Fantastic Four, Vol. 1 #52-53
Synopsis and review by guest writer, Don DeGracia
Hot on the heels of the creation of the Silver Surfer and Galactus, Stan Lee
and Jack Kirby introduced the Black Panther in the pages of the Fantastic Four during July and August 1966.
In Fantastic Four #52, the team is lured by gifts of amazing technology and accept an invitation to be the guests of a mysterious African chieftain whose kingdom is hidden in an unknown location deep in the jungles of Africa. All the FF know of this mysterious chieftain is his name, a name spoken only in "hushed, fearful whispers" - the Black Panther!
As the FF approach this mystery land, they are warned by their guide that
"in this land, things are not always as they seem," which they soon discover
as they find themselves in a land of sheer wonderment - a man-made jungle,
"like nothing ever spawned by nature."
As the guide vanishes, the FF find themselves under attack and come to discover that they have been invited to this mystery land to be the hunted prey of the Black Panther!
The FF come close to defeat and are saved only by Johnny
Storm's friend Wyatt Wingfoot. Under the threat of the full might
of the FF, the Black Panther ceases his attack and removes his mask, promising an explanation.
In Fantastic Four #53, the team is introduced to the Black Panther's amazing kingdom of Wakanda, a world where ancient traditions and tribal customs exist side by side with the most sophisticated and complex modern technology.
 They learn of the rare metal, vibranium, which is capable of absorbing vibration. Vibranium is the source of the Panther's amazing technology and his almost boundless wealth. What follows is the Black Panther's tale of "tragedy
and deadly revenge," the now well-known story of how Ulysses Klaw, the Master of Sound, attacked the Wakandas to steal the vibranium, and killed the Black Panther's father and previous chieftain T'Chaka in the process.
Meanwhile, the Panther discovers that Klaw has returned and has sent a mysterious gigantic crimson monster to attack Wakanda. The FF and the Black
Panther team up and defeat this monster and Klaw. Believing Klaw dead, the Panther's mission of revenge is ended and he states he "will stalk no more."
With a pep talk from the FF, however, the Black Panther vows, "I shall pledge
my fortune, my power - my very life - to the service of all mankind." And
thus begins the career of one of the most unique and interesting characters
in all comic book history!
Interestingly, the Black Panther's real name is never given in these stories. We do not know his name is T'Challa, only that his father's name was T'Chaka. Wakanda is shown as a mix of tribal huts and Kirbyesque science fiction art.
 What is most interesting to me is how Lee and Kirby show the Panther's
personality. He is portrayed as 1960's-style glamour, surrounded by wealth
and luxury, haughty, almost arrogant. He has, after all, just attempted
to defeat the Fantastic Four! In one scene he is even shown smoking
a cigarette against the backdrop of his luxurious dwellings! This is a
much different Black Panther than we later see in the McGregor epics (Panther's Rage, Panther's Quest and Panther's Prey), where T'Challa is portrayed as sensitive, thoughtful, full of self-doubt, yet noble. However, when we come to the present to the Black Panther as seen through the eyes of Christopher Priest, we can see that Priest's Panther is, in some respects a return to the Panther of Lee and Kirby, with an emphasis on aloofness, and the ability to use others for his own ends in ruling Wakanda.
It is also of note that the Black Panther was the first super hero of color,
and that his name predates the militant Black Panther organization of the
Civil Rights Movement. One has to appreciate the times to really
grasp the significance of why the Black Panther appeared in the pages of
the FF. This was the mid 1960's. America was embroiled in the Civil Rights Movement. What we see here is not just Lee and Kirby integrating race issues into comics, but showing that race doesn't matter. T'Challa is not an
African-American, he is African. And to boot, he is a king and an
ultra-rich one at that.
For you completists out there, Fantastic Four #52 and 53 were reprinted in Marvels Greatest Comics #39 and 40.
For those of you interested in getting your hands on original copies of Fantastic Four #52 and 53, they come up for auction on eBay frequently and sometimes you can find a real deal, especially if you are not looking for pristine copies.
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