Kimoyo Beads, Multiverses and Crossovers: Establishing (Re)connection in the World of Marvel’s Black Panther

Abstract

In the Black Panther comics and film, literary plot devices, genre conventions and narrative choices are all used to examine issues of connection. From Vibranium and Kimoyo Beads to the interdisciplinary team of creators that established them, (re)connection is a vital part of the Black Panther universe, both inside and out. This article explores how Marvel’s Black Panther universe can be used to explore the threads of (re)connection that are present within our everyday lives. It establishes how connection takes place within contemporary social movements, such as Black Lives Matter, and considers how Black Panther represents this connection as an opportunity for facilitating change and progress.