Marvel’s long-anticipated film “Black Panther” arrived on the world stage this week. Black Panther, the first known superhero of African descent, was introduced to readers of the “Fantastic Four” in July 1966.

In the original Black Panther story, T’Challa (also called the Black Panther) is the king of Wakanda, and he owns a mine containing the most powerful metal on Earth, vibranium. T’Challa invites the Fantastic Four to Wakanda so he can check out their technology. He then challenges each of them to a fight and beats them one by one. However, he did not count on the Human Torch’s friend Wyatt Wingfoot, who saves the Fantastic Four from the Black Panther’s traps.

After this, it is revealed that the Black Panther is, in fact, a good guy, and we learn his back-story. For hundreds of years, his ancestors lived in Wakanda, and his father, King T’Chaka, was the protector of his lands. A bad guy named Klaw came to Wakanda with his own weapons to steal the vibranium, and he killed King T’Chaka. Even though T’Challa was still a child, he got hold of Klaw’s weapons and drove him away. He then got his superpowers from a special plant, and gained the panther’s agility, strength, and heightened senses. His costume is made of vibranium.