2 days ago
Marvel fans erupt after new Black Panther is revealed as white
Marvel fans are in uproar after the debut of a controversial new storyline that reimagines Black Panther's legacy—with a shocking twist: his successor appears to be white.
The premiere issue of Marvel Knights: The World To Come dropped Wednesday and introduced a new character named Ketema, whom T'Challa, prince of the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda and the original Black Panther, refers to as his son.
According to the comic reveals that T'Challa fathered Ketema with his early love interest Monica Lynne, a character pulled from earlier comic arcs.
But in a major shakeup, Ketema grows to resent his father and ultimately challenges him for the throne.
After defeating T'Challa in battle, Ketema removes his mask—only to reveal blond hair, blue eyes, and distinctly Caucasian features.
What if Ryan Gosling is coming into Marvel to play the Black Panther after all?
In a new comic, the all new Black Panther is white dude.
— meme bastard 🍕 (@mask_bastard) June 4, 2025
The reveal sent social media into meltdown.
'They looked at this and thought it was a good idea?' one user fumed.
Another quipped, 'Life is a horror movie in 2025.'
The character of T'Challa was famously portrayed by the late Chadwick Boseman in Marvel's Black Panther films, celebrated for honoring African culture and representation.
Now, fans are questioning whether the latest storyline undermines that legacy.
'Black Panther having a white son would be ridiculous,' one person posted, while another raged, 'Black Panther is WHITE! Marvel actually did the unthinkable and it's INSANE!'
Some even speculated about which actor might play the character in a future film.
'I guess he looks a little like Ryan Gosling,' one fan wrote.
Another added, 'What if Ryan Gosling is coming into Marvel to play the Black Panther after all?'
Meanwhile, others online were quick to clarify that the writer behind the new comic is Black.
'Lol stop letting these non-Black people touch Black Panther. They do silly stuff like this,'' one critic commented—prompting another to respond: 'The writer is Black.'
Indeed, Christopher Priest—who co-created Marvel Knights: The World To Come alongside Joe Quesada, Richard Isanove, and Richard Starkings—is widely recognized as the first Black writer-editor in mainstream comics.
He previously served as editor of Spider-Man in the mid-1980s and later penned major titles at DC, including Green Lantern.
