Facts About Black Panther That Every Superhero Buff Should Know

The Black Panther was always a favorite among comic aficionados, but who would have predicted the widespread mainstream appeal that it would go on to have? The 2018 superhero flick has since gone on to become one of the highest grossing films in U.S. history. Despite its ascent to the top of the box office, there are still plenty of things you may not know about the movie and its charismatic protagonist. And as someone new pounces into the role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, allow us to enlighten you on the iconic hero...

1. Historic origins

Lest you think Black Panther is a relatively new creation, the character first appeared as early as 1966. That year saw him debut in issue 52 of Fantastic Four – ultimately becoming the very first American superhero to be of African ancestry in a popular comic. Needless to say, his inclusion turned out to be a major success.

2. Knit one for yourself

Like the look of Nakia’s green scarf in Black Panther? Well, you’re not alone. In fact, such was the fanfare surrounding the piece of headware that the film’s costume designer Ruth E. Carter revealed the pattern, thus enabling fans to create their own scarf. Evidently, the Jeff Gillies design proved to be a winning one with audiences.

3. Failed first attempt

Did you know that there was a Black Panther movie in the works almost three decades before the Ryan Coogler-directed effort? That’s right, and it was all set to star Blade badass Wesley Snipes in the lead role, too. Sadly for him, the project failed to entice studios at the time to take a chance on it.

4. Not his first cinematic appearance

Although it’s Black Panther’s first time in the lead role, it’s not his first when it comes to on-screen appearances. No, the character’s actually been popping up in movies and shows since the mid-’90s – most notably in the Fantastic Four cartoon, scoring a small part in an X-Men episode, and perhaps most impressively in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War.