T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is the Black Panther and about to be crowned the new king of Wakanda at the start of the movie which follows immediately after the events of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR(where his father was killed by a bombing in an attempt to frame the winter Soldier). T'Challa must find a place for himself as a ruler and how Wakanda figures in the big picture of the world as an opportunity is presented to capture arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) and bring him to justice. It is complicated by the fact that CIA agent Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) is in a deal to get a stolen Wakandan artifact. Things don't go as plan and Klaue is sprung by his ally Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) who has his own grudge against Wakanda for what he feels the country should be doing in helping the black people around the world. T'CHalla learns uneasy truths about his father's past as Black Panther and ruler.

BLACK PANTHER is a tight and mostly well written origin story that manages to develop the title character, his family, T'Challa's warrior women bodyguards known as the Dora Milaje, and providing a complex villain you find it easy to see where he is coming from and why he believes in what he is doing. Wakanda is another character as the country, and various tribes, customs, costumes, and technology present another layer to the movie. This standalone movie solidifies what the country of Wakanda is while building off the threads of the Black Panther subplot in CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR. It has no ties to the overarching Infinity Gem storyline that is leading into AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR where Wakanda does play an important part in. With the way the movie is written and all the various characters and details introduced, throwing in a reference to Infinity Gems would stick out as a sore thumb. Remember to stay for the two end credit scenes with one of them following up on a line earlier in the movie. BLACK PANTHER is one of those cross race movies that appeal to the African-American audience, the black audience in other countries and Africa, and the Marvel film fans. It gives a positive representation of the African and African American experience along with strong female characters from T'Challa's sister Shuri, T'challa's ex-lover Nakia, and Okoye- the head of the Dora Milaje. It is one of the best Marvel origin movies period and highly recommended as a solid piece of drama and action with soul and fantastic characters.

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