How Old Is Black Panther (T’Challa)? Comics & MCU

Marvel’s first black superhero, the Black Panther, was the first black superhero featured in a mainstream American comic in ‘Fantastic Four’ #52, released in 1966. With a fresh perspective, intelligence, and an intriguing storyline, Black Panther was the beginning of more diversification in Marvel comics. T’Challa, the king of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, was the Black Panther and protected his kingdom from threats on land and the seas. He made his MCU debut in ‘Captain America: Civil War‘ (2016). But how old is T’Challa?

In most Marvel comics, T’Challa has always been in his 30s, stating he was born in the 1980s. In other comics, he is in his late 20s before he becomes King of Wakanda. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, is in his 30s and closer in age to other Avengers heroes. 

Whether in the comics or the MCU, T’Challa’s age has always played a role in his decision-making as a Marvel hero to protect his people and Wakanda. Read more about T’Challa’s age in the comics and MCU!

 T’Challa’s age in the Marvel Comics

While T’Challa’s age will vary depending on which comic book fans are reading, he is generally around his late 20s. When the comics portray him as a more experienced fighter and King, he is mostly in his early to mid-30s. 

The superhero, Black Panther, was created by Stan Lee to solve the lack of Black American representation in Marvel comics at the time. In his first appearance, he is depicted as a formidable fighter, holding his own in a fight with the mighty Fantastic Four heroes when they land in Wakanda. Because he was the King of Wakanda at the time and skilled in hand-to-hand combat and using Black Panther’s powers, he may be in his early 30s. 

A few decades later, writer Christopher Priest reintroduced Black Panther to the Marvel comics in 1998 in ‘Marvel Knights.’ T’Challa is much older here, and this also served as the introduction for other characters like Dora Milaje. It focused more on the political and espionage aspect of T’Challa’s world. He almost has a relationship with Storm from X-Men, suggesting he was in his 30s because of their busy schedules and his having to focus most of his time and attention on the nation of Wakanda. 

But in the Reginald Hudlin ‘Black Panther’ comic series that ran from 2005 to 2010, T’challa is younger. His father, T’Chaka, is killed by Ulysses Klaw during the Bilderberg Conference when he refuses to share Wakanda’s valuable resources with the West. When his father dies, T’Challa is still a young boy who has to finish his studies and learn what it takes to rule a kingdom. He ends up fighting for the title of The Black Panther from his uncle S’Yan. These comics were more of a coming-of-age story building T’Challa’s heroic traits as he struggles to get his birthright.

T’Challa’s age in the MCU

Ryan Coogler tried his best to be as comic book accurate as possible. Chadwick Boseman’s appearance in ‘Captain America: Civil War’ probably didn’t give him too much leeway on T’Challa’s age in the MCU adaptation. In the Black Panther movies, T’Challa is around the same age as his comic book counterpart. When T’Chaka dies in ‘Captain America: Civil War,’ T’Challa becomes the next King of Wakanda. He was born in the 1980s, meaning he was in his mid-30s when his father died.

He returns to the United Nations as Wakanda’s King in 2018’s ‘Black Panther.’ T’Challa being older in the MCU, makes it easy to believe that he could quickly take his father’s place as the ruler of Wakanda. Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa was meant to be a key figure in the future of the MCU, leading the next group of Avengers in protecting Earth 616 from villains like Kang the Conqueror. With Boseman’s unexpected passing, Shuri is now the Black Panther in the MCU to help the Avengers fight Kang. 

T’Challa’s age in the MCU also explains how he had a secret child, T’Challa II, with Nakia (Lupita Nyongo). He’d likely thought about continuing his father’s legacy, but far away from the pressures and dangers of the throne. Keeping their son in Haiti was the best decision to protect him. Especially after the death of Queen Ramonda, the young boy will be in danger now that he will likely grow up to ascend the throne of Wakanda.

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