Eyes of Wakanda recap: A short but striking journey into the MCU’s hidden past

Eyes of Wakanda, the latest Marvel Studios Animation release, explores the shadowy history of Wakanda’s War Dogs — the elite spies known as the Hatut Zeraze. Streaming on Disney+, this four-episode anthology traces their secret missions through centuries, each centered on retrieving vibranium that has fallen into the wrong hands. Visually, it’s a standout: even in Marvel’s increasingly ambitious animation portfolio, but narratively, the results vary.

Created by longtime Marvel storyboard artist Todd Harris and directed by John Fang, Eyes of Wakanda is set firmly within the MCU canon. It presents four historical chapters spanning from the Bronze Age to the late 19th century, each rendered with a distinct visual style rooted in its cultural setting. The episodes are self-contained but loosely connected by theme — the preservation of Wakanda’s secrecy and power.

It’s a brief but rich watch. With only four entries, the series doesn’t linger — but it manages to introduce new characters, showcase unique fighting styles, and expand the Black Panther mythos beyond T’Challa. While the storytelling is uneven, the sheer variety and aesthetic ambition help carry the show through.

Mission by mission: A timeline of Eyes of Wakanda

The series opens with Into the Lion’s Den, set around the time of the Trojan War. In it, we meet Noni (voiced by Winnie Harlow), a former Dora Milaje trainee turned War Dog. She’s sent to Crete to confront The Lion, a rogue Wakandan who has weaponized vibranium to lead a pirate kingdom. Their tense confrontation explores loyalty, exile, and the cost of protecting Wakanda’s secrets.

Episode two, Legends and Lies, shifts to ancient China during the early Ming dynasty. A War Dog is dispatched to recover vibranium hidden within a fabled relic. The story incorporates wuxia-style combat and explores the tension between legend and truth, though the plot is more conventional and less emotionally resonant than the premiere.

Lost & Found, the third episode, jumps to the First Italo-Ethiopian War in the 1890s. Set in East Africa during a time of colonial upheaval, the episode blends guerrilla warfare with a story of cultural loss. While visually striking — and rich in detail — it suffers from tonal inconsistency, shifting between heavy drama and sudden comic relief.

In this case, The Last Panther returns to Wakanda, and this is where the plot comes full circle. To avoid spoilers, I'll say it touches upon the most important events of the MCU. It shows the glimpse of succession in Wakanda, the legacy of vibranium, and the impacts of the nation’s power being concealed for too long. This is the episode that stands out in the anthology in relation to the franchise. However, some viewers may not find it essential.

What does the series mean for Wakanda’s future?

Trending

While Eyes of Wakanda mostly plays as a historical side-story, the finale does insert a stronger connection to the MCU at large. It teases a future in which the Hatut Zeraze could appear more prominently — possibly in Black Panther 3 or other spinoffs. The series hints at a long legacy of vibranium’s misuse and suggests that Wakanda’s battles to protect it are far from over.

Ultimately, Eyes of Wakanda serves as both a visual showcase and a thematic footnote to the Black Panther films. Its success lies in world-building, not in delivering a cliffhanger. Whether or not it returns, it expands the MCU timeline in meaningful ways, casting the War Dogs as more than just spies. They’re silent guardians — and now, finally, they have stories of their own.

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback