Eyes of Wakanda continues its run this month, so we’re celebrating by recounting the greatest Black Panther villains. Hey, hey! Kyra Kyle here. We’ve done the Top 5 villain treatment to several Marvel and DC Comics heroes. It’s only fitting that Black Panther receives his Top 5 Villains.
Honorable Mention: Ulysses Klaw
I feel like we have an honorable mention a lot in these lists, but Ulysses Klaw makes this list in this manner for a reason. He’s a Marvel Universe villain more than just a Black Panther villain. Sure, his origin has Wakandan roots, but Klaw has often battled the Fantastic Four and Avengers. Everyone should fear the man with a body of pure sound.
5: Achebe
Achebe is the Joker to Black Panther’s Batman. Little is known about Achebe, only rumors. The most persistent of these rumors is that Achebe was once a Ghudazan farmer who helped rebel guerrillas from the neighboring country of Ujanka. He helped nurse the fighters back to health, but his wife fell in love with the rebel leader, and the rebels repaid his kindness by stabbing him 32 times, razing his farm, and taking his wife. What is known is that Achebe made a deal with Mephisto and serves as an emissary of Marvel’s version of the Devil. Achebe is ruthless, unpredictable, and a constant thorn in Black Panther’s side.
4: T’Channa
T’Channa is T’Challa’s sister in an alternate universe (Earth-2301). She and her siblings were beaten (she implies brutally) by T’Challa in a contest for Wakanda’s throne. As a result, she left Wakanda for Latveria, where she joined forces with Victor von Doom, until she became strong enough to overtake him as the new Doctor Doom. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind seeing T’Channa’s Doom in an upcoming Marvel project. She blends Wakanda’s technology with the magic she learned from Victor von Doom to become a menace, not just to T’Challa, but to the entire world.
3: White Wolf
Hunter is T’Challa’s adopted brother. The two were close as children. They even competed in childish games like footraces. But Hunter was born a foreigner from the African nation Mohannda. He was the sole survivor of a plane crash before T’Chaka, T’Challa’s father, adopted him. Hunter doesn’t look like other Wakandans. He has light skin. When he was young, Hunter was the Wakandan envoy to European nations because he looked like them. This othered Hunter from his fellow Wakandans. Eventually, Ulysses Klaw killed T’Chaka and Ramonda (Hunter’s adoptive parents), and he was orphaned again. Hunter blamed T’Challa for his problems and sought revenge against Klaw. He strives to make the country of his birth, Mohannda, as technologically advanced as Wakanda. Hunter’s nationalism often puts him at odds with T’Challa.
The Winter Soldier has been nicknamed White Wolf in the MCU, so it’s unknown if a White Wolf will make an appearance. Fingers crossed that he will.
2: Erik Killmonger
Born N’Jadaka, Killmonger needs little introduction. Portrayed by Michael B. Jordan, he exploded on the screen in the original Black Panther movie. Killmonger is a Wakandan exile and vows to take the Black Panther mantle. He often challenges T’Challa to ritual combat. Even when he dies, he finds ways to return. One of his most recent reanimations came in the form of an alien symbiote (like Venom). N’Jadaka will never rest until he’s taken his rightful place on Wakanda’s throne. Death can’t even stop him.
1: M’Baku/Man-Ape
M’Baku’s alias Man-Ape has gone out of favor for obvious reasons. It’s problematic. While the MCU has mostly shown M’Baku as one of T’Challa’s allies, he rarely ends up on the same side as the Black Panther. While T’Challa controls the Panther cult, M’Baku is head of the Gorilla cult (hence his alias Man-Ape). In the comics, M’Baku detests Wakanda’s technological revitalization. He seeks to outlaw technology and return the nation to its mystical roots. Often, M’Baku will use greater conflicts to undermine Wakandan leadership. He’s cunning and willing to ally himself with anyone he thinks will grow his standing within Wakanda. Occasionally, that will be Black Panther. But often, he’ll choose Black Panther’s opposition.
I’d love to see Winston Duke’s M’Baku receive more shine in the MCU. I also like how the MCU changed his alias to Great Gorilla. That works.
Did we get the list right? Let us know who you would add or remove in the comments. And wherever you are, I hope you’re having a great day.
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