Review: "Black Panther" Creates Exciting New Potential for Superheroes

Scene from Black Panther

While comic books movies have taken audiences to the far reaches of space, into the depths of the ocean, and into the most fantastical of fantasies, Black Panther has managed to find something groundbreaking within the confines of the Marvel Cinematic Universe narrative. It isn't just that it's the first black superhero to headline his own movie, or that he does so without having to navigate a white world. Its very embodiment of Afro-Futurism is something that even a decade ago would've seemed risky for Hollywood. In 2018 however, it has shamelessly come forward and told a story that is exciting both in action and in story. Director Ryan Coogler isn't just obsessed with making a film look cool, but also gives it a cultural depth that would place it alongside touchstones like A Raisin in the Sun. For all of its great moments, the film feels different because it feels important; not just in the sense of world building, but in the future of superhero cinema. There hasn't been a movie like Black Panther before, and hopefully there will be a bunch coming very soon.

For protagonist T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Wakanda is his homeland, of which he resides over as king. In an era where every superhero story is in some prism of industrialized imagery, it's incredible to glimpse this village that is hidden from the world. The tribal warriors wear colorful outfits, talk casually in ways that defy class separation, and perform spiritual practices using herbal medicines. While elements of this have been featured throughout cinema, the choice to juxtapose this with futuristic technology is a feat that makes for a compelling text. Wakanda could be a natural wonder, it's that convincing. The score by Ludwig Goransson borrows percussive instruments and tribal chants to create one of the richest superhero scores of this century (not to mention an infectious soundtrack produced by Kendrick Lamar). This is a world that feels lived in, and it's also Marvel's defining achievement. 

It helps that the conflict may center around T'Challa as Black Panther fighting criminal Claw (Andy Serkis), but the themes are something more specific to the black identity. The protagonist symbolizes environmentalism in its purest form, using natural elements to operate its complex society. The antagonist is industrialism, which wishes to mine the resources for gain and profit. The struggle has always been there and it becomes more complex as American-born Erik (Michael B. Jordan) proves that the issue isn't a threat between races. It's also about nationalities and ideologies by which each character was brought up to believe. At its core, Black Panther works because of how the symbolic good and evil lacks a one dimensional component. In fact, most every character, no matter how small, has at least one memorable moment to shine by making quips or kicking butt in a movie that's lead by over 90% African Americans. It's exotic without pandering, and it feels like a celebratory reality that a black superhero movie can have the budget of Iron Man or Guardians of the Galaxy and be arguably just as culturally accepted, if not more due to its underlying relevance.

It helps that Boseman finally turns in an iconic role after playing real life icons in James Brown and Jackie Robinson. Here he gets to contemplate the morality of leading a country to war, and it is fascinating to see him learn every detail of his character. Black Panther is cool. He has remote control cars, perfect fit sneakers, and everything to be a more flexible and enjoyable James Bond. The film's action set pieces may be a bit wonky, sometimes shooting scenes at night in ways that eliminate their appeal, but it's the whole attitude of the film that ends up selling the film. Black Panther isn't afraid to surf on top of cars and flip through the air, accompanied by the aforementioned Kendrick Lamar soundtrack that fixes to the pulse perfectly as a simple car chase turns into ridiculous stunts.

At the other end is the one component that Marvel has taken forever to catch onto: the family. With exception to Thor, Marvel has lacked a deeper emotional core thanks to the absence of family. It's mostly been in the past few years that their personal lives have begun to be explored. Because Black Panther is transcontinental, the family perspective is even more complex, in narrative and morality. Even a simple duel atop a waterfall is now given rich emotional stakes because of how these characters are perceived. Add that on top of the cool world building, and there's plenty that would make this just as much a compelling drama as it is a footstep for The Avengers: Infinity War. Black Panther is a character for diplomacy, which is a far welcomed cry to the destruction of more cynical and nihilistic takes such as Batman v. Superman or Suicide Squad.

This is a film that works in large part because it feels different. It has an immediacy in every detail to make up for the absence of reputable black superheroes. Unlike other films that weave in identity, it's not a distraction from what works. In fact, it's a large part of why it works. The action scenes would be typical Marvel fare without the incredible character dynamics and world building. Instead, they feel like the start of a new era for the studio, and superhero movies in general. One can only hope that Wakanda and its inhabitants encourage filmmakers to continue exploring worlds outside American and European superhero culture. Maybe in time, Black Panther will seem quaint. Even then, its text is too rich to fully succumb to that. It's evidence that blockbusters still have the power to mean something more than big explosions.