Becoming Beast
Becoming beast: Marvel's new Black Panther movie has a surprising medieval connection, by Lydia Zeldenrust (for The Conversation).
"Black Panther looks to be another hit for Marvel. The film has been highly anticipated, not least because it is a milestone in cinema with a black lead superhero starring alongside a majority black cast.
The film tells the story of T'Challa, who grapples with his new role as king of the technologically advanced, fictional African nation of Wakanda. He also happens to be a badass warrior who runs around in a bulletproof catsuit with retractable claws.
Humans with the heightened senses and enhanced strength and agility of animals, have become a staple feature of the comic book genre. But what makes Black Panther different from Spiderman or Wolverine is that his abilities are not the result of genetic mutation or technological augmentation. Though his suit is advanced technology, T'Challa’s abilities come from a magical herb and his mystical connection with a Panther god."
Read more at The Conversation.