Recap / The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes! S1 E11 "Panther's Quest"

Written by Paul Giacoppo

The Avengers are reviewing security footage from the attack on the Mansion and Captain America identifies the man in black that saved his life. As we already know, but they are just finding out, the man used highly advanced technology to bypass the Mansion's security systems and... he is now attacking the Mansion. The Black Panther manages to hold his own against all of the Avengers but eventually stands down, stating that he was just testing them. After he formally introduces himself, T'Challa asks for their help overthrowing the Man-Ape, who is now king of Wakanda and, as such, will be well-defended by the Wakandan people. Captain America objects immediately, citing the principle of self-determination.

Captain America: If your people are following this Man-Ape of their own free will, that's the end of the story. That's what the people want.
Black Panther: You do not understand. The people are the problem.

Since Man-Ape won the throne in combat, tradition dictates that the people follow him even if they know his rule will be bad for Wakanda and for the world as a whole, and Black Panther warns them to make no mistake — his rule will be bad for the world. He helpfully supplies further evidence of this by showing the latest satellite photos from the previously undetectable Wakanda where HYDRA has begun mining the country's vast deposit of Vibranium under the supervision of the Grim Reaper and Ulysses Klaw. The Avengers need no further convincing.

Black Panther plots out a course through Wakandan airspace that will avoid most of her air defenses but Iron Man chooses to ignore it, on account of the fact that the quinjet has the latest, greatest stealth technology. It is promptly shot down by the even more advanced Wakandan military. The team regroups on the jungle floor below, but Black Panther heads off to confront Man-Ape himself. Iron Man sends Captain America to watch his back, even though the rest of the team makes it clear that this is probably not a good idea. Iron Man is confident that things will work out since he is a veteran when it comes to fighting against HYDRA and the Wakandan Army shouldn't be much of a problem.

Well, aside from the Vibranium-tipped exploding spears. Conveniently forgetting how he was recently out-teched by Wakandan defenses, Iron Man finds that he has gotten a little more than he bargained for.

Black Panther slips into Man-Ape's court with ease and challenges him for the throne. M'Baku does not feel the need to dirty his hands and sends his personal guards against T'Challa. The Avengers overcome the Wakandans after a difficult battle and proceed to attack HYDRA's mining operation but Klaw reveals that the vibrations from their attacks will cause the Vibranium to explode. Grim Reaper decides that Klaw has outlived his usefulness and blasts him, causing him to fall down onto the Vibranium Mound where the resonance from his sonic projector causes him to transform into a creature of pure sound. HYDRA pulls out, naturally, and leaves the Avengers to deal with Klaw.

The two royal guards proved to be too much for Black Panther, but Captain America intervenes, allowing him to face Man-Ape alone. T'Challa overpowers M'Baku but he is able to regain the upper hand by using a sonic emitter similar to the one Klaw used to disable T'Chaka. It doesn't slow him down for long though.

Black Panther: I am not the same as my father, M'Baku, for my rage is greater!

While T'Challa reclaims his throne, Wasp distracts Klaw long enough for Iron Man and Ant-Man to implement a desperate gamble by sealing his sonic emitter inside a container of Vibranium that would either contain the vibrations or explode violently. Iron Man makes the attempt and manages to stop Klaw, although he needs to get someone else to stop him from vibrating.

Now that Black Panther is king again, the Wakandans prepare to rid the country of outsiders once and for all, but Panther recognizes that outsider helped to save Wakanda as well as destroy it and that they cannot return to the old ways that were exploited by Man-Ape to cause all this trouble in the first place. As such, he turns Wakanda into a constitutional monarchy of sorts, and leaves to join the Avengers.

A Hulkbuster squad is seen approaching the Cube, but they are massacred just as a green dome appears over the surrounding area.

