Black Panther’s Shuri Is A Villain In Ultimate Universe

One of Wakanda’s most notorious heroes betrays Black Panther and opens the gates to the kindgom’s destruction. Although every Black Panther across millennia has faced dangerous threats, the toughest duties tend to lie on T’Challa’s shoulders in almost every Marvel timeline. Marvel’s second Ultimate universe, Earth-6160, is no exception, as T’Challa learns that Wakanda is on the verge of collapse.

The evil Progenitor that embodies vibranium is virtually impossible to defeat by regular means. As the panther goddess Bast reveals, T’Challa must ascend to a higher plane of consciousness in order to save his kingdom. And even still, Black Panther likely won’t avoid a catastrophe, but instead assist in guiding Wakanda through a drastic transformation.

T’Challa only learns the details of Wakanda’s true origins and the inevitable future of his kingdom until Ultimate Black Panther #20. Meanwhile, one of Black Panther’s closest allies possessed this knowledge long before him.

Shuri Betrayed T’Chaka & T’Challa To Find The Truth About Wakanda

Ultimate Black Panther #21; Written by Bryan Edward Hill; Art by Carlos Nieto

In Ultimate Black Panther #21, Shuri and Killmonger lead Okoye to an underground cave, where they reveal Wakanda’s true foundations. Built with unknown materials, an ancient city hid under Wakanda for eons, ready to return after Wakanda collapses. Shuri not only reveals to Okoye that she learned about Wakanda’s origins before T’Challa embarked on his own quest for truth, but also that she allowed her own father to die in order to unveil it.

Wakanda is bound to die in order to return to its secret roots. T’Chaka, the Vodu-Khan, and Ultimate Moon Knight knew it, but none of them found it favorable to reveal the kindgom’s inescapable fate. T’Challa also spent too long doubting his own suspicions before he took action. Hence, Shuri fast-tracked T’Chaka’s death and T’Challa’s brutal spiritual expedition to have a chance at gaining control of the situation.

Wakanda Is Fighting A Losing Battle

Black Panther’s Kindgom Is Built On A Lie

Shuri may have made some hard decisions to understand the Progenitor’s plans and Wakanda’s destiny, but there’s little she can do to change the future. Bast herself confirms that Wakanda never really owned or controlled vibranium. While the metal turned Wakanda into a paradise, it came with a cost. Vibranium would eventually awaken and claim all the favors it has made.

With T’Challa finally accepting the truth and becoming one with the Black Panther, there’s a small chance that Wakanda can survive, spiritually, through the end of its reign. Wakandans may need to give up their scientific advancements and all other benefits vibranium has granted them for ages. The sooner they realize this, the better their chances to adapt.

While Shuri betrayed T’Chaka and T’Challa, T’Challa and Okoye are likely to forgive her soon. Brushing aside the Progenitor’s arrival as an external threat and ignoring the idea of Wakanda having different origins would only make the kingdom’s downfall a worse experience. It was only a matter of time until a sacrifice had to be made.

Ultimate Black Panther #21 is available from Marvel Comics.