How Marvel Comics Contain Complex Energy Infrastructure

I noted in the previous article about smokehouses that you can do the “energy infrastructure” analysis on any civilization, and you will see the same concepts at work.

I noted that you could even do this for a hypothetical or fictional civilization. And this is what Marvel Comics brilliantly did beginning in Fantastic Four #52, in 1966 when it introduced Wakanda to the world.

Marvel nerds can correctly note that Wakanda and Black Panther are quite old, notwithstanding the recent and hugely popular Black Panther movies.

But here’s the punch line.

At the risk of taking the fun out of it, ultimately Wakanda is best understood as a civilization with incredibly advanced energy infrastructure, built upon the nation’s rich natural resources, including, and most importantly, an abundance of Vibranium, a rare and powerful fictional metal with unique energy properties.

How did Wakanda get a lock on the global supply of Vibranium?

Well, through an unrepeatable freak of nature event. Wakanda is situated atop a massive deposit of Vibranium caused by a meteorite impact that occurred thousands of years ago. The meterorite brought a huge Vibranium deposit to the earth, but only to the place where it hit. Not long after the meteorite hit, the people who would become Wakandans discovered the metal and began developing it. Vibranium and Wakanda are inseparable.

What makes Vibranium special? (And we note again that it is fictional…).

Well, Vibranium can store vast amounts of energy. Its molecular structure absorbs and stores kinetic energy, the energy of motion. When Vibranium is struck by an object or hit with a force, it absorbs the energy of the impact and stores it within its molecular structure. Vibranium can also absorb sound waves (a form of kinetic energy) which can be converted into heat energy and dissipated safely and productively.

The stored kinetic energy in Vibranium can also be processed and released or harnessed for a variety of purposes, such as powering energy shields, weapons, and spacecraft. Vibranium is also used to enhance physical abilities, such as strength, agility, and durability. (It’s noteworthy that

Captain America’s shield is composed of a unique Vibranium alloy known as proto-adamantium, and is even stronger than pure Vibranium. But let’s not digress too much).

In addition to an abundance of Vibranium, Wakanda also has access to other natural resources that support its energy infrastructure. For example, the nation’s vast forests and waterways provide a source of renewable energy used to power many of Wakanda’s homes and businesses.

The Wakandans have also developed advanced transportation infrastructure that enables the efficient and rapid movement of people and goods across the nation. One key component of Wakanda’s transportation infrastructure is the Maglev train system which uses magnetic levitation technology to float above the tracks, thus eliminating friction and enabling the trains to travel at high speeds with minimal energy consumption. The Maglev train system connects the major cities and towns of Wakanda, thus providing a fast, efficient, comfortable and environmentally friendly mode of transportation for both goods and people.

Wakanda also has a network of advanced roadways designed to meet the unique needs of the nation’s people and environment. These roadways are made from advanced materials, such as

Vibranium-infused concrete (of course!), which enhances their durability and resistance to wear and tear. The roadways also feature advanced sensors and other technologies that enable them to detect and respond to changing conditions, such as traffic congestion or adverse weather. Sound familiar? (Again, keep in mind the Wakanda universe was pretty well-defined by Marvel by the mid-1970s).

Wakanda’s transportation infrastructure also includes a fleet of advanced aircraft, including the iconic Wakandan hovercraft, powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind, and are equipped with advanced avionics and other technologies that enable them to operate in even the most challenging conditions.

Wakanda’s energy infrastructure is also supported by advanced processing technologies, primarily focused on converting the stored energy of Vibranium into a multitude of safe and efficient uses. And not surprisingly, the development of Vibranium use and thus the energy infrastructure of Wakanda is led by a research and development lab called the Wakanda Design Group. So the country has a well-developed (and uncorrupted) knowledge system that functions very well to continually upgrade the country’s technology.

All in all, we see yet again, in worlds both real and imagined, civilization and prosperity are defined by energy infrastructure, and energy infrastructure empowers the rest of that world to function and prosper. Even in fiction, these concepts are irreplaceable. At a deep level, we all know that prosperity and civilization are inseparable from energy infrastructure.

But returning to the real world and leaving behind the world of “let’s pretend”, in the next article we will look at takeaways from Wakanda when considering our world’s energy infrastructure.