52 years ago in Fantastic Four #52, Black Panther debuted as the first black superhero in mainstream American comic books. His alter ego is T’Challa, head of the Panther Tribe and king of Wakanda, a fictional African nation in the Marvel Comics universe. T’Challa was married to Storm of the X-Men for six years and, as Black Panther, fought alongside the Fantastic Four and the Avengers. The character was never as well-known as these Marvel Comics heavyweights, but that appears to be changing. Actor Chadwick Boseman was lauded for his performance as T’Challa in Captain America: Civil War, and the Black Panther solo movie is setting records for advance ticket sales.
Which makes this the perfect time to look back at how Black Panther has evolved, starting with his genesis in 1965 and debut the following year. We’ve included every major costume within the mainstream Marvel Comics continuity except for designs worn for only a short time. We also look at his Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances plus three other superheroes who briefly took up the mantle as Black Panther.
Image Created by HalloweenCostumes.com
Infographic Designed and Illustrated by Kate Willaert
