First ‘Black Panther’ Reactions Are In: ‘Elevates the Superhero Genre to New Heights

The social media embargo is up for those who saw advanced screenings of “Black Panther,” and many are praising the cast and director Ryan Coogle

The social media embargo for the next entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, “Black Panther,” is up, and critics who got a chance to see an advance screening of the movie are praising the movie, and in particular, Michael B. Jordan.

“Black Panther is the best Marvel Film ever made,” Heroic Hollywood’s Nate Brail tweeted. “Nothing compares to it. Michael B. Jordan and Letitia Wright steal the show. The visuals are incredible. Go see it.”

Jordan plays Eric Killmonger, the film’s primary villain, and according to critics, he’s a standout in the film. Other Marvel films have often been dinged by critics for having less-than-compelling bad guys, so it sounds like Jordan’s performance might already elevate “Black Panther” in the pantheon of Marvel movies.

Jordan’s performance wasn’t the only one praised, though. Critics also shouted out Letitia Wright, who plays protagonist T’Challa’s sister Shuri, and Danai Gurira, who plays T’Challa’s general Okoye.

Though the last movie in the MCU was “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Black Panther” picks up threads last dropped in 2016’s “Captain America: Civil War.” That movie introduced the titular hero Black Panther, played by Chadwick Boseman, who also is T’Challa, the king of a fictional African nation of Wakanda. Black Panther was at odds with Captain America (Chris Evans) during most of that movie, but at the end of it, he agreed to keep Cap’s buddy, Bucky Barnes, safe and secured in Wakanda.

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The story of “Black Panther” takes place sometime after “Civil War,” and largely in Wakanda. In that movie, T’Challa’s father was assassinated, leaving T’Challa to take up the mantle of king.

We know from trailers that Martin Freeman’s CIA Director Everett Ross, one of the guys who worked to hunt down Cap and his allies in “Civil War,” will pop up in this movie. We also know that one of Panther’s chief antagonists is Ulysses Klaue, played by Andy Serkis, who faced off against Captain America and the Avengers way back in 2015’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron.”

“Black Panther” is directed by Ryan Coogler and stars Michael B. Jordan, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Boseman and Serkis. The movie hits theaters on Feb. 16.