Appearing in "The Way It Began..!"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- Ulysses Klaw ⏵ (First appearance) (Appears in flashback)
- Klaw's henchmen (First appearance) (Main story and flashback)
Other Characters:
- Wakandan Army (Main story and flashback)
- Fred Astaire (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Doctor Doom (Victor von Doom) (Mentioned)
- Hugh Hefner (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Territorial patrolmen (First appearance)
- T'Chaka (First appearance; dies) (Only in flashback) (See chronology)
- Tarzan (John Clayton Jr.) (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Bomba the Jungle Boy (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Gods of Wakanda (Referenced)
- Bast (Referenced)
- Crystal (Crystalia Amaquelin) (Referenced)
- King Kong (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Dumbo (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Godzilla (Mentioned) (Topical Reference)
- Yancy Street Gang (Mentioned)
Races and Species:
- Humans (Main story and flashback)
- Gorillas (Mentioned)
- Elephants (Mentioned)
- Lions (Only in flashback)
- Gods (Mentioned)
- Cows (Referenced)
- Apes (Mentioned)
- Robots (Mentioned)
- Panthers (Mentioned)
Locations:
- Earth (Main story and flashback)
- Africa (Main story and flashback)
- Wakanda (Main story and flashback)
- Sacred Mound (First appearance)
- Techno Organic Jungle (Mentioned)
- Wakanda (Main story and flashback)
- India, Asia (Referenced)
- Africa (Main story and flashback)
- Heavens (Invoked)
Items:
- Panther Habit
- Fantastic Four Uniforms
- Wakandan Vibranium (First appearance as Wakandan Vibranium) (Main story and flashback)
- Heart-Shaped Herb (Mentioned)
- Force Glove (First appearance)
Synopsis for "The Way It Began..!"
Welcomed as guests of the Black Panther in Wakanda, the Black Panther explains that the nation of Wakanda is unique in that it is home of a rare metal known as Vibranium. Explaining that when explorer Ulysses Klaw came to Wakanda to steal the Vibranium to make weapons, he killed the Black Panther's father. In retribution, the young T'Challa stole one of these weapons and used it to destroy Klaw's camp and in the ensuing battle Klaw's right hand was rendered useless when T'Challa's weapon caused Klaw's pistol to explode in his hand.
When Klaw unleashes solid sound creatures created by a device, the Fantastic Four and Wyatt Wingfoot help Black Panther defend his nation. Tracking Klaw to his hide out, the Black Panther battles him and in the battle Klaw's base is destroyed and his solid sound creations vanish. Surviving and his solid sound device intact, Klaw crawls into the device hoping to gain the power necessary to crush the Black Panther once and for all.
Notes
Continuity Notes[]
- This is the first appearance of Wakandan Vibranium, a derivative known as Anti-Metal or Antarctic Vibranium was previously seen in Daredevil #13.
- The events surrounding the death of T'Challa's father T'Chaka was expanded upon in Black Panther (Vol. 3) #3.
- As revealed in Fantastic Four #56, Klaw emerges from the sound converter as a being comprised of living sound.
- The origins of the Black Panther and Ulysses Klaw in this story differ from the one told in Black Panther (Vol. 4) #3. The original account has also been recounted in Black Panther (Vol. 3) #5. At this time there is no explanation for the vastly different origin stories. However, one could presume that the alternate version presented in Black Panther Vol 4 3 was embellished, given that it was told by Ulysses Klaw.
Chronology Notes[]
Flashbacks in this story affect the chronology of the following characters. These chronologies ignore the alternate (and possibly false) origin told by Klaw in Black Panther Vol 4 3.
T'Challa:
- ⏴ Page 6, Panel 2-4 ⏵ - Young T'Challa
- ⏴ Page 7, Panel 3 ⏵ - T'Challa tries to stop Ulysses Klaw from shooting his father.
- ⏴ Page 8, Panel 1-5 ⏵ - T'Challa discovers his father was murdered and vows to avenge him.
- ⏴ Page 8, Panel 6 ⏵ - T'Challa tracks down Ulysses and his men.
- ⏴ Page 9, Panel 1-3 ⏵ - T'Challa uses one of Ulysses weapons to attack his father's murderer
- ⏴ Page 9, Panel 4 ⏵ - T'Challa takes aim at Ulysses.
- ⏴ Page 9, Panel 5 ⏵ - T'Challa injures Ulysses' hand.
T'Chaka:
- ⏴ Page 6, Panel 2-4 ⏵ - T'Chaka spends time with his son.
- ⏴ Page 8, Panel 3-4 ⏵ - T'Chaka is killed.
Ulysses Klaw:
- ⏴ Page 7, Panel 1-2 ⏵ - Ulysses comes to Wakanda seeking Vibranium
- ⏴ Page 7, Panel 3 ⏵ - T'Challa tries to stop Ulysses Klaw from shooting his father.
- ⏴ Page 8, Panel 1-5 ⏵ - T'Challa discovers his father was murdered and vows to avenge him.
- ⏴ Page 8, Panel 6 ⏵ - T'Challa tracks down Ulysses and his men.
- ⏴ Page 9, Panel 1-3 ⏵ - T'Challa uses one of Ulysses weapons to attack his father's murderer
- ⏴ Page 9, Panel 4 ⏵ - T'Challa takes aim at Ulysses.
- ⏴ Page 9, Panel 5 ⏵ - T'Challa injures Ulysses' hand.
Trivia
- At the bottom of page 20, Klaw is shown with a normal right hand, instead of the device which should be there.
- The fan page at the end of the issue includes a letter from a young Dennis O'Neil, who the editor notes had become an assistant at Marvel by this time.