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Bast (Marvel Comics)

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Bast is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared as an idol in Fantastic Four #52 (cover-dated July 1966), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and is based on the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. Bast is a member of the Heliopolitan and Wakandan pantheons. and the patron of the superhero Black Panther.[2]

Bast
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAs idol:
Fantastic Four #52 (July 1966)
As Sacred Black Panther:
Fantastic Four #53 (August 1966)
As Panther-God:
Avengers Vol. 1 #87 (April 1971)
As Panther Spirit.:
Black Panther Vol. 1 #9 (May 1978)
As Bast:
Black Panther Vol. 3 #21 (August 2000)
Created byStan Lee and Jack Kirby
In-story information
Team affiliationsHeliopolitan Gods
The Orisha
Notable aliasesBastet
Babastis
Cat God
Cat Goddess
Lady of the East
Panther Goddess
Baast-Hathor[1]
Panther spirit[2]
Sacred Black Panther

Bast appears in the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film Black Panther (2018) and was interpreted by Akosia Sabet in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Publication history

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Bast or Bastet is an ancient Egyptian goddess represented as a black cat. Bast first appeared in Marvel comics alongside Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 as an idol,[2] referred to as a male deity, the Sacred Black Panther.[3]

In Avengers #87 (April 1971), written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Sal Buscema, he is referred to as Panther-God. In Black Panther vol. 1 #7 (cover-dated January 1978), written and illustrated by Jack Kirby, the first Black Panther, Olumo Bashenga,[4] is said to have instituted the Panther cult.[5] In Black Panther vol. 1 #9 (cover-dated May 1978), written and illustrated by Jack Kirby and the four issue Black Panther miniseries (1988), written by Peter B. Gillis and illustrated by Denys Cowan, is referred to as Panther spirit.[2] In Black Panther vol. 3 #21 (cover-dated August 2000) written by Christopher Priest and illustrated by Sal Velutto the Panther-God of Wakanda was retconned as Bast.[2] In Black Panther vol. 6 #13 (cover-date June 2017) written by Ta-Nehisi Coates and illustrated by Wilfredo Torres it is revealed that Bast is part of the Wakandan pantheon, called The Orisha,[6][7] also composed of gods from various places in Africa: Thoth and Ptah, as Bast are from Egypt,[8] Mujaji from South Africa[9][10] and Kokou is a war deity of Benin.[11][12] Orisha is a Yoruba word meaning spirit or deity,[13] previously revealed that Yoruba was one of the official languages of Wakanda.[14] At first, the authors portrayed Bast as a male deity, but today they portray him as his analogue in Egyptian mythology.[2][1]

Fictional character biography

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Bast the Panther Goddess is one of the eldest of the Ennead and the primary deity of Wakanda.[8] The daughter of the powerful Egyptian sun god Atum / Ra, Bast inherited her father's life-giving heat while her sister, the lion goddess Sekhmet, inherited his fiery, destructive fury.[8] Bast was worshipped on Earth as early as 10,000 BC, granting power to her worshippers "the Children of Bast" and their descendants in the mountaintop city of Bastet, the High Kingdom.[15][8]

After Egypt's mortal pharaohs rose to power, Bast began to obtain worshippers in the area that would one day become Wakanda as the "Panther God."[8] Her sister Sekhmet arrived later and came to be worshipped in Wakanda as the "Lion God."[8]

Before the emergence of the Wakandan nation, mystic beings known as Originators were expelled from the region by the humans and the Orisha, the pantheon of Wakanda consisting of Thoth, Ptah, Mujaji, Kokou and Bast.[6][7] Her other sister, K'Liluna, considered a betrayer, was banished from the pantheon.[16][17] Bast also battled against another god, Magba.[18]

Eons ago during the First Blasphemy, Khonshu tries to avenge a prisoner that was killed by Varnae only for Bast to tell Khonshu to stay his hand. Varnae stole Vibranium from the Fires of Ptah and planned to ascend to godhood. This attracted the attention of Khonshu who met with Bast, Eshu, Gherke, and Ptah during Ra's slumber. He wants the gods in the surrounding realms to be made aware before he retaliates. He gets their support alongside the support of Kokou the Ever-Burning. In the distant past, Bast and Gherke lead the Enneads and the Orishas against Varnae's forces. Kokou confronts Varnae in his temple. The prisoners are evacuated as Bast instructs the black panthers to take the prisoners west and wait for the news of victory.[19]

In the distant past, a massive meteorite made up of the element vibranium crashed in Wakanda. The meteorite was named Mena Ngai.[20] After the vibranium meteor fell, a number of Wakandans were painfully mutated into "demon spirits" and began attacking their fellow Wakandans. According to legends, during the tumult, T'Challa's ancestor Bashenga composed of various warring clans, he gathered all the aforementioned under his guide to defeating the inhabitants transformed by the impact into fierce "demonic spirits", a company which has unified the nation by founding Wakanda and becoming its first ruler[21][22] and the first to obtain the title of "Black Panther" as it tells of his "spiritual connection" with the Panther Goddess Bast that led to the foundation of the Panther cult.[5]

