Marvel Comics has announced a spin-off series, to begin in October, in which Black Panther is lost on a mission to space, and Shuri is looked upon to step up to fill the void left by her big brother in their mythical home nation Wakanda.

"The world fell in love with Shuri in the movie. Now, the Black Panther’s techno-genius sister launches her own adventures," the publisher said, confirming news first published by Bustle.

British-Guyanese actress, Letitia Wright, earned praises for her portrayal of sarcasm and high-tech inventions that made her one of the main new characters in the film, which critics agree was a groundbreaking moment for blacks on the silver screen.

"While she [Shuri] is the most at home in her lab, working to keep her country at the forefront of science and technology, Wakanda is missing its leader," Marvel wrote in a press statement about the new series.

"Without T'Challa around, Shuri will have to decide if she will forego her own passions in order to stand up for her nation."

Female Nigerian-American sci-fi author, Ms Nnedi Okorafor, who writes African-based science fiction and fantasy novels, will write "Shuri." 

Hinting about her new task, she wrote on Instagram, "Marvel has given Shuri (sister of T’Challa) her own comic series…and I’m writing it. Yup!😎!! Shuri is an African young woman of genius level intelligence who is obsessed with technology and has traveled spiritually so far into the past that she’s seen Wakanda before it was Wakanda. The Ancestors call her “Ancient Future”. And she’s super ambitious. What do I love about her? Alllll that and more. #wakandaforever 🙅🏾‍♀️ #nnediokorafor#marvel"

Ms Okorafor is no stranger to the Marvel Universe as she has previously contributed to the bi-weekly series, Black Panther: Long Live the King. 

According to BBC, she is already working for Marvel on its "Wakanda Forever" series, which focuses on the Dora Milaje, the all-female special forces unit in the fictional nation.

Ms Okorafor told the online women's magazine, Bustle, that Shuri was a character in the "Marvel Universe who really sings to me."

She explained in an email to Bustle that she loved the character for her ambition and being a young African woman of "genius level intelligence who is obsessed with technology and has travelled spiritually so far into the past that she's seen Wakanda before it was Wakanda."

The author, who has Nigerian parents, has won a number of international awards, including a Hugo Award for her novella, Binti, and the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature.

Her novel, "Who Fears Death" is reportedly being made into a drama series produced by Game Of Thrones' George RR Martin.

According to Box Office Mojo, "Black Panther" has taken in more than $1.34 billion, making it number nine on the all-time box office list. "Avatar" is the all-time champion at nearly $2.8 billion.