Five Things To Know About Black Panther

I started my week by checking out Black Panther. Spoiler alert: you should see it, too. Now I’m ready to share five things you should know before heading to the theater.

It’s kind of a big deal.

Black Panther is the first superhero of African descent in mainstream American comic books. Black Panther is also the first black title character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the movie features the MCU’s first primarily black cast. With amazing reviews and record-breaking ticket sales, it’s safe to say that we’ll be seeing more Black Panther films in the future. You know, assuming T’Challa safely makes his way through Infinity War…

The movie is filled with girl power.

We have to wait until Ant-Man and the Wasp hits theaters in July to get our first female title character in the MCU. And we’ll have to wait over a year to get Captain Marvel, our first female title character with solo billing. But for now, Black Panther is showing us just how much fun a superhero movie can be with a bunch of badass females on the screen.  Every scene with the Dora Milaje is magical.

Shuri steals the show.

In most films in general, and in Marvel films in particular, there’s always a secondary character who becomes my favorite. This time it’s Letitia Wright’s Shuri. She plays T’Challa’s 16-year-old genius sister who designs the technology of Wakanda. She could easily give Tony Stark a run for his money. She’s also hilarious. And fashionable. And I’m totally there for any Shuri movie they might make in the future.

The film stands alone.

I always think that films in the MCU work better together. And I definitely think you should do some catching up on anything you’ve missed before Infinity War hits theaters. That said, Black Panther does a pretty good job of standing on its own and providing enough origin and backstory to keep you from getting confused. If you do want to go into the theater well-prepared, you can see the first appearance of Ulysses Klaue in Avengers: Age of Ultron and the first appearance of Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War.

Stay until the very end.

Marvel Studios just celebrated their tenth anniversary. Ten years, 18 films later and people are still leaving as soon as the credits start to roll. So let me just spoil one more thing now: There is a mid-credit scene. There is an end credit scene. This will be the last thing you see from the MCU leading into Infinity War. Stay put until the lights come up, OK?

Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” follows T’Challa who, after the death of his father, the King of Wakanda, returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation to succeed to the throne and take his rightful place as king. But when a powerful old enemy reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king—and Black Panther—is tested when he is drawn into a formidable conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people and their way of life.

“Black Panther” stars Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, with Angela Bassett, with Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis.

The film is directed by Ryan Coogler and produced by Kevin Feige with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nate Moore, Jeffrey Chernov and Stan Lee serving as executive producers. Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole wrote the screenplay. Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” is in U.S. theaters now.