Warning: Spoilers for Ultimate Black Panther #17!Killmonger officially replacesBlack Pantheras the king of Wakanda. The MCU’s firstBlack Panthermovie helped the character of Erik Killmonger garner a devoted fanbase, with some even arguing his brief time as king of Wakanda was better than T’Challa’s, suggestingKillmonger was Wakanda’s rightful king. Marvel Comics opens the door to making a similar case.
Ultimate Black Panther#17 ends with Killmonger taking the throne of Wakanda for himself and Queen Okoye. Throughout the Ultimate Universe’s series, Killmonger has beenromantically paired with Storm, but this new twist pairs the Okoye and Killmonger as the new rulers of Wakanda in T’Challa’s absence.
Unlike in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, T’Challa isn’t dead, and so when he returns, readers can expect a true battle for the throne, officially re-establishing Killmonger as a villain.
Killmonger Replaces Black Panther as King of Wakanda
Ultimate Black Panther #17 by Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli
When Killmonger and Storm first meet the Black Panther, they do so as allies, but it always appears as if the series was slowly building T’Challa toward a confrontation with his longtime Earth-616 nemesis. The Ultimate Marvel Universe has madetheir relationship and parallels darker, but nonetheless, they remained civil. As Black Panther and Storm investigate a new evil spirit activated within Vibranium itself, the king of Wakanda entrusts Killmonger and Queen Okoye to look over Wakanda while he’s away.
Unbeknownst to the Black Panther, Queen Okoye has been disgruntled with both Wakanda’s king and the mantle he carries. She takes advantage of T’Challa’s time away by manipulating and tempting Killmonger with the throne until Matron Imala and the Vodu-Khan invade the kingdom to serve the will of the progenitors and Vibranium’s prophecy. They’re saved byInan, the Sorcerer Supreme, buta fallen Queen allows Killmonger to conclude that Wakanda is falling and in need of a new King.
Killmonger is Manipulated into Being the Black Panther’s Sworn Enemy
He Isn’t Too Far Gone to Be Redeemed
This Killmonger isn’t the ruthless freedom fighter he’s been portrayed to be in the original Marvel continuity. In theory,as he achieves his destiny as Black Panther’s rival, he’s not too far gone to be redeemed. He’s been tempted by the throne by Okoye. Even then, it takes her being wounded for him to finally relent. Killmonger overtakes the throne out of a sense of duty to protect the people of Wakanda. Killmonger’s heart is in the right place, therefore there’s a chance he andBlack Panthercan still reconcile.
