In Memoriam: Marvel Names Helicarrier “Boseman”
“Death is just a different kind of journey…to the land that I am king of.” – T’Challa, Secret Wars #7
It was just last year that the world was shocked by the death of Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman. The actor was loved for his work both on and off the big screen, including his performance as King T’Challa (A.K.A., Black Panther) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Five months later, Marvel continues to find new ways to pay tribute to the actor.
Avengers #41: “This is the Wakandan helicarrier Boseman, on patrol.”
In the most recent Avengers #41, released on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021, by Jason Aaron, Javier Garrón, David Curiel, and Cory Petit, Marvel Comics provided a memorial to the late Boseman by naming a helicarrier after him.
In Avengers #41, readers can see on one panel the Wakandan helicarrier named “Boseman.” You can see the specific panel for yourself below:
Boseman Helicarrier from Avengers #41. Photo: Marvel Comics
The Avengers tribute is only the most recent memorial to the late Black Panther actor undertaken by Marvel.
Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Boseman Tribute
In September 2020, Marvel Comics memorialized Boseman with a series of tribute covers.
Inside each of these issues was a tribute written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and illustrated by Brian Stelfreeze, the creative team behind the superb Black Panther run, which began with the A Nation Under Our Feet arc in 2018. If you want to read the full memorial written by Coates, then head over to Bleeding Cool where the entire essay is currently posted.
Photo: Marvel Comics
That current T’Challa series will conclude with Black Panther #25, which will be released in April 2021, ending the acclaimed “Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda” storyline.
And it isn’t just on the page that Marvel has memorialized the late Boseman, either. Boseman’s Hollywood collegues have commissioned memorials to the actor who played T’Challa, which appear on Disney+ and at Downtown Disney.
Marvel Studios Updates Black Panther Title Logo
On Disney+, 2019’s Black Panther now includes an updated Marvel Studios title logo, featuring Boseman in the titular role, along with bits of the script that have significant lines uttered by T’Challa. For example: “In times of crisis, the wise build bridges, while foolish men build barriers,” and “Wakanda Forever.”
Photo: Marvel Studios/La Noticia
Also available for viewing on Disney+ is a short tribute video to Boseman that initially aired on ABC.
Black Panther Mural at Downtown Disney
In addition to these in-universe tributes, Disney unveiled a touching tribute to Boseman in a mural at Downtown Disney, located just outside Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The beautiful mural by former Disney Imagineer Nikkolas Smith shows Boseman doing the Wakanda salute to a young child in a hospital gown, who is also wearing a Black Panther mask.
Chadwick Boseman tribute mural at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, California. Photo: NIKKOLAS SMITH/INSTAGRAM
What’s your favorite homage to Boseman? Have you had a chance to re-watch Black Panther on Disney+ since Marvel Studios added the new opening sequence?
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[…] one of the helicarriers in the Marvel Comics universe was named Boseman, and the opening title sequence for Black Panther on Disney+ was updated to serve as a tribute to […]
[…] our word for it, you can go see for yourself on Disney+, where you can also enjoy a new intro that pays homage to the late Chadwick […]