Over the course of the last few of years, Marvel has definitely put Black Panther through the wringer. He was incapacitated after an attack on Wakanda in the Black Panther ongoing series, recovered, left Wakanda for New York City and took over as the protector of Hell's Kitchen following Daredevil's departure after the Shadowland event. He's done more in the last year than a lot of characters do, well, ever. Which is why it will be so strange to see T'Challa's current series come to an end following the release of Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #529. According to the solicit for the title, which we announced in November would be the last in the series, issue #529 will be a "status-quo changing series finale." What does that really mean, though?

After taking over Daredevil's title, the book was renamed Black Panther: Man Without Fear beginning with issue 513 and later Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive starting with issue 523.1. The focus has been on T'Challa working alone, something he has insisted upon doing in order for him to figure out who he is again. Yet, it's not as though T'Challa is without responsibilities. The former King of Wakanda is still married to Storm, and it's surprising that he would leave his younger sister, Shuri the current Black Panther regent responsible for an entire nation -- particularly after the events of Doomwar which left Wakanda more or less vulnerable.

With his series coming to an end, many were left wondering "what's next" for one of Marvel's most iconic characters. After gracing the cover to AVENGERS #19 and the announcement that the Avengers would be getting a new team together, many speculated whether T'Challa would join his old friend Captain America as an addition to the Avengers. When Steve Rogers asks him, he turns the Captain down stating that he stated "I'm just not there right now, I have things to do here."

Okay, what things does he need to "do there" that we don't know about, because with the end of the series in the beginning of February, no one really knows where T'Challa is going to be. Rather than agreeing to join the Avengers, T'Challa suggests that Storm join the team because the team needs "a powerhouse."

For the last year we've seen the character embark on a journey of self discovery, turning down any help his wife has to offer him and going so far as to get frustrated with her when she tries to help him out. So what's next? Will he return to Wakanda? Will he reconsider and join the Avengers? It does sort of make sense that he might.

Throughout his series, Black Panther has been adamant about not getting any kind of help from anyone -- he has insisted on taking care of business, fighting Fisk and The Hand on his own, and he's done an okay job. But when he realizes that his tactics alone aren't really working in issue 526 of Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive, he calls on some help from Falcon and Luke Cage. The three characters, according to the solicits for the next three issues, will be appearing in the series together. Maybe after this final fight with Fisk will lead T'Challa to reconsider joining the Avengers? Perhaps that will be the "change in the status-quo"?

Let's talk a little bit about Storm, shall we? The two characters have spent little (if any) time together over the course of the last year, which is kind of sad. Unlike the Reed Richards and Sue Storm relationship where the two characters clearly love one another, work well as teammates and neither is overshadowed by the other, we don't get that with T'Challa and Storm. The relationship, which at one time had so much potential, has stagnated considerably over the course of the last year; leading me to believe that Marvel might be planning to pull them apart. Perhaps placing an X-Man like Storm on the Avengers just in time for the AVENGERS VS. X-MEN event will force Storm to choose between the two. And if T'Challa reconsiders and joins the Avengers, then Storm's decision could cause a rift between the two.

What do you think the future holds for T'Challa? Have you been keeping up with his series? Do you think he and Storm should remain together, or do you think that they will be torn apart with the launch of AVENGERS VS. X-MEN?

I too was excited about the joining of T'Challa and Storm, but have been disappointed with the lack of adventures together. I can see them splitting with the upcoming avengers v x-men event, but I think this would be a perfect opportunity for them to have a book together.

Black Panther needs to be in more stuff... outside comics I mean.

I was really pissed off when the news broke out that his series is gonna be cancelled. It was actually Very Good. SMH.

Well I hope Marvel has something excellent in store for TChalla.

Why does Marvel hate the Black Panther? They create an awesome pairing and do litteraly nothing with it. They consistantly nerf Tchalla and wonder why his book isnt selling. David Liss did wonders with a premise that no sense at all to say the least. Marvel was trying to make BP Batman when he should be the Black Panther ,which when done the way Stan and Jack designed him to be, is freaking way more awesome.

