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JackPMillerParticipantNo way it was going to be a first. It is a 5th round pick.
I do wonder what his salary is? And if he could restructure?
JackPMillerParticipantI could critique this, but I know Orlando Brown fell all the way to the late 5th round if lucky.
Deadpool
Some combine notes and thoughts
Im in the middle of a blizzard and am finishing up the combine. So I thought I would share some thoughts before Im busy digging out.
I will update with the CBs after I am finished with them. But some early winners were:
Josh Jackson running a 4.49
Jaire Alexander @ 5′-10″ 196 lbs running a 4.38 (i thought he was smaller then that)
Carlton Davis running a 4.53 (he still plays slower then that)
Fitzpatrick running a 4.46 @ 6′ 205 was very good.
Oliver @ 6′ 200 4.51 was good.
Justin Reid – 4.40 at 6′ 207 was nice
Davontae Harris measured and ran very wellSome CB losers early on:
Kam Kelly was slow 4.66
Tarvarus McFadden – showed why he had a bad year – 4.67 was not good. he’s losing money every day.
Kevin Tolliver didn’t run but he has the arm length of a 5′-9″ CB not 6′-2″…Maybe only interesting to me?As far as possible Rams targets:
OL:
Kolton Miller – LT – UCLA – He had himself a weekend. Tested out of his mind and looked smooth in drills. He was one of the guys I needed to see more of and I came away impressed. His sub 5 40 with a 6′-9″ 310 lb frame with a 1.67 10 yard split was impressive. 24 reps @ 6′-9″ showed strength and his 34″ arms are good for a LT.
Braden Smith OG – Auburn – as a middle round guard had a good weekend. Tested well but looked real smooth in drills.
James Daniels – OC – Iowa – looked very good in drills. With Price’s injury, he should be the top drafted OC.
Billy Price – OC – Ohio State – torn pec, will be ready by training camp, drops into the 2nd round IMO
Mike McGlinchy – LT – ND – Did what he needed to do IMO to remain in the 1st round.
Orlando Brown – fat, slow and was actually yelled at for lack of effort. RT only and I wouldn’t touch him until late day 2.LB:
Sam Hubbard – Let me get him out the way first. I just don’t see him as a standup OLB in a 3-4. Maybe in a run support roll like Barwin, but he isn’t getting home. I like him as a 4-3 DE like a poor man’s Chris Long.
Harold Landry – he measured in just fine and looked as smooth as anyone in drills. I was concerned about his size, he answered those questions. I like him as a top Rams target now that the Rams need an edge rusher.
Marcus Davenport – I think he is too raw to go top 10, but he is athletic as all get out and looked smooth in drills. I think he would work as a 3-4 Edge.
Dorance Armstrong – slower 40 time, but looked good in drills – I think a 2nd rounder.
Leighton Vander Esch – New leader in the clubhouse at ILB, unless you count Tremaine Edmunds ( I would) He was impressive in drills.
Roquan Smith – I think he ends up being a 4-3 Will or a 3-4 ILB. A tad undersized @ 6′-1″ 235.
Rashaad Evans – See Smith, Roquan. He was as good in drills as any LBer. Solidified a 1st round grade IMO.
Josh Sweat – man did he perform, makes you wonder why he was so pedestrian at FSU doesn’t it. – Day 2 pick.
Lorenzo Carter – He was lights out and I thought he was a 2nd to early 3rd round pick. I he did nothing to change that.
Josey jewell – Can be had in the 3rd or 4th round (so 3rd for the Rams)
Shaquem Griffin – Not a Rams target, but some 4-3 team is gonna get a heck of a 4-3 will. 1 note, his 4.38 was impressive, but you have to remember whose record he broke – Jon Alston, so 40 times re not everything.
Arden Key – measured in well, I am still leary of him.DL:
Vita Vea – tweaked hammy – no big deal. Top DT/NT in draft.
Da’Ron Payne – He was an animal out there with a sub 5 40 and looked great in drills.
Taven Bryan – Another outstanding combine performance. I liked late in the 1st. I said it before, if you want to move Brockers back inside, he is your DE.
Tim Settle – had a rough weekend. 3rd or 4th round steal.
Harrison Phillips – I had him higher on my top 5 pre-combine board then anyone. He justified his position. looked very good.
