Everyone told you that you just have to wait until the credits are entirely finished, and so you did. But now you are just confused. What did you just watch?

We have a little tradition here at The Game of Nerds, and that is to explain the fun little scenes that Marvel Studios likes to throw at the end of their movies.

Marvel’s newest outing, the amazing global sensation that is Black Panther, has some simple scenes to walk you through. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered.

Spoilers for Black Panther are ahead. If this is not what you are looking for, please check out our spoiler-free review of Black Panther by Russ Milheim.

Wakanda Forever

Wakandan Ship

Source: Marvel Unlimited. Black Panther #1. Art by Brian Stelfreeze & Laura Martin.

The mid-credits scene is the easiest one to understand; it requires no prior homework. In it, we see T’Challa, Nakia and Okoye visiting the United Nations – presumably, Wakanda’s first meeting with them since T’Chaka, T’Challa and Ayo’s ill-fated visit in Captain America: Civil War.

In front of a panel of world delegates, King T’Challa announces that Wakanda will no longer be an isolationist country. Finally, they will be sharing their resources and their advances in science, technology and weaponry with the world. A delegate asks, with all due respect, what a third-world country of farmers has to offer the modern world. T’Challa smirks.

It’s reasonable to assume that this could have an enormous impact on all corners of the MCU going forward. Tony Stark, Stephen Strange, Bruce Banner, Victor Stein, and Leo Fitz are some of the most brilliant minds the planet has to offer. Yet Shuri’s inventions and innovations blow theirs out of the water, being so futuristic they look almost alien.

Just imagine what the world could do with Wakandan technology and resources. It might stand a chance against Thanos, after all.

Longing, Rusted, Seventeen, Daybreak

Bucky

Source: Marvel Unlimited. Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #4. Art by Roland Boschi & Chris Chuckry.

If you were lost with the post-credits scene, don’t feel bad. It’s unique for Marvel credits scenes, in that you could have all the comic knowledge in the world and still not fully understand it. This is because it hinges on the expectation that the viewer has seen Captain America: Civil War, and stayed for the mid-credits scene in that.

As a refresher, in Captain America: Civil War‘s mid-credits scene, Steve “Captain America” Rogers and Bucky “Winter Soldier” Barnes are seeking asylum in Wakanda after becoming international criminals. Tired of hurting more innocent people, Bucky chooses to undergo cryogenic sleep until a cure for his brainwashing is found.

In Black Panther‘s post-credits scene, Princess Shuri visits a hut in Wakanda. Kids are swarming around, excited to see whom they call “White Wolf”. No, it is not T’Challa and Shuri’s adopted brother Hunter from the comics – it’s Bucky Barnes himself, minus one metal arm. (The first “broken white boy” Shuri had to fix.) We are left to assume that Bucky’s programming has been fixed, and Shuri takes him to teach him about the country. This is a small continuation of the larger story arc of the MCU, and sets us up for where we will kick off this summer with the enormous event that will be Avengers: Infinity War.

More importantly, it hints at some possible development for the Winter Soldier himself. Free of his past, Bucky will likely seek a purpose in life. In the comics, the White Wolf is a member of the Hatut Zeraze, or “Dogs of War”. This is the basis for Black Panther‘s War Dogs, the organization of Wakandan spies that Nakia, N’Jobu and Zuri belonged to. Of course, Wakanda seemingly no longer needs international spies, but between opening their borders to the world and facing near-invincible aliens wielding gauntlets of Infinity Stones, they could use all the protection they can get.

Cute nickname or something more? I guess we’ll find out.

  • Stay tuned for the next Marvel Studios release: Avengers: Infinity War, releasing very soon (yet not soon enough) on May 4, 2018!
  • Join us on Friday, March 2 as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. returns, quickly approaching its landmark 100th episode! Catch up with our recaps here.
  • Next Wednesday, March 6, sees the release of Thor: Ragnarok on home media. If you missed the credits scenes the first time, now is your chance!
  • Lastly, Jessica Jones’ long-awaited second season finally kicks off next Thursday, March 8. Check out Russ’ review of the first five episodes here.