Wakanda (comics)

Wakanda

Map of Wakanda from Marvel Universe #12.
Art by Don McGregor.
Type African country
Race(s) Wakandans
Notable characters Black Panther
Man-Ape
Vibraxas
Storm
Gentle
First appearance Fantastic Four #52
(July 1966)
Publisher Marvel Comics

Wakanda is a fictional nation appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.[1] It is the most prominent of several fictional African nations in the Marvel Universe, and it is home to the superhero Black Panther. Wakanda first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.[2]

Location

Wakanda is located in Northeastern Africa, although its exact location has varied throughout the nation's publication history: some sources place Wakanda in East Africa, just north of Tanzania,[3] while others - such as Marvel Atlas #2 - show it bordering Lake Turkana, near Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia (and surrounded by fictional countries like Azania, Canaan, and Narobia). In the Captain America: Civil War movie, Wakanda was shown on a map at the northern end of Lake Turkhana, at a fictional point bordering Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya.

History

The Wakandan royal line began with Bashenga, an ancient Wakandan whose first and only appearance was in Black Panther vol. 1 #7 (Jan 1978). Bashenga was supposedly the first king of unified Wakanda, and the first Black Panther some 10,000 years ago.[4]

In the distant past, a massive meteorite made up of the sound-absorbing mineral vibranium crashed in Wakanda, and is unearthed a generation before the events of the present-day. T'Challa, the current Black Panther, is the son of T'Chaka, the Black Panther before him and a descendant of Bashenga. Knowing that others would attempt to manipulate and dominate Wakanda for this rare and valuable resource, T'Chaka conceals his country from the outside world. He sells off minute amounts of the valuable vibranium while surreptitiously sending the country's best scholars to study abroad, consequently turning Wakanda into one of the world's most technologically advanced nations. Eventually, however, the explorer Ulysses Klaw finds his way to Wakanda, and covers up his work on a vibranium-powered, sound-based weapon. When exposed, Klaw kills T'Chaka, only to see his "sound blaster" turned on him by a grieving teenaged T'Challa. Klaw's right hand is destroyed, and he and his men flee.[4]

Wakanda has an unusually high rate of mutation due to the dangerously mutagenic properties of the Vibranium Mound. A large number of these Wakandan Mutates are working for Erik Killmonger.[4]

Vibranium radiation has permeated much of Wakanda's flora and fauna, including the Heart-Shaped Herb eaten by members of the Black Panther Cult (although T'Challa once allowed a dying Spider-Man to eat it in the hope that it would help him deal with his current illness), and the flesh of the White Gorilla eaten by the members of the White Gorilla Cult.

In the 2008 "Secret Invasion" storyline, Skrull forces led by Commander K'vvvr invaded Wakanda and engaged Black Panther and his forces. Technological efforts lead to both sides being forced to fight with swords and spears. The Wakandan forces voluntarily wear panther masks; this prevents the Skrulls from focusing attacks on their leader. Despite losses, the Wakandans defeat the Skrulls. They kill every single one, including K'vvvr, and send their ship back, packed with the bodies. A warning against invading Wakanda is left written on the wall of the ship's control center.[5]

While under the cosmic power of the Phoenix Force, Namor attacks Wakanda for hiding the Avengers and destroys much of the country with a tidal wave. After the attack all mutants are banned from Wakanda as stated by Black Panther and attack on some students from the Jean Grey school by its people who barely flee with the help of Storm.[6]

Technology base

Due to its isolation and intentional isolationism, Wakandan technology has, until recently, developed entirely independently of that of the rest of the world. As such, the design philosophies and methodologies are different, and often incompatible, with conventional equipment. In some areas, Wakanda is ahead of the rest of the world. For example, Wakandan computer technology is much more powerful than that of the rest of the world, and is completely immune to outside hacking, as it is not based on binary electronics; it can, however, emulate the behavior of such electronics at hugely enhanced efficiencies, allowing it to easily hack almost any conventional system. Vibranium was used liberally in Wakandan tech, but the recent destruction of all Vibranium has forced large-scale redesigns.

