Weight of a Nation: How Black Panther managed to surpass expectations

Flow

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Oct 25, 2017
4,340
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What does Black Panther's success mean for other black heroes, and will Marvel become more confident in the King?

My article I wrote for a site



Black Panther is the first Black superhero to ever grace American mainstream comics, having been created in 1966 by Stan lee and Jack Kirby. The iconic character has yet to have his own feature length live action film till now, and with that comes the weight of a nation.



When a film like this goes into production nobody knows what to truly expect. Complaints of Marvel sticking to a certain formula or holding back directors is not a new rumor. Marvel picking Ryan Coogler director of Creed, and Fruitvale Station as the director of this film, and having the current writer of the Black panther comic Ta-Nehisi Coates back him helped ease worried minds. What truly got the audience on board was the announcement of the star powered cast, including last February’s break out star Daniel Kaluuya. Add on a 200 million dollar budget, with an almost black cast and you suddenly start to build hype.


With that hype comes the pressure of being a successful film, not only financially but critically as well. Rotten Tomatoes has been a deciding factor for quite a few films, and not getting the fresh mark would mean bad news. When you look at a film like Black Panther you have to realize how it must not only please newcomers, but long time fans as well.


Fortunately Black Panther has so far managed to exceed every expectation, and even breaking a few records along the way. Black Panther is the highest rated superhero film since The Dark Knight(2010), and is on track to be the highest grossing film of February, beating out Deadpool(2016). The film has garnered a huge backing by black celebrities, and music artist Kendrick Lamar who produced the feature length album for the film. All that stands before Black Panther’s triumphant roar is the mainstream audience once it releases nationwide February 15th.


Black Panther is not only the first big budget superhero film to feature black people, but also one of the biggest releases to put black people in a positive light. No more slaves, no more drug dealers, and no more white saviors this is something worth seeing for everyone. Releasing Black Panther in the middle of Black History month was a great move because it not only gives the black community something to bond over, but something to be proud of. Step into the spotlight and see the cultural phenomenon that is sweeping the nation.

Black Panther Red Carpet Spotlight

Support the Comic series and the black writers/artist

Black Panther is the highest reviewed superhero film in a long time

Most tweeted movie of 2018
 
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Dreams-Visions

The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
29,933
Miami, FL
Very nice OP. I certainly expect to see a few BP sequels if Coogler is down to tell more stories (or even if he's not, lol).

I expect the owners of the Blade and Spawn IPs to fast-track the reboots of those franchises.

I expect DC to try to get into the act with...I don't know who. Maybe John Henry Irons. Maybe Hardware or someone from the Heritage comic book line. :333

Hopefully it will also mean more Asian and Hispanic characters get an opportunity to shine too. Under-served, underrepresented groups are hungry, yo.
 
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Dai101

Banned
Oct 30, 2017
1,157
Black Panther is not only the first big budget superhero film to feature black people, but also one of the biggest releases to put black people in a positive light. No more slaves, no more drug dealers, and no more white saviors, this is something worth seeing for everyone. Releasing Black Panther in the middle of Black History month was a great move because it not only gives the black community something to bond over, but something to be proud of. Step into the spotlight and see the cultural phenomenon that is sweeping the nation.
For all of you motherfuckers that don't "get" why this is such an event. Carve that on your brains.
 

EdibleKnife

Member
Oct 29, 2017
7,723
It really is an amazing success story. I wish this would be a huge slap in the face to every Hollywood creative and executive skeptical of the "bankability" of minority-led movies.
 

Faustek

Member
Oct 26, 2017
1,843
Nice OP.
--
Dai already said it.

What does Black Panther's success mean for other black heroes, and will Marvel become more confident in the King?
Tbh if this movie holds I'm expecting that we see more about Black Panter. That Square Enix Marvel thing for example. I'm also expecting, thanks to Chadwicks popularity in China, for things to go back to the 80s and 90s in movies where black and brown was actually more seen. So yeah, while I still see the base of the mountain I expect a lot of kids pick up their shit and start to climb.
 
