I think Princess Shuri and Eden Fesi (Manifold) are highly underrated as a ship. It is almost a crime when they go so well together — an arguably perfect match. The pairing has so much potential, representation (two Indigenous, dark-skinned characters with respective cultures and spiritualism. A Black woman and a Blak man), parallelism, and story.
It's also, at the very least, semi-canon. They are official love interests!
Manifold and, by extension, his relationship with Shuri isn't as well known. However, when he is known, it's common consensus that he's a great character, and his love is Shuri. In the same vein, if you ask seasoned comic readers (Note: Black Panther and Avengers) about Shuri's love history, Eden is the only real definitive and the most promising prospect.
While many are most familiar with Manifold in his S.W.O.R.D design:
He goes way back (his first team was Secret Warriors, then the Avengers and Black Panther crew, and later X-Men adjacent teams, like S.W.O.R.D). They go back.
So, I decided to finally write an in-depth overview of their relationship thus far and why I think they're so deadly.
Comicbooks to check out with them together:
Black Panther (2016)
Black Panther (2018)
Shuri (2018)
The Last Annihilation: Wakanda (2021)
In Shuri's title comic series that set out to revamp her character (with faithfulness to the pre-existing canon and incorporation of some Ryan Coogler and Letitia Wright MCU elements), one thing they made sure to cement was her and Manifold's blossoming romance.
From their almost kiss and Shuri blushing to the script outlining Manifold's smittenness and love for her, the two's romantic feelings were made crystal clear.
There are other moments in between:
Shuri is Eden's Reasons Why: Eden teased he stayed behind for Shuri — not T'Challa (A callback to a conversation they had in Black Panther 2016). Eden was going on a dangerous space mission specifically because Shuri asked that of him.
"I Miss You Already:" While T'Challa walks off, Eden says his goodbyes to Shuri. Shuri internally monologues about why she had T'Challa bring him along. It was a practical thing, really. Eden was her felt insurance and trusted confidence. Even so...
She knew she was not just going to miss him but miss him "almost as much as my brother," which says everything.
A goddess's Seal of Approval: Storm comments that they make a good couple, relating the love connection she has with T'Challa to the one Shuri is building with Manifold.
By the Wisdom of the Ancestors — You Love That Man: "The gravitational pull of a wormhole is nothing compared to the pulll of the heart."
However, Shuri's comic isn't when their feelings first began. The seeds were sown in Black Panther 2016 and the Intergalactic Wakanda arc!
Not So Stellar Beginnings to A Stellar Romance
Shuri and Eden's first meetings weren't orthodox or of the best of times. They first met when Shuri was between life and death. Besides that, there was an insurrection brewing in Wakanda.
Trapped in amber and experiencing a living death for almost a year, Shuri became a door. While T'Challa could see through it, Eden was the key; he was the only means to walk through and save her.
Can you say soulmatism?
Manifold had no incentive to risk his life to save Shuri or ulterior motives. He decided to help T'Challa simply because of his principles: Shuri is his family, and it is what they do — they save people.
After this, Shuri returns with a new look, power, and wisdom as Aja-Adanna, the Keeper of Lore.
What a first meeting.
From there, Shuri comes and settles back at home. Eden sticks around even after the conflict is resolved. Wakanda becoming home to him is no exaggeration. Ta-nehisi Coates, a writer for Black Panther comics (Fun fact: he also spoke with Letitia Wright and Ryan Coogler on a podcast!), pens how Manifold "found himself in Wakanda." His Hellfire Gala design reference sheet says how he feels at home in a "Wakandan palace."
Eden is trusted by Wakanda and the Panther siblings so much.
Manifold was allowed to sit in on their private meetings, stay in Wakanda as long as he wanted, have his pair of kimoyo beads, read history books in the royal library, live at the Wakandan royal palace, and fight alongside them. On one occasion, he is called "Wakanda's miracle" (from how much of an invaluable ally he was, providing security, protection, and aid — no questions ever asked or prices required). This also means a lot for Eden, who was an aimless traveler looking for "home" since his family and mentor (Gateway) died.
It can easily be assumed that Shuri and Eden seen quite a bit of each other in his stay. Shuri did confirm in her book that they have insightful conversations (e.g., she learned about the Dreaming, a belief system of his people). We have seen some of it in the 2016 Black Panther run. Shuri and Eden speak to each other in the royal library, already greeting each other with comfort and familiarity.
Space and Dates (+ Flirting On The Clock)
In the Intergalactic Wakanda arc, Shuri asks for a date! While Eden did not miss a beat (he doesn't play about his Princess!).
"Good, and Eden, assuming we live through this, I hope we can grab a moment together to reconnect."
"Okay, well, now we have to live through this."
