"Looks, feels and sounds unlike any Marvel film to date" - The first (impressive) reactions to Black Panther are here

Black Panther is nearly upon us. You’ll be glad to know the buzz around the movie, which is out February 9 in the UK and February 16 in the US, is reaching vibranium clanging-levels of noise. Not only that but, alongside Thor: Ragnarok, we’re entering an era of wholly unique Marvel movies. The first reactions are in and, boy, are they (almost) overwhelmingly positive. No spoilers here, just lots and lots of praise.

You’ll be able to read a selection of the best responses in just a tick, but here’s a condensed version: Two performances which had tongues wagging were Michael B. Jordan’s villainous turn as Erik Killmonger, and Letitia Wright as T’Challa’s younger sister, Shuri. The Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira also receives special praise for her role as Okoye, proving that she’s not just a one-trick katana.

Typical Marvel problems still rear its ugly head – namely lacklustre action sequences – but, according to the majority, Black Panther is a movie that deserves to be cherished. There’s a reason why everyone is loving it already: It says something new, and it says it with all the confidence and swagger of T’Challa himself. I can’t wait to see and, after flicking through these first reactions, I bet you won’t be able to either.

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If that hasn’t scratched your Black Panther itch enough, then this TV spot featuring a big face-off between T’Challa and Killmonger will get you more than hyped for the movie’s release. As will the claim that will leave you shaken and stirred: T’Challa is meant to be the James Bond of the MCU.

Image: Marvel

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.