Black Panther Movie - What You May Have Missed

As of this writing, fans have turned out in droves to see T'Challa. The movie has brought in $426 million worldwide so far, with $202 million at the domestic box office over the holiday weekend (excluding President's Day on Monday). This makes it the fifth highest opening weekend in movie history!

For those who are curious, here's the top 5 opening weekends (2 day) according to boxofficemojo.com:

1.) Star Wars: The Force Awakens $247,966,675

2.) Star Wars: The Last Jedi $220,009,584

3.) Jurassic World $208,806,270

4.) Marvel's The Avengers $207,438,708

5.) Black Panther $202,003,951

To say that Black Panther was action packed, filled with stunning special effects, and charismatic characters would be an understatement. Frankly, attending the movie was like going to ComicCon with all the moviegoers who dressed up.

Now, when I say dressed up, I don't mean cosplay. I mean people dressing up in the garb of the Wakandan characters. Colorful shirts, dresses and headgarb were seen throughout the theater. It was nothing short of beautiful and inspiring. Add to that the number of people who got their pictures taken with the movie display and you had not a movie, but a happening.

Now, my guess would be that you have read reviews of the movie already, or have seen it by now. But, I would also guess that you may not have picked up on all of the references in the movie. So, let's take a look at those:

1.) The U.S. home base for the Wakandans in the comics was Harlem, in the movie it was Oakland, CA. Why? It was a decision made by writer-director Ryan Coogler and it's his hometown.

2.) Oakland has further significance in that it is the birthplace of the Black Panther organization which started in the 1960s. Why use the animal the black panther? According to Huey Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther organization, it was named after a movement in a Mississippi county. Apparently, a group of people who had armed themselves against "establishment violence" had adopted the black panther as its symbol. Huey Newton felt that this would work well for his organization because "The panther is a fierce animal, but he will not attack until he is backed into a corner; then he will strike out,".

3.) Toward the end of the movie, Killmonger (known as Erik Killmonger in the comic book), makes the comment that he would rather die than be imprisoned. His request is to be thrown in the ocean, like his ancestors, so he didn't have to spend a life in bondage. This reference is to something called the "Middle Passage". As Africans were being brought over in slave ships there were those who attempted suicide (not eating, throwing themselves overboard) versus dealing with the abuse they were subjected to.

4.) Shuri's character pays a clear homage to James Bond movies. She plays the role of "Q", working behind-the-scenes to develop tech to help T'Challa overcome his enemies.

5.) When Shuri states in the movie that she has "another broken white boy to fix" she is referring to Bucky Barnes. Shuri is the one who outfitted him with a vibranium alloy shield and a new arm.

6.) Did you stay to watch the post-credit scenes? If you didn't go back and do so. This particular scene shows T'Challa offering to share his tech with the world at a United Nations meeting and how Wakanda plans to emerge from its self imposed exile. There is even (what could be perceived as) a slam on Trump as T'Challa refers to how the wise build bridges and fools build walls.

7.) In the second scene we also see Bucky Barnes for the first time since Captain America: Civil War. He's been mended and people are referring to him as "White Wolf". This is a character in the Marvel Universe whose parents die in a plane crash near Wakanda, where he is then raised in the country as one of them.

8.) The mask used by Killmonger is a throwback to two different comic book designs. The first is for the demon Mephisto, in Christopher Priest's run on the Black Panther comic. Second, it resembles the mask Erik Killmonger wore in his battle with T'Challa in Black Panther #37.

9.) If you didn't catch the Stan Lee cameo, it came before the chase sequence in Busan, South Korea. It comes when T'Challa places a bet on roulette in a casino. As T'Challa has little needs for the winnings, and he is distracted by other events taking place, he leaves the table along with all the winnings. It was then that Stan pops in and takes the chips for himself.

10.) Ulysses Klaue finally shows off his replacement arm, revealing the sonic blaster so prominent in the comic books. Although Klaue was killed, it was nice to tie up that loose end created when Ultron tore the arm off in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

11.) True followers of Black Panther comics will easily recognize his Rhino wrestling skills. It harkens back to this gem in Black Panther's earliest comics:

12.) The young character T'Chaka is the real life son of South African actor John Kani, who played the elder T'Chaka.

13.) There was a strange coincidence that you showed up in the movie that was less obvious. Michael B Jordan, who played Killmonger, is the second actor to have played Johnny Storm in a Fantastic Four movie. You may remember that our current Captain America was the other. Is it a coincidence then that when Black Panther made his debut in Captain America: Civil War, he did it by fighting Steve Rogers, who stood between the African king and his father's assassin? Then, in his subsequent solo film, Panther enters another revenge battle with Killonger? Two talented actors, two different Human Torches, and two different fights with Black Panther...quite the coincidence, no?

I am sure there are more references and easter eggs I have not mentioned, but these should be enough for you to see the movie again and spot them all!

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The Comic Whisperer