Shuri (character)

Shuri is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr., first appearing in Black Panther vol. 4 #2 (May 2005).[1] Shuri is a princess of the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda. She is the daughter of T'Chaka and sister of T'Challa, who is the king of Wakanda and the Black Panther, an earned title and rank given to the paramount chief of the nation.

Shuri
Shuri on the variant cover of Black Panther #1
(May 2018).
Art by Stanley "Artgerm" Lau.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceBlack Panther #2 (May 2005)
Created byReginald Hudlin
John Romita Jr.
In-story information
Alter egoAja-Adanna
Place of originWakanda, Africa
Team affiliationsAvengers
Panther Cult
P.R.I.D.E
The Wakandan School for Alternative Studies
Notable aliasesGriot, Black Panther
Abilities
  • Animorphism
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Expert martial artist
  • Necromancy
  • Super speed
  • Stone skin
  • Use of high-tech equipment and weapons including vibranium uniform
  • Enhanced agility, durability, endurance, reflexes, senses, speed, stamina and strength

As T'Challa recovers from battle wounds, Shuri is tested and found suitable for the role of Black Panther and ruler of Wakanda. She possesses all the enhanced abilities given to the Black Panther via ancient Wakandan ritual, is a skilled martial artist, allowed access to extensive advanced technologies and wealth, and uses learned transmorphic capabilities.

Letitia Wright portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Publication history

Created by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr., Shuri first appeared in Black Panther (Vol. 4) #2 (May 2005). The character, originally written as a princess of Wakanda and a supporting character, trains to and eventually succeeds her older brother T'Challa, becoming the Black Panther and ruler of Wakanda in her own right.[2][3]

In 2018, Marvel published her first vital solo series titled SHURI, written by Nnedi Okorafor, a coming of age story which focused on Shuri dealing with her brother being absent from the throne while exploring her leadership and interests.[4]

On July 9, 2020 Marvel and its partners at Scholastic announced a new original graphic novel starring Shuri is on the way from New York Times bestselling author Rosanne A. Brown. Details regarding plot and artist have not yet been revealed.[5]

Fictional character biography

The princess of Wakanda, Shuri is T'Chaka's youngest child and only daughter. From a very young age, Shuri coveted the Black Panther mantle. She attempts to challenge the then-Black Panther, her uncle S'yan, for the mantle, only to discover that he had already been defeated by her older half-brother T'Challa.[6] During an attack on Wakanda by Klaw and a group of his mercenaries, she uses the Ebony Blade to defeat the Russian Radioactive Man, killing him in the process. Because she is shell-shocked by her first kill, T'Challa promises to train her in hand-to-hand combat, enabling her to fight on her own terms should she ever need to take his place as leader of Wakanda.[7]

While T'Challa and his wife Queen Ororo are away as members of the Fantastic Four, American battleships aligned with Erik Killmonger moved in on Wakanda. With their King away, Shuri and her advisers decide to sneak onto the ships in the night and incapacitate them. During the raid Shuri is captured by Killmonger's men and thrown in a cell. She challenges Killmonger himself to a fight but, seeing her as beneath him, he sends a group of his men to battle her. She defeats them easily and is broken out of her cell by Zuri, one of T'Challa's advisers.[8] After T'Challa and Ororo leave the Fantastic Four and return to Wakanda, the Skrulls invade Wakanda as a part of Secret Invasion. Shuri and her uncle S'yan lead most of the Wakandan army on an assault against the invading Skrulls, while T'Challa and Ororo battle their leaders.[9]

Prince Namor of Atlantis attempts to recruit T'Challa for the Cabal, a secret council of supervillains run by Doctor Doom. He rejects the offer but is attacked by the various members, and is left in a comatose state. Queen Ororo nominates Shuri as his successor, and she successfully completes the various trials, granting herself access to the heart-shaped herb. However, when she consumes the herb, the Wakandan Panther God does not imbue her with the powers of the Black Panther, instead rejecting her due to her lifelong jealousy of her brother's mantle and her arrogance in its presence.[2] When the powerful villain Morlun threatens to annihilate Wakanda entirely, Shuri takes on the Black Panther identity and outfit anyway, and manages to both save Wakanda and resurrect her comatose brother. Through her humble act of self-sacrifice she earns the mantle of the Black Panther, and the Panther God grants her its accompanying powers.[3]

