Black Panther is out to rave reviews and a cool USD$300 million box office opening. The movie was great but that’s not what we’re here to talk about, it’s the end-credit scenes that Marvel gifts to us to keep us going until Avengers: Infinity War. One, which comes midway through, puts a final button on a storyline that’s been simmering throughout the movie, and lays the groundwork for things to come; the other may be hinting at big things for a certain character.
Here’s our end-credit breakdown. Spoilers ahead if you haven’t watched the movies!
T’Challa Visits The United Nations
Okay, what went down. T’Challa heads to the United Nations in Vienna, looking regal and stately as hell, surrounded by powerful women (because they come from an unquestioningly gender-balanced society), generously sharing Wakanda’s bounty with the world. At this point in time, the world needs Wakanda to be a leader, and its boss to see them stepping up.
In Captain America: Civil War, T’Challa‘s actions exposed Wakanda to the rest of the world; in Black Panther, he wrestled with the question of whether Wakanda should go back into hiding or continue reaching out. This scene represents his final decision.
But of course, some UN delegate pipes in with “With all due respect, what would a developing, farming country have to offer the rest of us?”.
Oh, sweetie baby you have no idea.
Bucky Wakes Up In Wakanda
A hut in Wakanda is playing host to the man that’s known as the White Wolf. It turns out that this particular wolf is no stranger to the Marvelverse as the resident of the hut emerging in Wakandan garb is none other than our very own Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes. Looks like there’s much for him to learn here.
Bucky seems to be settling into Wakanda where Cap dropped him off at the end of Civil War. He’s apparently out of deep freeze and adjusting to a more normal life in Wakanda.
The reference to the White Wolf, however, is interesting because in the comicverse there is a real character known as the alias. His real name is Hunter, and he’s a white guy who was orphaned at a young age and taken in by the Wakandan royal family. He eventually becomes the head of the Hatut Zeraze, Wakanda‘s secret police.
Hunter doesn’t line up all that well with Bucky‘s bio in the movies but our main character is about 3 movies into his 9 movie Marvel deal so it’s safe to say we haven’t seen the last of Bucky.
