Long ago, a huge meteorite made of a rare mineral now known as vibranium, crashed landed in Wakanda. The first king of Wakanda, Black Panther Bashenga, harnessed the mineral and used it to nurture his nation. Thousands of years later, under the ruling of Black Panther T‘Chaka, Wakanda's level of technological and economic achievements continued to excel far beyond those of the traditional world.
T'Chaka concealed Wakanda from the rest of world to prevent it from being manipulated by outsiders. His first wife, N'Yami, died while in labor with Prince T’Challa. Years later, a Dutch scientist named Ulysses Klaw found a way into Wakanda, created a vibranium sound-based weapon, and used it to kill King T’Chaka. Prince T’Challa, only a child at the time, managed to turn the sound weapon on Klaw, destroying his right hand. Klaw fled the country, exposed Wakanda to the outside world, and vowed revenge.
Prince T'Challa would later become king after defeating his uncle, King S'yan, in a once-a-year ritual that allowed anyone of Wakandan royalty to become king/queen by defeating the current ruler in hand-to-hand combat. Given the fact that the ruling Black Panther possessed enhanced and superhuman abilities from digesting the Wakandan Heart-shaped Herb, the chance of an average man defeating a Black Panther was slim. However, T’Challa succeeded. He digested the Heart-shaped Herb, which gave him superhuman senses and provided him with enhanced agility, strength, and over all physical capability.
