As the Avengers relax after their adventure with the Squadron Supreme, Iron Man notices that Black Panther seems distracted. When he asks what is bothering his friend, the Panther replies that he is homesick, and prompted by his teammates, tells them of his origin and of N’Baza and B’Tumba. Finishing his tale, he reveals that he has just been informed that N’Baza has died and he now must decide whether to return to Wakanda as king or renounce the throne forever. While Goliath comments that Black Panther will always be an Avenger, the Panther exits to brood on his situation.
T’Challa’s childhood and his father’s death at Klaw’s hands (FF #53, ’66) The Witch-doctor N’Baza sends him to study in the outside world, accompanied by his friend, N’Baza’s son B’Tumba. Growing suspicious that N’Baza merely wanted him out the country to consolidate his own grasp on the throne, the adult T’Challa returns home. N’Baza has him undergo several tests; passing them, he is shown the Panther Shrine and dons the Black Panther costume for the first time. N’Baza sends him to find and eat the heart-shaped herb, but when his quest takes him into a remote region of Wakanda he stumbles across AIM stealing Vibranium. Despite now being enhanced by having eaten the herb, he is captured, and learns that an embittered B’Tumba has betrayed him. Finding himself unable to kill his former friend, B’Tumba releases T’Challa; he makes short work of the AIM agents, but not before they fatally wound B’Tumba.
