Marvel's New Black Panther Sparks Internet Meltdown — And Yes, He Looks Like Ryan Gosling
So, yeah… Marvel did it. They’ve officially unveiled a new Black Panther — and let’s just say, the internet is imploding. If you haven’t heard yet, The World To Come #1 , which just dropped, introduces a new character wearing the mantle of the Black Panther. And plot twist? He’s white. Blond hair, blue eyes. Yeah. That happened.
This isn’t just any alternate universe story — this is being pitched as a future of the main Marvel 616 Universe. Christopher Priest and Joe Quesada have taken the reigns on this six-issue mini-series, and the first issue alone is already doing what it promised: making headlines. And memes. Lots of memes. The Ryan Gosling comparisons are everywhere. I mean, Ketema, the new Panther, honestly looks like Marvel yanked Gosling straight out of Drive and threw a vibranium suit on him.
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The story kicks off with T’Challa’s death as an old man, setting off a powerful look back — and forward — at Wakanda’s legacy. Enter Ketema: T’Challa’s son. Born from a rekindled relationship with Monica Lynne, a classic character from Panther’s past, Ketema challenges his father for the throne in a ritual combat that’s both symbolic and heartbreaking. And yes, he wins. But here’s the part that’s got people doing digital double takes — Ketema is visually white. And no, this isn’t some multiverse or “What If?” scenario. This is meant to be a legitimate heir to the Black Panther legacy.
Naturally, fans are split. Some are defending the creative risk and Priest’s bold approach. Others… not so much. The backlash has been intense, swift, and sarcastic. Twitter exploded with reactions like “They did the Ryan Gosling meme!” and “A white Black Panther before GTA6!” — the kind of chaos only Marvel could generate. There are even people jokingly fan-casting Gosling himself in the role if this ever made it to the big screen.
What’s wild is this is all being written by Christopher Priest — the legendary Black writer who redefined Black Panther back in the early 2000s and helped shape the version that ended up on movie screens. Priest has said this story is his world to come, one that’s not fully tied into the rest of Marvel’s continuity, giving him space to do something... well, like this.
At the center of it, the comic is trying to tackle something deeper: legacy, family, and the complicated mess that identity can be — especially in a place like Wakanda where tradition meets innovation. But it’s also a gut-punch of a headline: a white-presenting man now wears the mask of Marvel’s most iconic African king. Is it brilliant social commentary or a misfire wrapped in shock value? That depends on who you ask.
All I know is this: whether you’re in for the story or just want to see what all the fuss is about, The World To Come is definitely going to be the most talked-about comic of the year. And probably the most meme’d. Ryan Gosling might be trending again tomorrow — and not because of Barbie 2 .
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