Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Marvel’s Eyes of Wakanda
TheMCUhas just introduced a brand-new villain who’s arguably even darker than Killmonger. Played by Michael B. Jordan, Erik Killmonger made it his life’s mission to take Wakanda’s throne, using the nation’s resources to globally revolt against oppressive systems. However, it seems Killmonger wasn’t the onlyBlack Panthervillain to have this perspective, as proven by Marvel’s newEyes of Wakandaseries.
In 2018’sBlack Panther,Killmonger aka N’Jadakasought revenge for the death of his father at the hands of his uncle, King T’Chaka of Wakanda. Angered by the secret African nation’s isolationism despite global oppression and systemic violence, Killmonger believed Wakanda had the power to remake the world by force.However, Killmonger (and his father) weren’t the first to resist Wakanda’s values.
Eyes of Wakanda’s The Lion Is A Dark Precursor To Erik Killmonger
Hundreds of years before the events of the firstBlack Panthermovie, Marvel’s newEyes of Wakandaseries has revealed the existence of The Lion. Once a War Dog agent (like Killmonger’s father) and captain of the Wakandan Royal Guard, Nkati (Cress Williams) went rogue and stole several vibranium weapons after seeing the state of the outside world.
Coming to view Wakanda’s isolationism as a “golden cage” inEyes of Wakandaepisode 1, Nkati rebranded himself as The Lion during 1260 B.C., amassing several followers and warriors from across the globe as he sought to form a massive empire united under one banner.
While those who accepted his generosity were taken care of with food and comfort, resisters were darkly “convinced” via brands and chains. As The Lion tells the former Dora Milaje Noni sent to kill him, the chains are a “necessity” to form the better world he envisions.
It’s not hard to see the similarities between The Lion and Killmonger. However, I have my doubts thatone of the most sympathetic MCU villainswould go so far as to implement slavery and bondage to achieve his dream, as that kind of oppression was exactly what Erik Killmonger was trying to fight and revolt against. He’d likely kill his opponents before pressing anyone into forced servitude.
Yes, The Lion is trying to make the world a better place through extreme force, just like Killmonger intended once he took the throne from T’Challa.
However, one can certainly make the argument that The Lion was willing to implement even darker means in the name of forging his new world order (at least until he was killed by Noni, a battle that saw her becoming a new War Dog in the aftermath).
