Unless you’ve been fighting against popular opinion, you’ve probably had a chance to witness Avatar in IMAX 3D from James Cameron. Avatar is fast on-pace to set all sorts of records, as well as challenge Titanic for all-time highs. The film is arguably one of the best movies of 2009. This James Cameron epic will forever be remembered for stunning visuals and the most unforgettable 3D experience.
While, the world debates Avatar’s racial, Green and anti-government subtext I can’t help but wonder why no one has noticed the similarities to Marvel Comics Black Panther. Comic lovers everywhere attacked NBC’s Heroes for being a X-Men knock-off, but no one’s noticing the similarities between the Black Panther and the Na’vi. Maybe that’s just another part of the racist subtext, hmmm?
Let’s look at a few similarities and differences:
Unobtanium vs Vibranium:
The people of earth are looking to harvest Unobtanium. In the Black Panther, everyone in the world wants to attack Wakanda, the Black Panther’s village, for its rich supply of vibranium. If you don’t know what vibranium is, it’s kind of like Wolverine’s adamantium, only much cooler. It is also one of the metals used to construct Captain America’s shield. Maybe this similarity is a cover-up by the U.S. Government. After all, wasn’t the original Captain America an African American? (see “Truth: Red, White & Black” which depicts the original super soldier program testing on African Americans before finally developing a successful formula for Steve Rogers)
Love of Well Crafted Jewelry:
They wear some damn similar neck-wear don’t they. You’ll probably see this as the “bold new design” at Fashion Week come September 2010.
It’s All in the Eyes:
Check out the yellowish-green eyes. The T’Challa Black Panther has often been depicted with yellow eyes similar to an actual black panther. The Na’vi, surprisingly, also have yellowish-green eyes.
We Don’t Need Outside Help
Wakanda has long rejected the help of outsiders. The Na’vi also reject outsiders, only they are willing to let you “try” to become a part of their village if you pass a series of tests. Every once in a while, the Black Panther is forced to get the help of Captain America or the Fantastic Four. The Na’vi get help from Jake Sully (Sam Worthington). Coincidentally, and easily an abstract comic comparison, Worthington is also the last name of Warren Worthington III who is also goes by Angel or Archangel in the X-Men. Could this have influenced casting? Sully is like Captain America and the Na’vi’s own X-man all-in-one.
Blue vs. Black
The Na’vi are Blue. The Black Panther as well as the rest of Wakanda is, well, Black. Yeah, you got me there - definitely a difference.
Primitive Culture vs. Advanced Technology
Unlike the inhabitants of Pandora, the people of Wakanda are very advanced when it comes to technology. In the comics, you’ll see their tech rival or outpace that of Tony Stark (aka Iron Man). T’Challa is also a genius, whose intelligence rivals that of Reed Richards, aka Mr. Fantastic, leader of the Fantastic Four.
Similar Accents:
The Navi and the Wakandans have a similar accent. Yeah, that goes back to the whole racial undertones argument. But, if James Cameron was a fan of the Black Panther, this could explain why he chose Africa as a model for the Na’vi.
So, did James Cameron pick up a few issues of the Black Panther before he created Avatar? They say that no story is completely original, and all concepts come from some prior experience. You just have to wonder if Cameron was a comic fan and Black Panther concepts accidentally leaped into his acclaimed creation. Regardless of where Cameron got his inspiration from, Avatar still stakes a claim in the top movies of 2009.
it’s no secret that Cameron is a Marvel fan… or at least has some affection for comics and superheroes. he was attached to produce / direct Spidey throughout the 90s and The Terminator has many similarities to Days of Future Past from the X-Men comics. but i don’t think that Avatar is a direct descendant of the Black Panther. to me, the technological difference between the characters is HUGE — technology is a defining trait of Wakanda.
I’ll fill in the black for Jonathan Mayberry. The X-men was about blacks and the Civil Rights Movement too!!! Read between the lines.
It’s the history of Black people!!! The Navi and Wakadan’s are Black people!!!!! Clear similarity whether it’s intentonal or not. James’s Cameron knows exactly what story he was trying to tell (the imperialism on indigenous African people by whites. Duh, Wake up,people!!!!!
