Far from being the name of just one superhero character, Black Panther is the ceremonial title given to the chief of the Panther Tribe of the advanced (and fictional) African nation of Wakanda. As well as ruling the country and leading its main tribe, whoever holds the titles is also chief of the Wakandas (a collective of tribes within the nation). He is also the head of state and is used during diplomatic missions and visits. Although the title is hereditary, the would-be leader must still earn it by proving themselves worthy (by, for example defeating the person who currently holds the title and by defeating six of the country's finest warriors at once). The most prominent and well-known Black Panther - and the one you can expect to see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe - is T'Challa, but other examples include his father T'Chaka.
