The page Killmonger (Marvel Cinematic Universe) in the mainspace is currently a redirect to Characters of the Marvel Cinematic Universe: M–Z. This is a draft article. It is a work in progress open to editing by anyone. Please ensure core content policies are met before publishing it as a live Wikipedia article. Find sources: Google (books · news · scholar · free images · WP refs) · FENS · JSTOR · TWL Last edited by 190.237.181.144 (talk | contribs) 3 months ago. (Update) |
Killmonger | |
---|---|
Marvel Cinematic Universe character | |
First appearance | Black Panther (2018) |
Last appearance | Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) |
Based on | |
Adapted by | |
Portrayed by |
|
Voiced by | Michael B. Jordan |
In-universe information | |
Full name | N'Jadaka |
Alias | Erik Stevens |
Nickname | Killmonger |
Title |
|
Affiliation |
|
Weapon |
|
Family | N'Jobu (father) |
Relatives | |
Origin | Oakland, California, United States |
Nationality | Wakandan—American |
N'Jadaka, also known as Erik Stevens, is a fictional character portrayed by Michael B. Jordan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name—commonly known by his alias, the call sign of Killmonger. He is depicted the cousin of T'Challa and rival to the throne of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, raised instead in Oakland, California and becoming a soldier after his father was murdered by his uncle. The character was introduced in Black Panther (2018). A variant of Killmonger was introduced in the television series What If...? (2021), known by the appointed title[2] of Black Panther, leading Wakanda to war against the United States before being drafted into the Guardians of the Multiverse by the Watcher to kill Ultron. Hsbu s
Erik Killmonger was created in September 1973 by writer Don McGregor and penciller Rich Buckler.
Further information: Black Panther (film) |
Further information: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever |
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Shuri visits the ancestral plane expecting to see T'Challa, and is shocked to instead see Killmonger, who challenges her claimed motives in taking the heart-shaped herb.
Further information: What If...? (TV series) |
Killmonger returns in the animated series What If?, with Michael B. Jordan reprising his role.
Further information: What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark? |
In an alternate universe in 2008, Killmonger saves Tony Stark from being kidnapped by the Ten Rings in Afghanistan. Upon returning to the United States, he and Stark grow closer after he exposes Obadiah Stane's role in the ambush plot. He then kills James Rhodes, T'Challa, and Tony Stark, inciting a war between Wakanda and the United States and becoming the new Black Panther.
Further information: What If... the Watcher Broke His Oath? |
As the Wakandan—American war approaches its end, Pepper Potts and Shuri lead the Dora Milaje to the Wakandan throne room to assassinate Killmonger only for him to be recruited by the Watcher to join the Guardians of the Multiverse to kill Ultron and receive the Infinity Stones from him, alongside a variant of T'Challa, Strange Supreme, Captain Carter, Party Thor, Natasha Romanoff, Gamora, and Arnim Zola. After Zola takes over Ultron's Vision body, Killmonger takes the Infinity Stones and Ultron's armour for himself with the intent of using them to restore the personal lives of the Guardians, only to be trapped with Zola in a pocket dimension by the Watcher as they fight over the Stones, which he entrusts to Strange-Supreme to watch himself.
Both the character and Jordan's performance received highly positive reviews from critics. In March 2019, Monique Jones of Slashfilm called Killmonger the best film villain of the 21st century.[3] Peter Debruge of Variety observes that "Killmonger keeps his cards up his sleeve until relatively late in the film but emerges as the most satisfying comic-book adversary since Heath Ledger's Joker."[4] Manohla Dargis of The New York Times hailed Jordan as "a terrifically charismatic presence and there are times when you wonder if he might have made a better Black Panther."[5] Christopher Orr of The Atlantic noted "the single most common flaw of Marvel's movies to date has been their lack of intriguing or memorable villains" and cited Killmonger as improving "that track record to a remarkable degree."[6] Jim Vejvoda wrote that Killmonger fit the criteria of the best villains being "the ones the audience can sympathize with" and "is the strongest villain (figuratively speaking) the MCU has produced since Loki."[7] Anthony Lane of The New Yorker admitted that although Boseman "does what he can with the ever-noble hero, Jordan is so relaxed and so unstiff that, if you're anything like me, you'll wind up rooting for the baddie when the two of them battle it out."[8]