A new Black Panther comic overseen by Marvel Studios introduces two new characters to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shang-Chi villain Razor Fist and Jack Kirby creation Princess Zanda make their MCU debut in Black Panther Prelude #1, a story set years before audiences were introduced to Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War.
Black Panther will take viewers to the fictional African country of Wakanda to explore a whole new corner of the MCU, complete with new heroes and new villains. Many of the characters encountered in the movie have rich histories in Marvel Comics, and could continue to have a presence in the MCU in future films. Among the characters appearing in Black Panther are Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku/Man-Ape (Winston Duke), Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis), and Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan).
Marvel has released Black Panther Prelude #1, a new comic book set in the MCU that tells a story from T’Challa’s past. The connection to the MCU and the comic is made clear to readers as we see T’Chaka watching news coverage of Tony Stark revealing himself to the world as Iron Man, an important moment from the movie that began the MCU as we know it, in the first Iron Man film. The comic also includes a scene set in Paraguay that introduces readers to Douglas Scott and Princess Zanda.
Marvel has released a synopsis for the comic too, which you can read following the artwork below:
Created by Jack Kirby and debuting in Black Panther #1 in 1977, Princess Zanda was the ruler of an African country called Narobia whose schemes often brought her into conflict with Black Panther. On one occasion, she even managed to imprison him. Years later, she was overcome with jealousy when she discovered that Black Panther was about to marry Storm, leading her to confront the mutant.
Wakanda. The most technologically advanced nation in the world – and protected by the mighty BLACK PANTHER! Learn how T’CHALLA became the legendary hero of Wakanda in this ALL-NEW, NEVER-BEFORE-TOLD tale set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe! See how the mantle was passed to the future king, in a time when super heroes were just emerging in the larger world, before this winter’s BLACK PANTHER film hits theaters!
Douglas Scott is the second of three people to wear the moniker of “Razor Fist”, a villain whose hands were surgically replaced with steel blades. Douglas and his brother William shared the “Razor Fist” identity and used it to pretend to be one person. Douglas was killed while hunting down Shang-Chi, the Master of Kung Fu, while William went on to do battle with numerous heroes in the Marvel Universe, including Hawkeye, Elektra, and Wolverine.
It remains to be seen if Douglas Scott or Princess Zanda will appear in the Black Panther MCU film in any capacity.
Next: Black Panther Trailer #2 Breakdown
Black Panther Prelude #1 is now available to pick up.
Source: Marvel [via Bleeding Cool]
