Black Panther Just Used Storm's Powers to Upgrade His Armor Beyond Even Vibranium (2024)

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Ultimate Black Panther #7! With his vibranium suit alone, Black Panther is one of the most formidable superheroes in the entire Marvel Universe, and that’s not even considering his superhuman powers, his fighting skills, and his intellect. And now, that suit has become even more powerful thanks to the assistance of another powerful superhero, Storm, who has just used her powers to upgrade Black Panther’s armor beyond what his vibranium could accomplish by itself.

In Ultimate Black Panther #7 by Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli, Wakanda is at war with its neighboring African countries, as the two beings who have dominion over the entire continent (minus Wakanda), Ra and Khonshu, have raised an army to take the one part of their territory they do not control. In that effort, Ra and Khonshu are utilizing a mysterious element that has the power to give life, and presumably, the power to take it. Black Panther is fighting to defeat the Moon Knight army and save his people, and one of his greatest allies is Ororo Munroe.

While on the battlefield, Black Panther makes deliberate efforts to neutralize the soldiers fighting for Ra and Khonshu without killing them. In T’Challa’s mind, every citizen of Africa, no matter the country or territory, is under Wakanda’s protection. Black Panther’s true enemies are Ra and Khonshu, not those who were tricked into doing their bidding. So, during one battle, Black Panther tells Ororo to “Give me the storm”, at which point, Storm supercharges Black Panther’s vibranium suit with lightning, allowing him to deliver non-fatal electrical blasts to the opposing forces.

Black Panther and Storm Just Became Marvel’s Ultimate ‘Power Couple’

As it stands in the Ultimate Universe, Black Panther is married to Okoye, while Ororo is in a relationship with Killmonger, meaning the two of them seemingly won’t be romantically involved (like they were for a time in Earth-616). However, just because there’s no romance between them doesn’t mean they can’t still be Marvel’s ultimate ‘power couple’, especially on the battlefield. Black Panther’s suit can absorb Storm’s lightning, and T’Challa can redirect that energy with precision and control (indeed, he managed to use it on an army of soldiers without killing them).

Right now, Black Panther is trying to take down two literal gods, which means he needs to be able to wield the power of a god in battle if he hopes to stand a chance against them. Storm has been revered as a goddess in the past, and her powers are Omega-Level, which means she has the ability to offer Black Panther god-tier power just by standing next to him, and Black Panther has proven that he knows how to wield it.

Ultimate Black Panther has Completely Redefined Storm’s Character (For the Better)

Obviously, Storm is more widely associated with the X-Men than any other Marvel Comics franchise, but in the Ultimate Universe, she’s become an integral part of Black Panther lore. Not only has this storyline allowed Storm to remain immersed in her African heritage by fighting for the good of the entire continent, but this issue also proves that she’s perhaps Black Panther’s strongest ally. T’Challa wouldn’t be nearly as equipped to fight Ra and Khonshu without Storm, making her immensely significant in Black Panther canon.

While Storm’s history as a member of the X-Men is iconic, the Ultimate Universe is giving her the spotlight in a way that’s rarely shown in Earth-616, as she’s fighting alongside a king to destroy corrupt gods and save all of Africa. And, in this issue, Storm’s contribution came in the form of upgrading Black Panther’s suit far beyond the capacity of what vibranium can accomplish alone.

Ultimate Black Panther #7 by Marvel Comics is available now.