I think Black Panther will go back to Wakanda. Where else he's going to go if he isn't joining the Avengers? :P

Hope he joins the Avengers.

Black Panther needs to be in more stuff... outside comics I mean.

He should definitely go back to Wakanda.

I always thought Storm and Black Panther getting married wasn't a great idea. The fact they have hardly interacted with each other since the wedding proves my point. Marvel needs to decide once and for all if they should stay together, or if they should divorce.

i liked the concept of BP becoming a vigilante, maybe they can try to do that again in Wakanda or another city

i liked the concept of BP becoming a vigilante, maybe they can try to do that again in Wakanda or another city

I wouldn't really call Black Panther one of Marvel's most iconic characters. I've only been reading comics since the Marvel iApp was released a year or so back, and before that time, I'd never even heard of him. That said, I think he should join a team book. Much like my beloved Moon Knight, he seems to have trouble holding his own solo series.

i liked the concept of BP becoming a vigilante, maybe they can try to do that again in Wakanda or another city

Hopefully a Movie a nation a wife and a new ongoing await the most dangerous man alive

I like BP. Hopefully they give him some more exposure.

When Bendis leaves the Avengers for good, I say wipe the slate clean and have BP as one of the members. He was great for that team.

I wouldn't really call Black Panther one of Marvel's most iconic characters. I've only been reading comics since the Marvel iApp was released a year or so back, and before that time, I'd never even heard of him. That said, I think he should join a team book. Much like my beloved Moon Knight, he seems to have trouble holding his own solo series.

It's obvious...he'll just descend into his Panther Cave for his annual Panther Sleep until someone decides he's worth waking up and has something for him to do. T'Challa is a genius...but meh, we have Reed. Don't really need the guy do we? =/

given him his own symbiote like say hybrid. and call him the hybrid panther  and be the first black symbiote super-hero. 

@spiderbat87 said:

@Danial79 said:

I wouldn't really call Black Panther one of Marvel's most iconic characters. I've only been reading comics since the Marvel iApp was released a year or so back, and before that time, I'd never even heard of him. That said, I think he should join a team book. Much like my beloved Moon Knight, he seems to have trouble holding his own solo series.

He was the very first black super hero, I'd say he was iconic

An icon is something that is representative of its owner, and as such, I think Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, Hulk, Thor, and X-Men are "Marvel's most iconic characters". I knew exactly who each of those were before ever reading a single comic and I knew they were Marvel characters. If you had shown me a picture of Black Panther, I would have looked at you blankly and maybe guessed Batman without his cape :P

I really hope they don't split T'Challa and Storm with something so little as a dispute between two teams they're aligned with. If Reed and Sue haven't split yet after all the crap Reed has done then T'Challa and Storm should be given the chance to work it out if they come to a disagreement. That being said, he needs to get more exposure and put onto another major team.

@Danial 79 he 's iconic because he marvel first black superhero, but no the first african american super-hero in comics and among fans. interpret that how you will.  all the heroes you just listed are icons cause the whole worl know them. 

send him to comic book limbo forever...

Go back to Wakanda

Spend more time with his wife

Face off against Klaw again

Team-up/Join the Avengers

New Ongoing series (that ISN'T a Daredevil rip-off)

honestly, i couldn't care less about Black Panther

I think he's gonna take DD's place on Cage's Avengers team so DD can go back to what he does best, work alone.......with the occasional guest appearing now and then of course.......

I think it is past time Marvel address every question that's been asked. He has potential to be one of Marvel's premier superheroes he shouldn't be just put aside. I think it would be great if joined the Avengers with Storm because It would be a great way to give him some much needed exposure and prove to himself that he is still a great hero. I am really hoping they do or find someway for them to have some sort of interaction.    

What's the point of writing in a marriage if you have no ideas for it? They should either develop the marriage or kill it now.

I wan't see T'Challa and Storm togheter! They have to finish the story started in Marvel Team-Up #100!

There needs to be a movie or a video game of BP and needs more exposure because I don't see him much often. But I think he should join the avengers

Can Daredevil have his numbering back now that this stupid exercise is over, please? Thanks.

