Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Black Panther #10! Although several Marvel Comics heroes are morally against killing their enemies under any circumstances, Black Panther is not one of them. He’s not a trigger-happy maniac like the Punisher, but he’s certainly not a guilt-ridden hero like Daredevil. Black Panther is a king before he is a superhero and will do anything to protect his nation, including killing an enemy when the situation demands it. And Black Panther’s latest death forever changed the continuity of Marvel’s Ultimate Universe.
In a preview for Ultimate Black Panther #10 by Bryan Hill and Carlos Nieto, Black Panther is chasing a man down the street, with explosions all around him, knocking the man to the ground. Black Panther stands over him, ready to end his life, but the man is not so quick to roll over and die. He pulls out an energy blade, powered by the seemingly divine energy coursing through his body. He goes to attack Black Panther, but T’Challa shatters the energy blade into pieces before thrusting his hand into the man’s chest, killing him. This man was Moon Knight.
To make the situation even tougher, Black Panther taunts Moon Knight during the attack. When Moon Knight is knocked down by the explosion, Black Panther taunts: “It seems like God has fallen”, and when Moon Knight generates his energy blade and lets out a battle cry, Black Panther continues: “God screams”. Finally, after Black Panther sinks his claws into Moon Knight’s chest, he offers one final insult: “And now God is dead”. Black Panther didn’t just want to kill Moon Knight, he wanted to destroy his godly reputation and he managed to do both.
Why Black Panther Killed Moon Knight in Ultimate Universe
Black Panther and Moon Knight have been rivals since the beginning of the Ultimate Universe
Without any context, the news that Black Panther just brutally murdered Moon Knight in the street is admittedly shocking. After all, these two are famous superheroes from Marvel Comics, so why is Black Panther treating his colleagues so poorly? Well, this isn’t Earth-616, where Black Panther and Moon Knight are on the same side (more or less), this is Earth-6160, where the two are mortal enemies of the highest order.
Moon Knight is not Marc Spector in the Ultimate Universe. Instead, the living embodiment of Khonshu himself took up the mantle, and this version of Moon Knight is as far from a hero as anyone could be. Khonshu (along with Ra) are the rulers of the African territory, divided by the Creator’s Council. Every corner of the world is accounted for, and this parallel government created by the Creator controls it all. That is, except Wakanda, making that nation one that is not under the control of Khonshu and Ra – or the Creator.
This is why Moon Knight radicalized Wakanda’s neighboring countries to go to war in his name. However, after T’Challa was forced to play Moon Knight’s game and send his country to war against those he wished no harm to, Black Panther decided to put an end to all of this once and for all. There was no reason to kill innocent people who were being manipulated by a power-hungry maniac with a god complex, since the maniac himself was the only one who really needed to die. So Black Panther made it happen, in a truly badass way.
How Moon Knight’s Death Changes the Ultimate Universe Forever
Black Panther’s actions have global repercussions (and that’s a good thing)
When Black Panther killed Moon Knight in this preview, he not only protected his nation (and, indeed, all of Africa) from a tyrannical villain, but he also disrupted the Creator’s carefully structured world order. Moon Knight was a member of the Maker’s Council – a prominent member. Now that he is gone, the power structure has been weakened, leaving the Council vulnerable to losing its African territory to Wakanda. Although he still doesn’t understand the extent of it, Black Panther’s murderous actions have actually made the entire world a better place.
Every member of the Creator’s Council is pure evil and needs to be eliminated without hesitation or remorse – and Black Panther did it in spades. Plus, this couldn’t have come at a better time, as other superheroes from the Ultimate Universe are also attacking the Council of Creators. The Ultimates recently challenged the Hulk and have been systematically attacking the Council’s pillars of power since the beginning of the story. Meanwhile, Spider-Man goes after the Kingpin, who controls the territory of New York City with the support of the Council.
None of the other heroes were able to kill a member of the Creator’s Council, none except Black Panther. In fact, Black Panther killed a major villain in Marvel’s Ultimate Universe, thus changing its continuity forever (and for the better).
Ultimate Black Panther #10 from Marvel Comics will be available on November 27, 2024.