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Tropes:

• Arson, Murder, and Admiration: Iron Man lists several reasons why he doesn't want the Black Panther to join the Avengers. It was Wasp pointing out that he's probably going to be their only ride home that made Tony reconsider.
• Big Damn Heroes: Cap saving Black Panther from the royal guards.
  Captain America: You can face Man-Ape alone. Anyone else is fair game.
• Body Horror: What happens to Klaw.
• Butt-Monkey: Between Wakanda's technology constantly proving to be better than his own and Ant-Man's plan to stop Klaw that leaves him vibrating afterwards, Tony doesn't have a fun time this episode.
• Callback: Cap throwing his shield in-between Black Panther and the royal guards echoes "Living Legend".
• Can't Kill You, Still Need You: Klaw feels confident in barking orders at the Grim Reaper because HYDRA needs his scientific skill for this project. The Grim Reaper is itching for a chance to push this, and he gets it during the fight in the mine, though it doesn't work out as planned.
• Determinator: Panther keeps going despite Man-Ape's sonic emitter.
• The End... Or Is It?: The main story ends happily, but at the Cube, a Hulkbuster team is suddenly ambushed and a dome of gamma energy begins to form.
• Heart Is an Awesome Power: Ant-Man, as he confronts Klaw.
  Ant-Man: Do you know what I like most about Africa? Dorylus mandibularis, better known as African army ants!
• Hypocrite: Man-Ape belittles Panther for having to "go to outsiders for help." Man-Ape is king solely because of Klaw's interference. Heck, he just admitted the sonic emitter he's using at that moment came from Klaw.
• I Am Not My Father: "For my rage is greater!"
• I Owe You My Life: Why Cap keeps trying to help Panther.
  Captain America: I owe you one. You saved my life, remember?
• Ineffectual Loner: Panther tries to go it alone after returning to Wakanda.
• Irony: As Black Panther is losing to the bodyguards, Man-Ape observes that his father certainly trained them well.
• My Greatest Failure:
  Black Panther: Man-Ape took my father, and I did nothing! I failed him.
• Never Say "Die": While it's never outright stated in the episode, the heavy implication that Man-Ape killed T'Chaka is there.
• Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Man-Ape is about to deliver the killing blow, but Klaw's rampage in the mines causes a very noticeable disturbance. As Man-Ape is distracted, Panther gets back up and finishes the fight.
• "Not So Different" Remark: When arguing to go it alone, Black Panther says he knows Cap can understand the guilt he feels for failing to protect a loved one.
• Offscreen Moment of Awesome: Iron Man, Wasp and Ant-Man fighting off Wakandan soldiers. Apparently, it was quite the fight.
  Iron Man: Okay, so that was (cough) a little harder than it should've been.
• Oh, Crap!: As Panther keeps coming despite the sonic emitter, Man-Ape's eyes widen in terror.
• Sanity Slippage: Klaw might not have been the most stable individual, but his transformation really pushes him over the edge.
  Klaw: The sound! The sound! I am the sound!
• Save the Villain: The transformed Klaw attacks Hydra for trying to kill him, forcing Iron Man and Wasp to protect some mooks.
• Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Grim Reaper's reaction to Klaw's transformation and rampage.
  Grim Reaper: All ships, take whatever Vibranium you have and launch. Hydra's pulling out.
• Tempting Fate:
  • T'Challa gets angry that the Quinjet didn't follow his directions in order to gain safe entry into Wakanda. Tony's confident that their ride has the best cloaking tech there is. Cue lasers.
    Black Panther: Wakandan defence tech is better.
  • And again, Tony.
    Iron Man: I've dealt with HYDRA before. And Wakanda, not a problem. (gets blown up)
• Villain Has a Point: Klaw is the first one to point out that a battle in a mine full of Vibranium is not a good idea. Hank only realizes this after Klaw says so.
• You Have Out Lived Your Usefulness: After Klaw starts blasting Hydra mooks, Grim Reaper turns on him.
  Grim Reaper: I think we're done with you, Klaw!
• You Killed My Father: Panther to Man-Ape.

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