From radio-active genetic mutation to magically bestowed power, the heart-shaped herb and super-soldier serum are merely two faucets in which characters from Marvel Comics have obtained some level of superhuman abilities. Nevertheless, with Black Panther & Captain America, their iconic hand-to-hand combat coupled with peak human-condition made them some of the most formidable men to go up against.
So the question has to be asked, who would come out on top in a one-on-one brawl? Does Steve's tenacity eclipse that of T'Challa's? Let take a dive into dissecting these two iconic characters and determine who'd be the stronger Avenger.
10 Captain America's Super-Soldier Serum Made Him The Perfect Human Specimen
Being the original super-soldier, the ambition and drive of the frail Steve Rodgers' eclipsed the lack of physical showmanship. A mere chemical cocktail, his human-enhancing serum simply brought forth the possibility of taking down the bad guys and fighting the good fight, but his urge to fight for justice remained incorruptible and steadfast. A beacon in the superhero community, Captain America is the perfect specimen of the peak-human condition and is quoted as being "the next step in human evolution, while remaining completely human" by the serums creator, Abraham Erskine.
9 Black Panther's Heart-Shaped Herb Enhanced His Physical Attributes & Heightened His Senses
Consuming the heart-shaped herb grants the sitting king abilities very akin to that super-soldier serum except that alternatively to being a scientifically engineered compound, it is a naturally growing herb. Ancient Wakanda believed it to be a gift from the Panther God, Bast, but it was in fact a mutated plant that had been fused with a crashed Vibranium meteorite from millennia ago. Nonetheless, aside from enhancing his physical attributes, the senses of the Black Panther are heightened to superhuman levels as well, giving him the ability to pick up a heartbeat, track any scent, and see in total darkness. Whether that gives him an edge over Cap is inclusive as they have both bested each other in combat.
8 Brute Strength In The Comics: Captain America Can Bench-Press 1,100lbs As A Warmup, While Black Panther Can Bulldog A 3,000lb Rhino
Commonly an ability wielded by those in the superhero community, super-strength is usually standard to anyone enhanced with superpowers, & for the likes of characters like the Incredible Hulk, super-strength is the bread and butter that makes the character so awesome. Nonetheless, while not insanely powerful in strength, T'Challa and Steve definitely exceed that of heavy-weight lifters with both easily carrying up to 800lbs. In addition, Steve is capable of bench-pressing 1,100lbs as a warmup, while T'Challa can bulldog a 3,000lb rhinoceros and leap 10 feet off the ground solely off leg-strength.
7 Brute Strength In The MCU: Both Are Nearly Matched In Combat
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The MCU did well in highlighting that Steve and T'Challa are nearly matched in combat with the two going up against each other in Captain America: Civil War. While several instances exist of Cap hurling a guy with a mere punch or kick, one of the most fascinating was his feat of keeping Bucky Barnes from escaping in a helicopter by essentially pulling it back towards the helipad. Later at the Leipzig-Halle International airport, a battle between Cap and T'Challa commences, and when Cap blocks T'Challa's advances with his shield, T'Challa seemingly begins to overpower Steve by driving his shield down until his hold is broken. Furthermore, in a homage to his comic book counterpart, 2018's Black Panther saw T'Challa take down a charging rhinoceros in the climactic battle.
6 Steve's Losses Were Quite Devastating
When it comes to Marvel Comics, Captain America's word is pretty much law as his influence is wide-ranging due to him being one of the most revered heroes within the community. Serving as a rallying point, Steve Rogers fights for the idea of honor, sacrifice, & righteousness and has been represented as the last man standing several times. However, through his courage, he has also seen and experienced great loss.
For starters, the time Steve lost being frozen in ice is time he can never get back, he's been bested after battling Thanos, and has been assassinated by trusted friends. However, one of his most glaring depictions of defeat was in Brian Micheal Bendis's Age of Ultron after Ultron conquered the earth. Captain America sat in defeat, wallowing in his own self-pity for not saving more people while the remaining heroes waited for him to pull it together and lead them to victory.
5 T'Challa's Losses Are Defined By What's Right Vs What's Right For His Country
Being King of a nation, and a technologically advanced one at that, undoubtedly comes with its perks. However, as with such titles, it also comes with a profound burden. The fine line between fighting for what's right and what's right by your country is a difficult one to discern as the two are often not synonymous with each other. Often loved and respected by his people, T'Challa is likewise scorned by those who feel his engagement with the outside world is a dereliction of duty towards protecting the sanctity of the kingdom. Killmonger's success in usurping the Wakandan throne is one of T'Challa's most glaring failures, nevertheless, his act of rendering all Vibranium inert after Doom War issued a significant public disdain as the source of the country's wealth and prosperity was now virtually worthless.
4 Steve's Fight Against Thanos Was Fan Service
In Avengers: Infinity War, many questions were raised around how effective Captain Americas' super-soldier serum was as it was perceived Thanos was held back for a moment by Cap. Nonetheless, Avengers: Endgame would pit the two against each other in a more drawn-out and rugged battle that produced one of the most epic fights not only in the MCU but in the overall action genre.
Seeing the MCU trinity (Iron Man, Cap, & Thor) face off against the Mad Titan delivered exceptional action sequences, but Cap's battle against a battle-hardened Thanos was pure fan service that's notably memorable, especially when Thanos is thrashed by a Mjolnir wielding Cap.
3 T'Challa Conquers Part Of Thanos' Black Order
While Steve Rogers' highlights against the Mad Titan extend to both comics and movies, T'Challa's attempt at subduing Thanos in Infinity War resulted in him being brutally choke-slammed and inevitably dusted away. His return in Endgame included the subsequent return of Wakandan forces which aided in holding back Thanos, but his role in Jonathan Hickman's Infinity displayed a more grandiose feat in T'Challa conquering part of the Black Order. Much like the Infinity War movie, an infinity stone is said to be in Wakanda leading to Thanos sending his Black Order there to obtain it. Biting off more than they can chew, Wakanda fends off the attack but not without mass casualties on their side.
2 Steve's Character Arc Is Undoubtedly Interesting
Truly a man out of time, Steve Rogers is a timeless character whose tenure in comics dates back to World War II. Being the embodiment of altruism, Steve Rogers is the hero while Captain America was merely the serum, a means to put his ideas into action and fight the good fight.
However, this soldier protects not only his nation but the entirety of the world, a notion that has put him at odds with governmental orders that compromise his idea of truth and freedom. From the abandonment of his Captain America mantle, both as Nomad and Hydra Cap, to his worthiness to live a happy life with Peggy Carter, the Steve Rogers arc across film and comics is undoubtedly interesting and one that leaves an impression if invested.
1 T'Challa's Character Arc Shows His Tender Kindness That Separates Him From The Rigidness Of His Ancestors
A revered yet controversial king to his people, T'Challa protects his Wakandan nation jealously and holds no qualm with annihilating perceived threats to the sovereignty of his nation. Understand, holding the reigns of the most technologically advanced nation on earth does bring in the issue of adversaries, those with exceeding substantive power, pushing Wakanda and its king to the limit.
A fallen yet loved king that propelled his people to the stars in what would become the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda, T'Challa's tender kindness towards outside nations separates him from the rigidness of his ancestors, inviting greater conflict towards the prosperity of his people.