Black Panther: The Young Prince

Even though T’Challa is far from Wakanda, he still acts as a leader in Monica’s hometown. Despite the violence and hatred from the KKK, T’Challa stays committed to his moral philosophy, which contrasts severely with that of the KKK. When T’Challa, Monica, and Kevin Trueblood arrive at the public KKK rally, Kevin comments on their racism and the futility of arguing with them, but T’Challa stays committed to trying to reason with them: “People use deceit and treachery [...] even on people they might once have loved. They stop seeing them as people [...] You’ll never get through to them […] But one must try, right, Kevin? Else [...] why are we here” (348). T’Challa’s belief in reasoning with even the most hostile opposition reflects his deep sense of responsibility as a leader who strives for diplomacy over conflict: T’Challa believes in finding the best in people and refraining from absolute judgment and unnecessary violence. He wants to believe in the best in each of these people, demonstrating how The Weight of Leadership often leads him down difficult paths that result in pain. This moral stance also shows his commitment to the idea of justice over vengeance, as he refuses to give in to the temptation to fight hate with hate. By trying to reason with people, to take an approach that demonstrates the racism of the KKK’s way, a fight breaks out, and both T’Challa and Monica’s father are put in danger. T’Challa will always take this route of diplomacy first because that is what he believes a leader should do and what the Black Panther represents. This inner conflict highlights T’Challa’s enduring humanity even when facing morally corrupt enemies, reinforcing his role as a moral compass within the narrative.

One of the key features of comic books is the cover. In this collection, the covers are included with each issue, acting as the first page. The covers in these issues serve as symbolic foreshadowing of the key themes, hinting at the internal and external struggles of the characters while showcasing colorful, detailed. On Page 336, the front cover Jungle Action #21 shows T’Challa breaking free from the cross the KKK tie him to as they seek to light it. The imagery of T’Challa bound to a burning cross serves as a powerful metaphor for the intersection of racial and moral struggle in the US, tying his personal journey to the broader historical oppression faced by Black Americans. T’Challa is elevated over the masses of men in white hoods as they raise their torches against him and even throw one toward him. The illustrations on the cover show the imminent danger that T’Challa is in and gives a glimpse at his moment of escape, hinting at a new development in the story. Also on this page are word blurbs meant to explicate the dangers and risks of T’Challa’s situation, raising the stakes of the story: “The rampage of the Clan continues—and the Panther will be their next victim!” and “Cross of Fire...Cross of Death!” (336). The use of explicit language highlights how this issue deals with the very real, everyday terror of racism, aligning the KKK with the comic’s villainous forces in a way that merges fiction with social commentary. The scene on the front page is framed as T’Challa’s possible end, and the greatest threat he faces. This depiction of the KKK as the ultimate evil creates the sense that their racist ideology and violence is the paramount threat to the world, as that they are real-life, everyday villains who seek to harm many people rather than a few archnemeses.

When T’Challa comes to the US with Monica, he encounters a new type of villain in the form of racism, hidden behind masks and lurking in grocery store aisles. Monica and T’Challa are repeatedly attacked by the masked figures of the KKK and another secretive society, as well as antagonized by everyday townspeople who view them as outsiders. This exploration of racism as both overt and covert mirrors real-world systemic issues, where hatred hides behind a veneer of civility in day-to-day life. This kind of antagonism is new for T’Challa, who, after a lengthy civil war in Wakanda, is accustomed to his enemies proudly announcing their opposition toward him and openly fighting, not seeking to hide their disdain or villainous actions. However, as he walks through the grocery store with Monica, T’Challa notices how the white shoppers peer at him with odd looks: “They do not mask their curiosity until I turn to look at them [...] And then they avert their gaze. Busily eyeing everything but me with an embarrassed shame not quite hidden in their eyes!” (318). This scene captures the quiet, unspoken racial tensions that exist beneath the surface of everyday life in the US, contrasting Wakanda’s more direct confrontations with its enemies. While many of these looks begin because T’Challa is in his Black Panther suit in the store while shopping, they are the same looks he would receive in normal dress because he is viewed as an outsider. He and Monica must commit to Resistance Against Racist Society by not allowing these people to force them to leave, instead fighting back when they turn on T’Challa. This fight against societal racism presents the idea that it is not just physical violence but every day, mundane acts of discrimination that must be confronted to challenge oppression.