Wakanda Forever crowned Shuri as the new Black Panther, as she navigated through T’Challa’s untimely death and Namor’s attack on Wakanda. A few fans were surprised by this. However, it’s a well-known fact that Shuri is also a Black Panther in the comics.
This may lead you to question—are the two versions different at all? How so?
The main difference is that in the comics, Bast refused to give Shuri her Black Panther powers until she proved herself worthy. In Wakanda Forever, Shuri is immediately granted these powers, however, she learns to embody the Black Panther’s principles the hard way.
MCU Shuri’s whole story along with her powers and suit differs a great deal from the comics. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. Origin of Powers
I. Comics
Shuri had to step up as the Black Panther when T’Challa got into trouble.
What happened was that Namor tried to recruit T’Challa into a council of villains called the Cabal, which he obviously refused. Angered, Namor attacked T’Challa, causing him to go into a coma.
Now, comic Shuri did not have the same relationship with T’Challa as we see in the films. She always craved the mantle of Black Panther and resented T’Challa for getting it.
So when she drank the heart-shaped herb to temporarily replace the coma-struck T’Challa, Bast wasn’t all too pleased about the matter. In fact, she refused to grant Shuri any power. Nevertheless, Shuri proved she is worthy when she tried to defend Wakanda without any powers. This was when Bast finally allowed her to become the Black Panther.
II. MCU
Both the circumstances and the dynamics Shuri had with T’Challa shaped up a different origin story in the MCU.
Shuri is immediately granted her powers after consuming the heart-shaped herb. However, her initial mindset is clouded with anger and grief, which is very unlike what the Black Panther stands for.
Thankfully, Wakanda Forever takes us through the journey of Shuri finding her path once again and becoming worthy of the title.
2. Powers and Abilities
I. Comics
In the comics, Shuri has most of T’Challa’s Black Panther abilities—super strength, speed, stamina, and healing.
During the Secret Wars arc, she gained a few more powers that were different from T’Challa’s. She trained with a griot spirit in the ancestral plane and learned how to transform her skin into a stone-like substance that could not be pierced.
If you thought that was cool, she also learned how to transform herself or others into a bird when needed!
II. MCU
It’s safe to say that Shuri has all the known Black Panther abilities, plus her sonic gun. She is, however, a little green at the moment, as she has spent most of her time in the lab and not in physical training like T’Challa had.
Sadly, she may not get the opportunity to gain additional powers, because that involved T’Challa’s help. I’ll explain it in more detail down below.
3. Suit
I. Comics
Shuri’s comic suit differed from the first movie itself in terms of abilities, as the former lacked nanotechnology. On top of this, Shuri is known to adorn a cape, fur coat, or/and feathers.
II. MCU
The MCU suit shares one similarity with the comics—it is made out of vibranium. But other than that, the look and abilities are slightly different and reimagined—keeping in mind that it was designed by Shuri herself, a science whizz.
Besides the ornamental differences, Shuri’s suit is powered by nanotechnology that can absorb and emit energy. It is also assisted by an AI named Griot.
4. Future as Black Panther
I. Comics
Even after T’Challa has been rescued, Shuri continues to be the Black Panther along with him, especially because he has to take some time off to heal and recuperate.
This only changes when she is attacked during the Secret Wars arc, where Namor teams up with Thanos. The attack puts her in a “living death” in the ancestral plane (called Djalia in the comics) and it is T’Challa who manages to bring her back to life.
During her time in the ancestral plane, she trains to enhance her powers and learn new ones, as mentioned above.
II. MCU
There’s no telling what’s in store for Shuri in the MCU, although I do think she’ll be one of the lead Avengers in the battle against Kang in MCU’s version of the Secret Wars.
We might not get to see her with her Djalia powers because that would require T’Challa’s presence. However, the MCU is not beyond bringing a new spin to that story.
There is also speculation that Shuri’s time as Black Panther might be limited due to the introduction of T’Challa’s son, Toussaint. He is expected to be the next Black Panther for the Young Avengers arc.
5. About Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is an upcoming American superhero film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It will serve as the sequel to Black Panther (2018) and will be the 30th film in the MCU. The film is being written and directed by Ryan Coogler.
Wakanda grieves the loss of their King T’Challa as the nation deals with opening up their technology to the world. But apart from the diplomatic agencies’ onslaught, Wakanda must face yet another danger as the king of Talcon, an underwater nation like DC’s Atlantis, Namor, has declared war on Wakanda.
Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, and Angela Bassett will star in the film, which will premiere on November 11, 2022.
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