Captain America Has Lost Faith in the Black Panther

Thanks to recent events, Captain America has lost faith in the Black Panther as the leader of the Avengers. Black Panther has been the team’s chairperson for the past few years, but that might be coming to an end. It recently came to light that the Panther deployed sleeper agents around the world to safeguard Wakandan interests – unbeknownst to the Avengers and even most of Wakanda. In Black Panther #9, Captain America confronts Black Panther, and it is clear he has lost his trust in the Avengers’ chair. The issue is on sale now in print and digital.

The Black Panther has been a mainstay of the Avengers for nearly 50 years, initially joining the team to spy on them. Over the years, the Panther has served the team with distinction, and was elected chair several years ago. Meanwhile, in the Panther’s home country of Wakanda, the people have shifted away from a monarchy and towards democracy. The new government has revealed that the Black Panther, many years prior, dispatched sleeper agents around the world. He kept this secret not only from his own nation, but from the Avengers as well. The fallout from this revelation has forced the Panther to step down as chair, which greatly disappointed Captain America and in Black Panther #9, the Sentinel of Liberty finally confronts Black Panther.

Black Panther #9 by John Ridley and German Peralta sees Steve Rogers meeting with the Panther at Avengers Mountain, located at the North Pole. Black Panther mopes, telling Cap that their works “will inevitably be overtaken by nothingness.” T’Challa presses on, even invoking Doctor Strange’s recent passing. Cap will not hear it, but Panther insists he too has been through much, having lost his best friend, though he does not want not to “compare tragedies.” Black Panther has returned to lead the Avengers, but Steve is not sure that T’Challa is up for the job. Cap then asks Panther why he left the Avengers for three months. Black Panther refuses to answer, which tells Cap all he needs to know – the Black Panther is not fit to lead the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.

Ever since his first appearance in 1966’s Fantastic Four #52, Black Panther has pursued his own agenda, only allying himself with Earth’s other heroes because it suited him – and this paranoia on his part may be his undoing. The Black Panther has long enjoyed Captain America’s respect, but that is coming to an end – and it is in large part thanks to the Panther’s recent actions. Despite these recent actions, Black Panther has been an exemplary chair and an excellent leader, and to lose this over paranoia and secrecy would be a waste. Furthermore, if Black Panther continues on this path, he could very well lose not only Captain America’s trust, but the rest of the Avengers’ as well, a move that could ultimately get him expelled from the team. While it is true Black Panther has been through much lately, he is forgetting that he has friends, letting his paranoia override his decision-making abilities.

Black Panther has been the chair of the team since Jason Aaron took over as writer of Avengers, but with his run coming to an end soon, the Panther’s tenure as chair may be ending as well. The Black Panther has lost Captain America’s respect, and maybe that of the Avengers as well.