Matt Kennedy/Marvel Studios-Disney

By Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Hey superhero movie lovers, shake off that malaise; arguably the most anticipated film of 2018 so far — Marvel's star-studded "Black Panther" — lives up to the hype as one of the most daring and culturally significant films in the genre's history, shining where so many other films in this category have fallen flat.

An ascendant director works masterfully with his groundbreaking cast — almost entirely African-American, breaking the whitewashed superhero mold — and is bolstered by excellent and previously untapped source material. All signs point to the latest episode in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, released worldwide Friday, is on its way to becoming a critical and commercial smash hit.

But where does it rank in the immense Marvel landscape? Is it better than the fan-lauded "Captain America" films? What about the incredible first "Avengers" epic? Let's discuss why it could be considered one of the best films Marvel's created so far.

Don't Edit

Marvel's villain problem solved

A common criticism of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been its struggle to create worthy and compelling villains to challenge the films' heralded heroes. This trend has been bucked somewhat in recent flicks — Michael Keatons’ Vulture in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" and Hela from "Thor: Ragnarok," played well by Cate Blanchett — and "Black Panther" continues the upward trajectory.

Erik Killmonger is the primary villain, and Newark native Michael B. Jordan is stellar in the role. This goes beyond the "Creed" and "Fruitvale Station" star’s charm — it’s the character’s motivation and emotional depth that makes him one of the best characters in the MCU. His origin is heart-wrenching, and plays into his motivation to take the Wakandan throne — which is complex and nuanced enough to have you wondering which side you should really be rooting for.

Jordan is both charismatic and menacing in this role, delivering a chilling monologue when the full depth of his journey comes to light. The best villains are those that don’t see themselves as the bad guy, but rather as doing the right thing, and Jordan hits that note perfectly.

Don't Edit

The political message

"Black Panther" is as much a political thriller as it is a superhero movie, and those politics go beyond the fictional African nation of Wakanda, where the movie takes place. Some films may bury their head in the political sand and ignore the current volatile climate, but this one embraces it.

Wakanda is the most technologically advanced country on the planet, and could use its resources to provide aid to the rest of the world. It has to this point remained isolated and in the shadows, insistent that intervening in the global fray could jeopardize its way of life and make the rest of the world’s problems its own.

The discussion eventually centers on if Wakanda should accept refugees. Sound familiar? There are times where it’s hard to tell if they’re talking about Wakanda or America, the actual most powerful nation on Earth with a similar ability to make a global impact.

And even though production on this movie started years beforefor Donald Trump was elected president, there are lines of dialogue seemingly directed at the polarizing commander in chief; a quote about building bridges instead of barriers is particularly poignant.

Don't Edit

The female empowerment

There's no damsel in distress for Black Panther to save in this film. In fact, his strongest allies are women.

Black Panther may be the king of Wakanda, but he has the Dora Milaje, an all-female army at his side, led by the outstanding and utterly badass Danai Gurira of "The Walking Dead" zombie-killer fame. This could be a breakout film for Letitia Wright, who plays Black Panther's tech genius sister, Shuri. She's sassy and precocious while happening to be the smartest person in the world.

It’s easy for superhero movies to focus on the superhero, and there have been times when Marvel has relied too heavily on star power to carry a film. It’s refreshing that they didn’t make that mistake here. Boseman spends much more time as T’Challa than Black Panther, and there’s plenty going on beyond Boseman that gives the film more depth and allows the ensemble cast to shine and develop.

Don't Edit

The stellar soundtrack/score

Marvel has been criticized at times for an inefficient use of music, namely its hero's themes. The Black Panther theme is used scarcely, but still leaves a major impression because it typically comes in a groundbreaking moment for the character. Ludwig Göransson composed the film's score, and the simple, powerful theme goes well with the tone of the film, striking a regal and stoic chord that will undoubtedly get stuck in your head. Maybe more impressive than that is the film's mix of traditional African music with booming hip-hop beats. Some films have tried similar moves with mixed results — Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained" comes to mind — but it works beautifully in this instance.

And it doesn't hurt that Kendrick Lamar, arguably the hottest rapper in the game, curated and produced an album for the film featuring three hit songs and some of the biggest names in hip hop — and it's an absolute banger. Good songs have come out of Marvel movies (nothing but love for Dashboard Confessional's "Vindicated" from Spider-Man 2) but this is a new level, with two legitimate pop smash hits. "All The Stars," may have the most mass appeal, but "Pray For Me" featuring The Weeknd is gaining on it.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

The cultural significance

"Black Panther" is projected to destroy at the box office, reminding Hollywood that a black-lead cast can not only carry a culturally significant film but a total commercial blockbuster to boot.

And maybe it's contrived to mention at this point but it's true — this has been a long time coming.

Black Panther, aside from being culturally significant, is one of the most important super heroes in all of comic book lore. This movie should have come out years ago. We’ve seen dozens of superhero movies over the past 30 years or so — what took us so long?

In fairness, Don Cheadle is a mainstay as War Machine, Anthony Mackie’s Falcon played a major role in the last two Captain America movies, Luke Cage had his own series on Netflix, and DC featured Cyborg in last fall’s "Justice League."

Still, it's about freaking time.

Don't Edit

Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

The amazing ensemble cast

There are ensemble casts, and then there’s the roster for "Black Panther," which almost feels like it made a point to fit every well-regarded black actor in Hollywood into the movie. Chadwick Boseman from "42" and "Get On Up"; Michael B. Jordan from "Creed" and Fruitvale Station"; Lupita Nyong'o of "12 Years a Slave" fame; "Get Out" star Daniel Kaluuya; legends like Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker. Even "This Is Us" television star Sterling K. Brown even makes a surprise appearance. The cast essentially became a celebration of African-American cinema, and it's the result is genuinely stunning.

Don't Edit

The independence from rest of the MCU

So, there are a ton of Marvel movies. This is the 18th film in the MCU, and to get the full effect it’s best to have seen all of them – a massive undertaking if you're starting from scratch. Some movies will leave you adrift in Stark Industries jargon if you haven’t seen their predecessors.

But the true beauty of "Black Panther" and its plot is a casual fan can still completely understand and thoroughly enjoy the film not having seen any other Marvel movies. Chadwick Boseman's character was seamlessly introduced in "Captain America: Civil War," playing a major role and the events of that film set this movie in motion. But "Black Panther" does an excellent job of flashing back to fill you in without slowing down the pacing or making it feel like retread.

Don't Edit

Wakanda forever

New York is the greatest city in the world and all, but we’ve seen enough of it in comic book movies. Part of what makes Black Panther such an incredible character is the fact that he resides in Wakanda, which juxtaposes natural African beauty with sleek and sophisticated technology powered by vibranium, the rarest and most powerful metal on the planet.

The film’s scenery is stunning, with Coogler's direction and Rachel Morrison's cinematography creating a backdrop for battle unlike anything seen in the MCU before. Some of the greatest moments of the film are the traditional Wakandan tribal rituals, not only because they’re captivating and visually appealing but because they give the story a completely different ethos than any in paper comics.

Don't Edit

No third act letdown

Marvel has a history of films with great introductions and solid bridges that lead to disappointments. The final act has been a struggle at times, with the films unable to deliver on the promise the first two parts build and bring the film to a satisfying conclusion. But the third act of Black Panther was not only visually brilliant, but immensely satisfying with the entire conflict coming to a front and nearly every character getting involved. The action builds on itself and rises to an exhilarating crescendo, with battle taking place on multiple fronts making some of the best set pieces of the film.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. Find NJ.com on Facebook.