvel Studios’ blockbuster Captain America: Civil War — played by Chadwick Boseman — setting the stage for his own cinematic feature two years later, the comics version is going to get some shine as well since Ta-Nehisi Coates, one of the country’s greatest and most important writers, is making his superhero comics debut on Black Panther #1 next spring.

I mean, why else would a new comic creative team be exclusively announced in The New York Times?

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Marvel, Movies17 Comments

Some Thoughts on Avengers: Age of Ultron

Keith Chow

It’s been a few hours, but I’m still processing what I thought about the latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Avengers: Age of Ultron. I know that my feelings and recommendations will have no bearing on whether you will go out to see this movie. It’s guaranteed to generate a couple billion dollars in box office — and that’s probably just for this weekend alone! And while I had a great time watching the thing, I couldn’t help but feel a little underwhelmed by the whole enterprise.

Needless to say, there will be spoilers ahead.

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Comics, Marvel9 Comments

Why The Black Panther Is Marvel’s Answer to Batman

Dennis R. Upkins

As most comic book fans are aware, the success of an adaptation — be it a live action film, a television series, or a cartoon — can prove to be a game changer for the superhero protagonist and their standing in the comic book universe.

A little exposure can result in minor throwaway characters becoming heavy hitters overnight.

This is yet another reason I’m excited about the forthcoming Black Panther movie. This is a character who hasn’t always been properly utilized and this has resulted in more than a few missed opportunities. The highly anticipated film may finally alert the public to one fundamental truth about the Wakandan superhero. For all intents and purposes, the Black Panther is Marvel’s answer to Batman.

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