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Flow

Flow

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Oct 25, 2017
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yea I hoping this gives kids and a whole new generation a hero to look up to besides spider-man and the x-men.
 

Paradox House

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
1,115
Its kind of amazing. I had super low expectations mostly because Ive disliked most of the newer Marvel solo films.

Clearly reaching an audience who Captain Americas 'best gen' image and a rich white guy werent the most relatable.

Wonder Woman did the same thing. Super popular genre; slight twist to bring an additional audience.

Still not convinced I'll enjoy the film! Fairly burned after Spiderman/GOTG2 and a lesser extent Wonder Woman. But glad it looks like it'll have an impact.
 

Parthenios

The Fallen
Oct 28, 2017
7,823
Wonder Woman hasn't really kicked off a female lead Renaissance unfortunately. I get that these take a couple years so maybe next year will be different.

Would be nice for Black Panther to be the start of something great in terms of representation in entertainment and then hopefully the rest of society (the oft cited example of 24's President Palmer making the idea more palatable to Americans leading up to Obama).
 

Rob

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,602
SATX
I never thought about the lack of a white savior character in BP. That is absolutely fantastic.

Wonder Woman hasn't really kicked off a female lead Renaissance unfortunately. I get that these take a couple years so maybe next year will be different.
Wonder Woman just came out last Summer. I figure we're another year or two off from seeing more female fronted comic book movies.
 

y2dvd

Member
Nov 14, 2017
2,392
Ok those were a lot of comics to choose from. Which are the essentials that I should get?
 
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Flow

Flow

Community Resettler
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
4,340
Florida, USA
Ok those were a lot of comics to choose from. Which are the essentials that I should get?
no matter what yo owe it to yourself to start with the priest collection volume 1. he made BP popular for a whole new generation, along with some of the most iconic panels ever.

Coates run is the newest one which is a great read but is lacking on the action and BP savagery featured in Priest run.

Coates run focuses more on Wakanda as a nation though and lore.

Rise of the black panther is the new one but highly amazing. Young Black panther
 

More_Badass

Member
Oct 25, 2017
20,920
saw this on fb.. then someone mentioned mib and other movies . etc etc... But then I'll reserve judgement till I see the movie . Am hyped.
Men In Black could work with anyone. It’s just a movie that happens to have a black actor. Slavery movies and such exclusively need to feature black actors, and on the flip side, Black Panther can only work with black actors and embodies themes and concepts unique to that identity and culture (ie Afrofuturism)
 
Oct 25, 2017
6,227
Mementos
Very nice OP. I certainly expect to see a few BP sequels if Coogler is down to tell more stories (or even if he's not, lol).

I expect the owners of the Blade and Spawn IPs to fast-track the reboots of those franchises.

I expect DC to try to get into the act with...I don't know who. Maybe John Henry Irons. Maybe Hardware or someone from the Heritage comic book line. :333

Hopefully it will also mean more Asian and Hispanic characters get an opportunity to shine too. Under-served, underrepresented groups are hungry, yo.
Give me fucking Static. Maybe Vixen, I don't know. She seemed cool in the few episodes of Justice League she was in.
 

BlackNMild2k1

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,273
Bay Area, CA
Very nice OP. I certainly expect to see a few BP sequels if Coogler is down to tell more stories (or even if he's not, lol).

I expect the owners of the Blade and Spawn IPs to fast-track the reboots of those franchises.

I expect DC to try to get into the act with...I don't know who. Maybe John Henry Irons. Maybe Hardware or someone from the Heritage comic book line. :333
Marvel holds the rights to Blade, and Macfalane is already working on an R Rated Spawn movie that I believe he is self-financing. But last I heard that focuses on the police and I think the evil clown moreso than Spawn himself.

Oh, and DC already launched Black Lightning on the CW. it's pretty good. Comes right out the gate with some racial profiling and black centric issues w/o apology.
 

Dice

Member
Oct 25, 2017
9,306
Canada
Black Panther definitely feels different than many other films. Can't wait to see it!!
 
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SolidChamp

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
4,867
It is extremely important that this film shatter every single expectation and be a monumental success.

Really looking forward to seeing it tonight.