Black Panther first appeared in Marvel Comics as an opponent and then ally of the Fantastic Four. As the protector of the advanced African nation Wakanda, T’Challa has since thrived by knowing when to ask for help and knowing when to give it. As standoffish as he sometimes is, his successes are often defined by his willingness to join forces with other heroes.
After Black Panther decided not just his home country, but the whole world needed his protection, he became a prominent member of several superhero teams, including the Avengers, Fantastic Four, and Illuminati. Within these teams, T’Challa has fought alongside his teammates and other heroes, creating some of comics’ mightiest heroic teams.
10/10 Black Panther’s First Appearance Was Fantastic
In Black Panther’s first comic appearance, he starred alongside Marvel Comics’ first family in Fantastic Four #52 by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Joe Sinnott, and Art Simek. Here, he first single-handedly defeated The Fantastic Four, though Wyatt Wingfoot freed them from T’challa’s traps.
In the following issue, T’Challa admitted that he went after the Fantastic Four to test his own skill. After explaining his origins to the Fantastic Four, the Fantastic Four joined him and the Wakandan army in a battle with Black Panther’s iconic foe, Ulysses Klaw. The Fantastic Four then encouraged Black Panther to begin a career as a superhero, marking the start of the career of one of Marvel’s most influential heroes.
9/10 The Thing Assisted Black Panther With Detective Work
In Black Panther’s first encounter with the Fantastic Four, he and Benn Grimm (The Thing) did not get along. Even after Black Panther squashed his initial beef with Marvel’s first family, The Thing still made questionable remarks about T’Challa’s “primitive” culture, even though Wakanda was perhaps the world’s most technologically advanced society.
After powerful figures in the Black community went missing, T’Challa sought Ben Grimm’s help with figuring out the next target identity. The two former members of the Fantastic Four a famous violinist as the probable next victim and combined forces to save him from the vampire Zuvembie. This team-up emphasized Black Panther’s intellect and also helped the two heroes overcome their differences.
8/10 Iron Man Joined T’Challa in Wakanda
As Avengers, Iron Man and Black Panther work together a lot. Despite being teammates, the two often clash, as they did during the Civil War. Regardless, they both respect one another and their loyalty to their respective nations.
When a warehouse filled with Stark’s weapons was destroyed in Wakanda, Iron Man went to meet up with T’Challa. Using holographic tech, Iron Man and Black Panther devised a plan, tricking Killmonger into believing he killed T’Challa. Together Iron Man and Black Panther rescued James Rhodes(War Machine) from Madam Slay and defeated Killmonger. While the two have ideological differences, they both agree that Wakanda is a nation worth protecting.
7/10 Black Panther Interfered With Heroes For Hire In New York
Heroes for Hire is an organization of heroes who are licensed to conduct investigations and save civilians on the streets of New York. Founded by Luke Cage and Iron Fist, the Heroes for Hire are known for fighting crime locally instead of going on international missions like T’Challa’s with the Avengers.
While Killmonger was trying to dethrone Black Panther, he sent low-level villains to New York as a distractiong for T’Challa. When Black Panther arrived in New York, he interfered with Iron Fist, Luke Cage, and Falcon’s fight against Cottonmouth and several other villains. However, the heroes seized this as an opportunity to bond, which bore fruit when T’Challa later hired Cage as his personal bodyguard.
6/10 Black Panther Helped Spider-Man Save New York
Spider-man is a young, quick-witted superhero with a keen sense of humor. It seems unlikely that he’d form an alliance with the serious Black Panther, but it turns out that the two make an interesting pair.
In the Marvel Team-Up series, Spider-man and Black Panther joined forces after the Avengers Tower was warned that the dinosaur man Stegron and his monsters were invading New York City. Despite their different personalities, Black Panther and Spider-Man bonded over their mutual love of science as T’Challa helped Spider-Man create a super strong web fluid that could contain Stegron. Their collaboration was the start of an intriguing relationship, as Black Panther and Spider-Man teamed up later in the series to defeat Hellrazor.
5/10 Black Panther And Captain Marvel Had The Ultimate Team-Up
Similarly, to Iron Man, Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) was another Avenger that Black Panther disagreed during Marvel’s various Civil Wars. As members of the alternate-universe Avengers known as the Ultimates, Black Panther and Captain Marvel captured Thanos and turned Galactus into a life-bringer instead of a destroyer of planets.
After the Ultimates disbanded following Black Panther and Captain Marvel’s dispute during the Civil War, the Ultimates were reassembled by America Chavez with Danvers and T’Challa both returning. Even after their disagreement, Black Panther and Captain Marvel respected each other’s authority and continued to fight for the greater good. Even at his worst, T’Challa is never petty, and working with Danvers demonstrates this beautifully.
4/10 Black Panther Teamed Up With The Devil Of Hell’s Kitchen
There may not be many heroes who can compare with Black Panther, but he and Daredevil have a lot in common. Throughout their history, Black Panther and Daredevil ran into each other several times. Though they’ve had their conflicts, they also have a lot of mutual respect for each other.
After Daredevil decided to take a journey of self-discovery following the events of Shadowland, he asked T’Challa to be the defender of Hell’s Kitchen in his absence. As the defender of Hell’s Kitchen, Black Panther decided to follow Daredevil’s approach to heroism as he fought crime without fancy gadgets and even owned a diner to get closer to the people in the neighborhood. This changed the king, bringing him closer to Daredevil and his mission to help people.
3/10 Black Panther And Luke Cage Became Bros
Black Panther’s skilled enough that most readers assume he doesn’t need a bodyguard, especially since he is usually surrounded by the Dora Milaje. Luke Cage was surprised when the royal superhero he admired and looked up to gave him a job opportunity after accidentally getting him fired off of a different case.
Not only did Cage and T’Challa bond while fighting ninjas and vampires, but they both learned more about each other’s cultures and gave each other advice on romance. Black Panther and Luke Cage sparked a bromance we never knew we needed, and Black comic fans were excited to see this influential alliance develop.
2/10 Black Panther And Captain America Are A Combative Dynamic Duo
Captain America’s one of Marvel’s most admirable superheroes, and most skilled warriors. A soldier who follows orders to protect his country and a king loyal to a different nation, T’Challa and Steve Rogers have disagreed about leadership, but when they work together they make a formidable team.
Captain America joined Black Panther in Wakanda to help him stop Baron Zemo from setting off a solar device that would destroy humanity. After destroying the device and defeating what turned out to be a fake Zemo, Cap was so impressed by Black Panther that he asked him to join the Avengers. This small team-up led to big things for Earth’s mightiest heroes.
1/10 Storm Is T’Challa’s Ex-Wife
Aside from their individual heroism, Storm and T’Challa are known for their romantic relationship. As Marvel Comics’ Jay-Z and Beyonce, Storm and T’Challa’s relationship inspires Black comic readers, two admirable Black heroes and African royals fighting for a better world.
Storm and T’Challa met when she saved him from colonizers who planned to use his royal influence to take over Wakanda from within. In reuniting, Storm and Black Panther teamed up to find the man responsible for T’Challa’s planned kidnapping. By working together, the two found each other again, possibly reigniting the power couple comics fans know and love.
