9 Black Panther Questions That Still Need To Be Answered

Black Panther is unstoppable. With a estimated $235 million and counting at the domestic box office — that's only four days immediately after its release — Ryan Coogler's majestic entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is breaking records and inspiring crowds everywhere to unleash their inner hero.

because the initial black superhero movie helmed by a black director and starring a predominantly black cast, the cultural significance of Black Panther cannot be overstated, nevertheless for ardent Marvel fans the film also marks the final segment of the MCU puzzle before Earth's mightiest heroes' converge in this May's superhero spectacular, Avengers: Infinity War. As such, the ending of Black Panther — especially that final post-credits scene — probably left you with a couple of questions. (Though, kudos to Coogler for keeping T'Challa's solo outing pointedly intimate.)

With that in mind, let's break down the most pressing questions following Black Panther, beginning with the big one (spoilers ahead, obviously):

Is Killmonger really dead?

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Two words: Kimoyo beads. Agent Ross could be dead had T'Challa not stabilized him with the Wakandan tech following that fatal shoot-out with Klaue's motley crew of criminals. T'Challa had contemplated doing the same for Killmonger up until the latter proclaimed that he'd rather pick death over bondage, removed the spear from his chest, and seemingly bled out on ground because the camera cut to a cinematic wide shot. We visualize T'Challa fold Killmonger's hands on his chest — and that's it. Could he have slipped a Kimoyo bead into the wound? Or did he adhere to his cousin's final wishes?

On one hand, it's hard to imagine that Marvel would introduce its best villain although only to kill him off at the end of the film. Immediately considering that, how several possibilities has the studio had to off Tom Hiddleston's devilishly mischievous Loki? On the other, although, it's unlikely that a filmmaker like Coogler would trivialize the emotional poignancy of Killmonger's final words by bringing him back in an inevitable sequel.

So although Shuri — and the Marvel Powers That Be — could bring Killmonger back from the dead, it would ultimately undermine Coogler's cautiously crafted story. As much as we love Michael B. Jordan, this king is dead.

What about Malice?

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In the comics, Nakia takes a villainous turn as Malice. Though she was originally segment of the Dora Milaje, her unrequited infatuation with T'Challa nearly turned deadly and resulted in her banishment from Wakanda. Certainly, Lupita Nyong'o's Nakia is a very different version of the character — though, she's just as strong-willed. Although that doesn't mean Malice won't rear her jealous head at some point. Nakia is loyal to her king, however if his loyalty to her is compromised somehow — possibly by the introduction of the X-Men mutant Storm, T'Challa's partner in the comics — then maybe that could be enough to turn her to the dark side.

That being mentioned, one of the biggest things about Coogler's take on Black Panther is how he and co-writer Joe Robert Cole present a version of Nakia that's mostly uninterested T'Challa. Case in point, it's T'Challa who's crushing on her for most of the film. So unless some outdoors force turns her against T'Challa and her nation, it's hard to be able to see Nakia spiraling into villainy because she's jealous of another woman.

Where is the Soul Stone?

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Of the five Infinity Stones, only one stone is still unaccounted for in the MCU: the Soul Stone. In the comics, the stone permits the bearer to manipulate all life in the universe, so it could be catastrophic if it fell into the incorrect hands. So where is the stone? Before Black Panther's release, I would have mentioned Wakanda, although the coveted stone didn't pop up in Wakanda or its sacred ancestral plane. That's not to mention it won't, per se. Soon considering that, judging from the trailers, a hugely critical battle takes place in Wakanda in Infinity War, so it's possible that Thanos and the Black Group storm the country looking for the stone. (I still think it's concealed in the ancestral plane, protected by centuries of Black Panthers.) Given its immense power, it makes a lot of sense that it would stay in the most technologically advanced and protected place in the world.

So what brings Thanos's army to Wakanda in Avengers: Infinity War?

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Either Thanos is on the hunt for that Soul Stone, or he wants his hands on Wakanda's Vibranium — a.K.A the strongest metal in the world. In the mid-credits scene, T'Challa goes public with Wakanda's most precious resource at the United Nations. As a result, Wakanda is currently at risk of outdoor attacks. Perhaps Thanos sees the Vibranium-rich nation as his only major threat and and for that reason he sends the Black Group to destroy it. Or perhaps the Vibranium is the key to the Soul Stone. If Vibranium powers Wakanda and gives it life, and then the Soul Stone would be powering the Vibranium. What if the thing that makes Vibranium so powerful is the Infinity Stone? Either way, Nakia better hope that she was right if she mentioned, "Wakanda is strong enough to help others and protect itself at the same time."

Does this mean Shuri has cured Bucky Barnes from his HYDRA-induced brainwashing?

