Chadwick Forever!

 

Marvel had a problem. The star of its most successful solo superhero film passed away. 

His story was weaved throughout the team up films as well.

How did they handle it?  

Excellently as always.

Marvel has had no problem from the beginning (Rhodey, and Banner), and given the Harrison Ford as General Ross announcement continues to have no problem, recasting roles. However, Chadwick Boseman's iconic performance coupled with his tragic loss made that idea distasteful to many.

From his first appearance, he owned that role and clearly led his movie. While Black Panther had an outstanding supporting cast, none of them were 100% bankable as being able to own a film in the way he did.

Therefore, they put the same quality creative team on writing, directing, shooting and designing Wakanda Forever and had it be an ensemble piece filled with world building. 

The story was also used as a tribute to the man who became beloved in the role by both audiences and co-workers alike. 

Sometimes, we all need closure. 

Shuri, Ramonda, M'Baku, Okoye (and the rest of the Dora Milaje), Nakia, and Ross all came back, and did phenomenal work continuing and expanding the world we were introduced to in the first film. Additional growth came from bringing in Riri Williams (Ironheart).

On a much larger scale, the film gave us the introduction of Namor and all of his Aztec based kingdom of Talokan.  It was not Atlantis for two excellent reasons.

A) Aquaman already came out and there's no reason to bring that old pissing contest about who copied who into another medium.

B) Namor was one of the first characters in the comic book "Marvel Universe" (Marvel Comics issue #1 - 1939). However, in the MCU universe, a reason why no one has noticed a giant undersea kingdom for over a decade and a half of world shattering events was needed.

Major props to the Marvel gang for embracing the ridiculous side of comic books yet again, by making a character who (when wet) is in the same strength class as Hulk or Thor flit about on his little ankle wings.

Everyone's roles expanded from the first movie, and now, based on performance and audience reaction, Marvel can choose whose roles to expand, either as parts in other stories, or who to have take the lead in a new film or series.

While I'm pointing this out can we get some kind of vehicle focusing on  M'Baku. They've taken one of Marvel's worst characters in the comics, Man Ape, and made an awesome, funny, wise and powerful leader out of him. Give that man a costume and send him on an adventure please. 

Once again, unlike some other superhero universes I could mention, Marvel succeeds following a maxim of their parent company:

"Keep moving forward."