Every Sunday morning we showcase a classic comic cover, complete with compelling pop culture commentary, for your cordial contemplation. It’s the Classic Comic Cover Corner!
Fantastic Four #52 – July, 1966
Cover art by Jack Kirby

In Fantastic Four #52, a mysterious African chieftain called the Black Panther lures the FF to the scientifically advanced country of Wakanda, where he springs traps on the unsuspecting do-gooders and nearly defeats them. In fact, it’s the Human Torch’s Native American and non-super-powered friend, Wyatt Wingfoot (who has conveniently come along on the trip) who saves the day.

The Black Panther’s real name, T’Challa, was not used in Fantastic Four #52 nor #53 (where his identity is revealed), he was merely known as the son of T‘Chaka (his father.) Issue #53 is also where we first learn about that rare substance called “Vibranium.”
The Black Panther character coincidentally came into being in the same year as the Black Panther activist organization, but one had nothing to do with the other. In fact, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created their character months before the BPP took the moniker.
While it was great to see T’Challa in action in the Civil War trailer, Marvel is still holding out on showing us the guy everyone is anxiously waiting to see, Spider-Man. Nevertheless, the preview rocks and the next Cap movie is already looking like another Marvel masterpiece.
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More from Nerdvana:
- Classic Comic Cover Corner – Fantastic Four #51
- Classic Comic Cover Corner – Avengers #11
- Classic Comic Cover Corner – Avengers #1
- Classic Comic Cover Corner – Marvel Team-Up #9
- Captain America: Civil War – I could watch this all day
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