The Marvel Universe is full of exciting and awesome characters that bring excitement and joy to millions of people around the world.

However, most of these characters have rarely been identifiable to the black community. Until now.

Ryan Coogler’s adaptation of the comic book superhero T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, brought a new type of energy and environment to the Marvel Universe and the black community. Black Panther has made $1.183 billion in the box office, and it will be growing for awhile. We have all seen some sort of film where the main character is of royal blood and has to fight for the throne, and that’s what Black Panther is all about.

When T’Challa’s father dies near the end of Captain America: Civil War, he finds and brings back his ex-girlfriend to the fictional African nation of Wakanda. T’Challa has to fight the leader of a rival nation, which is found in the mountains of Wakanda, and has to defeat him in order to secure his place on the throne. Wakanda is a rich nation, with its wealth coming from the fictional mineral vibranium.

T’Challa’s sister, Shuri, who is played by Letitia Wright, is the science wiz and designs and builds the technology that Black Panther needs, including a bulletproof suit, claws, and a bulletproof mask.

As a black American, it is amazing to finally see a black superhero, and a mostly all-black cast. That is not to say that we can not be proud of Captain America, Iron Man, or Deadpool to name a few. Black Panther is now my favorite superhero, not just because he is black, but also because of his armor, equipment, and leadership.

We have had black heroes before, like Lando Calrissian in ​The Empire Strikes Back ​and ​Return of the Jedi, ​and Mace Windu in episodes I, II, and III of the Star Wars franchise. Besides Nick Fury, the black community has never had a black superhero, much less a superhero with his own movie. Black Panther will return in Avengers: Infinity War, ​which is scheduled to be released on April 27th.

The black community finally has a superhero that they can identify with and be proud of.