Black Panther is King, But Wakanda's Throne is A Terrible Idea
Warning: contains spoilers for Black Panther Legends #3!
Marvel's Black Panther may be a legendary franchise and an inspiration to many, but the government of Wakanda leaves much to be desired. The fictional country has appeared in Marvel comics, animated television shows and feature films (all of which have made over one billion dollars at the global box office), ensuring Wakanda's place in modern pop culture. But Black Panther Legends #3 reveals that the government of Wakanda is inherently unstable, and has the potential to collapse at any moment.
In the world of Marvel comics, Wakanda is a true outlier of a country; the land remains the only African nation not conquered or colonized by the British. Moreover, it has never been successfully invaded by any other neighboring country, thanks to the nation's incredible technological advancements brought on by a supply of vibranium, an incredibly rare metal with unique properties. The entire country is ruled by the Black Panther - a warrior-king who represents the monarchy of Wakanda. However, the system does allow for democracy of sorts: the tournament.
In Black Panther Legends #3, then-prince T'Challa is away from his country while Hunter, his white adoptive brother, rules the Wakandan secret police with an iron fist. He knows T'Challa will eventually return because "...today is the day of the tournament...every five years, the reigning Black Panther is challenged for the throne. And anyone who can defeat my uncle in combat will become ruler of Wakanda." The tournament has been seen before in multiple stories - 2018's Black Panther MCU film as well as the 2005 Black Panther relaunch and the animated series adaptation - and in every incarnation, the idea is monumentally flawed.
It is possible for a Wakandan to be a formidable warrior and a subpar leader; this individual could easily win a tournament and rule Wakanda right into the ground without the training given to the royal family. Perhaps the tournament is meant to be purely ceremonial, but as readers see from the way Hunter attempts to prevent T'Challa from attending, this is not the case. The ceremony is perhaps a way for more egalitarian writers to instill democracy in a country with a longstanding tradition of monarchy, but these systems of government are incompatible, at least while the king wields absolute power.
In current Marvel continuity, T'Challa's role as ruler has been reduced to that of a figurehead while other politicians have the power that the King once wielded. This is perhaps a step in the right direction for Wakanda, but it is not enough. The Black Panther mustn't be chosen through a candidate's strength in battle alone.