Zen Zee, better known as Tetu, is one of the two main antagonists (alongside The Klaw) of the 2022 fanfilm/presentation Black Panther: Sweet Home.
He is a former Wakandian sorcerer whom was exposed to dark magic while serving The Egyptian Gods, and he is bent on having his revenge for his gods on Wakanda.
He is portrayed by Tyrese Gibson.
History[]
Zen Zee was once a Wakandian sorcerer whom fought like everyone else for his own kingdom. However, it is shown that he cared more about his own life and skin than other Wakandians.
He believed in the Egyptian gods, whom gave him within time the knowledge of using dark sorcery. Due to his dark ambitions, he was exiled by T'Challa's father, T'Chaka, whom saw he was a traitor to his kingdom. Out of lust for power and vengeance, Zen changed his identity to Tetu and became a powerful, supreme dark sorcerer under the guidance of The Egyptian Gods, mainly Raa.
He became more and more tyrannical and ambitious, and he eventually planned on killing all of the Wakandian Triibe populace and reviving the majoraty of the citizens as zombie slaves known as "Pure People".
He then went to kill a hunter, thus using his dark magic to also kill a cheetah. This was all a practice before he would go to Wakanda and curse the land by using the magic of a dark crystal.
He eventually reached Wakanda and managed to curse it. After he cursed the land, The Black Panther (real name T'Challa) who happens to be the tribal ruler tries to fight and defeat the dark sorcerer. However, he was no match for Tetu, whom almost kills him, until Erik stops the fight and then, T'Challa, Nakia, Erik Killmonger and Ulysses Klaw all travel together to find the crystal, lift the curse and destroy Tetu once and for all. While they are gone, Tetu successfully kills M'Kathu, who resists his tyranny. He then burns Wakanda entirely and revives many of it's dead warriors as pure people.
The pure people then attack a house in which T'Challa and his crew have settled down. Tetu then waits for them outside the house. As T'Challa, Nakia and Ulysses run out of the house, Tetu confronts them and unmasks himself, explaining about his true / other identity and history.
Tetu then seemingly kills T'Challa with his sorcery, but before he manages to spread fire to kill both Nakia and The Klaw, The Black Panther reappears and fights him off. While the two of them fight, Nakia and Ulysses Klaw travel to a nearby a cave. Tetu almost kills the panther, but Ulysses uses the crystal's power on time to lift the spell and this causes Tetu to dissolve to white, shiny dust.
Personality[]
Even before turning into Tetu, Zen Zee was a ruthless and power mad sorcerer whom had his own arrogance and did anything to stay alive and strong. He only served his kingdom for his own needs, and eventually, he betrayed Wakanda and he was ultimately exiled, promising ultimate revenge.
Tetu was a merciless, tyrannical and entirely evil man of dark magic and strategic destruction. He was also shown to be vengeful and cunning towards everyone, wanting to reshape all of Africa.
Wether he was loyal to his gods or he only wanted them to keep him alive was unknown.
Trivia[]
- He is the first live-action or movie version of Tetu.
- Despite sharing the role of the main antagonist with The Klaw, he is much more evil in his personality, without any tragic background, although they were both equally destructive and powerful.
- His name Zen Zee is based on Zenzi from the Marvel comics, who was a female associate for Tetu.