The first critical responses to 'Black Panther' are here and they've made it clear: the film represents a never before seen change from Marvel. "It certainly doesn't look like... [a Marvel film]. Along with the color (sic) of nearly everyone's skin, there are vistas, costumes and settings that keep the images popping off the screen, even though this Marvel offering is not in 3D", explains Todd McCarthy from The Hollywood Reporter. The critic continues that, "Marvel takes its superheroes into a domain they've never inhabited before and is all the better for it...Boseman certainly holds his own, but there are quite a few charismatic supporting players here keen to steal every scene they can - and they do, notably the physically imposing Jordan, the radiant Nyong'o and especially Wright".
Letitia Wright who plays Black Panther's sister received particular praise from Screen Crush's Matt Singer who explained that "best of all is T'Challa's younger sister Shuri, the tech genius who provides Black Panther with all of his coolest weapons - and provides the movie with all of its funniest lines". Variety's Peter Debruge was also taken with the technologically advanced gadgets; "Because Black Panther's skills seem to rely more on gadgets than fantastical powers, his standalone Marvel outing actually feels more like a James Bond adventure than a conventional superhero movie at times". Whilst Wright and her character's gadgets were the topic of fascination for many critics, Shuri isn't the only female character to receive attention, as Nate Brail from Heroic Hollywood eagerly picked up on. "Besides the message the film succeeds to send [and] the stunts, Lupita Nyong'o's character was amazing. All of the stunts in the film supersede a majority of superhero films and the action definitely takes the cake".
Despite showering the film with praise, Debruge concluded that, "'Black Panther' is still a superhero movie, which means that it's effectively conceived for 10-year-olds and all those who wish a film like this had existed when they were 10".
Undeniable praise for Michael B. Jordan
Action scenes, impressive performances and the novelty of 'Black Panther' as a whole aside, there's one more thing the critics all agreed on: the villain. Bryan Bishop for The Verge wrote how "Jordan adds a level of humanity to the character that truly sets the film apart". For Singer, "Killmonger's methods may be repulsive and his goals may be horrifying, but he has several very legitimate reasons to be pissed off". The latter critic continued that Jordan is "maybe the most charismatic bad guy in the entire history of Marvel".
With regard to the storyline, Rodrigo Perez from The Playlist believes 'Black Panther is "Marvel's most political effort" with a "fascinatingly complex [and] problematic approach" that is without a doubt, "the movie's best element". Variety's Debruge highlighted how, "rather than simply concocting another generic plan to save the world from annihilation, Coogler revives the age-old debate between Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X - between passive resistance and the call for militant black activism". Both critics make valid points but overall emphasise just how politically charged 'Black Panther' really is.
