Marvel Comics received another win with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever! To date this film generated $859.1 million dollars from a budget of $250 million. Ryan Coogler didn’t recast the Black Panther, so this movie was based around Wakanda’s survival after the death of the King from an unspecified illness. In reality, Chadwick Boseman was diagnosed with colon cancer during his first appearance as Black Panther and began undergoing its effects throughout all movie appearances of the character up to Endgame.
The villain chosen for this movie was Namor The Sub Mariner. Namor as we know is very similar to AquaMan in the DC Universe. Both are half Atlantean, with the ability to survive the depths of the oceans and communicate with marine animals. Their primary differences lie within their human parents and the Tridents they wield. Namor’s father has the dormant X gene which creates Namor as half homo superior, explaining his winged feet and ability to fly. Flight is what would give Namor an advantage over AquaMan in battle, but it’s AquaMan Trident of Poseidon and the ability to tap into the Life Force of the oceans that may give AquaMan the win in this matchup. Who is your favorite underwater King between the two?
Namor is introduced cinematically different from the comic origins. Wakanda believed that Vibranium only landed in their country, now to find out the precious metal has also landed in the ocean near the MesoAmerican Region. Over time the meteorite’s radiation gave nourishment to underwater plants, which were consumed by the last Mayan tribe in that area. Namor’s mother was pregnant when she ingested it, causing Namor’s mutation of winged ankles and flight. As for the tribespeople, out of water their pigmentation turns blue from lack of oxygen where when immersed in water, the saturation returns to normal human coloration. Namor and his people have the ability of hypnosis, very similar to mermaids and sirens, sending anyone within earshot to a watery grave. Instead of wielding the magical Trident of Neptune, Namor wields a spear made of pure Vibranium. Without the magical powers of a Trident, do you think this version of Namor can take on Jason Momoa’s AquaMan? Did the director want Namor changed to give the minorities of our society a representation cinematically or was Africans, Latins and Hispanics cultures being displayed as one in the same since Pangaea? This concept was also presented in AVP when explaining cultures with pyramid structures.
Shuri becomes the Black Panther as she does in the comics. Since she failed save her brother’s life and the world’s continual efforts to invade Wakanda for Vibranium, Shuri’s feelings towards society turns negative. After interacting and learning the creation of Talokan, Shuri was able to create a new crop of the heart shaped herb since its destruction by Killmonger’s order. This new herb grants the user a greater healing factor similar to Wolverine’s. This was witnessed from the invulnerable warriors of Talokan and Shuri surviving a stab wound to the midsection, same trauma that took Killmonger’s life. It’s unclear if the herb allows underwater breathing, but if this herb was discovered earlier, T’Challa and Killmonger would have survived their afflictions. Even though Shuri was coaxed into a negative mindset, fueled even more so by the death of the Queen, Shuri used the wisdom of the Black Panther legacy to join the two Vibranium richen nations together as partners…or it seems. Namora was introduced in this film as well and she appears unpleased with Namor’s decision for unity. Do you think this is the beginning of a division within the Talokan nation?
How did you like this film?! What do you think of the changes made to character of Namor? Leave your comments below and check out SideShow Collectibles for Wakanda Forever!
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