When a now powerless T'Challa discovers that Doctor Doom infected many Wakandan officials and advisers with nanites, he goes off in search of a way to stop him, leaving Shuri as acting ruler of Wakanda.[10] Shuri tracks down and fights Namor, trying to discover for herself what part he played in her brother's injuries. Together, T'Challa and Shuri discover that the infected Wakandans, calling themselves the Desturi, intend to stage a revolution, seizing power in Wakanda for themselves.[11]

With Doctor Doom's Desturi successfully overthrowing the incumbent Wakandan government as seen in the Doomwar storyline, he finds himself with access to the world's largest supply of vibranium. Shuri and a re-powered T'Challa, who were able to avoid infection from Doom's nanites due to their heightened senses, remain the only Wakandans not under Doom's control. They team up with Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine of the X-Men to regain control in Wakanda. They succeed, but Doom steals a large portion of the vibranium. Shuri travels the globe, attempting to destroy Doom's criminal network and recover the stolen vibranium. Doom uses vibranium's inherent mystical qualities to take control of all processed vibranium on the planet, and Shuri and the other heroes attempt to fight and stop him. They succeed when T'Challa uses Doom's own mystical ploys against him, rendering all processed vibranium on the planet inert.[12]

With Wakanda struggling economically as seen in the "Klaws of the Panther" storyline, Shuri travels to the Savage Land to meet with Ka-Zar and obtain a stock of natural vibranium present there. They are attacked by Klaw, who wants the vibranium for his own use. They defeat him, but a volcanic eruption caused by his sound waves covers the vibranium and renders it unobtainable. She tracks down other stockpiles in Madripoor and New York, but Klaw already has A.I.M. troops excavating both sites and fights ensue. Klaw had created a monster called M.U.S.I.C. using the vibranium, and intended to place it on an AIM space station to enslave the world. With help from various other heroes, including Wolverine, Spider-Man and Black Widow, Shuri is able to thwart his scheme.[13]

Following Namor's attack on Wakanda during Avengers vs. X-Men, Shuri declares war on Atlantis, despite her brother's protests.[14] The Wakandans virtually level Atlantis, leaving only a few Atlantean survivors.[15] In retaliation for Shuri's assault on Atlantis, Namor lies to Thanos’ agents by falsely telling them that the Infinity Gems were located in Wakanda.[16] After Wakandan troops were forced to retreat from a counterattack by Thanos’ army, Shuri learns from the Dora Milaje that T’Challa was in contact with Namor during the Wakandan/Atlantean conflict and that he allowed Namor into the Necropolis several times during the conflict. As a result, Shuri banishes T’Challa from Wakanda's capital city.[17]

During the 2013 "Infinity" storyline, it is shown that Shuri is the head of the Wakandan School for Alternative Studies.[18]

When Wakanda is attacked by the Cabal during the "Time Runs Out" storyline, Shuri sacrifices herself by staying behind in order to hold off Proxima Midnight so T'Challa can escape.[19] Her death is later confirmed when her spirit is seen among those of the past Black Panthers.[20]

As part of Marvel's 2015 branding All-New, All-Different Marvel, T'Challa is shown trying to revive Shuri's body. Shuri's soul had transcended to the Djalia which was a spiritual plane consisting of the entire memories of Wakanda. There Shuri trained under the tutelage of a griot spirit who had taken the form of her mother, Ramonda. As they trained the griot spirit shared the memories of not only Wakanda but also before the nation had formed. With the help of Manifold, T'Challa was able combine his technology and Manifold's bending of reality to bring Shuri's soul back to the physical plane. After her revival Shuri had been imbued with the power similar to that of the griot spirit. She had then been informed of the events taking place in her absence including the rogue Dora Milaje and the rebellion led by Tetu and Zenzi. Shuri had then set out to confront the rogue Dora Milaje and convince them to join forces with T'Challa in order to stop the rebellion and the march against the Golden City, which she was successful in doing. With the united power of Shuri, T'Challa, Manifold, the Dora Milaje and the forces of Wakanda, Tetu was defeated although Zenzi had escaped. As the rebellion came to an end Shuri joined Wakanda's council that had been established by T'Challa.[21]

