Shuri, a princess of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, first appeared in Black Panther vol. 4 #2 (May 2005), created by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr. As the younger half-sister of T'Challa, the Black Panther, and daughter of King T'Chaka and Queen Ramonda, she demonstrated early ambition to claim the Black Panther mantle, challenging tradition by attempting to prove herself in ritual combat from a young age. Educated in advanced sciences and trained in martial arts, Shuri supported her brother's reign while developing her intellect as a genius inventor and strategist, often operating from Wakanda's technological forefront.

Shuri assumed the Black Panther mantle in Black Panther vol. 5 (2009) when T'Challa fell into a coma following an attack by Doctor Doom's Cabal. After consuming the heart-shaped herb and initially facing rejection by the Panther God Bast, she earned approval through self-sacrifice against Morlun, gaining superhuman enhancements in strength, speed, agility, and senses. As regent and Black Panther, she led Wakanda through major conflicts, including the Doomwar against Doctor Doom, a retaliatory war with Namor's Atlantis after the events of Avengers vs. X-Men, and defenses against threats like Klaw and the Cabal, establishing her as a formidable ruler and warrior.

In later arcs, particularly during the "Time Runs Out" storyline, Shuri sacrificed herself against Proxima Midnight, resulting in her soul entering the Djalia, Wakanda's plane of collective memory, where she trained under a griot spirit and acquired mystical abilities such as animorphism, enhanced durability, and limited necromancy. Resurrected with Manifold's aid, she continued to play pivotal roles in Wakandan rebellions and cosmic events, later headlining her own solo series in 2018 written by Nnedi Okorafor. Her character embodies resilience, innovation, and leadership, evolving from an ambitious princess to a multifaceted hero with both technological prowess and spiritual depth.