Ten years ago I went to the theater and watched Iron Man the little film derided at the time by mainstream Hollywood that launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, yesterday my sweetie-wife and I watched the latest release in the global phenomenon Black Panther.

Introduced into the MCU as a principal character in Captain America: Civil War, Black Panther continues the storyline of T’Challa (The Black Panther) as he returned home after the death of his father to assume the mantel of King of Wakanda. Wakanda is a mythical African kingdom in the MCU that is home to a reclusive and secretive people who possess both high technology and the only access to the metal Vibranium. (The material that gives Captain America’s shield it physics defying properties.) Once home T’challa is confronted with truths that have been withheld from his entire life, the complicated relationship with his ex-love Nakia, challenges to his rule, and deep moral question of what do we owe to our fellow human beings?

These story elements while clothed in comic-book action sequences, but are propelled by character and given depth by philosophy. The writing is spot on with characters having a distinct personality illuminated by dialogue and action that makes each person pop out the moment that appear on the screen. The history or Wakanda, its cultures, and the characters give a sense of deep world-building bringing verisimilitude to the fantastic setting and story, The actors are all wonderful in their performances, shining with talent and intelligence and I have my own suspicions on who will become fan favorites.

Aside from a few minor quibbles with SFX shots that are not quite up to par for the rest of the movie and a couple of gags that broke my willing suspension of disbelief this movie has set a high bar for the rest of the MCU films to follow. Of the 18 films so far released my favorites are Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War and now Black Panther. If you want me to rank them 1 thru 3 I cannot because which one takes the top spot will always be up to my mood at that moment.

Black Panther is worth full price IMAX tickets, go see this movie. It is fun, it is emotional, and it has interestingly things to say. In our current political environment we do not deserve Black Panther but we are fortunate enough to have it just the same.