Powers and abilities

Before undergoing the trials to become the Black Panther, Shuri was an extensively trained martial artist.[9] After the trials, like the Black Panthers before her, Shuri consumed the heart-shaped herb; this granted her enhanced speed, agility, strength, endurance and senses. Her uniform is composed of vibranium.[3]

Through her training underneath the tutelage of a griot spirit while in the Djalia, Shuri had been imbued with new supernatural abilities that allowed her to transform her body into a flexible stone-like material which also granted her an enhanced durability that cannot be dented by normal gunfire or powerful directed energy weapons. Shuri is also capable of animorphism which allows her to transform herself and whoever she is in direct contact with into a flock of black birds[22] or a singular large dark bird.[23]

Shuri's training in the Djalia also imbued her with super-speed[24] and the ability to temporarily reanimate Wakandan corpses.[25] Reanimating Wakandan corpses takes a lot of energy from her, meaning she can do it for only a short period of time.

Other versions

A character similar to Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister T'Channa, appeared in the Marvel Mangaverse. She turned her back on the Wakandan people, instead becoming an apprentice and later the successor of Doctor Doom.[26]

Collected editions
Title Material collected Pages Date Published ISBN
Black Panther: The Deadliest of the Species Black Panther vol. 5, #1–6 144 2009 978-0785133421
Black Panther: Power Black Panther vol. 5, #7–12 144 2010 978-0785138617
Doomwar Doomwar #1–6 160 2011 978-0785147152
Black Panther: Doomwar Black Panther vol. 5, #7–12, Doomwar #1–6, Klaws of the Panther #1–4, Material from Age of Heroes #4 408 2017 978-1302904166
Shuri Vol. 1: The Search For Black Panther Shuri #1-5 113 2019-5-7 978-1302915230
Shuri, Vol. 2: 24/7 Vibranium Shuri #6-10 113 2019-9-24 978-1302918545
Shuri: Wakanda Forever Shuri #1-10 224 2020-12-8 978-1302923693

In other media

Television
  • Shuri appears in the Black Panther TV series, voiced by Kerry Washington.
  • Shuri appears in the Avengers Assemble animated series, voiced by Kimberly Brooks (in "The Eye of Agamotto" Pt. 1),[27] and by Daisy Lightfoot (for subsequent episodes).[28] She first appears in Avengers: Secret Wars as a minor character and next appears in Avengers: Black Panther's Quest with a supporting role.
  • Shuri appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda, voiced by Daisy Lightfoot.[29]
  • Shuri appears in Marvel Rising: Operation Shuri, voiced by Daisy Lightfoot.[30][31]

Film
Letitia Wright as Shuri in a character poster for the 2018 film Black Panther

Letitia Wright portrays Shuri in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She first appears in the 2018 film Black Panther[32] in which she is depicted as a technological genius who designs the outfits and weapons for her brother T'Challa/Black Panther. Wright reprises the role in Avengers: Infinity War,[33] in which she attempts to extract the Mind Stone from Vision without killing him during the battle between Thanos' armies and the Avengers, Black Panther, Dora Milaje and the Jabari Tribe. Promotional material confirms that Shuri was among those killed when Thanos eliminated half of the universe.[34] Wright again reprises the role in the 2019 sequel Avengers: Endgame, in which she is resurrected and participates in the final battle against Thanos.

She was set to return in the untitled sequel to Black Panther.[35] However, the death of Chadwick Boseman, who played T'Challa, in August 2020 has left the future of the franchise uncertain. Due to Shuri's stint as Black Panther in the comics and having her own solo series, some fans have suggested that Shuri become the next Black Panther but Marvel has not yet addressed these claims.

