However, based on comic book canon, this is not the first time Shuri has taken on the mantle of Black Panther, nor is it the first time a Black woman has worn the suit. In comics, there have been four women who took on the mantle of Black Panther.
The daughter of T'Chaka and half-sister of T'Challa, Shuri spent much of her life living in the shadows of men. However, after working to stop an invasion of Wakanda and helping her brother recover after Doctor Doom nearly killed him, Shuri stepped into the spotlight and became the Black Panther herself.
Black Panther (Shuri) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 4 #2 (May 2005). Shuri is the princess of the fictional African nation of Wakanda.
She probably doesn't want to rule the country due to her other duties as Wakanda's greatest hero. She also likely never wanted to be the leader of a nation and instead put her focus on her scientific research. She doesn't seem to mind letting M'Baku take that position instead.
The Princess of Wakanda, Shuri is the sister of Black Panther, and an heiress to the throne of Wakanda. She is the youngest child of T'Chaka, his only daughter and only biological child with Queen Ramonda, his third wife. From a very young age, Shuri has wanted to become the first woman to become the Black Panther.
Black Panther Princess Shuri Powers Weapons Fighting Skills Compilation (2018-2022)
Was there a female Black Panther before Shuri?
However, Nehanda is not the only Black Panther Queen to precede Shuri canonically. Queen Turkana, a character created by award-wining author Nnedi Okorafor, was also a Black Panther.
Princess Shuri is the sister of T'Challa, and when he and her mother died she became the ruler of Wakanda. When Namor and his people threatened to wage war against Wakanda, she took the necessary steps to become the Black Panther to defend them.
Why the secrecy? Shuri has been an auntie for years and never knew. But Nakia tells Shuri that she and T'Challa decided to raise the child in secret in Haiti so that the burden of the Wakandan throne didn't disrupt his childhood.
In Black Panther, Shuri is portrayed as T'Challa's 18-year-old sister who designs new technology for her country of Wakanda. Letitia Wright described Shuri as innovative of spirit and mind, wanting to take Wakanda to "a new place", and felt she was a good role model for young black girls.
Philadelphia native Elaine Brown rose through the Black Panther organization after she moved to Los Angeles in 1965. She later became the first woman to head the controversial, male-dominated organization.
Sadly, T'Chaka lost his life when Sokovian radical Helmut Zemo detonated a bomb at the well-attended meeting of heads of state, framing Bucky Barnes, the Winter Soldier, in the process.
Danai Gurira was born in Grinnell, Iowa, to Josephine and Roger Gurira, who were from Zimbabwe. Her father was then teaching Chemistry at Grinnell College. When she was five, the family moved back to Zimbabwe, residing in the capital Harare.
Nakia was born in the African nation of Wakanda to the River Tribe. She grew up to be fiercely independent, though she also developed a romantic relationship with Prince T'Challa, son of King T'Chaka and heir to the throne.
For other characters who have held the mantle, see Black Panther. Princess Shuri is a Marvel Comics character who appears in both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and in Marvel Animation. She is the Princess of Wakanda, the daughter of King T'Chaka and Queen Ramonda, and the sister of T'Challa.
After meeting with Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane, Shuri successfully gained the powers of the Black Panther and moved on to pick the Black Panther suit she would wear in her fight against Namor.
The only other relative who knew that pain and anger was Killmonger. Without meaning to, Shuri subconsciously summoned her devious cousin because he was the only one who could recognize what she was feeling, and he could push her in the direction she wanted to go.
Killmonger's young son is last seen swearing vengeance against Black Panther, much like N'Jadaka had done years earlier after the death of his own father.
Despite Shuri's best efforts, Ramonda was next to T'Challa as he passed away. Shuri hastily rushed to bring a completed recreation of the herb to her brother, though Ramonda, who had entered the lab, despairingly confirmed his passing. Ramonda then took his place as the queen of Wakanda.
Nakia reveals that the youngster is her and T'Challa's son, which Ramonda knew about – this is what the queen meant to tell Shuri by the water before they were interrupted by Namor's arrival. Nakia explains that she and T'Challa agreed that their son Toussaint should grow up away from the pressure of the throne.
The MCU has had great couples in the past, and they've told love stories within superhero films before. But ultimately, while there was clear chemistry between Shuri and Namor, it was for the best that Marvel Studios decided to do without their potential love line.
Nakia comes up to her and says that there's something she hasn't been told. Something that nobody besides Ramonda knows – that she gave birth to a child conceived with T'Challa. While Shuri has assumed the title of Black Panther, the kid is the true heir to the throne.
Shuri is also single in the comics currently, but there's always the possibility of introducing a great, interesting new character for either of these mediums.