@Terry Your observations are thinner than alpine air, my friend. No, I can’t say that the Avatar/Black Panther similarities were evident to me, except for the metal name perhaps. Except a lot of metals end with -nium so there goes that one. Maybe Cameron cross checked the names of famous literary metals to make sure, he came up with something original. As for the rest, I chalk it up to - They were bound to look like SOMETHING!!
@MARY I guess we could NOT talk about a movie and what makes it “great” or “controversial”, but then we would be missing an opportunity. Movies are meant to create dialogue as well as entertain. Cameron has a knack for bringing to the screen the spectacular and innovative as well as the thought-provoking. It is important to critique movies (or art in any form) because the emotions and conflicts they inspire reflect those of society. So ATTACK AWAY!!
@Peter7 No offense taken. I accept that either your English or lack of comic wherewithall failed you.
I think it’s hilarious that deathstroke is obviously a fanboy calling himself deathstroke.
Avatar had it’s racist moments, but at the end of the day the movie was great. Comparing it to the Black Panther is just a cursory way of calling attention to it. And, look it worked since here you guys are debating it.
I think @Peter7 and @deathstroke are taking this article way too seriously. All it’s saying is that yeah people are influenced by external sources
I currently write the BLACK PANTHER comic for Marvel, and I’ll be writing the DoomWar limited series that deals with Doom’s attempt to plunder the vibranium from Wakanda at any costs.
I’ve also seen AVATAR a couple of times. Although there are some similarities –as there are is many elements of pop culture– I seriously doubt Cameron deliberately or subconsciously plundered the Panther comic for his movie.
Both stories, however, draw on the the theme of the strong plundering what they perceive to be the weak in order to steal (fill in the blank –land, resources, etc.). In that way, the Black Panther character (created in the mid-1960s by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby) and Cameron’s Na’vi both symbolize the nobility of those who fight for the survival of their culture.
…and I’m, sorry for my English,
It is a bit rusty, I haven’t use it for a while…
I’m not a typical webstalker fanboy, thank you very much.
…just a fan, and it’s not an attack on the web.
I just don’t think the film is a rip-off from the X-Men, or whatever… it got similarities to some movies and comic books and such (like The author states: no story is completely original, and all concepts come from some prior experience) , but I don’t see the point in that…
The Unobtainable metal is a major similarity but in Avatar it is just a symbol. …there’s no information in the movie what it is used for.
Adamantium or Vibranium are very important in the stories of Wolverine and The Black Panther…
I’m sorry if I offended anyone…
It’s not an attack on the movie, but @Peter7 was just looking around to attack on the web. The author clearly states Avatar is one of the top movies of 2009.
Uh oh. Looks like you guys got yourself a typical webstalker fanboy. @Peter7 - unobtanium is just like vibranium - it’s unobtainable — get it. Dick.
No offence but I think this is a complete bull**it …
It’s a different story, besides….
Sully it’s not Captain America…or the X-Man, he’s human and really don’t think that Cameron cast him becouse of the similarities to Warren Worthington.
Unobtanium is a superconductor not an Adamantium or Vibranium kind of metal…
Almost every tribe in Africa has similar neck-wear…
Primitive Culture vs. Advanced Technology issue is very common… in Star Trek series for example.
Stop attackin the movie…
The movie is a message to all the people …it shows us our history, which is written in blood. It shows us how should we live… in harmony with mother nature… like Na’vi respect Eywa an all life…
We should do the same…
I don’t think he borrowed from black panther (not that he wouldn’t. he draws inspiration from other works for his movies. like terminator, for which he was sued).
i actually read an article that he took the story from an old sci-fi story called Call Me Joe.
anyway, of course he is a comic fan. he wrote an old “too violent” Spider-man screenplay and is often credited with inventing the organic webshooter idea.
I don’t see why everyone keeps attacking this movie for being racist. it’s a great film one of the best EVER and you should just ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I heard Unobtanium I thought of Adamantium as well. It’s not far fetched that cameron would read comics. he’s a scifi guy after all and most read comics at some point or other