Video games

Novel

References
  1. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 328. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. Black Panther vol. 5, #1-2 (April - May 2009). Marvel Comics (New York).
  3. Black Panther vol. 5, #3-6 (June - September 2009). Marvel Comics (New York).
  4. Gustines, George Gene (July 17, 2018) "Comic Book Spinoff of Black Panther Will Focus on His Sister". The New York Times.
  5. "Marvel and Scholastic To Launch All-New Line Of Original Graphic Novels For Young Readers". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
  6. Black Panther vol. 4, #2 (May 2005). Marvel Comics.
  7. Black Panther vol. 4, #3-6 (June - Sept. 2005). Marvel Comics.
  8. Black Panther vol. 4, #26-27 (May - June 2007)
  9. Black Panther vol. 4, #39-41 (Sept. - Nov. 2008). Marvel Comics.
  10. Black Panther vol. 5, #7-8 (Oct. - Nov. 2009)
  11. Black Panther vol. 5, #9-12 (Dec. 2009 - Mar. 2010). Marvel Comics.
  12. Doomwar #1-6 (Apr. - Oct. 2010). Marvel Comics.
  13. Klaws of the Panther #1-4 (Dec. 2010 - Feb. 2011). Marvel Comics.
  14. New Avengers (vol. 3) #7. Marvel Comics.
  15. New Avengers Vol. 3 #8. Marvel. July 24, 2013.
  16. New Avengers Vol. 3 #9. Marvel Comics. August 28, 2013.
  17. New Avengers Vol. 3 #12. Marvel Comics. November 27, 2013.
  18. Infinity: The Hunt #1. Marvel Comics (New York).
  19. New Avengers (vol. 3) #24. Marvel Comics (New York).
  20. New Avengers (vol. 3) #29. Marvel Comics (New York).
  21. Black Panther (vol. 6) #1. Marvel Comics (New York).
  22. Black Panther #9 (Vol. 6 ed.). December 2016.
  23. Black Panther #11 (Vol 6. ed.). February 2017.
  24. Black Panther Vol.6 #13. April 2017.
  25. Black Panther Vol. 6 #15. July 2017.
  26. Marvel Mangaverse #3 (Aug. 2002). Marvel Comics.
  27. "The Eye of Agamotto Pt. 1". Avengers Assemble. Season 4. Episode 15. January 7, 2018. Disney XD.
  28. "Shadow of Atlantis Pt. 1". Avengers Assemble. Season 5. Episode 1. September 23, 2018. Disney XD.
  29. https://news.marvel.com/tv/89419/okoye-works-to-help-save-shuri-in-new-lego-marvel-super-heroes-black-panther-trouble-in-wakanda-short/
  30. "MARVEL RISING - More Specials Coming Soon to Marvel HQ!". YouTube. March 31, 2019.
  31. "Ghost-Spider, Shuri, Inferno, and America Chavez Headline Three New Animated 'Marvel Rising' Specials". Marvel. March 31, 2019.
  32. Anderson, Jenna (March 29, 2017). "Black Panther: Letitia Wright Confirmed as Shuri". Comicbook.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
  33. Wright, Letitia (25 August 2017). "Blessings super excited to be a part of this". Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  34. Ridgely, Charlie. "New 'Avengers: Endgame' Posters Confirm Shuri's Fate". Comicbook.com. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  35. Fleming Jr, Mike (November 8, 2018). "Hot Package: John Boyega, Letitia Wright To Star In Mike Cahill-Directed Sci-Fi 'Hold Back The Stars'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  36. "LEGO Marvel Avengers first DLC packs get release dates - GameZone". GameZone. 2016-03-17. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
  37. Susan Wokoma [@susan_wokoma] (November 16, 2017). "Become a Marvel Super Hero? Bucket list TICK (kind of) LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 out NOW! #Shuri @LEGOMarvelGame #LEGOMarvel2" (Tweet). Retrieved December 9, 2017 – via Twitter.
  38. https://news.marvel.com/games/84162/king-wakanda-rules-marvel-games/
  39. https://news.marvel.com/games/85100/piecing-together-marvel-puzzle-quest-shuri/
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