SPOILERS: BLACK PANTHER - 22 Amazing Easter Eggs, Cameos, And References You Need To See
Black Panther is a great standalone movie but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of amazing Easter Eggs, cameos, and references for comic book fans in the Ryan Coogler helmed released. Check them out!
There's no one better than Marvel Studios when it comes to world-building but with Avengers: Infinity War on the horizon, a lot of fans have been understandably concerned about Black Panther becoming another Iron Man 2 which is more concerned teasing what's next than focusing on the here and now.
Thankfully, director Ryan Coogler has ensured that the Marvel movie delivers a strong standalone story while also setting the stage for what comes next in this world for both T'Challa and The Avengers.
Here, we take an in-depth look at how Black Panther drops some pretty huge hints not only about where this franchise could go but what's on the horizon for Earth's Mightiest Heroes when Thanos attacks later this year. Needless to say, major spoilers for the movie follow from this point onwards.
King T'Chaka
Now here's an awesome bit of casting. The younger version of King T'Chaka we see in Black Panther is played by Atandwa Kani, the real-life son of John Kani, the actor who played the character in Captain America: Civil War and shows up again here. It's a neat touch and one fans are sure to appreciate.
The Wizard Of Oz
After Shuri saves Everett Ross' life, he wakes up and demands to know what's going on and whether or not he's in Wakanda. She sarcastically responds, "No, it's Kansas," a nod to this American classic.
Back To The Future
Shuri really isn't a fan of the sandals T'Challa is rocking after being named king, so she introduces her brother to some shoes she's made which don't make any noise and materialise around his feet at will. She says the idea of fully automated shoes is based on an old American movie their father watched and that's obviously a reference to the self-lacing Nike sneakers in Back to the Future!
Oakland
Black Panther's opening sequence takes place in Oakland, California and it's hard to imagine that's a coincidence. Ryan Coogler grew up there for starters and it just so happens to also be the home of the Black Panther movement, a group who could have played a role in N'Jobu's newfound radicalism.
The Mid-Credits Scene
Black Panther's mid-credits scene features T'Challa addressing the United Nations and making it clear that Wakanda is about to step out of the shadows to share its resources with the world. While one politician scoffs at what a third-world nation like this could have to offer, the King shares a knowing smile with Everett Ross and the stage is set for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to be changed forever.
A Visit To Djalia
The movie pays homage to T'Challa's comic book roots in a number of ways, including the presence of the heart-shaped herbs which give the hero his powers. However, one of the coolest nods comes when he's transported to Djalia, a location fans of the source material will know is a mystical realm made up of the memories of Wakandans. When Killmonger drinks the herb, he sees his father in the apartment he was killed in but you can still see the lights on Djalia outside the window if you look closely.
Wakanda's Rhinos
You might think that the addition of rhinos in the final battle is totally random but T'Challa did actually do battle with one of the formidable creatures in a limited series from the 1980s. It's hard to say whether or not that inspired the movie but that headlock looks mighty familiar, eh?
Public Enemy
Look closely at N'Jobu's apartment and you'll spot a poster for Public Enemy. The group has a number of ties to Black Panther and their lyrics fit nicely into the beliefs of King T'Chaka's disgraced brother.
Mount Bashenga
In Black Panther, Mount Bashenga is where Wakanda's Vibranium stocks are found and also where Shuri's lab is located. In the comics, this location was named after Bashenga, the first Black Panther.
What Are Those?!
We mentioned T'Challa's sandals a little earlier in this post and Shuri's reference to them - "What are those?!" - is a reference to a viral video which saw Instagram user "youngbusco" ask a police officer what the hell kind of boots he's wearing (on the plus side, at least T'Challa wasn't wearing socks).
Ties To Captain America: Civil War
Black Panther takes place almost immediately after the events of Captain America: Civil War as we see a news report detailing the death of King T'Chaka at the hands of Zemo (he's also mentioned by Everett Ross later in the movie as remaining in custody, a sign that Bucky is now fully in the clear).
Stan Lee's Cameo
Stan Lee's cameos have become a staple of Marvel's movies and the legendary creator returns here for one of his most enjoyable yet. As T'Challa walks away from the roulette table after placing a winning bet, "The Man" pops up to claim the winnings as his own, something which is pretty appropriate when you consider the fact that he co-created the now iconic character all the way back in 1966.
Bast
Throughout the movie, various references are made to Bast, the cat Goddess who played a role in the first Black Panther becoming King. She's mentioned in the comic books and real-life Egyptian mythology and this is one of those touches which makes this world feel that little bit more authentic.
Vibranium
Various references are made to the role Vibranium played in Avengers: Age of Ultron when Ultron bought it to create an indestructible body and we learn here that King T'Chaka told the world that all of Wakanda's Vibranium was stolen by Ulysses Klaue when he attacked their country.
Warrior Falls Battle
The fight between T'Challa and Erik Killmonger at Warrior Falls is pretty damn brutal and it's actually the same place these two first came to blows in the comic books! That came about in the "Panther's Rage" storyline in the 1970s and the battle wrapped up with the villain throwing his opponent over the edge just as it does here. It's a nice touch and a great piece of imagery to see on the big screen.
Man-Ape
Black Panther thankfully avoids referring to M'Baku as "Man-Ape" but there are still nods to his comic book origin. For starters, he dons an ape mask when he does battle with T'Challa at Warrior Falls and we see a spear which bears a striking resemblance to the one from the comics during the scene when Erik Killmonger is preparing to ship advanced technology to the rest of the world.
Ulysses Klaue's Arm
While Klaue meets his maker here at the hands of Erik Killmonger, we do at least get to see him rocking a powerful cybernetic arm which definitely homages the source material. The villain mentions that it's an old Wakandan mining tool he's adapted to fire sonic blasts, a clear nod to his sonically powered comic book counterpart. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like he'll ever gain those abilities now!
Erik Killmonger Suits Up
If you thought that Killmonger suiting up as a villainous version of Black Panther came out of nowhere, think again! During Christopher Priest's influential run, he did the exact same thing and the fact he looks like a leopard (a little bit, at least) could be because his comic book counterpart had one as a pet. The gold colours on the costume, meanwhile, also pay homage to his suit on the page.
Erik Killmonger's Mask
While Erik Killmonger ultimately ends up wearing a Black Panther suit that T'Challa rejected a little earlier on in the movie, he first dons a mask which appears to have been chosen at random. Well, look at the comic book panels below and it's clear that it was, in fact, based on the source material.
The After-Credits Scene
The after-credits scene shows Shuri shooing away some children bothering the "White Wolf," someone we quickly realise is actually Bucky. It's made apparent that he's been cured of any and all HYDRA brainwashing and the stage is set for him to then join the fight in Avengers: Infinity War.
Moonlight's Alex Hibbert Makes A Cameo Appearance
At the end of the movie, T'Challa is approached by a young boy asking who he is. The hero smiles and the scene cuts to black as the credits roll but did you recognise the kid so wowed by the King of Wakanda? Well, he's played by Alex Hibbert from Moonlight who was praised by critics for his work.
The Infinity Stones
There's no mention of the Infinity Stones in Black Panther but there are certainly places they could be retconned into in Avengers: Infinity War. We learn that Vibranium landed on Earth in the form of an Asteroid, while those heart-shaped herbs could definitely be cosmically powerd by the Soul Stone.