Breeland Speaks – He made some money IMO. Scheme flexible. 3-4 DE later day 2.TE:
Mike Gesicki – has me rethinking my position of Goedert as the top TE (not really) but he closed the gap. He’s a 2 round TE.
Hayden Hurst – also solidified his 2nd round status.
Mark Andrews – I like him – late 2nd early 3rd. had a decent showing.
Durham Smythe – Slowest TE that ran and short broad jump. Rough weekend. Day 3 for sure.RBs – If the Rams are serious about a RB – there should be a good one drop to them later in the draft. One guy that could provide a nice change of pace was Chase Edmonds – 5′-9″ 205 lbs – looked really athletic in the position drills. Caught the ball really well.
As I have repeated over and over – I do not get to gaga on the combine. I use it as a tool inmy toolbox. Its there to reinforce what I think I have seen or makes me go back and take a second look at someone, or makes me look at someone I overlooked.
JackPMillerParticipantWho says they will be going after players from Denver? What about other teams? I heard the Rams and CB Sam Shields are supposed to meet. He played in Green Bay.
March 7, 2018 at 11:17 pm in reply to: Here are the Rams' 2018 draft picks after trading Robert Quinn #83620JackPMillerParticipantif they could somehow trade up to get vander esch and then draft an edge rusher in the later rounds. their lb corps would be instantly transformed. they’d still need a second corner though.
We don’t need to trade up to get him. I feel we are not done with trading yet. Trader Les still has more up his sleeve. Just watch. Then, we’ll get LB Mason Foster for cheap. That might be the plan.
JackPMillerParticipantGood riddance, Mr. try and explain why you threw the damn flag douche bag.
As someone said on another board, “The Patriots are going to retire Hochuli’s jersey. 😂😂😂😂😂
JackPMillerParticipantJackPMillerParticipanthttps://theundefeated.com/features/what-is-the-state-of-the-black-athlete-illustrations/
What is the ‘State of the Black Athlete’?
The cultural resonance, political awakening and activation of the black athlete, as told in pictures
February 28, 2018Athletic success may get you through the door, but be mindful, once you get here: “Stick to sports.”
There has been an unspoken expectation and, more recently, an apparent insistence that athletes’ opinions and passions are to be kept quiet. But the cultural resonance, political awakening and activation of the black athlete has pushed back on this narrative.
We asked several artists of color to examine and interpret the current “state of the black athlete.” Here’s what they came up with.
Sam Adefé
I often find that no matter the sport, brothers in the game continuously have to prove themselves worthy of the pedestal they are heavily burdened with. I say brother because to me, every black athlete represents someone like myself — a black kid chasing his dreams — finding inspiration in the actions of the people already paving the way.
Represented here is Anthony Joshua’s raised clenched fist after he defeated Wladimir Klitschko. To the many black youths who happened to be watching that day, witnessing that gesture meant more than just a show of celebration. This gesture symbolizes a show of solidarity.
Adrian Brandon
My goal with this illustration is to address the commonalities between black professional athletes and the black victims of police violence — it highlights the incredible amount of responsibility black athletes have and the role sports fans play in the current wave of athlete activism.
The sprinter in the illustration is focused on the finish line, while his shadow represents the young black victims of police brutality, symbolizing the constant fear that all black men and women face in today’s society.
Both the sprinter and his shadow are running away — in the same direction, illustrating the chilling similarities between black professional athletes and the victims we see on the news.
The crowd supporting the runner changes from sports fans (right) to protesters/activists (left). This begs the question, who is the black athlete competing for? How has this wave of black athlete activism changed the mentalities of sports fans?
Brandon Breaux
I wanted to capture black athletes in a contemplative state. These competitors have or have had the ability to reach so many people — it’s a great responsibility, but can also be a great burden.
Athletes, in general, already have to deal with so much: unwanted attention, pressure, rumors, performance anxiety, and even more. Black athletes, have all that on top of feeling as though they aren’t 100 percent accepted in their own country.
Today’s current state of affairs feel special. I think it’s a time where the life of a black athlete/person is so much bigger than the self, and the athletes in my illustration represent the contemplation that comes with it.