Wakanda's cults

Panther Cult

Bast the Panther Goddess is the primary deity of Wakanda. After the vibranium meteor fell, a number of Wakandans were painfully mutated into "demon spirits" and began attacking their fellow Wakandans. T'Challa's ancestor, Bashenga became the first Black Panther and closed the vibranium mound to outsiders, forming a religious order that guarded the mound and fought to keep the "demon spirits" from spreading across the kingdom. The Black Panther is a ceremonial and religious title given to the chief of the Panther Tribe. As part of the cult's ceremonies, a chosen Black Panther is entitled to the use of a heart-shaped herb. The herb enhances the physical attributes of the person who consumes it to near-superhuman levels, similar to the super soldier serum.[7]

White Gorilla Cult

Ghekre the Gorilla God is an ancient Wakandan deity.[8] Wakanda evolved from a hunter-warrior society, and was traditionally ruled by its greatest warrior. The dominant Black Panther Cult outlawed the rival White Gorilla Cult's worship in Wakanda. M'Baku (Man-Ape) of the Jabari tribe is one of Wakanda's greatest warriors, second only to T'Challa, the Black Panther himself. While T'Challa, king of Wakanda, is on a several month leave of absence from Wakanda, the ambitious M'Baku plots to usurp the throne. M'Baku flouts T'Challa's edicts and revives the White Gorilla Cult, killing one of the rare white gorillas living in the jungles near Wakanda. M'Baku bathes in the gorilla's blood and eats its flesh which "mystically" confers the gorilla's great strength upon M'Baku. He tries to defeat T'Challa in combat, hoping to take over the country, but is beaten and banished from Wakanda.[9]

Lion Cult

Sekhmet the Lion Goddess could possess the form of any human worshipers or the bodies of those sanctified and sacrificed by her worshipers, she transformed these subjects into human avatars of herself. She has a number of other powers, some of which she has demonstrated. Sekhmet could grow in size, move at rapid speeds, teleport herself and others, and alter her specific density. The Lion goddess possessed superhuman strength and durability, and she was immortal. She can manipulate the minds of the weak willed.

Little is known of the history of the Lion Goddess. She had apparently lost many worshipers over the years to the Cult of the Panther God, despite the fact that Sekhmet physically manifested before its followers, and the Panther God only appears to its priests.[10]

Crocodile Cult

Sobek the Crocodile God appears to be an ancient and somewhat forgotten Wakandan deity.[8][11][12]

In other media

Television

Film

Video games

Other fictional African countries in Marvel Comics

coat of arms of Central Saharan Republic

References

  1. ↑ GEORGE GENE GUSTINES (July 22, 2016). "Marvel's World of Wakanda Will Spotlight Women, on the Page and Behind It". NYT. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  2. ↑ Cronin, Brian (September 19, 2010). "A Year of Cool Comics – Day 262". Comic Book Resources CSBG Archive. Retrieved September 29, 2010.
  3. ↑ Fantastic Four vol. 3 #21
  4. 1 2 3 Black Panther Appendix at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
  5. ↑ "Black Panther" vol. 4, #38-41. Marvel Comics
  6. ↑ Fraction, Matt (w), Coipel, Oliver (p), Morales, Mark (i), Martin, Laura (col). Avengers vs. X-Men 7 (July 2012), Marvel Comics
  7. ↑ "The religion of Black Panther (T'Challa)". Adherents.com. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  8. 1 2 Anthony Flamini, Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente & Paul Cornell (w), Kevin Sharpe (p), Kevin Sharpe (i). Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica 1 (July 2009), Marvel Comics
  9. ↑ "Man-Ape". Marveldirectory.com. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  10. ↑ "Lion God (Egyptian god, Avengers foe)". Marvunapp.com. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
  11. ↑ http://comicbookresources.com/assets/images/preview/2295/prv2295_pg5.jpg
  12. ↑ As seen in Black Panther vol. 5 #3 (April 2009)
  13. ↑ Russell, Scarlett (March 11, 2016). "Captain America: Civil War won't be visiting Black Panther's home country Wakanda". Digital Spy.
  14. ↑ http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/disney-infinity-marvel-battlegrounds-play-set-1201614481/
  15. ↑ "blackpanther1v2". Comicboards.com. Retrieved 2011-01-06.
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