Even after Manifold goes through something traumatizing (being used as a weapon, which is something explored again in X-Men S.W.O.R.D), Shuri is the person on his mind to give his best to. Through all the trouble and turmoil he experienced, Shuri was the person his mind strayed to. Even in his suffering, Shuri is a factor in his mind. He wants to send her his good wishes when he couldn't be with her himself.
Love.
Black Panther (2018) and the Intergalactic Empire Of Wakanda ends with T'Challa being coronated, and we see them together (with a considerably happy Shuri lol):
Skipping on over to the Last Annihilation: Wakanda comic, Eden is the one who flags Shuri down about a date this time around. Not missing a beat, Shuri teases back, remarking how she's still waiting for him to teleport her somewhere nice. As so many times before, Eden matches her energy and readily obliges.
"So Shuri... Our first date is stopping a magical being from conquering the universe?"
"A date? Nuh-uh, I'm still waiting for you to teleport me somewhere nice."
"If S.W.O.R.D. ever lets me go on holiday, you're on."
The same book also features more of Shuri and Eden's similar, gelling personalities and charming chemistry: their quippy banter and shared words.
Shuri once again is Eden's reason. Even when he initially has reservations, if Shuri asks, he will do:
Manifold also got hurt, with Shuri turning into stone and protectively covering his body with hers. She stayed at his side throughout the battle, even during the after-party!
They constantly have this unique regard and a softness concerning each other. A reciprocity of tender care.
Shuri and Eden have quite a history — and this is just their beginning!
I've always thought it'd be so in-character for Princess Shuri and Manifold to have an extremely soft and domestic relationship. It feels natural for them to have perpetual warmth, unwavering trust, unyielding loyalty, and loving comfort with each other.
Shuri and Eden being each other's safe space in a world that has been very unsafe for and unkind to them... Just feels canon. 🥹
I'll write a more in-depth post about it and how deeply they relate (featuring panel proof), but for now, I just wanted to touch a little on it:
They are extremely loyal, ride or die characters in general. So it's no surprise that they have risked their lives for one other. Eden had put his life on the line before even officially meeting Shuri, saving her from a living death she experienced for nearly a year. Shuri made herself into a human (err, rock) shield to protect him after he got injured (then proceeded to stay by his side for the rest of the issue).
Something about the way Shuri wraps her arms around Manifold and clings for the rest of the comic. She literally never once leaves Manifold post his injury and acts as his support. Even when she could've left him (who is still in pain but safe — he is still holding his side) during the after party, she chooses to stay with him.
It's made abundantly clear she cares deeply for Eden the more we see them together, in a way I can't help but say is love.
Eden being one of Shuri's few peaces in a life usually tumultuous (as Princess of Wakanda) feels so right. Half because of how Eden is characterized (laid back, kind, caring. He is a good man as said by T'Challa — his name literally means paradise and he was called Wakanda's "miracle" by M'Baku), half because of how she is around him (e.g., blushing, wanting to spend time with him, and lowering her walls).
Her stare out the window with a small blush as she thinks about how much she'll miss Eden. Eden being the one to linger behind a bit more and wave-smile goodbye... That could have easily been T'Challa instead, who is instead walking ahead.
I feel further vindicated in this given how Eden is canonically described to have a naturally calming nature. 🧡
No wonder why Shuri really likes him.
That's a good man, Savanah (just a few examples).
Eden having a special regard and unapologetically transparent love-admiration for Shuri was already confirmed (conveyed in multiple books; Black Panther Volume 6-7, Storm, Annihilation: Wakanda...). He even hints that she is the reason why he stayed in Wakanda in Shuri issue 1.
The fact that even after suffering a special hell (and still not being in the clear), Manifold thinks about Shuri who is light-years away. He isn't even at his best, but wants to give Shuri his best.
Storm's writer Murewa Ayodele (check out Storm!) recently spoke about the shureden moment in issue 10!
Summarized Details
Eden with a mouthspray was an intentional, silly detail in his script. Lol!
He used the joking moment to establish and set up things, including Shuri and Manifold's relationship. He says their romance is still something in play (a pairing being a slow-burn does not mean it was editoral rejected or a scrapped concept 🥳!). We may finally be seeing more development (Shuri and Eden's romance was planted way back in Black Panther 2016, and the last advancement was in Last Annihilation: Wakanda 2021)!
Most surprisingly, an idea was to have Shuri and Eden make out and get walked in on by Storm. When asked if he could use Shuri, the answer was not a "no" but a "not yet" since she is currently preoccupied narratively. So far, Shuri has been referenced in Storm and shown in a photo:
Happy day for shureden truthers and seasoned readers who have shipped them since forever!
I am keeping this comic book spoiler free, but Shurifold is the pairing we deserve.
Also, I hope we get to see Eden on our screens sometime soon. Perhaps in BP2 (or if they bless us with a Shuri series). I do love them. I love them on their own, and together. Let’s hope we see them together on screen in the near future.
