For 50 years, the Black Panther has stood at the forefront on the Marvel Universe. As we count down to a vision of T’Challa on the big screen coming soon, take a look back at five decades’ worth of comic book adventures…

Set up by Tony Stark, T’Challa and Storm found themselves waylaid by Iron Man and the Sentinel Squad in BLACK PANTHER #22. When our heroes refused to leave the U.S. until the Civil War between Stark and Captain America ended, the situation worsened.

Smarting from a vicious media spin on him and an attack by Black Widow in BLACK PANTHER #23, the Panther sought out Cap for answers while Storm contacted Reed Richards in BLACK PANTHER #24. When the final battle between Iron Man and Cap’s forces occurred in BLACK PANTHER #25, T’Challa and Storm fought at the resistance movement’s side until Steve Rogers surrendered in CIVIL WAR #7.

With the Wakandan Embassy destroyed, Reed invited the Panther and Storm to live at the Baxter Building in BLACK PANTHER #26, and in FANTASTIC FOUR #543, he introduced them to The Thing and The Human Torch as the newest members of the team.

Barely unpacked, T’Challa and Storm flew off with Ben and Johnny in FANTASTIC FOUR #544 to investigate the desecrated grave of the fallen hero Gravity, and their path took them to Epoch, the offspring of Ego the Living Planet. In outer space, the team battled the Silver Surfer while Epoch resurrected Gravity in FANTASTIC FOUR #545. Afterward, T’Challa helped to convince Galactus not to destroy Epoch in FANTASTIC FOUR #546.

Black Panther (2005) #26

• Published: March 28, 2007
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: February 22, 2008
• Rating: T
• Writer: Reginald Hudlin
• Penciller: Francis Portela
• Cover Artist: Niko Henrichon

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The Panther and Storm returned to Earth with Ben and Johnny in BLACK PANTHER #27 to find a Negative Zone monster running around the Fantastic Four’s headquarters. When T’Challa activated the Solomon Frogs to transport it away, the entire team ended up on an alien world controlled by the Skrulls. The aliens attacked them in BLACK PANTHER #28, but the battle ceased when a horde of cosmic-powered zombies arrived on the planet.

The Fantastic Four learned that they’d landed in an alternate reality in BLACK PANTHER #29, but that knowledge provided little help in holding off the zombies. With no recourse, they teleported off the world in BLACK PANTHER #30 just as the flesh-eating monsters began to devour everything.

Reed Richards returned to the Baxter Building in FANTASTIC FOUR #547 to inform the Panther and the others about a missing Invisible Woman. It all ended up in a huge skirmish against the Frightful Four in FANTASTIC FOUR #548, and a new confrontation between The Black Panther and his old foe Klaw.

After the heroes triumphed over the villains in FANTASTIC FOUR #549, Reed discovered a rift in space-time that threatened the universe itself. He gathered up Gravity and The Silver Surfer to aid the team in FANTASTIC FOUR #550, and together with T’Challa and Storm they saved Eternity from dying and in turn, rescued the entire universe.

Taking a breather, The Black Panther held off a psychic onslaught from the Psycho-Man in BLACK PANTHER #31, right before being whisked away with Thing and the Torch to another alternate reality, one with Skrulls posing as Earth gangsters.

With so many classic creatures on the loose in Monsters Unleashed, we turn to their earlier adventures thanks to Marvel Unlimited.

For the length of human history, we’ve attempted to reach out into the darkness and communicate with what’s beyond the world we can see. Psychologist and astronomer Mark attempted to do exactly that in the Stan Lee-Jack Kirby story that led 1961’s TALES OF SUSPENSE #15. The response he received confirmed many fears people have about outsiders.

Mark searched for new planets and happened to come across one called Planet X. Though he didn’t know it at the time, his communiques were heard by none other than Goom! As the monstrous alien blasted off in his ship he yelled, “You who are out in the universe—you have made your presence known—beware, for you are about to meet—Goom!”

