Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Black Panther #12
In the latest issue of Marvel Comics' Black Panther has been officially kicked out the Avengers.
In the new Black Panther #12 from John Ridley and Germán Peralta, T'Challa discovers that the recent destabilization of Wakanda's security and the takeover of the world's key digital data centers have all come from the same group of "terrorists" seeking to force world peace. Surprisingly, T'Challa discovers that they're being led by Jhai, his friend and one of his secret sleeper assassins whom he thought had been killed. Instead, Jhai faked his death to bring about this entire series of events, positioning T'Challa (whom he still sees as king) as ruler of the world and eventually the universe once they integrate with the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. However, Jhai has also made use of Black Panther's "Killswitch" protocols, using the secret data T'Challa collected on the Avengers to effectively counter them with ease. Having no other choice, Black Panther reveals these protocols to Earth's Mightiest Heroes, prompting Captain America to kick T'Challa off the team due to the massive lack of trust and betrayal. As such, these protocols absolutely mirror Batman's Justice League contingencies first seen in DC's Tower of Babel storyline.
If Black Panther Wasn't Marvel's Batman Before (He Is Now)
While Batman's contingencies were detailed plans to kill the Justice League, it's interesting that Black Panther also reveals that "Killswitch" goes further, collecting data that can help replicate the powers and abilities of his fellow Avengers as well. While this is something that did help Earth's Mightiest Heroes in recent issues, those same protocols could just as easily be used to be the team's undoing. It's all part of Black Panther's paranoid preparations to defend his nation under any circumstance, even one where Wakanda is in danger from the Avengers. That level of calculated paranoia definitely puts him on the same level as Bruce Wayne.
It's also worth noting that Batman's Justice League contingencies have continued to be a sore subject in the DC Universe even though Tower of Babel was published way back in 2000. As seen in recent issues of Chip Zdarksy and Jorge Jimenez's current Batman run, Batman's contingency for himself was accidentally activated, a deadly AI patterned after Batman himself named Failsafe programmed to destroy Bruce if he ever went too far in his crusade and killed. Not only was the robot able to outthink the Dark Knight, but it also had access to all the Justice League contingencies, meaning there was little his fellow heroes could do to help him.
Similarly, "Killswitch" could very well become a major wedge between Black Panther and the Avengers for years to come. Having lost his crown and his team, Black Panther is seen recruiting the few allies he has left to stop Jhai by the issue's end, never wanting to rule the world and universe that Jhai is offering. At any rate, it's evident that Black Panther has become the true Batman of the Marvel Universe. Black Panther #12 is on sale now from Marvel Comics.
