Marvel Just Made a White Black Panther — And Yep, People Are Talking
Wait... A White Black Panther?
So, here’s the thing that’s got Marvel fans buzzing again. In a recent comic from the Marvel Knights: The World To Come series, Marvel introduced a new Black Panther — and he’s white. Yeah, you read that right. His name’s Ketema, and he’s supposed to be the son of T’Challa, aka the original Black Panther.
Now obviously, people have questions. Because if T’Challa is Black, and his love interest Monica Lynne is also Black… then how does their son end up looking, well, white? That’s the big question that’s kind of confusing everyone. Some fans are speculating maybe there’s more to the story — like maybe he was adopted or there’s something else we don’t know yet. But for now, Marvel hasn’t explained it fully.
The Ryan Gosling Meme Is Back
Kevin Feige:
— MT (@MasterTainment) July 29, 2024
"Alright. We need some cameo ideas for #DeadpoolAndWolverine. Any suggestions?"
Me, If I Worked At Marvel:
"Ryan Gosling Black Panther."
Kevin Feige:
"No."
Me:
"But it could be a quick funny cameo before he's immediately killed by-"
Kevin Feige:
"No."
Me:
" :( " pic.twitter.com/81wxznXj3G
Honestly, as soon as people saw the new character, the old Ryan Gosling “White Black Panther” meme started making rounds again. If you’ve been on the internet long enough, you probably remember it — someone jokingly imagined Gosling in the Black Panther suit years ago, and it became one of those viral memes.
Well, now it’s back. Not because Gosling’s in the role or anything, but because Ketema kind of resembles him. He’s light-skinned, blonde-ish, and totally different from what people expect a Black Panther to look like. So naturally, the meme came back to life and flooded Twitter and Reddit, with fans half-joking and half-saying, “Marvel really went and did it.”
Fans Are Split — Some Curious, Some Not Happy
The fan reactions have been all over the place. Some people are kind of open to seeing where Marvel is going with this. They’re saying maybe it’s a bold move, and it might bring an unexpected story. Others? Not so happy. Many fans feel like this kind of rewrite takes away from what Black Panther stands for — a powerful, proud Black superhero who represents African heritage and legacy.
For a lot of people, it’s more than just about who wears the suit. It’s about what the character represents. So seeing someone who doesn’t look like he comes from Wakanda take up that identity has rubbed many the wrong way. And to be honest, Marvel hasn’t made it clear if this version of Ketema is here to stay or just part of a short arc.
What’s Next for Ketema and Marvel?
At this point, it’s not clear if Ketema will become a major part of the Marvel universe or just appear in a few issues. The comic didn’t give away a lot of backstory yet, so we’re still left wondering how and why he ended up with the Black Panther mantle. Maybe Marvel will explore it in upcoming issues, or maybe it’s all just part of a twist that’s not what it looks like right now.
Until then, fans are watching closely. Some are hopeful it’ll make sense with more context. Others are skeptical, thinking it’s just another shock move to stir attention. Either way, it’s got people talking — and that’s something Marvel seems pretty good at.
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