T’challa returns home to Wakanda after having kingship thrust upon him to find a troubled home nation, and challengers to his rule.

When Chadwick Boseman stepped in to the Black Panther suit in his debut in Civil War it was an important moment both in the cinematic landscape and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now Boseman is the focus of an entire film that shows some major growth in the Black Panther character and in Marvel’s ability to tell stories.

Of the many moving parts of Black Panther it is the characters and their stories that are arguably the most important. There is a delicate balance of power at play throughout the whole film and it rests on the shoulders of T’challa. Boseman plays the hero fantastically, showing clear growth and evolution in the character. He treads a line between powerful and patient that few Marvel actors pull off as convincingly. His quieter delivery makes his action scenes seem even more superhuman than usual but it’s his slower scenes in the gorgeous land of his ancestors that are the most memorable, offering quiet moments of peace in what is otherwise a busy and fast paced film.

However whilst Boseman’s hero is memorable it’s Micheal B Jordan’s Killmonger that comes out as the biggest surprise of the film. Jordan offers a very notable portrayal of a damaged villain. His final scenes are some of the most memorable that a Marvel antagonist has managed yet, adding a refreshing depth to an already deep character. Jordan’s performance makes the character but Killmonger is also important for the parallels that can be drawn from him to other black characters in super hero/action films. His character is one of many examples of social commentary throughout the film, commentary which elevates Black Panther above many of its Marvel peers.

The films has a very distinct style, whether it’s in the visuals or the sound design the authenticity of the culture that is being both created and portrayed is evident throughout. From a musical perspective the percussive motif mixes well with more typical Avengers instrumentation to make the films orchestral backdrop. Whilst in the visuals the mix of stunning art and set design makes for a vibrant setting that simultaneously fits in with and stands out from the Marvel franchises typical look. The only issue is that in key action scenes the VFX often feels to float-y to be believable, looking more like a fight between two Black Panther shaped jellies than T’challa and Killmonger themselves.

At first Black Panther is a very good popcorn flick with a good set up, likable characters and enjoyable cinematography. But as it adds more threads, characters, histories and motivations it begins to grow beyond it’s peers. The film, thanks to its narrative, begins to rise above its smaller, more basic elements to become something that none of the other Marvel films have yet managed.

Black Panther is powerful. Powerful because of it’s authentic cinematography and original score. Powerful because of it’s dedicated portrayals from a team of incredibly talented actors. Powerful because of the way it challenges expectations with brilliantly crafted characters and motivations. But most of all powerful because in a franchise of nearly 20 films it is the only Marvel film that tells a story that is more than a popcorn flick, Black panther is not afraid to deal with themes, stories and concepts that some of its audience may find challenging and for that reason it deserves a lot of respect. Is it a perfectly constructed film? Nope. Is it a great piece of cinema despite this? Absolutely.