Upon landing on Earth, Goom demonstrated his abilities by flying around in the planet’s lesser gravity and brandishing mountain-disintegrating ray guns. He then held Mark’s girlfriend Helen captive, forcing the young man to address the world’s officials and tell them that Goom just wanted a peaceful meeting.

Tales of Suspense (1959) #15

• Published: March 01, 1961
• Added to Marvel Unlimited: May 31, 2010
• Cover Artist: Jack Kirby

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With a larger crowd, Goom used his technology to turn a man into a baby and send a city flying into the air! Realizing that Earth had been outmatched, Mark made one desperate attempt to contact Planet X once again. Misconstrued as a traitorous act, the call actually brought about Goom’s fellows who appeared in time to reprimand the “sick renegade” and take him back home.

As Mark explained at the end of the tale, “I was certain that any race as advanced as Goom’s, must be too civilized to be evil—too civilized to menace others! It’s only the ignorant, the frightened, and the weak who are hungry for power!”

Thanks to his delightful name and iconic appearance, Goom has continued to be a favorite of writers and artists looking to fill out the ranks of whatever monster group their heroes find themselves facing. He’s been a captive of The Collector, a resident of Monster Island and a prisoner of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Howling Commandos.

The Space Beasts prove that they need to do a little more research when invading planets in TALES TO ASTONISH #29.

In the upcoming BLACK PANTHER & THE CREW, which debuts this April, readers will have a lot of excitement to look forward to. T’Challa working with Storm! Those two teaming up with an awesome group of heroes to take on street-level threats! A different kind of story for fans of all of these great characters.

Writer Yona Harvey lets us know what we can expect.

Marvel.com: In this story, we’ll get to see Black Panther and Storm teaming up with Luke Cage, Misty Knight, and Manifold. Did you enjoy writing a story with characters who don’t often get to team up?

Yona Harvey: I can never feel too sure how people will react to the story, but I’ve enjoyed the freedom of writing with characters we don’t often see teamed up. There’s less of a precedent for how the characters “should” behave in each other’s company. So this gave me a bit of wiggle room in terms of having a little fun with, say, dialogue, action, or even humor.

Marvel.com: T’Challa and Ororo, of course, have a lot of history. Did you get to explore their relationship, or did it factor in to the way the story played out?

Yona Harvey: Their relationship definitely factored into the story. I don’t consider it the dominant thread, but I did get to touch on it a little.

Marvel.com: It sounds like the death of an activist in Harlem will function as the catalyst for big things to come in the Marvel Universe. Can you tease anything about what we can expect?

Yona Harvey: Hmm. Without giving too much away, you can expect to get some insights about characters or entities that have had more impact on the MU than previously thought.

Marvel.com: As a poet, how does the process of writing comics compare to that of writing poetry?

Yona Harvey: Oh, my goodness. The process of writing comics feels so much more difficult! But I love a challenge. And it’s hella fun.

Marvel.com: Can you tell us a little about your experience working with artist Butch Guice and co-writer Ta-Nehisi Coates?

Yona Harvey: They’re both so talented and intelligent about what they do. They set the bar very high. So far, I haven’t worked as much with Butch as I have with Ta-Nehisi, but I certainly look forward to it. Working with Ta-Nehisi feels like having the best of both worlds. I learn a lot by reading his work for BLACK PANTHER, of course. But he’s also someone [whose] opinion I trust completely. He makes it easy to ask questions—especially if I feel stuck about some character or issue in the MU. He has this way of encouraging me while also giving essential, critical feedback. And we also have these great exchanges about comics in general. Even while we just casually talk, he gives me these great tutorials about comics.

Marvel.com: Would you like to tease or mention anything else?

Yona Harvey: Get prepared for some incredible artwork and exciting adventures. I hope readers will enjoy this story!

Yona Harvey, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Butch Guice launch BLACK PANTHER & THE CREW into action this April!