Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe might be surprised to learn that Shuri has not always been depicted as a prolific inventor. While she has always undoubtedly been an intelligent character, her previous defining trait was her drive to become the next Black Panther. However, since the popularity of her MCU appearance, her comic book counterpart has stepped up her inventing game.
Shuri has designed a lot of awesome pieces of technology, and it seems like she’s an expert in just about every area. Shuri creates weapons, armor, vehicles, and even some forms of tech-driven medicine. Chances are, if readers see something cool in Wakanda, Shuri had a hand in making it.
10/10 Shuri Likely Made Her Own Black Panther Suit
Shuri has taken the mantle of Black Panther in a couple of instances when T’Challa was absent. While there are no panels specifically depicting Shuri making her own Black Panther suit, it’s pretty safe to assume she would have created it.
In more recent comics, Shuri’s suit is shown to use nanotechnology to be able to come on and off at will, similar to her suit from the MCU. It also seems to have built-in tech that allows Shuri to communicate with others or hack computers on the go.
9/10 Shuri’s Nano-Tech Pills Prevent Vibranium Sickness
Vibranium is difficult to attain, not just because of its rarity, but because of the dangers of mining it. If not careful, mining the ore can cause Vibranium sickness for those in the immediate area, and pollute nearby water sources.
Shuri used her inventing skills to find a way around this Vibranium sickness. She figured out a way to make a pill, infused with nanotechnology, that people could take and be protected from the negative side effects of Vibranium mining. This is an invaluable invention for Wakanda, since their society uses Vibranium in so much of their technology.
8/10 Shuri Has VR Goggles That Can Analyze Everything
Superheroes often find themselves in situations where they need to investigate a crime scene or review security camera footage. Shuri has streamlined this process in her work with Black Panther by creating VR glasses that help her analyze any recordings.
Combined with a voice-controlled supercomputer, Shuri’s goggles can easily analyze whatever part of the footage she’s watching to give her important information. One way this has been shown is when Shuri analyzes a fight to determine where the attackers learned to fight. This helps her track down where to look for the organization that attacked T’Challa.
7/10 Little Sauron Is An Interesting Recon Device
Little Sauron is a tiny ball-shaped device that was introduced in the Shuri comics and then carried over into the pages of Black Panther. The point of Little Sauron is to map out and monitor an area for the purposes of reconnaissance or surveillance.
All Shuri needs to do is issue a verbal command to a few of the little balls, and they will do the rest of the job on their own. Honestly, naming the device after Sauron might be giving the Lord of the Rings villain a bit too much credit, as he was never quite as effective at finding his targets as Shuri’s invention.
6/10 Shuri’s Signature Panther Gauntlets Are A Powerful Weapon
As Shuri has grown out of the shadow of Black Panther and begun to get more of her own identity, she has also been given a signature weapon: her panther gauntlets. These gauntlets were also featured in her first MCU appearance when Shuri and Nakia fought Killmonger.
Shuri’s gauntlets both look cool and pack a powerful punch. Like most weapons from Wakanda, they are made out of Vibranium, meaning they are incredibly durable. They are depicted as being similar to Iron Man’s repulsor blasts, as they shoot out a beam of energy, and it isn’t exactly specified what the beam is composed of or how powerful it is. That being said, these gauntlets look great and seem to be pretty effective in a fight.
5/10 Shuri’s Nano-Tech Wings Are Good For Emergency Flight
In Shuri #1 by Nnedi Okorafor, Leonardo Romero, Jordie Bellaire, and Joe Sabino, Shuri creates an amazing flying device comprised of nanobots. When activated, the device creates massive wings that allow the wearer to fly.
The wings are completely retractable, basically ceasing to exist when the user no longer has use for them. They act as a convenient means of travel as well as a good insurance policy in case Shuri is ever falling from high in the air. While the average person likely doesn’t need to be able to fly at a moment’s notice, this is a very handy tool for a superhero.
4/10 Shuri Keeps Wakandan Warriors Safe
Shuri does more than just create tech for herself and Black Panther to use. All of Wakanda benefits from the things she creates, especially those who fight for the country. One way Shuri helps keep her fellow Wakandans safe is through her invention of protective sheaths.
These sheaths can be activated quickly and will cover warriors in armor that resembles Black Panther’s suit. These sheaths have been shown to absorb great blasts of kinetic energy, allowing Wakandans to stay on their feet while their enemies are blasted away.
3/10 Shuri Always Has Her Tech On Hand With Portable Computers
When teamed up with Black Panther, Shuri often takes the “guy in the chair” role. Of course, this moniker doesn’t really fit her, since she isn’t a guy, and she doesn’t need a chair or even a physical computer to help T’Challa out.
Shuri has created computers that can be worn on her person at all times. When she needs it, she can pull up their holographic monitors and quickly provide intel or tech support to Black Panther while he’s in the field. These are easily one of the most useful inventions Shuri has ever made, though it has probably not been great for her work-life balance.
2/10 Shuri Created A Smart Spaceship
In preparation for T’Challa’s journey into space, Shuri created a smart device that acted as an outer layer to his spaceship. Referring to it as the ship’s “skin,” Shuri said that it was capable of sending updates and reporting any immediate threats facing the ship.
Not only was Shuri’s device able to report external threats, but it would also report on any imminent repairs that needed to be done to keep its inhabitants safe. Real-life space travel can be dangerous, add on top of that all the malevolent villains living amongst the stars in Marvel Comics and a device like this is very necessary.
1/10 Shuri and Tony Stark Reversed A Black Hole
Comics are full of a lot of incredible feats, but Shuri’s invention of a device to reverse a black hole might be one of the most impressive to date. Not only does she create a device that can reverse black holes, but she makes one that’s small enough to carry around with her.
While this invention isn’t purely Shuri’s responsibility, since she collaborated with Tony Stark, it is still incredibly impressive that she managed to help make it. Stark also makes it clear that he would not have been able to create the device without her help, and he isn’t exactly known for being modest. This device is easily the most impressive Shuri has ever made.
