Marvel gets its fair share of criticism, mainly from devotees of DC and those who feel that superhero films are not worthwhile entertainment. I understand, mainly because I used to be like that, growing tired and weary of the endlessly dull landscape of superhero films that contribute very little, if anything at yet. Yet, the last decade has given us ample proof that superhero cinema is heading in an exciting new direction, and those detractors of the Marvel Cinematic Universe can seethe to their heart’s content, because there isn’t any way to deny the fact that Marvel is extremely assured in the fact that they have the cinema game safely in the palm of their hands. They have given us almost a decade of quality superhero cinema that only becomes more exciting and innovation without ever declining in quality. It can be said that this year, Marvel has done it once again, making arguably their greatest film to date in the form of Black Panther, a riveting, exciting and glorious, culturally-rich superhero film that isn’t merely a breath of fresh air: it is a bona fide revolution.

T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) was first introduced in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War, and needless to say, he made quite an impression with the limited amount of screentime that he was given. Black Panther was set to be the character’s major breakthrough into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it did not disappoint, giving the character the sufficient development and strong charisma that may make him one of the greatest portrayals of a superhero of all time. Black Panther is something akin to an origin story, seeing T’Challa return to the African nation of Wakanda to be crowned king after the tragic death of his father in a brutal terrorist attack at the United Nations. T’Challa is crowned the king and is given the title of protector of the nation: the Black Panther, a position he swears not to use in vain, being steadfast in his belief to help bring change to the world, not only to the nation around him. Reunited with many of his friends and family members, T’Challa faces the challenges of being king, only to discover that his reign may not be particularly peaceful, as his cousin, Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) is insistent on satiating his lustful desire for the throne of Wakanda. Killmonger and his posse of rogues terrorize the world in the pursuit of bringing down T’Challa and the peaceful kingdom that he reigns over (to be fair, I am not exactly sure why Marvel has a preoccupation with showing villainous relatives of our heroes forcibly taking control over the kingdom in which our hero reigns – there was Loki in Thor, Hella in Thor: Ragnarok and now Killmonger in Black Panther – perhaps a direct contradiction to the idea that “blood is thicker than water”?)

Chadwick Boseman, in an extremely short amount of time, has already made a name for himself as a great actor. He has that rare quality that demands the audience halts and pays attention to him, with his formidable charisma making him an absolutely magnetic screen presence. Whether it is his performance here in a large tentpole blockbuster, or in smaller fare such as his performance as Jackie Robinson in 42 or the legendary James Brown in Get On Up, Boseman has already amounted an impressive list of films to which he has lent his singular talents. His performance as T’Challa is truly extraordinary, with his forceful charm dominating the character’s weaker qualities, and bringing his true nuances to the forefront. Far too many superhero films rely on the physique and masculinity of the performer, believing that the ruggedness heroism of the character will be sufficient in captivating the audiences. Marvel may have its flaws, but it has created characters that are complex and meaningful, and the same assimilates into the cinematic universe, whereby characters such as T’Challa are able to be seen as characters with flaws and merits, all of which are realistic and develops them as characters to the point where they are not simply heroes for the sake of being heroes, but rather fascinating constructions. Boseman occupies the role perfectly, finding the true heroism in the character, but also being capable of extraordinary vulnerability and a sensitivity I do not believe I have ever seen conveyed in a superhero before. It is a portrayal that goes far beyond what one would expect, and it would be unlikely that Boseman does not enter into the hallowed halls of great superhero performances after the incredible work he did in Black Panther.

Lupita Nyong’o gets possibly her greatest performance yet as Nakia, the love interest of T’Challa who is a formidable warrior in her own right, often being in threat of becoming the true hero of Black Panther. There was a thought that struck considerably hard while watching this film – despite the drawing factor of Black Panther being the titular character, and while Boseman’s performance as T’Challa is indeed great, it is the women that make this film worth watching. Throughout this entire film, there is not a single stereotype of taut cinematic convention related to female comic book characters. All the women in this film are gloriously complex, and Black Panther, if I may be so bold, redefines femininity in the context of a superhero film. It doesn’t achieve this through the avoidance of a romantic subplot (which is very present, but it is tasteful, meaningful and completely void of cliche), nor does it construct female characters as unimpeachable, celestial figures that cannot be approached as they are not of this world. Rather, much like the characterization of T’Challa himself, these female characters are shown to be deeply-grounded, flawed individuals who are willful, powerful and have a strength of moral character not yet seen before in such characters. Danai Gurira is brilliant intimidating as the dedicated Okoye, a steadfast warrior who is loyal beyond belief. Angela Bassett, one of our greatest living actresses, is given a character that may appear to be the wise maternal figure, but is far more complex and fascinating, being given some truly tremendous moments that show that Bassett is an absolute force to be reckoned with. The breakout star of Black Panther, however, is Letitia Wright. Serving a multiple array of roles, her performance as Shuri is the comic relief (and Wright has some of the best comedic timing I have ever seen), the technologically-innovative inventor (to the point where she may eclipse Tony Stark) and more importantly, the insecure younger character who wants to prove herself and her own potential, which is an enormously difficult task when your brother is the king of Wakanda. Black Panther is not only a wildly entertaining film, it is an essential film, a film that helps redefine the roles female characters play in these kinds of narratives, moving them away from the realm of being just love interests and damsels in distress, to a more progressive position of being complex, fascinating and willful characters. The performances of these actresses are so good, it fully makes up for the fact that Forest Whitaker was shoehorned into this film, and gives one of the weakest performances in recent Marvel Cinematic Universe history.

