Best Marvel Villain: Killmonger

Klaw pressed N'Jadaka's father into service in an attack on Wakanda. King T'Chaka then exiled N'Jadaka and his family. Klaw killed N'Jadaka's father. This pushed N'Jadaka down a dark path while he grew up in Harlem, NY (the film moves him to Oakland, CA). He changed his name to Erik Killmonger. Killmonger earned an MBA from M.I.T. and a PhD in Engineering. He pursued this goal to avenge his father. As an adult, Killmonger returned to Wakanda to seek vengeance and what he sees as his rightful throne.

Klaw killed both T'Challa's father and Erik Killmonger's father in the comics. These parallel events push both men in different directions. This instills burning hatred in Killmonger for Klaw and Wakanda's king. Killmonger blames the nation's weakness for his father's entanglement with Klaw.

Killmonger and T'Challa are intellectual equals. Killmonger studies at M.I.T. T'Challa studies at many universities in Europe and America. Their bodies show similar traits. They share similar physiques and fighting styles. This makes their contests always hard-fought.

Killmonger meets King T'Challa in New York comics. The Black Panther works with the Avengers there. Killmonger feigns regret over his father's "betrayal" of the nation. Killmonger asks T'Challa to send him back to Wakanda. T'Challa accepts, seeing N'Jadaka's family might have been wrongly removed by his father. Killmonger settles in a village near central Wakanda. His influence grows there. People call this village N'Jadaka Village; they see Killmonger as their leader. Killmonger later leads them in revolt against King T'Challa. Their first fight happens in this village when the king invades to stop the rising uprising.

After Killmonger returns to Wakanda and causes trouble, he attracts the Black Panther's attention by harassing villages near the capital. The Black Panther intervenes to stop him. While the Black Panther focuses on Killmonger's leopard Preyy, Killmonger surprises T'Challa. Killmonger grabs T'Challa and throws him off a waterfall. This first meeting mirrors the film, but the source material shows it was not a battle for the throne.

After returning to Wakanda, Killmonger gathered super villains. He brought Venomm, King Cadaver, Malice, Sombre, Salamander K'ruel, Baron Macabre, and Madam Slay. Killmonger also had a romantic link with them. In the forbidden Land of the Chilling Mist, Killmonger found the Resurrection Altar where the meteor crashed. This site gave Wakanda its vibranium and other special traits. Killmonger used the Altar to boost his cronies' powers and build an army of undead soldiers called his Death Regiments.

Killmonger fought the King of Wakanda with his allies. T'Challa and Venomm beat Killmonger. Then, T'Challa stopped Killmonger's team-up with Sombre and King Cadaver. After Sombre left, Killmonger tried again with Salamander K'Ruel. This final team-up was Killmonger's last one. During this fight, a boy named Kantu kicked Killmonger off Warrior Falls just as he attacked T'Challa. Black Panther then faced an "Iron Man".Killmonger takes on the King of Wakanda with his allies. T'Challa bests Killmonger and Venomm. Then, T'Challa thwarts Killmonger's alliance with Sombre and King Cadaver. After Sombre is sent, Killmonger tries again with Salamander K'Ruel.Tony Stark arrives in Wakanda, and the Mandarin shows up too. This villain brings Killmonger back to life using his rings.

The Mandarin revives Killmonger, but he immediately pursues his goal to take the throne. With Madame Slay's help, Killmonger kills T'Challa. He captures Rhodey and frames both him and Iron Man for T'Challa's death. Killmonger then assumes the role of Black Panther. However, the "T'Challa" Killmonger killed was actually an LMD (Life-Model Decoy) set up by Iron Man and T'Challa to draw Killmonger out. Iron Man and T'Challa then defeat Killmonger and his allies.

After Iron Man and Black Panther defeat Killmonger, the Mandarin judges him unworthy. The Mandarin recalls the ring power that brought Killmonger back the first time. Killmonger dies instantly, becoming a skeleton. Killmonger's followers bring him back to the Resurrection Altar, which revives him for real this time.

The film shows Killmonger defeating the real T'Challa and becoming the Black Panther.Black PantherThis storyline heavily influenced the film. Killmonger wants another fight with T'Challa. When he faces the Black Panther on Warrior Falls, someone else causes the fall, not Killmonger. T'Challa gets distracted when Everett Ross appears as an unexpected spectator, giving Killmonger a chance. Killmonger strikes a winning blow and takes the mantle of Black Panther.

Killmonger tries to join the Avengers after becoming the Black Panther, a big departure from the norm. It is unclear if this is a plan or a desire to be a hero, but it seems like the latter. Deadpool shows up in Wakanda as a hired hand to kidnap Killmonger's leopard Preyy. Killmonger and Deadpool fight, and the new Black Panther loses. Killmonger tries to eat the heart-shaped herb, the source of T'Challa's strength, but only royal bloodline members can eat it safely. The herb poisons Killmonger.

Killmonger ingests the heart-shaped herb to become the true king of Wakanda, and it poisons him. The substance could have killed him, but T'Challa provides care and a better healer. This leaves Killmonger alive but in a deep coma.

Killmonger wakes up from the coma and sees T'Challa has taken back his throne. Though the herb nearly killed him, Killmonger gains night vision, tracking, and physical endurance matching T'Challa's.

Killmonger uses his M.I.T. science to build a synthetic heart-shaped herb because he cannot safely eat the real one. T'Challa befriends Kasper Cole, a New York policeman pretending to be the Black Panther. Cole is annoyed he lacks the Panther Clan's powers, so he goes to Wakanda and fights the revived Killmonger. Cole loses.

Killmonger wants Cole as an acolyte, so he gives him the synthetic heart-shaped herb, giving Cole Black Panther-like powers. To accept Killmonger's help, Cole must drop the Black Panther title and take the mantle of the White Tiger.

Killmonger changes plans after his King of Wakanda attempt fails. He conquers and leads the neighboring country Niganda, whose people dislike Wakanda for its low technology. Killmonger offers them similar tech, gaining their support to start a conflict. He captures T'Challa's sister Shuri and former Avenger Monica Rambeau, AKA Photon, starting a fight between Wakanda and Niganda.

Monica Rambeau, AKA Photon, escaped custody after the Niganda and Wakanda battle. She killed Erik Killmonger by flying through his chest. This was Killmonger's last comic book appearance, released in April 2016. The Black Panther villain is gone. People in Niganda still see him as a hero and plan revenge on Wakanda.

Killmonger will likely return soon. T'Challa must deal with his son now. After Killmonger's "Back to Africa" story arc ended, Killmonger's unnamed son vowed revenge on the King of Wakanda for his father's death. Niganda youths and the Death Regiments join him.

Killmonger's son will probably lead his allies against T'Challa. As the story arc finishes, Killmonger will likely return in some form. This sets up another fight between him and T'Challa.

Black PantherThis marks the first time Erik Killmonger appears outside comics or video games. He has appeared in many other media.Killmonger appears in Lego Marvel games and a mobile game. He has not yet been in a live-action film; Black Panther debuted live-action in 2016. T'Challa has appeared in cartoons, though.This situation may change fast. Killmonger has never been in a live-action film, unlike Black Panther's 2016 debut. He has never appeared in cartoons, unlike T'Challa. This will likely shift quickly.

Killmonger probably won't return to the MCU soon. They have not started following the comic book pattern of resurrection, which is good. However, he might become the first resurrected live-action character due to his popularity. He will certainly start appearing in cartoons like.Avengers Assemble He will show up in a hurry.