Other versions

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Main article: Ultimate Black Panther

In the pages of "Ultimate Invasion", Maker traveled to Earth-6160 and remade it into his own image. Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu are depicted as members of the Maker's Council, serving as the theocratic rulers of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms of Africa. It is said that during meetings, Lord Ra speaks when the Sun is up and Lord Khonshu speaks when the Moon is up, as Emmanuel da Costa mentions this during a conversation with Howard Stark.[23] Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu also work together under the name of Moon Knight where they soon face opposition from Black Panther as they intend on annexing Wakanda.[24] Just like in the mainstream universe, Bast is the patron goddess of Wakanda.[25]

In other media

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Films

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Marvel Cinematic Universe

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The gods Bast and Sekhmet were both mentioned by T'Challa / Black Panther in the 2016 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: Civil War, with T'Challa explaining, "In my culture, death is not the end. It's more of a stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands, and Bast and Sekhmet, they lead you into the green veld where you can run forever."[26] Bast is again mentioned in the prologue of the 2018 film Black Panther as having helped the first Black Panther become king of Wakanda.[27] In the film Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), Bast is part of the Council of Godheads and was interpreted as a black woman, played by actress Akosia Sabet.[28]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Panther God Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-06-04.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Panther God (Black Panther character/Egyptian God)". The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  3. ^ "The Way It Began..!". Fantastic Four. 1 (53). August 1966. From this moment forth– I live with but one thought– one aim– one goal!! This deed must be avenged! Klaw shall pay– in full measure! I shall be as strong– and as fearless– as the Sacred Black Panther!! This do I swear to T'Chaka– my father who is no more!"

    "To The Wakandian male, The Black Panther represents a figurative god image, and is considered to be a sacred being as the cow is venerated in India. --Religious Fanatic Stan.
  4. ^ Horne, Karama (2022-09-20). Black Panther: Protectors of Wakanda: A History and Training Manual of the Dora Milaje from the Marvel Universe. becker&mayer! books ISBN. ISBN 978-0-7603-7580-8.
  5. ^ a b "The religion of Black Panther (T'Challa)". Adherents.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ a b "A Guide to the Myths, Legends, and Gods of Wakanda". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  7. ^ a b "Black Panther's Sequel Could Bring a New Mythology Into the MCU". 21 February 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2018-02-22.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Anthony Flamini, Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente & Paul Cornell (w), Kevin Sharpe (p), Kevin Sharpe (i). Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica, no. 1 (July 2009). Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Philip, Neil; Wilkinson, Philip (2007-09-03). Eyewitness Companions: Mythology: World Myths, Gods, Heroes, Creatures, Mythical Places. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-7566-4221-1.
  10. ^ "Au-delà de l'Afrique: l'épopée yoruba". AfriqueRenouveau (in French). 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
  11. ^ Butler, Stuart (2006). Benin: The Bradt Travel Guide. Bradt Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-84162-148-7.
  12. ^ "Au-delà de l'Afrique: l'épopée yoruba". AfriqueRenouveau (in French). 2020-01-20. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  13. ^ Landry, Jim (2016-12-08). Orishas: African Hidden gods of Worship. Truth Book Publishers. ISBN 978-1-61813-281-9.
  14. ^ Michael Hoskin, Anthony Flamini, Eric J. Moreels & Stuart Vandal (w). Marvel Atlas, no. 2 (May 2008). Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Gerry Conway (w), José Delbo (p), Mark Texeira (i). "The Shape in the Shadow" Conan the Barbarian Vol 1, no. 226 (December 1989). Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ "Erik Killmonger (Wakandan; Black Panther foe)". www.marvunapp.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  17. ^ Hill, James; Jones, Nick (2021-11-30). Marvel Universe Map By Map. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-7440-5875-8.
  18. ^ Matadeen, Renaldo (2022-11-09). "Black Panther Just Introduced a New God - Who is Already an Enemy of Wakanda". CBR. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
  19. ^ Black Panther: Blood Hunt #2. Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ "Black Panther: How the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda Was Built". CBR. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  21. ^ Black Panther #7 (January 1978)
  22. ^ "When Did Black Panther First Become a Hereditary Title?". CBR. February 27, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  23. ^ Ultimate Invasion #3. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^ Ultimate Black Panther #1-2. Marvel Comics.
  25. ^ Ultimate Black Panther #3. Marvel Comics.
  26. ^ Drew, Tom (2020-11-29). "Disney+ Changes Black Panther's Opening To Honor Chadwick Boseman". The Direct. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  27. ^ Armitage, Hugh (February 15, 2018). "Updated: 11 Black Panther Easter eggs and references to the wider Marvel world". Digital Spy. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  28. ^ "New Thor: Love and Thunder Photo Confirms Major Black Panther 2 Connection". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
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