Chadwick Boseman will be sorely missed – Normally this weekly column is called What This Fan Wants From… However, this week I’m not doing that. This week I want to take some time to talk about what we fans have lost with the sad news of Boseman’s passing. How we pay our respects to Boseman is by celebrating what he brought to the role and what we have lost in his passing.

Boseman first appeared as T’Challa/Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War. In some ways I always felt like Civil War was a passing of the torch, from Steve to T’Challa. The movie centers around Captain America making a stand for what he believes in, and begins with T’Challa seeking revenge. However, Boseman’s T’Challa grows in that movie, he starts to understand what it truly means to be a hero, not just a warrior. T’Challa accepts his role and knows he will become leader of his people after his father’s death. Black Panther was ready to become an Avenger going forward.

The Moral Compass

For me, Captain America  has always been the moral compass of the Avengers. Cap has seen the price of freedom, and has come to the conclusion that price is never too much to pay. But of course, the double header of Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame saw the conclusion of Cap’s story arc. After giving all he had, Cap was successful in defeating Thanos, though not without loss. Whatever Cap felt he owed the world, was repaid. It was time for him to go and have a the life he wanted and deserved finally.

I kinda feel in that classic movie moment when Cap turns back from certain defeat and see’s T’Challa walk through that portal and nod to him, he knows. Cap knows this is his last fight and that it will all be okay, because T’Challa is still there to fight the good fight. The future should have seen Boseman’s T’Challa become the moral compass of the Avengers. No longer will we fans get to see Boseman grow into that role, and that’s a damn shame.

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T’Challa himself had some growth still to come before he was ready to take that mantle. The growth of T’Challa shifts most in his solo movie, Black Panther. T’Challa had learnt to be a hero, but Black Panther was about him learning to be a leader. Not just a future leader of the team, but a leader of an entire Nation. By the end of Black Panther, T’Challa is ready to take his place as the leader of Wakanda. Wakanda is ready to reveal itself to the world and become a part of it. No longer will Wakanda remain an isolated Nation. T’Challa might not agree with Killmonger’s methods, but he begins to understand his motivations. T’Challa is ready to lead and he has become an icon.

Becoming A Black Icon

The impact of Black Panther cannot be overstated. The themes explored in Black Panther are real. Hell, look at what is happening right now and tell me those themes are about a period of history? That’s not true, as a white person I find racism completely illogical. Yet, coming from a nation with a population 88% white I’m also not blind. I see racism. It’s still here and it’s still a problem. Black Panther gave the black community a hero they can believe in. My race has had so many heroic figures that you can take your pick. Black Panther was that icon for people of color the world over.

The idea of an advanced civilization that was never subject to the horror that so many faced is appealing. And yet, the idea of isolation less so. The growth of T’Challa in that movie is what appeals to the fans. T’Challa accepted the weight of his ancestors’ mistakes, and sought to make amends. Not in the way Killmonger did, which was revenge, and war, not change. T’Challa respects all human life, and seeks to make change in a positive way. It’s hard for a white man like me to fully understand what this meant for people of color. However, I can relate to what I am told, what I can see from the reactions Black Panther had. The pictures I am sure we have all seen of black children paying their respects to a fallen hero in the last week is evidence enough.

Again, Chadwick Boseman will be sorely missed. Not just by his friends and family, but by millions of fans across the globe.

What’s Next?

I’m not going to spend much time on what comes next for Marvel. Sure, it’s a conversation we need to have eventually and it’s something fans are eager to know, but it’s all too soon. Within the next few weeks, I will definitely cover all the possibilities Marvel Studios has for how to move forward. I just feel on a personal level it’s too soon right now. I feel like the world is still grieving the loss of Chadwick Boseman. Marvel Studios will have to have those uncomfortable discussions already, that’s their job. I’m not sure though whether it’s time for us fans to pitch in, yet?

Ultimately, Black Panther as an icon is too important to not carry on. The world needs Black Panther as much as a new Avengers team will. I’m just not sure yet how that will all be resolved? For now, as said up top, I think it’s more important to pay respect to Chadwick and what he and Marvel Studios achieved together.

In an ideal world, we would see Boseman as T’Challa for countless more movies. Boseman could have been as big a star as Chris Evans became playing Cap. The loss is real. At 43, to lose Boseman so suddenly is simply tragic. In some ways though, Chadwick Boseman will live forever in the hearts and minds of the fans and a new generation of kids. Kids who saw a hero, and a moral compass in the character he played. Boseman was also a hero in how much fight and dignity he showed in his personal battle with Cancer.

Chadwick Boseman will be sorely missed, in so many ways. Boseman’s death, in this of all years, is a painful loss. Not just for Boseman’s family and friends, but the millions of fans that fell in love with Black Panther.

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