Black Panther: The Young Prince

“Deftly pushing a series of delicate control buttons at the base of the gigantic, feline figure, the powerfully-built monarch exposes a bank of electronic computers, with which he controls the myriad wonders of his mysterious jungle empire!”

This quote uses imagery to introduce the technology T’Challa controls in Wakanda. The technology held within the panther statue demonstrates how linked the figure of the Black Panther is to the technological advancements of Wakanda. Both are influenced and controlled by T’Challa throughout these issues. The juxtaposition of “delicate control buttons” with “gigantic” imagery symbolizes the blend of tradition (the panther statue) and modernity (computers), a recurring theme in Black Panther’s world.

“I still remember the sight of Klaw, the unsmiling—Klaw, the merciless—ordering my father to give up our sacred mound—our precious eternal rock!”

T’Challa’s first introduction to villainy comes through Klaw, who kills his father for vibranium. This is T’Challa’s origin story as the Black Panther and a hero, as the role of chieftain and protector of Wakanda falls to him, and his pursuit of justice is founded in vengeance against Klaw. The repetition of “our” emphasizes the personal and cultural significance of the sacred vibranium mound to T’Challa and his people, marking the moment as his origin story.

“The knowledge of this and of the destroyed humanity he holds in his arms is reflected in his walk. A somber wake forms this silent procession, all mute with one emotion: mourning!”

When T’Challa returns to Wakanda and finds Killmonger’s men torturing a Wakandan, he realizes that something is amiss. When this man dies, T’Challa carries his body back into the village, and it dawns on him that he is disconnected from Wakanda and that this will cause pain for everyone, including himself.