Caitlin Cherry
John Urschel, a former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, retired in 2017 to pursue his studies as a doctoral candidate in mathematics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His retirement came suddenly, just two days after a study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) found nearly all former NFL players who donated their brains to science had signs of CTE.
It seemed the two were connected.
Urschel knows the all-too-real statistics that injury risk is high and the average NFL player’s career spans between two and five years.
He should inspire the next generation of would-be ballplayers in any professional sport that their studies in college are not supplementary. There is a life after the NFL. I appreciate him as a Renaissance man.
Chase Conley
What Huey P. Newton has taught me is that I have the power to change my condition, and it’s vital that we stand up against the unjust and fight for what we believe in, even if the cost is high. Until these players start worrying about the issues concerning the state of black people in this country and not about their paychecks, they are still a part of the problem. Yes, you may lose your job, but is that job more important than the condition of your people? Young black teenagers being gunned down in the street every other week? We all should have the courage to sacrifice for the greater good.
What would these leagues be without black people anyway?
Emmanuel Mdlalose
I likened the movement of sprinter Allyson Felix to when a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Representing Felix overcoming obstacles faced by a black woman, especially in the athletic world — just dominating. I am drawn to her composed personality while being able to be strong-willed at the same time. She really represents the metamorphosis of a butterfly — in all her beauty, swiftness, and, most importantly, freedom.
Kia Dyson
In a time where black bodies are on public display and seemingly viewed to hold no value, I have attempted to find a way to turn tragedies within the black community into works of art.
“Above All Things” represents the ability, and, more importantly, the necessity for women of color to go above and beyond in all we do just to receive fair recognition. The expectations are higher for us.
We don’t have the luxury of mediocrity when it comes to providing, performing or competing. So we use our excellence as a form of protest: a demonstration of strength, acceptance, womanhood and visibility.
Laci Jordan
The state of the black athlete is conflicted.
Athletes grow up simply loving the game. As they grow older, outside factors come into play that can inhibit that love: notoriety, fame, special treatment, money, etc. Players can also become public figures and role models. Black athletes are stuck between these two worlds.
As an athlete, you have the keys to success to take care of yourself and your family, but on the other end, you sacrifice your voice and ability to speak on anything political — you’re told to stick to the game. As a black athlete, you’re expected to enjoy your riches and fame in exchange for your voice, choices and ethics.
Pierre Bennu
This piece references the Afro-futurist interpretation of the slavery project in the Western Hemisphere as a centuries-long genetic experiment, as well as the Sankofa concept of looking backward and seeing the future.
In choosing materials to make up the image, I imagine the middle passage as a thrusting or throwing forward into the future of mass amounts of human capital. With the crown of shards, I seek to reference the toll that many professional sports take on the body and also the regal state of being at peak physical form.
Robert Generette III
The statement on the tape, “PLAY,” not only states a command but also commands attention. I wanted the art to speak to different sides of the argument: players who comply, players wanting to exercise their First Amendment rights, and fans for or against athletes’ choices.
In the illustration, a spotlight is placed on an ambiguous African-American athlete who is shirtless, which suggests he’s baring it all. For the athletes who comply with “shut up and play,” the red arrow symbolizes the potential for them to excel or “climb the ladder to success” in their sport. The athlete who complies thrives.
For the athletes wanting to exercise their First Amendment rights, the intense stare reflects the absurdity of being told to shut up and play. The athlete has the complex choice of raising one fist (in protest) or raising both fists (in victory). For the fans who are not affected by or disagree with the views of athletes, the sticker across the athlete’s mouth, in their opinion, should become an essential part of the uniform.
I want this illustration to beg the questions: Should you keep quiet and find contempt for living one’s dream? Or should you use your dream as a platform to speak for those whose voices go unheard at the expense of sacrificing one’s dream?
Ronald Wimberly
I asked myself about the political role of the black body within a racist, consumerist paradigm and how that plays out in sports. For this image I thought about how athletes may work through these very same questions through sports. From Muhammad Ali’s name change to the Black Power fists of the 1968 Olympic Games, to Colin Kaepernick’s act of taking a knee — we are given expressions, symbolic abstractions, symbols that challenge us to think. I think this is the most radical act: to be challenged to think, to ask questions. Explaining artwork is a trap.
