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Religion: African primal-indigenous religion (Black Panther cult) 
Name: B'Tumba
Classification:
supporting character
villain
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: The Avengers (vol. 1) #87 (Apr. 1971): "Look Homeward, Avenger!"
Creators: Roy Thomas, Frank Giacoia, Sal Buscema
Number of Appearances: 1
Teams/Affiliations: A.I.M.
Ally: T'Challa
Occupation: smuggler
Nation: Wakanda
Race: black
Gender: male
Note: T'Challa's old friend; traitor, but ultimately virtuous
B'Tumba was a native of Wakanda, the mysterious nation ruled by King T'Challa, the Black Panther. B'Tumba was an old friend of T'Challa's. T'Challa and B'Tumba attended school together for many years, including attending top schools in the United States and Europe. They were friends, but also rivals.
At some point in his life, B'Tumba went astray. He rebelled against the honorable ideals taught by his the Black Panther Cult, the religion people in his nation belong to. B'Tumba allied himself with A.I.M., the international terrorist organization bent on world domination. B'Tumba's reasons for his alliance with A.I.M. may have financial rather than ideological. (Many people belong to A.I.M. for ideological reasons, subscribing to the organization's flawed creed of Scientism. But some people work with A.I.M. simply as agents, mercenaries, or because they can enrich themselves by doing so.)
B'Tumba agreed to sell Vibranium (Wakanda's most valued resource) to A.I.M. Vibranium could be used by A.I.M. for creating weapons and technologies that further their goals.
B'Tumba actually became the section leader of the A.I.M. group that was behind the Vibranium smuggling operation.
Ultimately B'Tumba's actions put him into conflict with his old friend T'Challa. In order to do his duty to A.I.M., B'Tumba was put in a situation where he had a gun aimed at T'Challa and was expected to kill him. But at the last moment, B'Tumba realized he could not kill his old friend. B'Tumba finally saw the error of his ways. He used his weapon to destroy part of the A.I.M. flying craft they were aboard. The other A.I.M. agents realized that B'Tumba had betrayed them. In the ensuing battle, B'Tumba was mortally wounded. He sacrificed his own life in order to save the life of his old friend.
The Avengers (vol. 1) #87 (Apr. 1971): "Look Homeward, Avenger!"
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=28108
- http://www.marvunapp.com/master/bsbul.htm
- http://www.marvunapp.com/master/ahai.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Idea_Mechanics
- http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/Character.aspx?id=8e28de28-de4d-48af-a9c2-e64a647161bc
- http://marvel.wikia.com/Avengers_Vol_1_87
- https://www.comics.org/issue/24162/
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=20080
- http://www.comicvine.com/the-avengers-look-homeward-avenger/37-11376/