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The post-credits scene featured the thrilling return of Bucky Barnes and his luscious chestnut locks. Earlier in the film, Shuri called Agent Ross "another damaged white boy" for her to repair. Certainly the initial damaged white boy was Bucky, formerly referred to because the Winter Soldier, who was in a cryostasis chamber in Wakanda at the end of Captain America: Civil War. However thanks to Marvel's official Infinity War lead-in comic, Avengers: Infinity War Prelude #1, we know that T'Challa's genius teen sister, Shuri, has noticed a way to reverse the effects of HYDRA's brainwashing. (It involved digitally remapping Bucky's mind, not unlike the way she digitally remapped Ross's spine.) More importantly, she noticed a way to bring Bucky — Cap's best friend Bucky! — Back. And his hair is looking better than ever.

OK, so maybe he's missing his arm, although you know Shuri is going to hook him up with some indestructible Vibranium invention. He's packing one in the Infinity War trailer!

Was the White Wolf more than a fun easter egg for fans?

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Any time Bucky emerges from his tent in that remote Wakandan village, the children call him "White Wolf." Hardcore Marvel Comics fans will know the name White Wolf as T'Challa's adopted white brother, Hunter, who was raised by T'Chaka right after his parents died in a plane crash. Living in the shadow of T'Challa, the rightful heir to the Wakandan throne, Hunter took the name White Wolf and led the Hatut Zeraze, or Dogs of War, the country's spy network. (In the film, Killmonger attempts to send Vibranium weapons to Wakandan "War Dogs" stationed around the world.)

It's unclear if Bucky being called White Wolf was just a nod to the comics, or if he'll adopt the moniker and work for Wakanda post-Infinity War. As a trained assassin, he definitely fits the bill of a spy-turned-mercenary, also it could nice to be able to see an outsider like Bucky find some semblance of a purpose immediately considering that he's been through.

Is the heart-shaped herb really gone for good?

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group in attempt to harness the physical abilities of the Black Panther, the ruling sovereign must ingest the heart-shaped herb. However once Killmonger ascended the throne, he sorted the remaining mystical herbs to be burned. Nakia, putting her super-spy skills to good use, managed to escape Wakanda with the last heart-shaped herb, which she ultimately gave to T'Challa. So what does that mean for the future of the Black Panther? Without the heart-shaped herb, how will the power of the Black Panther be passed from one monarch to the next?

Either T'Challa can score some herb from the ancestral plane, or it's up to Shuri to calculate how to replicate the heart-shaped herb's mystical properties using science. (Seeing how Shuri makes up the Black Panther mantle for a short time in the comics, she could even use herself as a test subject.) Either way, T'Challa didn't seem also pressed about it at the end of the movie, so I'm just going to assume everything is fine.

Will Shuri suit up in Infinity War?

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Speaking of Shuri's comic-book destiny, T'Challa's little sister rocks a pair of Panther hand canons in the climactic fight against Killmonger and the Border Tribe. Until this point in the film, Shuri had been contributing to T'Challa's missions beyond the scenes; not only does she design the tech, nevertheless she also joins in the fight remotely from Wakanda using her remote-piloting mechanism. Does Shuri's willingness to jump into the fight and protect her nation possibly hint as her future because the Black Panther? In the comics, she takes over Panther duties right after her brother is badly injured. She initially doubts her own abilities before emerging as a true warrior. It could be an interesting path for tech genius Shuri to follow in the films.

Though, it's curious that Ramonda tells Nakia to take the heart-shaped herb whenever they flee Wakanda and not her daughter Shuri. Perhaps she is aware Shuri's limitations as fighter — she is a scientist, not a warrior — nevertheless it seems like a missed possibility to nod to the Shuri's comic-book legacy. That being mentioned, any time Thanos comes knocking on Wakanda's door, you better believe Shuri will find a way to be on the frontline — possibly remote-piloting the Hulkbuster armor we peeped in the trailer?

When will Marvel Studios embrace its queer characters?

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Ta-Nehisi Coates's Black Panther run, and also Roxane Gay's tragically short-lived World of Wakanda series, introduced the queer character Ayo, a member of the Dora Milaje who has a romantic relationship with Aneka, another woman in the all-female militia. Nevertheless, Ayo's queer identity isn't explored in the film, and additionally, a flirtatious scene between Ayo and Danai Gurira's Okoye was reportedly cut from the movie altogether. However Marvel clarified that Ayo and Okoye were not romantically involved, the film's co-writer later told ScreenCrush that the script did originally hint at a connection between Okoye and Ayo.

If Black Panther's tremendous success at the box office means anything, it's that representation matters. Hopefully, Marvel takes queer representation into consideration next time.