Formally, the work is a dialogue with the works of Aaron Douglas and Tadanori Yokoo and the movements to which they belong.
Tiffany B. Chanel
“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” said Colin Kaepernick. In the face of explicit and implicit racism, everyday people rise selflessly to address social injustice. Among these people are African-American athletes, such as the ones in my painting, who use their public platform and their First Amendment right to solidify their purpose as change agents. Their primary goal is to rewrite the narrative of oppressed people and afford them a pathway to upward mobility.
Some may say we have come really far, but have we really? What would you say?
JackPMillerParticipantKobe Bryant won an Oscar, or was it an Academy Award, or are they the same thing? Still, he won an award, along with his MVPs and NBA title rings and such. I believe he is the first former NBA player to win one of those.
JackPMillerParticipantFox News is Trump TV. What ever Trump says Fox says it. Hell, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Trump family writes all of the Fox News stuff.
JackPMillerParticipanti am on board with left tackle as long as that player is the best available.
honestly. i think andrew whitworth is good for at least one more year. possibly two. so i’m not on board with drafting a left tackle for need. only if he is the best player available. the defense needs help right now. the linebacking crew is nothing right now. they could even use another corner.
i’m still for best available player.
If Wentworth goes down, then we are screwed. At least if we draft our future LT now, we can start him somewhere else, and if Whit does go down, we are prepared.
JackPMillerParticipantThere are a ton of talented 3/4 OLBs we can get after round 3. Darius Jackson of Jacksonville State, Chad Thomas of Miami(FL), and Marcell Frazier of Missouri are a few to name. Now is the time to think LT for our first round pick.
JackPMillerParticipantI was wondering if they are looking for trades for Tavon Austin and Mark Barron? Maybe there are guys we are looking to trade for the right price, but some are unreadable, like Donald, Goff, and Gurley.
JackPMillerParticipantKolton Miller still has game footage. That shows inconsistency in his play, and his footing. The guy I’m trying to find is Martinas Rankin. I like to see his combine stats. I would love to see him in horns. Rankin is the LOT from Mississippi State.
JackPMillerParticipantWhat is weird, we are going to have five 6th rounders. Something tells me, we may trade some of them.
February 28, 2018 at 9:24 pm in reply to: NFL expected to pass a rule that prevents another Josh McDaniels situation #83296JackPMillerParticipantI would like a rule that teams can’t hire any coaches until after the Super Bowl, unless you are hiring someone the Head Coach from your own staff.
JackPMillerParticipantI hope so. I want Trump impeached. I’m voting Kamala Harris in 2020. Just saying.
JackPMillerParticipantNot thrilled giving up another 2nd round pick. I believe we could have gotten away with giving the Chiefs two of our 6th rounders and a 7th rounder.
JackPMillerParticipantIf possible, I’d like to trade down, and pick up picks, especially if we can get a 2nd round pick and a 4th round pick. We need a LT.
February 24, 2018 at 10:05 pm in reply to: Schefter: “Rams finalizing trade with Chiefs for CB Marcus Peters #83132JackPMillerParticipantI think it’s interesting (and odd) that the Rams refused to let Quinn be part of the deal.
By trading Quinn you get out from under the contract of a fading player that has back issues. Sure, Quinn came on strong later in the year, but he’s still simply a pure speed guy. He hasn’t mastered any pass rush moves beyond beating the tackle off the ball.
And you know it’s just a matter of time until he gets hurt.
I like Quinn a lot but I can’t help but think they missed an opportunity.
Maybe Snead believes he could get a some good picks for Quinn. We never know what is in the mind of our GM.
February 23, 2018 at 1:42 pm in reply to: Schefter: “Rams finalizing trade with Chiefs for CB Marcus Peters #83034JackPMillerParticipantI believe we are giving up a mid or late round pick for him. I believe we are the only team willing to take a chance on him due to his attitude issues.
JackPMillerParticipantMakes me think. If we win a Super Bowl with Goff, how much will Goff’s contract be in 2020?
JackPMillerParticipantFarting Passenger Forces Plane To Make Emergency Landing
A fight broke out because the unnamed man couldn’t stop passing gas.Sometimes plane travel really stinks.
