The White Wolf, Black Panther's adopted brother, has a tragic backstory that pits his love for Wakanda against his desire to upstage T'Challa.

In the jungle, the king has to always contend with other predators who either want to establish their dominance or believe themselves to be a better leader and are eager to prove it. The country of Wakanda is no stranger to such old-fashioned rule as its king T'Challa, also known as the Black Panther, has to contend with many enemies both internationally and domestically but few have the personal connection to T'Challa like the White Wolf, his adopted brother.

Created by writer Christopher Priest and artist Max Texeira, the man who would become the White Wolf debuted in Black Panther #4 as the sole survivor of a plane crash near the Wakandan border.  Although Wakandans have been isolated and xenophobic to the outside world, King T'Chaka took in the caucasian child, named Hunter, and raised him like he was his own son. However Hunter's world would change forever once T'Chaka's other son T'Challa was born. Realizing he was no longer in line to succeed the throne, Hunter challenged his jealousy and frustration of being perceived as an outsider into becoming the ideal Wakandan citizen. He trained his body and mind to perfection and was rewarded by becoming the head of the Hatut Zeraze, Wakanda's secret police force, known as the White Wolf.

His animosity with his brother T'Challa continued when T'Challa became king of Wakanda and disbanded the Hatut Zeraze, citing their merciless brutality as not fitting the direction he wanted to take the country.  The exiled Hunter and his followers would find employment as mercenaries and Hunter would come into conflict with T'Challa more than once over the years. Despite his feelings about T'Challa and his banishment, his personal bias would prove second to his devotion to Wakanda and he was known to assist Black Panther, both T'Challa and his brief replacement Kasper Cole, on occasion. More than often, Black Panther and White Wolf would find themselves at each other's throats where T'Challa would remind his brother that his Wakanda no longer had a place for someone like him.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the White Wolf is the alias given to Captain America's best friend and former Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes portrayed by Sebastian Stan. In the after credits scene of Black Panther, an unfrozen, serene and one armed Bucky is seen walking among a village in Wakanda with Shuri where some of the children refer to him by that name. He would be referenced by that name again in Avengers: Infinity War and it would appear that identity may be further explored in the upcoming Falcon and the Winter Soldier series on Disney+.

More than once, Hunter's relationship to T'Challa has been compared to another pair of brothers famous for their repeated battles, Thor and his trickster half-brother Loki. Both Hunter and Loki were raised by a king, both adopted and feeling inferior to their brother. Both of them wanted to succeed their father and once denied that opportunity, they chose to spend the rest of their life in conflict of their brother while remaining loyal (sometimes) to their homeland. Although constantly in opposition, they weren't above joining forces although such unions were tentative at best. When it came time for the White Wolf to appear in the MCU, the alias went to Bucky Barnes and the personal backstory and connection to T'Challa was worked into the backstory of another powerful Black Panther villain Killmonger, successfully portrayed by actor Michael B. Jordan.

In regards to the White Wolf, he made the best of an impossible situation and yet his battles with T'Challa could be nothing more than a battle against himself, an excuse to channel his inferiority and patriotism bordering on obsession against the person that he blames for ruining his life. He believes that he should be Wakanda's ruler and is prepared to sacrifice whomever in order to accomplish that ascension.

However, despite his training, schemes and dedication, the White Wolf is still a citizen of Wakanda... and in Wakanda, the Black Panther will always prevail in the end.

Next: What Bucky Becoming White Wolf Means For Infinity War & Beyond