| Everett K. Ross | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Ka-Zar #17 (September 1998) |
| Created by | Kenny Martinez Christopher Priest |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Everett Kenneth Ross |
| Species | Human |
| Place of origin | Earth |
| Team affiliations | National Security Agency United States Department of State |
| Supporting character of | Black Panther |
Everett Kenneth Ross is afictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Primarily an ally of superheroBlack Panther, the character exists within Marvel's mainshared universe, known as theMarvel Universe.
Martin Freeman portrays the character in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmsCaptain America: Civil War (2016),Black Panther (2018),Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and theDisney+ miniseriesSecret Invasion (2023).
Everett Ross debuted inKa-Zar Vol. 3, #17, and was created byChristopher Priest and Kenny Martinez. Afterward, Ross went on to be a major character inBlack Panther Vol. 3, #1-32, #34-35, #38-49, #57-58, and #62. Ross subsequently appeared in issues #1-2, #4-6, #16, #19, #21-24, #26, and #37 ofBlack Panther Vol. 4, and issue #7 ofBlack Panther Vol. 5. Outside ofBlack Panther, Ross had a guest role inTheUncanny X-Men Vol. 1, #387.
According to creator Christopher Priest, Ross's personality was based on that ofChandler Bing, a character from the television seriesFriends, while the name was inspired by theFamily Ties characterAlex P. Keaton.[1] After introducing Ross inKa-Zar, Priest chose to bring the character back inBlack Panther for use as anaudience surrogate who "saw Panther the way Panther had ultimately come to be seen by Marvel: Just Some Guy who was routinely overshadowed by heroes in which they were more invested".[2]
Priest further elaborated, "Comics are traditionally created by white males for white males. I figured, and I believe rightly, that forBlack Panther to succeed, it needed a white male at the center, and that white male had to give voice to the audience's misgivings or apprehensions or assumptions about this character and this book. Ross needed to be un-PC to the point of being borderline racist"; and clarified, "I don't think Ross was racist at all. I just think that his stream-of-conscious narrative is a window into things I imagine many whites say or at least think when no blacks are around; myths about black culture and behavior. I was also introducing a paradigm shift to the way Panther was to be portrayed; somebody had to give voice to the expectation of a dull and colorless character who always got his butt kicked or who was overshadowed byThor andIron Man suddenly knocking outMephisto with one punch".[3]
Everett Ross was a US State Department employee, whose job was to escort foreign diplomats on American soil. As a child, Ross was not well adjusted. Obese and unloved by his mother, he was constantly bullied with his most embarrassing memory being beaten up by a girl named Natalie McPhail. He eventually left home and turned his life around by working for the government.[4] His world changed forever when he was assigned to T'Challa, theBlack Panther and ruler ofWakanda.
Everett and T'Challa faced multiple threats to Wakanda's sovereignty. Ross assists him in many of these threats. In gratitude, the Panther often risks much for Ross in return. The first threat he and Ross encounter is 'Xcon', an alliance of rogue intelligence agents backing a coup led by the ReverendAchebe.[5]
As an expert on Wakanda, Ross worked as an adviser alongside government officials and theNational Security Agency. He was part of a meeting at theWhite House about Wakanda.[6]
Ross subsequently acts as a liaison forShuri, the younger sister of Black Panther, during Shuri's first goodwill visit to the United States. When their convoy is attacked by assassins, Shuri saves Ross's life.[7]
The World Security Council later selects Ross to prosecute the tribunal ofS.H.I.E.L.D. directorMaria Hill.[8]
In an alternate future seen in theBlack Panther storyline "The Once and Future King", an elderly Ross is abducted by a cabal of villains assembled by T'Charra, who intends to use Ross as the bait in his plan to kill and usurp Black Panther.[10] Ross is rescued by Black Panther, who he in turn saves when Black Panther suffers a heart attack, resuscitating the hero while screaming, "Your majesty—come back—blast you, T'Challa—we've been through too much!!"[11]
During the "Rising Storm!" story-arc of the seriesX-Men Forever, a version of Ross appears on Earth-161. AfterStorm is outed as a murderer and an ally of a criminal organization called the Consortium, she flees to and is given sanctuary by Wakanda, to the consternation of Ross.[12] Ross subsequently appears on behalf of the President of the United States at both the United Nations (where he warns the other representatives about the threat posed by Storm's takeover of Wakanda) and a meeting with the heads ofGenosha andS.H.I.E.L.D.[13][14]
Everett Ross appears inBlack Panther (2011), voiced by David Busch.
Martin Freeman portrays Everett Ross in media set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). This version was a member of theUnited States Air Force before joining theCIA and is the ex-husband of the latter's directorValentina Allegra de Fontaine.
Everett K. Ross appears inLego Marvel Super Heroes 2,[19] as part of the "Black Panther"DLC.
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