A flight from Dubai to Amsterdam had to make an emergency landing in Vienna after a fight broke out because one of the passengers wouldn’t stop breaking wind.
The fart-induced fracas happened Feb. 11 aboard Transavia Airlines Flight HV6902 when two men sitting next to an apparently very flatulent man raised a stink about his repeated gas attacks, according to Fox News.
When the alleged perpetrator didn’t stop, his disgusted seatmates reportedly complained to the airline crew, who apparently did nothing.
Instead, the captain issued a warning to the two complainants, accusing them of noisy and aggressive behavior and making threats, according to the NL Times.
When the freedom-from-flatulence fighters wouldn’t stop griping about their fellow passenger, a fight broke out on the plane, according to the Dutch language newspaper De Telegraaf.
The pilots then made an emergency stop in Vienna and removed the complainants, but apparently not the farting man. Two women sitting in the same row as the angry men were also forced off the plane as well.
All four people reportedly shared Dutch and Moroccan ancestry, but the two women claim they were simply sitting in the same row as the men involved with the incident.
The women are now taking the Dutch budget airline to court, according to the Metro.
“We had nothing to do with the whole disturbance. We distance ourselves from that. Do they sometimes think that all Moroccans cause problems? That’s why we do not let it sit,” one of the women said, according to De Telegraaf. ”We had no idea who these boys were, we just had the bad luck to be in the same row and we didn’t do anything.”
“All I will say is that the crew were really provocative and stirred things up,” she added.
None of the passengers kicked off the plane were arrested because they had not broken any Austrian laws. However, they have been banned from flying Transavia Airlines in the future.
HuffPost reached out to Transavia Airlines, which did not immediately respond. The airline did offer this statement to De Telegraaf that was translated by the NL Times:
Our crew must ensure a safe flight. If passengers pose a risk, they immediately intervene. Our people are trained for that. They know very well where the boundaries are. Transavia therefore stands squarely behind the cabin crew and the pilots.The airline has reportedly filed a police report about the incident in the Netherlands and said it was “open to a conversation with these women.”
JackPMillerParticipantI’m hoping we sign Kyle Fuller or some free agent CB
What price range do you see him coming in at?
Because I doubt the Rams can sign their own guys and also afford a frontline outside free agent.
3 years $18 million, $10 million guaranteed.
Of course I’m hoping we are letting go of Austin, Quinn, Barron, and Saffold. I’m hoping some team trades us a couple of second round picks for Saffold.
JackPMillerParticipantI’m hoping we sign Kyle Fuller or some free agent CB. Along with resigning Robey-Coleman and Joyner.
Plus there are going to be some good mid round CBs.
JackPMillerParticipant…yeah, i hate super-hero movies
That Wonder Woman movie was real good.
How do you feel about monster movies? Godzilla 2 is supposed to come out next year.
JackPMillerParticipantAustin yes, Watkins no. We gave up a second round pick in this draft to get him, and I feel like it would be a wasted pick if we let him walk after one season. I believe both teams can work out a deal that can make it work for both parties.
JackPMillerParticipantThis is a problem. The police officers that are working in the cities, don’t live in the city. They live in predominantly white suburban areas.
Police officers that do work in those suburban areas, see an African American or Latino will treat them differently then a white individual. It has to do with that most of the white people and white police officers are uncomfortable.
JackPMillerParticipantWhere is my post? I started a thread on this days ago, and somehow it is missing.
February 10, 2018 at 2:51 pm in reply to: Rams' Super Bowl chances could hinge on defense, not offense #82711JackPMillerParticipantThe OLine as well.
February 9, 2018 at 11:16 am in reply to: first reviewers for Marvel's "Black Panther" are pumped #82343JackPMillerParticipanthttps://io9.gizmodo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-black-panther-before-1759473628
Everything You Need To Know About Black Panther Before Marvel’s Civil War
James Whitbrook
2/17/16It’s going to be a good year for Marvel’s Black Panther. Not only is he getting an extremely promising new comic book series, in a few months he’s making his Marvel cinematic universe debut in Captain America: Civil War. If you’re not familiar with the superhero, king and Avenger, here’s your primer.
1) He was the first black superhero in mainstream comics.
