Black Panther is the most exciting hero to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe in years

"Captain America: Civil War" is a triumph in many ways. Perhaps the best part about it is that the two central heroes, Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), are far from the center of attention.

Vision (Paul Bettany) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) get a chance to shine even more than in "Age of Ultron." Meanwhile, Spider-Man steals every scene he is in. However, this is far from the first time he has been in a movie.

The biggest standout in "Civil War" is a character making his big screen debut: Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman).

From this point forward, this point contains some major spoilers for "Captain America: Civil War." Don't read any further if you don't want some major plot points for "Civil War" revealed.

Who is Black Panther?

Black Panther, also known as T'Challa, is the prince of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. Black Panther was a major landmark when he was first created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, as he was the first black superhero in mainstream American comics. His first appearance onscreen, exactly 50 years after his 1966 comic debut, is long overdue and very welcome.

His cinematic debut feels natural

Marvel

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is big and growing bigger by the year. The last few installments have introduced a slew of new characters. Some past character debuts have felt like brief cameos or even fan service. Black Panther, meanwhile, announced that he was here to stay.

In "Civil War," he is given a full, moving, and inspiring story arc. He is introduced early on in the film at a UN meeting and doesn't leave until the movie feels like it is ready with him. It does justice for fans and creates a strong introduction for more casual viewers who might not know much about him.

Clearly, directors Anthony and Joe Russo invested a lot of time in getting this character right. They even used a South African language — Xhosa — for him.

This guy can fight

Black Panther is great for the pure and simple reason that it is a joy to watch him in action. Whether he is leaping over cars or bearing his claws, Black Panther doesn't need a technologically advanced suit or a shield to stay in the fight. 

Just watch his fight with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan):

Marvel

And watch him leap through traffic and take down a motorcycle:

Marvel

He is the moral center of the movie

Marvel

Watching Iron Man and Captain America duke it out leaves a hole for someone to step in as the true hero of "Civil War." I believe that hero is Black Panther.

After King T'Chaka of Wakanda is killed during a bombing at the UN meeting for superhero registration, T'Challa is left craving revenge over the death of his father. He spends the entire movie seeking revenge on Bucky, who he believes set off the bomb. However, when Black Panther's moment to get revenge finally comes, he realizes that he has fallen victim to the vicious cycle of revenge (he is not the only one in "Civil War" seeking vengeance). It is perhaps the most morally good thing to be done in a movie where it is purposefully impossible to pick sides.

Recently, Birth.Movies.Death wrote an excellent piece about the way that both "Man of Steel" and "Batman v. Superman" did no justice to Superman. It argues that it strips him of his essential goodness. Others believed that Captain America has managed to fill this role onscreen. I agree with this. However, in a movie where Captain America's ideals are morally ambiguous, Black Panther manages to fill some of that role.

What's next for Black Panther?

Black Panther has an exciting future ahead of him. His first standalone movie is set for release on July 6, 2018. It will be directed by Ryan Coogler who last directed Rocky sequel "Creed" and brought a refreshing and exciting new eye to an aging franchise. He proved that you can make an entertaining mainstream movie and still go deep on character development. Black Panther is already great, and he has so much further to go on the big screen.

"Captain America: Civil War" is now playing in theaters. You can explore Wakanda further in "Black Panther (2016) #1."

NOW WATCH: Some amazing stunt work went into bringing 'Captain America: Civil War' to life