T'Chaka

Origin

T'chaka is the first son to Wakandan king T'Chanda aka Azzari the Wise. From an early age, he excelled in the ways of magic and took a stance to preserve Wakanda's heritage by honoring the "old ways" of magic use despite the technological advancements of Wakanda. It was during this time that he met Zawavari.

After his younger brother, S'yan, was born he only grew further into the role of leader and protector. After his father's death, T'Chaka ascended the throne and gained the nickname of "The Great", because of his prowess in combat.

Black Panther in WWII

He is noted as defeating a young Captain America (Steve Rogers) during World War II, in Black Panther vol 4. However, It was later retconned to be his father, T'Chanda aka Azzari The Wise, who defeated Captain America in a six issue mini series Black Panther/Captain America: Flags of our Fathers

Fatherhood

T'Chaka married N'Yami, his first wife, and they adopted Hunter. T'Chaka and N'Yami nurtured and groomed Hunter to be the heir to the Wakandan throne. However, N'Yami became pregnant and birthed the first biological child of T'Chaka, a baby boy named T'Challa. Due to complications while giving birth, N'Yami died shortly after. T'Chaka would later marry Ramonda who gave birth to his first and only daughter, Shuri.

Death

Since Wakanda was independent with no ties to any other nation he was eventually called to a UN meeting in hopes of other countries trading with them. He refused however and was assassinated by Klaw while he tried to protect his wife and children. His death made his S'yan the Black Panther. S'yan was later succeeded by T'Challa.

Physical Characteristics

Height: 5'11"

Weight: 195 lbs

Eye Color: brown

Hair color: black/grey

Relatives: T'Chanda aka Azzari The Wise (Father, deceased), S'yan (Brother), N'Yami (wife, deceased), Ramonda (wife), Shuri (daughter), T'Challa (son), White Wolf (adopted son), Jakarra (son, deceased), T'shan (nephew).

In Other Media

Television

Fantastic Four: The Animated Series

T'Chaka appeared in a flashback in the Fantastic Four: The Animated Series episode "Prey of the Panther," voiced by Beau Weaver. The flashback was more or less a retelling of T'Challa's origin story, which showed T'Chaka being shot and killed by Ulysses Klaw.

Iron Man: Armored Adventures

Though T'Chaka does not appear in person in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, his death plays a large part in one episode. In the episode "Panther's Prey," Rhodey learns that T'Chaka was the previous Black Panther and king of Wakanda, and that his son T'Challa has come to America to find Moses Magnum, the man responsible for the king's death.

Black Panther

T'Chaka appeared in flashbacks in the BET Black Panther animated series, voiced by Jonathan Adams.

The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes

T'Chaka appears as a main character in one of the online-only prequel shorts for The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, (which would later be collected for the episode "The Man in the Ant Hill"). In his appearance, T'Chaka is challenged by M'Baku the Man-Ape for the throne of Wakanda, and is violently killed after Ulysses Klaw interferes in the battle to give M'Baku the upper hand. T'Challa later takes up his father's mantle and swears vengeance on the Man-Ape, setting up his role for the series. T'Chaka was voiced by Hakeem Kae-Kazim.

Avengers: Black Panther's Quest

T'Chaka appears in Avengers Assemble and its follow-up, Avengers: Black Panther's Quest, voiced by James C. Mathis III as a young man and by Keith David as an adult.

What If...?

T'Chaka appears in several episodes of What If...? with John Kani reprising his role from the live-action films.

Film

Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther

T'Chaka appears at the beginning of Ultimate Avengers 2: Rise of the Panther, acting as the king of Wakanda. When Herr Kleiser and the Chitauri attack the country, T'Chaka dons his Black Panther gear and engages in a fierce battle with the invaders. He is badly injured by Kleiser, and ultimately sacrifices his own life in one final attempt to kill him and save T'Challa. The sacrifice proves to be in vain, as Kleiser survives and later returns to destroy Wakanda. In the final act of the movie, T'Challa (now the new Black Panther) avenges his father by defeating Kleiser once and for all. T'Chaka was voiced by Dave Fennoy.

Captain America: Civil War

T'Chaka appears in Captain America: Civil War, portrayed by British actor John Kani. In the film, he is the king of Wakanda, though unlike his comic counterpart, he has already retired from active duty as the Black Panther and passed the mantle to his son. While visiting a conference in Vienna to sign the Sokovia Accords (a series of laws designed to provide oversight for the Avengers), T'Chaka is assassinated by Helmut Zemo, who then frames Bucky Barnes for the crime. T'Challa spends much of the film trying to kill Barnes in order to avenge T'Chaka, but ultimately realizes the truth and turns Zemo over to the authorities.

Black Panther

John Kani reprises his role as T'Chaka in the 2018 Black Panther spin-off, which takes place shortly after the events of Civil War. Despite being dead, the character appears alongside the other past Black Panthers when T'Challa enters Wakanda's spirit realm seeking guidance. Flashbacks also show a young T'Chaka in his prime, and flesh out the character's history. It is revealed that after learning that his brother N'Jobu had helped Ulysses Klaue steal vibranium from Wakanda, T'Chaka confronted him in Oakland. The situation soon escalated, and T'Chaka ultimately killed his brother. He then swore Zuri to silence, and covered up the prince's death. N'Jobu's son, N'Jadaka, was left behind in America, and grew up to become the vengeful Erik Killmonger, who seeks to kill T'Challa in retribution for T'Chaka's past sins. The young T'Chaka is portrayed by Atwanda Kani, John Kani's real life son.

Merchandise

• Hot Toys produced a figure of the movie version of T'Chaka.
• T'Chaka was featured in Funko's Pop! line of bobbleheads.
• The young movie version of T'Chaka was featured in Hasbro's Marvel Legends line as part of the M'Baku Build-a-Figure wave.