BLACK PANTHER

Who’s got their claws out for the king of Wakanda?

Marvel’s jungle hero gets the fact-packed Spotlight treatment.

WHEN HE REINS, HE PAWS

“Let them try.” Last time we saw T’Challa, the newly crowned king of Wakanda was offering the Winter Soldier a safe sanctuary in his home nation and calling out anyone stupid enough to mess with his technologically awesome African kingdom. Under the direction of Creed director Ryan Coogler, Chadwick Boseman’s first solo outing as Marvel’s Black Panther will no doubt see him having to live up to the punchy promise he made in the Civil War sting.

WAKANDAN WELCOME

It’s good to be the king of Wakanda. You get a cool house, a badass outfit and a troupe of bodyguards. Unfortunately T’Challa will also have to get to grips with the responsibilities of ruling, complicated by Wakanda’s possession of the world’s most-significant supply of alien metal vibranium. The careful caretaking of the ridiculously strong substance – it’s what Captain America’s shield is made out of – has kept the small nation (mostly) closed off to the rest of the planet.

A VIEW TO A KILLMONGER

One fella not entirely enthused to see the new king is N’Jadaka, now known as the not-entirely-subtle Erik Killmonger, played by Coogler’s Creed star Michael B Jordan. Returning to Wakanda after his family were exiled by T’Challa’s father, Killmonger will nurse a secret murder fetish for both the Royal Family – who he will look to depose – and the vicious arms dealer responsible for his family’s downfall. Talking of whom...

DE-KLAUED

The anti-Stark, Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) was last spotted gaining a fortune and losing an arm courtesy of Ultron, thanks his stockpile of illegally mined vibranium. It was Klaue’s last visit to the country – where he enslaved Wakandans to do his dirty work – that resulted in Killmonger’s family being exiled: expect him to also be on both N’Jadaka and T’Challa’s list of things to do, but to have replaced that lopped-off limb with a little special something.

THE ADORED ONES

The British have Beefeaters, the Greeks have those guys in tutus, Wakanda has the Dora Milaje. T’Challa’s elite all-female personal bodyguard – and potential wives – are each selected from the rival tribes. We’ve already seen Ayo (Florence Kasumba) in Civil War and now we’ll meet Okaye (Danai Gurira, The Walking Dead’s Michonne) and the T’Challasmitten Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o). It’s the latter who will set Black Panther on heat – although his regal responsibilities are likely to lead to a bitter parting, setting up a little Malice in Wakandaland for the sequel.

FAMILIAR FACES

Also getting a Wakandan stamp in his passport is Civil War’s government stooge Everett K Ross, whose starched collar will get softened in the jungle heat. Expect Martin Freeman to initially be our wide eyes as he discovers the wonders of Wakanda, although Ross won’t be so chuffed to bump into T’Challa’s sleepy new houseguest and mostly armless mega-assassin, Bucky Barnes.

WHEN’S IT OUT?

Black Panther opens on 16 February 2018.