Abstract
In the Black Panther comics and film, literary plot devices, genre conventions and narrative choices are all used to examine issues of connection. From Vibranium and Kimoyo Beads to the interdisciplinary team of creators that established them, (re)connection is a vital part of the Black Panther universe, both inside and out. This article explores how Marvel’s Black Panther universe can be used to explore the threads of (re)connection that are present within our everyday lives. It establishes how connection takes place within contemporary social movements, such as Black Lives Matter, and considers how Black Panther represents this connection as an opportunity for facilitating change and progress.
Highlights
In the Black Panther comics and film, literary plot devices, genre conventions and narrative choices are all used to examine issues of connection
The issue 52 of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Fantastic Four, which was first published in July 1966, introduced readers to the fictional African nation of Wakanda and their king, T’Challa, more commonly known as ‘Black Panther’, a long-time member of the Avengers and one of Marvel’s most memorable heroes1
The representation of Kimoyo Beads as a wearable and cultural symbol marks it as performative, drawing comparisons to how we present ourselves, our culture and our identities on social media (Hogan, 2010)
Summary
In the Black Panther comics and film, literary plot devices, genre conventions and narrative choices are all used to examine issues of connection. Under Coates, the main Black Panther series and its two spin-offs3, World of Wakanda and Shuri, have featured narratives that both emphasise and explore the importance of connection, both within the comics themselves and throughout real life. African American concerns are explored both within the Afrofuturistic world of Black Panther and real-life social and political movements.
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