ORLANDO, Fla. —  Orlando comic book shops Saturday honored the legacy of Chadwick Boseman, the actor best-known for portraying the role of the Black Panther.

Boseman died Friday, after a four-year battle with colon cancer.


What You Need To Know

  • Chadwick Boseman played the Black Panther in Marvel movies

  • Boseman died Friday after 4-year battle with colon cancer

  • Character resonates with with fans, creators, store co-owner says

  • Store donated 10 percent of Saturday's sales to NAACP

Gods and Monsters comic shops is featuring its Black Panther collection and images of Boseman, who store co-owner Todd Fisher calls an icon, taken too soon.

“He apparently died on the same day of Jack Kirby, Jack Kirby’s 103rd birthday,” Fisher said. “Jack Kirby was the creator of the character. It’s crazy.”

Kirby first created the Black Panther in the 1960s during the civil rights movement.

“Man, did it resonate,” Fisher said. “It resonated with an entire generation of not only fans but creators, future creators, reading this and getting empowered by these stories, and of course, no one told stories like Stan and Jack Kirby.”

Fast forward to 2016, when Bosemen’s debuted as King T’Challah.

“He brought such depth and honesty to the role,” Fisher said.

Boseman’s struggle with colon cancer also began in 2016.

Fisher said he never would have known from watching the movie that Boseman was facing his own health battle as well as the fights his character engaged in on screen

“I wouldn’t have expected to have been as affected by Chadwick’s death as I am,” Fisher said. “But I was balling like stupid this morning. I was a mess. I was watching old interviews with him and families, and it was beautiful to see how genuine and loving and caring he was with these total strangers.”

So he thought it would be a good idea to honor Boseman’s legacy by donating to a cause that could help pave the way for future creators to continue it.

Fisher is donating 10 percent of his entire store’s sales from Saturday to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

 “That’s because they say they want to empower the next person of color to become the next hero,” Fisher said.

The store will continue its special display of Black Panther merchandise and works from creators of color, Fisher said.