While Black Panther was originally modeled on a villain.
The mantle and powers of the Black Panther are ed down through generations of Wakandan kings. They are given incredible strength, agility, senses, and healing by a sacred heart-shaped herb. The protector of Wakanda also wears a near-indestructible suit made of vibranium, one of the most powerful alloys in the Marvel Universe. The current Panther is T'Challa, who has always proven himself to be a hero of true heart and comion, but thanks to a 2099 variant cover for Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda #3, designed by Rock-He Jim, fans get a chance to imagine a more villainous version of the ruler of Wakanda.
Marvel released a host of 2099 variant cover art in 2019 to celebrate its return to the 2099 universe, and among those released was the cover by Kim and his version of Black Panther for Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda #3, which is written by Jim Zub with pencils by Lan Medina. The art shows the Black Panther suit with white glowing highlights, and a sleek futuristic design. This version of the Panther is shown fiercely deploying his warriors into battle, and given how well-trained and technologically advanced Wakandan warriors, one can only imagine how terrifying it would be for anyone to go up against an them under the command of their king.
The ed the Avengers as a spy. Of course, the Wakandan monarch could also be more akin to Doctor Doom, a tyrant concerned with actively expanding his dominion and power over the world. A Wakanda that acts more like Doom's Latveria is a terrifying and compelling idea, and would easily make Black Panther one of the biggest threats in Marvel.
These are all fun ideas to speculate about, but Marvel did release a one-shot Black Panther 2099 comic in 2004 to commemorate the anniversary of its Marvel Knights imprint. Written by Robert Kirkman with art by Kyle Hotz, the Black Panther of 2099 is named K'Shamba, a junior Wakandan councilman who successfully leads a revolt of his people against Latverian invaders. Afterwards, he is crowned king, but the end of the comic reveals that K'Shamba is only a zombified slave of the 2099 Doctor Doom. It is a compelling story, but it is much more fun to imagine this variant art of Black Panther as more than just a pawn of one of the most powerful villains in the multiverse
Regardless of how one interprets the 2099 variant cover for Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda #3, it provides a striking image for what it might look like if Wakanda's ruler chose a different path. Black Panther has always been one of the most stalwart and comionate heroes in the Marvel Universe, but if he ever became a villain he would pose one of the greatest threats ever faced by the heroes of Marvel.
