Black Panther is the next Avenger to assemble in Madame Tussauds after the waxwork was unveiled at the iconic London venue.

The king of Wakanda has joined the Marvel Hall of Heroes at the tourist attraction alongside Captain Marvel and the Hulk.

It features a futuristic “vibranium effect”, named after the fictional metal mined in the secret city, which makes the figure glow when fans touch it.

The figure was unveiled by Arsenal footballer and Black Panther fan Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was given a preview of the statue.

Aubameyang pulled the Black Panther Wakanda Forever pose in 2020 after he scored against Liverpool, in a tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman.

Boseman, who played Black Panther, died at the age of 43 last year, after a four-year-long private colon cancer diagnosis.

Aubameyang said: “People know that I’m a huge fan of Black Panther and the panther is also a huge part of our national team in Gabon, so I couldn’t say no when Madame Tussauds London asked me to help them unveil their newest figure.

“I love the way they even have the vibranium in the suit light up.”

Aubameyang, who visited Madame Tussauds with wife Alysha and sons Pierre and Curtys, added: “It was great to be able to bring my family with me to meet one of my heroes and I hope my fans and their families will be able to make special memories together again soon.”

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Black Panther was the only Marvel film to get a best picture nod at the Oscars, and grossed more than $1.3bn at the box office.

A sequel is in the works at Marvel, with the company confirming the title role will not be recast.

Boseman was widely tipped to posthumously win the best actor award at this years Oscars for his role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. The award was won by Welshman Anthony Hopkins.

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