Michael B. Jordan plays the villain in Black Panther, and he occupies a strange position – he is not quite as purely villainous as Ultron, not as gleefully evil as Loki, nor as justified in his actions as The Vulture, but manages to be an almost entirely new breed of supervillain. Jordan has built a career out of endearing, admirable and heroic characters, so it was a risky decision for him to play the main antagonist in this film, but he was absolutely astonishing in the role. I have, on a few occasions, expressed that I have been mostly unimpressed with Jordan in the past, finding his performances in the likes of Creed and Fantastic Four to be underdeveloped and uninspiring, but he had a rare cinematic charisma that set him up for success. He certainly has legions of adoring fans, but I found myself truly becoming enamoured with his skills as an actor in this film. The way in which he delicately navigates the intentions of the character, showing him as being both extremely vicious and bloodthirsty, as well as being undeniably steadfast in his belief that what he is doing is for the betterment of the world at large. Marvel, as of late, has been preoccupied with having villains that are guided by what they believe to be moral behaviour, and while I would like to see a villain that is pure evil just for the sake of it, there is something fascinating about villains like Killmonger, socially-conscious characters that have the drive to commit evil with the justification that they are doing what is right (when it is evidently not, as their actions are more often than not based on their own lustful desire for dominance). Jordan is excellent, and along with Wright, he is the standout of the film. It was an against-type performance for Jordan that could have ended with disastrous results, but it was an absolute triumph.

Black Panther is one of the most important blockbuster films ever made, and despite being an extraordinarily entertaining film, this film occupies an essential position. I watched Black Panther last night, and while I am sure this film will have an extremely powerful appeal all over the world, there was something so overwhelmingly magical about watching Black Panther in Africa with an African audience. There was a sense of extreme pride at seeing our continent represented in a way that was not stereotypical, void of any cliches and made to be seen as a culturally-rich, beautiful continent filled with traditions that are as gorgeous as any others. The energy in the cinema was indescribably beautiful, and the gorgeous way in which Black Panther told its story convinced me that this film is far more than being just another superhero film – it is not going to be a film that fades into the ranks of Marvel films, but one that boldly stands out. The revolutionary moment of a child in Africa watching this film, seeing a superhero that he can relate to, is truly poignant. To use the word “pride” is an understatement – the pure adoration towards this film that pulsated throughout that cinema was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, and it is fully a testament to the extreme passion imbued in this film by Ryan Coogler, who has shown himself to be a wunderkind filmmaker of recent years, capable of captivating, extraordinary filmmaking that defies the rules in every way. On a personal note, it is a film that made me proud to be an African, and the cultural beauty of this film was by far its strongest asset.

Personally, I have been given a great deal of criticism in the past for my adoration of Marvel films (particularly last year’s Thor: Ragnarok, for which I gave an exceptionally high score, deservingly so), but it is difficult to see why anyone would be against the idea of loving Marvel’s cinematic output. Precise and intelligent, and utterly extraordinary in execution, Black Panther stands amongst Marvel’s very best, and I might even be inclined to say this was as groundbreaking of a superhero film as Iron Man was, the film that thrust Marvel into the upper-echelons of film production. Absolutely gorgeous and intent on creating a culturally-rich, unique and representative superhero film, Black Panther is a true wonder as far as superhero films go. It is a dedicated portrayal of a story void of any conventions or cliches, and the skilful way in which Ryan Coogler constructed this film, allowing it to be occupied by some truly excellent performers, all working together to tell a magnificent, unique story, is a testament to his talents as a filmmaker. Chadwick Boseman is tremendous, the supporting cast is excellent (particularly Wright and Jordan), and the film as a whole is incredible. Black Panther extends far beyond simply being a superhero film – it is an event and a mind-blowing, soul-stirring experience, and believe me when I say that Marvel has truly outdone themselves with this film. It is almost impossible to describe, and while it is not without its flaws, and while it may fall back onto some small narrative conventions that prevent it from being entirely original, it is an unforgettable experience, and the film that will undoubtedly jumpstart a new era of superhero blockbusters. I am not entirely sure where the cinematic landscape is headed, but if there are more films that are as brilliant as Black Panther, then it will surely be worthwhile.