The Black Panther (T'Challa) is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and penciller and co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966). The character was the first black superhero in mainstream American comics, debuting years before such early African-American superheroes as the Falcon (1969), Luke Cage (1972), Green Lantern John Stewart (1971) and Black Lightning (1977). Black Panther is depicted as the king and protector of Wakanda, a fictional African nation. Chadwick Boseman portrays Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War and will reprise the role in Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
