Every Important New Black Panther Character (And Their Comics Origins)

Nice to meet you.

With Black Panther, the MCU added an entire nation to its roster of characters, both superheroes and villains alike. That means you've now got a whole new list of names and faces to remember as we march every closer to the dawn of the highly anticipated Infinity War--and beyond.

But don't worry--we've got your back on this one. Here is a list of all the new characters Black Panther brings to the table, where they came from over in the comics, and what we can expect to see from them in the future.

Black Panther spoilers follow! Oh, and don't forget to check out our gallery of every character confirmed in Infinity War so far.

10. Shuri

Played by Letitia Wright, fan-favorite Shuri is the crown princess of Wakanda and a 16-year-old engineering genius responsible for her brother T'Challa's superhero gear as well as the tech that allows Wakanda to continue to harvest and refine Vibranium efficiently. Already confirmed to re-appear in Infinity War, Shuri is definitely a character to keep an eye on as the MCU marches forward.

Over in the comics, Shuri was introduced in 2005 in Black Panther #2. Her comics counterpart is older, but no less driven--though less by scientific pursuits and more by a passionate obsession with the Black Panther mantle, which she eventually took over when T'Challa found himself unable to carry out the job. She also became reigning Queen of Wakanda when T'Challa had to step down.

9. Okoye

The general of the Dora Milaje, the all-female royal guard-slash-special-forces squadron of Wakanda, Okoye (Danai Gurira) is a fearsome and fiercely loyal protector of both her king and her homeland. She values order, tradition, and routine above everything--even if that means putting her own life or the lives of people she loves at risk. Okoye can be seen again in Infinity War coming this May.

Comics Okoye was introduced along with the entire concept of the Dora Milaje in Black Panther #1 in 1998, and it's pretty easy to track where her live action inspiration came from. Though she had a much more minimized role in the comics, she is still one of the most loyal and called upon Dora in their introductory run.

8. Nakia

A War Dog spy and T'Challa's ex-girlfriend, Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) is a major force for change in Black Panther as a woman who has seen the struggles of the outside world and wants to help, even if it means tossing tradition and security aside. Nakia's relationship with T'Challa is complicated but ultimately positive--and one that may have some definite momentum moving forward in any future Black Panther sequels.

However, comics Nakia is a totally different story. Introduced in Black Panther #1 back in 1998, this Nakia was a member of the Dora Milaje who had an obsessive, one-sided infatuation with T'Challa that eventually spurred her to try and kill one of T'Challa's ex-lovers. And it didn't end there. Comics Nakia eventually joined forces with Erik Killmonger and became a villain known as Malice where she actively fought to destabilize Wakanda from the inside out.

7. W'Kabi

Daniel Kaluuya plays W'Kabi, T'Challa's close friend and a representative of the Border Tribes for T'Challa's council of advisors. He's shown to be quick to anger and extremely resentful of King T'Chaka's lack of direct action following Klaue's first attack, which apparently killed both of W'Kabi's parents. He's also in a romantic relationship with the staunchly traditional Okoye, despite the fact that he believes Wakanda invading the outside world and forgoing all isolation is the right path.

Comics W'Kabi is actually a bit of a deep cut. Introduced all the way back in Avengers #62 in 1969, W'Kabi was a largely low-level support character for the bulk of his time. He functioned as T'Challa's chief of security and was intensely distrustful of any outsiders, even ones T'Challa vouched for himself. He was killed in 2009 by a villain named Morlun.

6. Zuri

Zuri (Forest Whitaker) is a Wakandan shaman and former War Dog advisor to King T'Chaka. He played a critical role in the ceremonial process through which kings must go as they take on the role of Black Panther and tended directly to the garden of the heart-shaped herb. In the 90s, he was trusted by T'Chaka monitor and report on the king's brother while on his own War Dog assignment in Oakland, California. Zuri may not make it out of the film alive, but given his deep spiritual connection to the heart-shaped herb, and his almost fatherly relationship with T'Challa, you'd do well to remember who he is.

In the comics, Zuri had a similar if minimized role. Introduced in Black Panther #1 in 1998, Zuri was a close advisor to T'Chaka and later a friend and companion to T'Challa. He was killed alongside W'Kabi by Morlun in 2009.

5. Erik "Killmonger" Stevens

Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) has already generated a ton of buzz for being one of the MCU's best on-screen villains--and it's not at all hard to see why. He's charismatic, brutally efficient, and coming from a place that is both deeply personal and incredibly socially resonant. Unfortunately, the end of the movie means it's going to be next to impossible for us to see a Killmonger comeback. But his is still not a name you should forget.

In the comics, Killmonger had a slightly different origin. Introduced in Jungle Action #6 in 1973, Killmonger was still actually a Wakandan named N'Jadaka, but his anger and grief stemmed from the fact that his father--in this case not T'Chaka's brother--was forced to work with Klaw and then exiled by T'Challa.

4. Everett Ross

Technically Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) was introduced in the MCU back in Civil War, but this is the movie where he really became a character. A somewhat high strung skeptic and outsider, Ross's connections to the CIA and now to Wakanda's monarchy make him a potential runner for the MCU's next Phil Coulsen.

Like the Dora, Zuri, and Nakia, Ross was a product of Black Panther #1 in 1998 and he's pretty much an exact translation from page to screen--right down to his somewhat bumbling attempts to make sense of his position in the middle of Wakandan culture.

3. Ramonda

The queen mother of Wakanda, Ramonda (Angela Bassett) plays the part of both advisor and voice of reason for T'Challa in his most challenging moments during his first few days as king. And that's a role she's going to maintain, it would seem--Bassett has been confirmed to return in Infinity War this May.

In the comics, Ramonda came into play in Marvel Comics Presents #14 in 1989. She's actually not T'Challa's biological mother, but T'Chaka's second wife after T'Challa's birth mother, N'Yami, died while T'Challa was a baby.

2. M'Baku

Another breakaway fan favorite, Winston Duke's role as M'Baku has proven to be one of the most unexpected turns of Black Panther. The fearsome (and hilarious) leader of the traditionalist Jabari tribe, M'Baku takes his role as the leader of his people very seriously and is quick to cast off anyone who may threaten their way of life. M'Baku will be returning to the big screen in just a couple of months with the premier of Infinity War.

One of the things that make M'Baku's live action debut so surprising is his extremely problematic comics heritage. Introduced in Avengers #62 in 1969, M'Baku was a troubling racist caricature villain known as "Man-Ape" who wore a full body gorilla costume and campaigned for Wakanda to descend back into "primitivism" without the use of Vibranium. Obviously, his movie version is quite an improvement.

1. Ulysses Klaue

Like Ross, Klaue (Andy Serkis) is actually making his second MCU appearance in Black Panther--his first was a brief scene in Age of Ultron--but this is the movie where we actually got to learn something about him. In the MCU, he was an active villain in the early '90s--something that might actually come back into play with the upcoming Captain Marvel, which has already been confirmed to be set in the '90s. So, sure, modern Klaue may have unceremoniously bit the dust, but it's probably best to not count him out just yet.

Debuting in Fantastic Four #53 in 1966, the comics incarnation of Klaue is pretty much exactly what you'd expect after having seen Serkis on screen. The son of a nazi war criminal, Klaue's obsession with Wakanda was nurtured by his father at a young age. He was eventually responsible for assassinating T'Chaka himself, a role that fell to Zemo in the MCU.

from GameSpot http://ift.tt/2HNock9