Although there were black heroes before him—back when Marvel was still Timely Comics in the ’50s, it published stories about “Waku, Prince of the Bantu” in Jungle Tales—Black Panther is widely credited as the first black superhero to debut in mainstream comics. Although he first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 in April 1966, T’Challa wouldn’t actually star in his own comic book until 1973, when he headlined Jungle Action, another jungle-themed anthology that stretched back into Marvel’s history when it was Atlas Comics (the company went through multiple name changes in the ’40s and ’50s).
2) He actually predates the Black Panther party.
When Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were creating T’Challa, he almost had a radically different design, featuring no mask and a much more colorful costume. (As you can see, Lee also says he was going to be called Coal Tiger, although it plausible at least as likely that this is a joke on Lee’s part). The two eventually re-worked the design, and then six months after he debuted, Huey Newton formed the radical nationalist political organization called Black Panther Party later in 1966, known for its armed patrols to protest police brutality against African Americans.
People have long since assumed that Lee and Kirby were inspired by the Black Panther Party when creating Black Panther, but it was simply a coincidence—although the BPP’s rise though did briefly become a point of contention for Marvel. In 1972, as the Panthers reached the apex of their influence, T’Challa returned in Fantastic Four #119, calling himself Black Leopard as he pondered a return to the US, where his former name now had “political connotations.” The name change and acknowledgment of the Black Panther Party was never mentioned again.
3) He’s royalty.
T’Challa’s life is dominated by legacy. Not only is the Black Panther role a hereditary title passed down throughout his family (although rigorous mental and physical tests have to be passed before one can assume it), he’s also from the ruling family of the Panther Tribe, who govern the independent African nation of Wakanda. T’Challa earned both the right to rule and the Black Panther persona (as well as the powers that come with it, gained from eating a mysterious plant poisonous to many non-Wakandans) from his father, T’Chaka.
4) He rules over the most advanced country in the world.
As T’Challa is the Chief of the Panther tribe, you might have imagined that makes Wakanda some remote, tribal country. Nope. On Marvel’s Earth, Wakanda is one of the most important countries on the planet, a leader in scientific and technological advances. The country is one of a handful of places where vibranium (the near-indestructible metal that Captain America’s shield is made of) can befound, and the country’s isolationist nature has ensured Wakanda is decades ahead of the likes of the US when it comes to a technological standpoint.
5) He is essentially Marvel’s answer to Batman.
Black Panther and Bruce Wayne share a lot more in common than a fondness for pointy ears on their cowls. T’Challa is pretty much Bruce Wayne, except that the Black Panther also has a few superpowers. One of the smartest people in the world—he’s on a level with super geniuses like Tony Stark and Reed Richards— T’Challa is also incredibly skilled in armed and unarmed combat. He’s also at the peak of human strength and agility, on par with Captain America. This means…
6) Like Batman, he can beat down opponents who are much more powerful.
Black Panther always has a plan. He’s renowned as a master tactician, and between his supersmarts and his fighting skill, it means as a hero he can punch above his weight more often that not. He’s single-handedly defeated villains like Doctor Doom, and yes, he’s even gone up against teams of his fellow heroes and handed their super-butts to them easily. Like I said, his first ever appearance was to beat up the Fantastic Four, pretty much for shits and giggles.
7) The Civil War movie isn’t the first time someone’s tried to bring him out of comics.
Chadwick Boseman might be the first person to actually bring Black Panther to the big screen, but it’s not only not the first time an actor has brought the character to life. Djimon Hounsou voiced T’Challa in a 2010 animated series that ran on BET, and you can see the opening titles above. Additionally, Civil War isn’t even the first time someone’s tried to make a Black Panther movie. In fact, it’s happened twice before!
Wesley Snipes was linked to a potential Black Panther movie from Columbia pictures in the early ’90s, but plans fell through .Later, after Snipes went on to portray Marvel’s vampire hunter Blade, the project was again considered. We almost got a Snipes-starring Black Panther movie in 2004, instead of Blade Trinity.
8) One time, he took Daredevil’s job in Hell’s Kitchen to do some soul-searching.
This should tell you a lot about T’Challa’s character: when Matt Murdock was busy getting over the comically depressing event of being possessed by an actual demon after the Shadowland comic arc, T’Challa offered to step in as Hell’s Kitchen’s erstwhile defender while Daredevil was out of action.
