Black Panther: Is The Soul Stone In Wakanda?

With Avengers: Infinity War quickly approaching, many Marvel fans are still wondering where the final Infinity Stone, the Soul Stone, will be found.

There have been several theories, mostly revolving around the Asgardians. The most common one is that Heimdall secretly uses the Soul Stone to guard the Bifrost. Another extrapolation on that theory suggests that the Soul Stone will be a major factor in Hela’s quest for souls in Thor: Ragnarok.

But the Asgardian theories aren’t without their problems, and there are other possibilities. One is that the Soul Stone rests in Wakanda, the African kingdom of the Black Panther.

Spiritual Deities

A lot of this theory is based more on the Black Panther’s history in the Marvel Comic Universe than on the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After all, Black Panther was only one member of an ensemble cast in his debut in Captain America: Civil War, and Wakanda was only shown in the film’s post-credits scene.

In the Marvel Comics lore, Wakanda is a kingdom with an intense spiritual connection. That connection began when a cosmic body crashed down to Earth. The meteor brought vibranium, the source of Wakanda’s technological prowess, but also transformed the nearby people into demons. It was the first Black Panther who stopped them from destroying the region.

Since then, the Black Panther has been given a special herb that grants him enhanced senses and physical abilities granted by Bast, the Panther gods. There are other religious orders, including those dedicated to the white gorilla, lion, and crocodile gods.

We don’t yet know if the spiritual aspect of the Black Panther mythology will translate into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but the Soul Stone could explain why it effects Wakanda in particular.

King of the Dead

There was a time when T’Challa lost his connection to Bast. When he regained it his powers were increased.

He regained his previously enhanced strength, reflexes, and senses. In addition, Black Panther is crowned the “King of the Dead.” The new title came with some new abilities, including giving T’Challa the knowledge of all of the previous Black Panthers as well as control over the undead.

Perhaps over the course of Black Panther, T’Challa loses or needs to enhance his connection to Bast. To do so, he goes on a quest to Necropolis, the Wakandan city of the dead, and finds the Soul Stone, which would likely be disguised as something else like all of the other Infinity Stones have been. The power of the Soul Stone could easily explain Black Panther’s new connection to his Black Panther predecessors and the living dead.

Thanos Attacks Wakanda

Placing the Soul Stone in Wakanda could also lead to an epic showdown similar to the one that took place during the Marvel Comics Infinity event.

During the Infinity event, Thanos and his Black Order came to Earth to search for the Infinity Gems (the equivalent of the Infinity Stones in the Marvel Comics Universe).

Black Dwarf, one of the Black Order, was sent to confront the nation of Wakanda, but Wakanda was ready and one of the only nations able to defend itself from Thanos’ onslaught.

So what if, through knowledge imparted to the Black Panthers, Wakanda sees Thanos’ invasion coming before Avengers: Infinity War begins and prepare a defense? We don’t expect the Black Order to be involved, but this could create and epic battle, and an epic standoff between Black Panther and Thanos.