New variant covers from Marvel Comics have just revealed that the Black Panther will be taking on a new identity and role in the upcoming Heroes Reborn event: Ronin. Just like the original Heroes Reborn event 25 years ago, Marvel's heroes will have their origins revamped and altered. However, this new arc from current Avengers writer Jason Aaron will be making changes on a much bigger level, with the whole world presumedly being changed. While the main difference will be that the Avengers never assembled, this will apparently create a butterfly effect that will affect the Marvel Universe as a whole, including Black Panther and his kingdom of Wakanda.
Prior teases and solicitations for Heroes Reborn have revealed that the Squadron Supreme of America will become Earth's Mightiest Heroes rather than the Avengers. While this is particularly concerning (the SSA are seemingly under the control of a dark Phil Coulson and his master the demon lord Mephisto), other elements will reportedly be different as well, such as the tease that Peter Parker never got his spider-powers, or that Hawkeye and Black Widow will become villains as part of the new Siege Society. Furthermore, Wakanda will have never made its presence known to the world, and will instead remain hidden, no more than a myth and legend in the remote regions of Africa.
It remains to be seen what this means for Wakanda's King T'Challa, who was instrumental in revealing and integrating Wakanda to the rest of the world. While it's unclear what seems to have changed his mind, it's possible that witnessing the actions of SSA instead of the Avengers did little to inspire him to do anything different with his rule and nation. However, a new variant cover from artist Carlos Pacheco for Black Panther #25 reveals that T'Challs may still be seeking to be a hero to the rest of the world, taking on a new identity as a new Ronin.
The mantle of the Ronin is one that has been held by multiple Marvel characters in the past such as Hawkeye (hence his appearance in Avengers: Endgame), and Maya Lopez's Echo (the first Ronin). However, it's still a mystery as to why Black Panther will become a new Ronin. While Wakanda has chosen to remain hidden, perhaps T'Challa doesn't feel the same way? Being Ronin would give him the opportunity to venture out into the world without raising any kind of suspicions back to his secret nation.
Either way, seeing Black Panther as the Ronin King is going to be a very intriguing element of Heroes Reborn to say the least. T'Challa is one of the most powerful and formidable Avengers in the Marvel Universe, and now that the Avengers will be no more in this new reality, it will be interesting to see where Black Panther's journey goes instead with his new mantle when Heroes Reborn releases in May from Marvel Comics.