MARVEL COMICS
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BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (2022)
Atlantis vs. Wakanda
Despite the real life loss of its greatest hero, Marvel Studios' Black Panther sequel added a great deal to the character's on-screen mythos by incorporating into its story several significant "moments" from T'Challa's comics history that forever changed his trajectory in Marvel storytelling. One such "moment" was Shuri's replacing T'Challa as Black Panther; the other is Wakanda's dangerous tension with Atlantis.
While many believe that the "feud" existing between Namor and Black Panther is the result of personal differences, no such thing is ultimately the case. Both characters are heads of state, and as such are representative figures of their respective nations. Actions taken by either nation, independent of their leader, would still be that leader's responsibility.
The story of what first brings Wakanda into conflict with Atlantis unfolds in The Defenders #84 (1980). It reveals that actions taken by other Atlanteans - not Namor - and other Wakandans - not T'Challa - are partly to blame for the issue's hostilities. DOCTOR STRANGE is more to blame, however, if only from an act of possible negligence. Most to blame, it almost goes without saying, is none other than THE HULK.
It's always The Hulk who did it.
"Bad Hulk - bad!"
"Hulk, go to your room... now!"
And quite clearly, The Defenders are, at best, a dysfunctional team.
(Rick Buckler's cover art does an excellent job of conveying the issue's story in an unobvious way. While it suggests that Namor and Black Panther are seriously fighting, Hulk's role is more ambiguous. Did Hulk stumble upon the pair fighting, perhaps as he rounded the white-colored wall? Perhaps. But a better interpretation might be that the Hulk "opened the (white colored) door" or more literally created the circumstances that caused the fight to happen in the first place.)
The notion of pre-existing underlying tensions between Wakanda and Atlantis is certainly present in The Defenders #84, and it's unlikely that writer Ed Hannigan ever suspected that his story would become so impactful to the development of both characters going forward. In this modern age, the hostility that exists between Black Panther and Namor is a definitive aspect of both characters, and powerful enough to bring Namor as a character into the MCU via Wakanda Forever. What might have been just "one more story idea" for Bronze Age creative team of The Defenders back in 1980 evolved over time into a watershed moment for both characters.
- Need more of a reason to pick-up a sweet copy of The Defenders #84 and give your collection what it deserves today? We should think not. Excelsior!
THE DEFENDERS #084-A
(VOL 1, JUN 1980)
First Appearance of The Conflict/Fight between Atlantis/Namor and Wakanda/Black Panther
Rick Buckler, Jr. Regular Art Cover
Cover Appearance: The Hulk (Bruce Banner)
Direct Edition
First Printing
"Battle Royal!"