BP Sighting: Secret Empire #5

Short but glorious

Black Panther Myth: T'challa Staggered The Hulk

The Myth

During the massive fight between multiple Avenger's teams in Hickman's Time Runs Out saga, Black Panther staggered an alternate reality Hulk with a slash/slap/punch. 

You may have seen this fact on internet forums, Facebook, and Instagram. Even on forums with "hardcore" fans, they use this fact to justify that T'challa was "super powered" due to his King of the Dead upgrade. Or you will see this on various "Black Panther feats" posts or threads who never post sources (even if they straight up steal my shit).

And then this image is posted:

And yeah... it does like T'challa have the Hulk one of his pimp hand specials.

The Facts

T'challa did not stagger the Hulk. Sunspot did. 

Here is the full, un-cropped scan from New Avengers, vol 3, #28 (Hickman's run):

Let us zoom in for the people who want to be really dense about this:

This is why all feats should have SOURCES! All feats should have SCANS! This is CLEARLY Sunspot decking alternate reality Hulk. Not T'challa. I don't even know what T'challa is doing here, but if I had to guess by his arm position and what he was doing in the previous panels, he is likely throwing an energy dagger at someone.

One thing he ain't doing is staggering the Hulk.


Got any other myths you want me to look into? Let me know in the comments.

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Captain America: Steve Rogers #18 Thoughts and Spoilers (BP Appearance)

Spoilers...

- HydraCap addresses the world at the UN. Basically tells them all Hydra is done being int he shadows, that HydraUSA doesn't need them, and they will do what they are told when they are told. Basically, a villain monologue.

- At the same time, we see various international super hero teams dealing with Hydra forces.

- And at the same time, we see Namor. Who holds a cosmic cube shard and is refusing to give it up to Steve.

- In the middle of the villain monologue, T'challa hacks into the UN as the representative of Wakanda. And starts going off.

- He explains three times Hydra forces have invaded Wakanda and three times Wakanda has slaughtered them.

- The last time, T'challa got especially annoyed and joined the fray, culminating in ripping Zola apart.

- He then straight up threatens Steve. He tells Steve to stop sending his lackies to kill and to bring himself to Wakanda instead.

- Steve is pissed, leaves, and runs into a defiant Namor and Atlantis.

- Flash forward to last SE issue and we see Atlantis church destroyed and Namor giving up the cube fragment.


Thoughts...

- Well, I didn't see this coming. Didn't see the T'challa I know and dedicate a blog to suddenly grow back his balls and not only act defiant but telling HydraCap to come finish this man-to-man. I mean... shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit. This is the first person to stand up to Cap to his face.

- And at the same time, it was a nice (and sad) comparison to see Namor, the always defiant proud king.... bend his knee. He had Steve right there in front of him... and walked away. While T'challa told Steve to catch him outside.

- I do not plan on getting my hopes up too much. Wakanda has been destroyed too often in events (Doom War, AvX, Time Runs Out) lately for me to think this will be another See Wakanda and Die situation. Let's cross our fingers and hope Wakanda and T'challa put up a good fight when the forces of Hydra eventually turn that way.

- What I would like is for T'challa to lead an international force against Hydra. There had to be a reason Spencer showed all those super heroes fighting Hydra forces, culminating in T'challa's outright defiance and threatening tone. A team of T'challa, Captain Britain, Namor, ect would be really fun and really powerful.


Scans of T'challa's appearance below (click to enlarge)...

May 2017 Sales Report

Black Panther #14, featuring the return of some old characters...

27,287

We still haven't found that stabilizing line yet. Which is weird. Another 3K drop is... ruh roh. Book still does well digitally as far as people like me can tell but there needs to be a steady line eventually.


Here is the complete publication history of T'challa's solos...

Ultimates² #7, featuring the plot getting interrupted for the 100th time and meandering...

18,490

Don't get excited Ultimates fans... this was just a Secret Empire tie in little boost.



Black Panther and the Crew #2, featuring the ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

18,183

Oh lawd, no wonder they cancelled this after one issue. Holy moly.

Feats: Black Panther Using Reality Gem Confirmed

I do not know if Coates realized what he said but he just on panel confirmed what Infinity Gem T'challa used at the end of Secret Wars.

This has actually been a huge debate in many Black Panther threads due to the nature of Coates story. Many people claimed it was the Time Gem while other contended the Reality Gem made more sense.

Well, until it is stated on panel differently, we can confirm that T'challa did use the Reality Gem and he did remake all of reality at the end of Secret Wars.

Black Panther and the Crew #3 Thoughts and Spoilers

- Well, at least T'challa was actual in the book. And we finally figured out who the bad guys are... although I am not sure if Coates is using certain elements on accident (Faustus and now Hydra) or if he planned ot use these people right at the same time a big event is going on with these people but not tie in? Kind of bizarre honestly.

- There is some really baffling things in this issue. We get confirmation that T'challa DID re-write reality with the Reality Gem. Which, until some other writer says otherwise, is about as close as a confirmation we are going to get in regards to the end of Secret Wars.

At the same time though, he acts as if he could have restored the marriage and decided not to. So... that is what he is going to mope about? Not the fact he didn't revive his whole damn family, including the sister he moped for 12 issues about in the main book?

This just stinks of Coates trying anyway possible to put Storm and T'challa back together. No, annulled the marriage (in story anyway) because she chose the wrong side in AvX and HER side drowned what was supposed to be HER country. Not because he was afraid. Maybe BP/Storm lovers just eat this stuff up but I want T'challa to move on.

It is this kind of low key shade throwing that you could ignore in isolation but continues a disturbing pattern from Coates. But, this book is set in the middle of the solo book (why don't this books have editor notes?) so at least it kinda "fits" continuity wise.

- I also find it cringe worthy when writers force America race politics onto T'challa. I mean, I get it, he is the most popular black superhero in existence. But... it just really doesn't fit an African king of a xenophobic fictional nation really. The old lady giving him the identity speech... ugh. I wanted T'challa to bring out his back hand once again.

- I haven't touched much on the plot because it is literally the same as the previous issue. Hints about Ezra's mysterious pass + a character narrating the entire time + two characters hanging out the entire time + an explosion + splash page. We have gotten three pages of action total in three issues. Plot is moving at a snail pace. We don't read team books to spend a whole trade waiting for the team to get together.

Should You Read It?

- No. This book is a pure disappointment.