Don't pull any crap like with F.F./Fantastic Four, Marvel. The only reason I even bought Black Panther was so that my Daredevil run would remain complete from #1 through #529.

I say after Doomwar he should take a sojourn in Wakanda and build up his nation again. That's really what needs to be done for now I think.

@Doctor!!!!! said:

Black Panther needs to be in more stuff... outside comics I mean.

Now thats what I'm sayin.

Black Panther's always intrigued me. I should probably read some stuff with him.

Marvel never treats Black Panther right. They are always nerfing him with dumb stuff.

That BP cover looks outstanding!! :D

@Gambler said:

@Doctor!!!!! said:

Black Panther needs to be in more stuff... outside comics I mean.

Now thats what I'm sayin.

Exactly!!

@Danial79: There was a time that Thor and Iron Man weren't really considered iconic. While I think Black Panther is iconic, I do agree that not many people know who he is. I would say the same about Moon Knight, Namor and even Daredevil to a degree. It is a matter of notoriety really.

Since Storm can't leave Utopia (well, she is in two series), make T'Challa an X-Man!

@frozenedge said:

I really hope they don't split T'Challa and Storm with something so little as a dispute between two teams they're aligned with. If Reed and Sue haven't split yet after all the crap Reed has done then T'Challa and Storm should be given the chance to work it out if they come to a disagreement.

Agreed. Reed and Sue were (eventually) on opposite sides during Civil War but it didn't destroy their marriage. Though if you think about it, Marvel really couldn't do that (not for long anyway) since the whole premise of Fantastic Four (ftmp) is about family and Reed and Sue are the center...imo.

Still I would prefer that Marvel not make Storm and T'Challa split. Even though I didn't like that they retconed their past to get them together in the first place, they make a nice couple. They're two mature and level headed people (ftmp) so you would hope they would be able to weather the storms that come with the union of a Wakandan King and a senior member of the X-Men.

It won't interest me unless they end his marriage to Storm

Game changing status quo?

He obviously sells his marriage to Mephisto in return for his aunt country recovering.

I say have him stickwith Cage and Falcon as a team.

Maybe the status changing event has nothing to do with BP and is about Kingpin being forced to leave the country. He is the villain in the next Wolverine arc isn't he?

Marvel should approach 50 Cent about appearing in a Black Panther story. He's got that anti-bullying book out now, so hemight be interested in changing his image by appearing along side a hero in NY. T'Challa leads 50 down the path to redemption, and 50 helps him smoke out the criminal elements in NY. They help eachother out, and 50's industriousness lights a fire under T'Challa to reclaim his kingdom! Think about it! They're both experienced in running empires, are no strangers to using force to exert their will, AND everything 50 touches turns to gold! Gimmicky or not, that is a book I would aboslutely want to read. This is how T'Challa gets his groove back. You can thank me later.

i want him to go back to wakanda but i dont think that will happen. i think soon storm & the panther will break up. i dont want that.

@GalactaSurfer said:

Why does Marvel hate the Black Panther? They create an awesome pairing and do litteraly nothing with it. They consistantly nerf Tchalla and wonder why his book isnt selling. David Liss did wonders with a premise that no sense at all to say the least. Marvel was trying to make BP Batman when he should be the Black Panther ,which when done the way Stan and Jack designed him to be, is freaking way more awesome.

It looks that way on the surface. But if you look at the history Marvel's always been dedicated to keeping a Panther monthly on the stands. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a new #1 for Panther sooner than later. I'd like to see him return to Wakanda, interact with Shuri and see the impact of Doom War explored.

doom war explored is dead keep him they way he is now as a vigilante and give him a good rogue gallery

@DMC: I agree. If other superhero couples can work there problems out (excluding Pym and Janet) they should be able to do the same. And Black Panther needs to get his own series or something. Anything to get his name out in the public. There are too few people who actually know who he is sadly.

@Danial79: jesus.. whats funny is u dont even realise just summed up your ignorance with the very words u just typed. -_-

@The Stegman: but still managed to drop an oh so witty comment..lol..what a douche