Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
By James Burkhalter
Wakanda Forever Logo by Wikimedia Commons
On Aug. 28, 2020, esteemed actor Chadwick Boseman passed away due to complications with cancer. He fought this battle while filming his first appearance as Black Panther and the solo “Black Panther” movie. Months after his passing, fans wondered how the franchise would continue without Boseman reprising his role as T’ Challa. The answer to this question can be found in the new movie “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”
Ryan Coogler, the director of the two “Black Panther” films, had four things to accomplish with “Wakanda Forever”: moving the movie forward without Boseman, honoring him while maintaining Marvel continuity, accurately portraying both African and Indigenous culture and simply making a good movie. All of these things were not only met in this movie but outdone;“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is the only movie “Certified Fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes in the entirety of Marvel’s phase 4.
While some marvel fans deeply wanted to “#RecastT’Challa,” this movie refused to ignore Boseman’s death and did not neglect the pain of his friends and family. “Wakanda Forever” directly deals with the grief and the pain that comes with loss; instead of shying away from its audiences’ sadness, it holds out a hand. This tribute was not out of place in this movie but rather was ingrained into the film as a way to respect Boseman, the Marvel franchise and the viewer. The film moved forward with the loss of Boseman as a boost instead of a hindrance.
With the introduction of Namor and Talokan came the introduction of a new culture into the “Black Panther” films. Namor and his newly found home of Talokan was the introduction of an Indigenous character with a significant role. While Namor is the “villain” of the film, his story does not involve itself in the common trope of vilifying Indigenous trauma. “Black Panther'' was one of Marvel’s first breaks of diversification shown in the franchise, so the inclusion of an indigenous storyline was the perfect fit.s. Marvel adopted the original story of Namor and transformed it into a vessel for another cultural experience.
Coogler took this sequel and handled every issue, accomplished everything that needed to be accomplished and showed love to both Boseman and the audience. This film is not only the latest installation of one of the most popular superhero movie franchises to date but also a love letter to home and the realities of grief. If you haven't seen the movie yet, consider it for your weekend plans.