Bast (Marvel Comics)

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
AbilitiesEnnead physiology

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 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

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.

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,[3] is said to have instituted the Panther cult.[4] 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,[5][6] alongside gods from throughout Africa: Thoth and Ptah (Egypt),[7] Mujaji (South Africa), and Kokou (Benin). In later stories, Bast is depicted as female.[2][1]

Fictional character biography

Bast the Panther Goddess is one of the eldest of the Ennead and the primary deity of Wakanda.[7] 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.[7] 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.[8][7]

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."[7] Her sister Sekhmet arrived later and came to be worshipped in Wakanda as the "Lion God."[7]

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.[5][6] Her other sister, K'Liluna, considered a betrayer, was banished from the pantheon.[9][10] Bast also battled against another god, Magba.[11]

Eons ago during the First Blasphemy, Khonshu tries to avenge a prisoner who was killed by Varnae, only for Bast to tell Khonshu to stay his hand. Varnae steals vibranium from the Fires of Ptah and plans to ascend to godhood. This attracts the attention of Khonshu, who meets 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. Bast and Gherke lead the Enneads and the Orishas against Varnae's forces as Kokou confronts Varnae in his temple.[12]

In the distant past, a massive meteorite made of vibranium crashed in Wakanda.[13] After the vibranium meteor fell, a number of Wakandans were mutated into "demon spirits" and began attacking their fellow Wakandans. T'Challa's ancestor Bashenga gathered Wakanda's tribes under his guide, becoming the founder and first ruler of Wakanda.[14][15] Bashenga also became the first Black Panther, gaining a spiritual connection with Bast.[4]

Powers and abilities

Bast's Ennead physiology gives her immortality, super-strength, power bestowal, shapeshifting, teleportation, and solar energy absorption.

Other versions

Secret Wars (2016)

An alternate universe version of Bast appears in "Secret Wars" as the ruler of the Battleworld domain of Egyptia, alongside Khonshu.[16]

Ultimate Universe

An alternate universe version of Bast appears in Ultimate Black Panther.[17]

In other media

References

  1. ^ a b "Panther God Powers, Enemies, History | Marvel". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Panther God (Black Panther character/Egyptian God)". The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Horne, Karama (September 20, 2022). Black Panther: Protectors of Wakanda: A History and Training Manual of the Dora Milaje from the Marvel Universe. becker&mayer!. ISBN 978-0-7603-7580-8.
  4. ^ a b "The religion of Black Panther (T'Challa)". Adherents.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2006.
  5. ^ a b "A Guide to the Myths, Legends, and Gods of Wakanda". Marvel Entertainment. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Carter, Justin (February 21, 2018). "Black Panther's Sequel Could Bring a New Mythology Into the MCU". CBR. Archived from the original on February 22, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "Erik Killmonger (Wakandan; Black Panther foe)". www.marvunapp.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  10. ^ Hill, James; Jones, Nick (November 30, 2021). Marvel Universe Map By Map. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-7440-5875-8.
  11. ^ Matadeen, Renaldo (November 9, 2022). "Black Panther Introduced an Evil Wakandan God: Magba". CBR. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  12. ^ Black Panther: Blood Hunt #2
  13. ^ Sawan, Amer (January 7, 2021). "Black Panther: How the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda Was Built". CBR. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  14. ^ Black Panther #7 (January 1978)
  15. ^ Cronin, Brian (February 27, 2018). "When Did Black Panther First Become a Hereditary Title?". CBR. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  16. ^ Secret Wars #6
  17. ^ Ultimate Black Panther #3
  18. ^ Drew, Tom (November 29, 2020). "Disney+ Changes Black Panther's Opening To Honor Chadwick Boseman". The Direct. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
  19. ^ Armitage, Hugh (February 15, 2018). "Updated: 11 Black Panther Easter eggs and references to the wider Marvel world". Digital Spy. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  20. ^ Barnhardt, Adam (May 16, 2022). "New Thor: Love and Thunder Photo Confirms Major Black Panther 2 Connection". ComicBook.com. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
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