T'Chaka

T'Chaka is the name of a character in Marvel Comics. He is the father of T'Challa and Shuri.

The character was portrayed by John Kani in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: Civil War.

Publication history

T'Chaka first appeared in Fantastic Four #53 (1966) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Fictional character biography

T'Chaka is the Chieftain of Wakanda who ascended to the throne after the death of his father King Azzuri the Wise. During 1941 at the time of World War II, Captain America traveled to Wakanda where he met T'Chaka. Together, they assisted Sgt. Fury and His Howling Commandos against Red Skull and Baron Strucker.^[1] T'Chaka and Captain America also faced threats from Master Man, Warrior Woman, and Armless Tiger Man when they partook in an all-out attack on Wakanda. Armless Tiger Man even threatened to kill T'Chaka if he didn't have Wakanda's forces surrender.^[2] Outmanned and outgunned, T'Chaka and Captain America held their own against Master Man, Warrior Woman, Armless Tiger Man, White Gorilla, and Red Skull.^[3]

Sometime later, Captain America visited Wakanda and gave T'Chaka his triangle shield in exchange for some Vibranium. When he got engaged to his first wife N'Yami, T'Chaka adopted Hunter who T'Chaka groomed as the heir to the throne until the day N'Yami gave birth to T'Challa where she then died from childbirth. Shortly after T'Challa's birth, his brother Jakarra was born. T'Chaka later married Ramonda where she gave birth to Shuri.^[4]

In the fall of 1959, T'Chaka was kidnapped by Geoffrey Sydenham of the organization ICON.^[5] This was part of ICON's plan to weaken Wakanda and pillage the technology there.^[6] Nick Fury's Avengers stumbled onto this plot where they ended up fighting ICON. It was discovered that T'Chaka was being held in a castle within Latveria as Dum Dum Dugan and Eric Koenig rescued him. T'Chaka was safely returned to Wakanda.^[7]

Many years later, Wakanda had their technology coveted as they had no ties to any other countries.^[8] Ulysses Klaw and his mercenaries invaded Wakanda where they demanded that T'Chaka gives them their Vibranium. When T'Chaka refused to give them Vibranium, Klaw had his mercenaries kill T'Chaka. This angered T'Challa who used one of the mercenaries' weapons to destroy their camp and rendered Ulysses Klaw's right hand useless.^[9]

The history of T'Chaka's death was retconned in the third volume of the Black Panther comics in which the leaders of some different countries had been unable to negotiate with T'Chaka into giving them some Vibranium. After that happened, they hired Ulysses Klaw. Upon emerging from the floor of T'Chaka's palace, Ulysses Klaw killed T'Chaka. This enraged T'Challa who wounded and drove away Ulysses Klaw. Due to the death of T'Chaka, T'Challa's uncle S'Yan ruled Wakanda in T'Chaka's place until the day when T'Challa was at the right age to be sworn in as the new Chieftain of Wakanda.^[8]

Powers and abilities

Upon eating a special heart-shaped herb, T'Chaka possesses superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, reflexes, and senses. He is also an expert martial artist, a known weapons expert, a skilled marksman, an expert tracker and hunter, and a master tactician.

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, T'Chaka's full name was T'Chaka Udaku.^[10]

In other media

Television

• T'Chaka appears in the Fantastic Four episode "Panther's Prey," voiced by Beau Weaver. Just like the comics, he is killed by Klaw.
• T'Chaka appears in episode 3 of Black Panther, voiced by Jonathan Adams. He is seen in a flashback where he was killed by Klaw.
• T'Chaka is referenced in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "Panther's Prey." Black Panther mentions to Iron Man that Moses Magnum was responsible for killing T'Chaka.
• T'Chaka appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "The Man in the Ant-Hill," voiced by Hakeem Kae-Kazim. He is challenged to the throne of Wakanda by Man-Ape. With some unseen assistance from Klaw, T'Chaka is killed by Man-Ape causing T'Challa to become the next Black Panther and seek help to take back Wakanda.
• T'Chaka is alluded to in the Avengers Assemble episode "Panther's Rage." Outside of the fact that T'Chaka is dead, Captain America had to explain to T'Challa that his father gave Howard Stark the Vibranium needed to make Captain America's shield.

Film

• T'Chaka appears in Ultimate Avengers II, voiced by Dave Fennoy. He begins the film as the Black Panther. When Wakanda is invaded by Chitauri, T'Chaka attacks them to drive them off. He is ambushed by Nazi-disguised Chitauri general Herr Kleiser who stabs him multiple times. T'Chaka defeats and drives off Kleiser, but succumbs to his wounds. After his death, T'Challa ascends to the throne and mantle of the Black Panther.
• T'Chaka appears in Captain America: Civil War, portrayed by John Kani.^[11] During a meeting about the Sokovian Accords at the Vienna International Center, T'Chaka supported the Sokovian Accords after what happened in Lagos, Nigeria. His son T'Challa notices a bomb about to go off as he warns everyone to get down. The bomb goes off killing T'Chaka and nine other people. T'Challa mourned his father's death. As a result of T'Chaka's death, T'Challa was sworn in as the new King of Wakanda. Even though some witnesses claimed that Winter Soldier was sighted near the incident, it was later discovered that he was framed by Helmut Zemo. Black Panther eventually brought T'Chaka's killer to justice.

Video games

• T'Chaka is referenced in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. When the players ask Black Panther about his history, he mentions how his father was killed by Klaw.

References

External links

• T'Chaka at Marvel Wiki
• T'Chaka at Comic Vine