T’Challa himself was going through a rough patch where he found himself spiritually broken after a battle with Doctor Doom. Adopting the persona of diner manager Mr. Okonowo, he set up shop in Hell’s Kitchen and spent his nights getting back to his roots as Black Panther… while savagely beating up bad guys. That’s Black Panther’s idea of a spiritual retreat, basically.
9) He’s been on a ton of superhero teams, but isn’t much of a team player.
Black Panther joined the Avengers in his second-ever appearance, and since then he’s not just remained one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but joined the likes of the Ultimates, the morally-grey Illuminati, and even briefly lead the Fantastic Four into battle.
But despite his reputation as a stalwart team member, Black Panther’s highest priority is to himself and the people of Wakanda. This isolated nature is maybe best captured in Chris Priest’s seminal run on the character, which began with an arc that saw Black Panther nonchalantly reveal that he only joined the Avengers so he could spy on them and see if they were a threat to his people. None of them had the heart to call him out on it though.
10) He totally kicked the KKK’s kollective asses.
Hot off the success of Don McGregor Panther’s Rage, one of Marvel’s first experimentations with self-contained story arcs, the very next story saw T’Challa travel to Georgia with his then-girlfriend, where he ended up fighting a white supremacist organization that wore conical hoods and were technically not the Klu Klux Klan but look at them and their pointy white hats. McGregor could only refer to them as “The Clan” in the actual comic, and it was incredibly controversial at the time, but yes, Marvel’s first black superhero beat up the KKK.
11) He and Storm were once the ultimate Marvel power couple.
T’Challa and Ororo Munroe are two of the most prominent black characters in Marvel’s roster, and their 2006 marriage was such a huge deal, Tony Stark and Steve Rogers took a break from fighting each other in the comic Civil War event to celebrate it.
Fans loved the characters together, but the marriage wouldn’t last. In a controversial move, their relationship was annulled in 2012 when Black Panther banned all mutants from Wakanda following an attack by a brainwashed Namor the Sub-Mariner. Many assumed the couple’s split was because there were plans underway to bring T’Challa to the Marvel’s cinematic universe, where he couldn’t bring his wife—Storm being part of Foz’s X-Men movie rights.
12) He’s currently helping solve the biggest problems to the Marvel Universe.
In the current “All-New, All-Different” update of Marvel’s comics, Black Panther stands as a member of the cosmic superteam the Ultimates alongside Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau, America Chavez, and Blue Marvel. The team works together to safeguard the Earth from cosmic threats, capable of doing so thanks to support from advanced Wakandan technology.
Their first story saw them manage to turn Galactus into a life-giving cosmic force rather than a planet-devourer, so they’re pretty dang good at what they do. Black Panther is a big part of that.
13) Spider-Man may have screwed with his Civil War role.
Although Civil War marks Black Panther’s movie debut, the recent addition of Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe might mean there’s a little less of him in the movie. When Civil War was first announced, Black Panther was touted as a hero who would be a neutral, a never-before-seen hero without links to Steve Rogers or Tony Stark that would be able to offer a fresh perspective on the conflict between the two former friends. This neutral party is pretty much the role Spider-Man filled in the original Civil War comic.
But when Sony made the deal to allow Marvel access to the webslinger, the Civil War scripted was altered to accommodate him—and it’s likely that Spidey is returning to his role as “hero trapped in the middle.” As such, it’s almost certain that Black Panther’s place in the story has been diminished, and he’s less integral to the movie’s plot. Hopefully that’s not the case, though, because it’s a long wait until Black Panther drops in 2018.
14) You really should be excited for his new comic.
If you were looking for a Black Panther comic to read up on before Civil War came out, there isn’t one at the moment—but there will be soon. It’s coming from a ridiculously exciting creative team, artist Brian Stelfreeze and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, this April.
Coates, best known for his work across dozens of publications as America’s foremost commentator on African-American culture in the modern day, will open the series with an arc that delves into T’Challa’s rule over Wakanda as the country comes under attack from superpowered terrorists. Given Coates’ background (this is his first writing gig for a comic), it’s hard not to look forward to what he can do with the legacy of a character like Black Panther. Just in time for you to pick up an issue or two before you go see Civil War!
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