RICO'S
SUPERHERO
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With the sleekness of the jungle cat whose name he bears, T'Challa -- king of Wakanda -- stalks both the concrete city and the undergrowth of the Veldt. So it has been for countless generations of warrior kings, so it is today, and so it shall be -- for the law dictates that only the swift, the smart and the strong survive. Noble champion. Vigilant protector. Black Panther! Real
name:
T'Challa Height:
6' Educated at the finest schools in Europe and America, T'Challa returned to his homeland bearing a degree in physics and ready to assume the mantle of leadership. To do so, he was required to pass two tests: defeat six of Wakanda's greatest warriors in unarmed combat, and obtain the secret heart-shaped herb that grants the country's chieftains their powers. Successfully carrying out the dual challenge, T'Challa donned the ceremonial garb of the Black Panther, totem of the Wakandan people. Under
T'Challa, Wakanda has become one of the wealthiest and most
technologically advanced nations on the planet. After meeting the
legendary super hero known as Captain America, the Panther was offered
membership in the Avengers. Taking a leave of absence from his royal
duties, he served among Earth's Mightiest Heroes for a lengthy interval,
acquainting himself with American methods of crimefighting. During his
time with the Avengers, T'Challa met and fell in love with social worker
Monica Lynne. Through the years, their on-again, off-again romance
continually has complicated her life. The Panther returned only to have his throne taken from him through manipulation by factions within his own political system. While he was in New York investigating a scandal involving a local charity largely funded by Wakandan grants, T'Challa's government was toppled by a psychotic cleric named Achebe. After the fact, T'Challa discovered the scandal had been a ruse to lure him away from Wakanda. Achebe had struck a deal with Mephisto, a demon who craved the Panther's pure soul. Taking the fight to Mephisto, the Panther challenged the demon in his own realm. There, T'Challa was forced to re-live his past before ultimately defeating Mephisto. However, he was stalemated by Achebe, who temporarily gained power over Wakanda. The Panther eventually bested the cleric, as well. Accustomed to operating solo, T'Challa now finds himself partnered with Everett K. Ross, a cynical New York lawyer assigned by the U.S. State Department to facilitate the monarch's four-day state visit. Their partnership has lasted considerably longer. A highly skilled attorney, Ross' shark-like prowess is typically rendered moot in the wake of the Panther's larger-than-life adventures.
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Weapons:
T'Challa's Vibranium micro-weave bodysuit can stop bullets by sapping
their momentum. His boots' Vibranium soles absorb sound and impact --
enabling him to leap from structures up to eight stories tall and land
without injury, and literally run up the sides of buildings. The Panther's
retractable claws contain a form of Vibranium that can break down other
metals. He also wields an energy dagger that can be fired, thrown or
handled like a knife. At its highest setting, the weapon easily can cut
through forged steel.
Inevitably,
T'Challa returned to Wakanda, only to find the country in turmoil due to
his prolonged absence. Even his throne was fair game: The Panther was
forced to put down an uprising led by Killmonger, a revolutionary intent
on assuming power. After regaining his people's respect, T'Challa worked
to bring his country out of isolation from the rest of the world. Since
that time, he has made several trips to the United States. The Panther
joined Earth's other great heroes in battle against the sentient psionic
being known as Onslaught, and consequently was shunted into an alternate
dimension for one year.
