Nakia (comics)

Malice
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceBlack Panther vol. 3 #1
(November 1998)
Created byChristopher Priest
Mark Texeira
In-story information
Alter egoNakia Shauku
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsDora Milaje
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, speed, agility, and accuracy
  • Expert hand-to-hand combatant
  • Equipments include a barbed blade and a projectile blade launcher

Nakia Shauku (/ˈnɑːkiə/) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira, the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 3 #1 (November 1998).

Lupita Nyong'o portrays Nakia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Panther (2018) and the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

Publication history

The character was introduced in Black Panther vol. 3 #1 (Nov. 1998) and was created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira.

Fictional character biography

As a child, Nakia of the Q'Noma Valley marsh tribe was picked by her tribal elders to be Wakandan Dora Milaje, "Adored Ones" or wives-in-training and spent three years training before being presented to King T'Challa; barely a teenager, she was instantly smitten with him, although he promised that her role was purely ceremonial. She became close friends with her fellow Dora Milaje, Okoye who, unlike her, took satisfaction with being just his bodyguard. Nakia's obsession with King T'Challa increased dramatically when Mephisto cast an illusion over T'Challa causing him to kiss Nakia. She consequently became jealous of T'Challa's American ex-girlfriend Monica Lynne and plotted to kill her, but T'Challa rescued her and banished Nakia bringing great shame on her tribe and Wakanda.[1]

Nakia was captured by Achebe and tortured by him until Erik Killmonger came and freed her.[2] Killmonger used the Altar of Resurrection on her and in the process gained enhanced abilities. Killmonger decided to name her Malice after the previous one. She went after T'Challa and his female allies and while battling Queen Divine Justice, killed one of T'Challa's allies, Nicole "Nikki" Adams.[3]

Nakia and Man-Ape kidnap several of T'Challa's friends, poisoning them out of revenge. Nakia also plans on killing Monica and Dakota North, believing that the latter was also one of T'Challa's lovers. In the end, T'Challa foils the plan of Nakia, who manages to escape but not without giving him the antidote for his friends.[4]

When Everett K. Ross is captured and tortured by the Hatut Zeraze, Nakia steps in to rescue him. Despite this, she is still in exile from the Dora Milaje.[5] Embittered and cast out, Nakia developed an arsenal of weapons, including an herb called jufeiro that gives her power over men. However, longtime use of the drug makes her severely ill. In a desperate attempt to lure Black Panther to her before she dies, Nakia tracks down the Mimic-27, a transforming weapon used by the Dora Milaje.[6]

Nakia sends Mimic-27 after T'Challa's ex-wife, Ororo Munroe (aka Storm of the X-Men), but the weapon breaks free of Nakia's control and attacks her. The Dora Milaje request Nakia's aid in stopping the Mimic, but she refuses to act until she can see her king again.[7] While the heroes of New York battle Mimic's doppelgängers, Nakia and the Dora Milaje battle the Mimic itself, which is tainted with Nakia's malignance. Nakia overcomes her mirror reflection and finally quells Mimic, but dies without Mimic to sustain her. Nakia is returned to Wakanda and given a proper burial, which is attended by Black Panther, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers.[8]

Powers and abilities

Due a magical ritual, Nakia possesses a superhuman level of strength, speed, agility, and accuracy.[9][10] As a member of the Dora Milaje, Nakia is an expert hand-to-hand combatant.[11] She uses a barbed blade and a projectile blade launcher.[2][12]

Reception

Critical response

CinemaBlend included Nakia in their "5 Marvel Villains We'd Love To See In Black Panther 2" list.[13] ComicBook.com included Nakia in their "7 Great Villains for Black Panther 2" list.[14] Darby Harn of Screen Rant included Nakia in their "10 Best Black Panther Comics Characters Not In The MCU" list.[10] De'Angelo Epps of CBR.com ranked Nakia 9th in their "Marvel: Ranking Black Panther's Rogues Gallery" list.[15]

In other media

Television

Nakia makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Welcome to Wakanda" as a member of the Dora Milaje.[16]

Marvel Cinematic Universe

See also: Nakia (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Nakia appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Lupita Nyong'o.[17] This version hails from Wakanda's River Tribe, is a former Dora Milaje who became a War Dog, an international spy for Wakanda, and was previously in a relationship with T'Challa.

  • She first appears in the film Black Panther (2018). Following the death of his father T'Chaka, T'Challa brings Nakia back to Wakanda to accompany him as he is crowned the new king and on a mission to capture Ulysses Klaue. After Killmonger arrives in Wakanda and seemingly kills T'Challa for Wakanda's throne, Nakia recovers a heart-shaped herb and accompanies T'Challa's sister Shuri, mother Ramonda, and acquaintance Everett K. Ross in an attempt to enlist M'Baku's help in overthrowing Killmonger despite Ramonda's pleas for her to ingest the herb. However, they find a comatose T'Challa and revive him before joining him in retaking Wakanda. Following Killmonger's defeat, Nakia and T'Challa rekindle their relationship and she accepts a new position running a Wakandan outreach center in California.
  • As of the film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,[18] Nyong'o stated that Nakia has "matured" after the Blip and the death of T'Challa, explaining that her character's "priorities have shifted and sharpened", while adding that she still remains "the one you want to call when you're in trouble".[19] Following the aforementioned events, Nakia moved to Haiti to secretly raise her and T'Challa's son, Toussaint, away from the pressures of living in Wakanda.
  • An alternate universe variant of Nakia appears in the What If...? episode "What If... the Hulk Fought the Mech Avengers?", voiced by Brittany Adebumola.[20] This version joined the Avengers in their struggle against the Apex and its gamma monsters.

Video games

References

  1. ^ Black Panther (vol. 3) #11-12 (September - October 1999)
  2. ^ a b Black Panther (vol. 3) #23 (October 2000)
  3. ^ Black Panther (vol. 3) #24 (November 2000)
  4. ^ Black Panther (vol. 3) #32-33 (July - August 2001)
  5. ^ Black Panther Annual (vol. 3) #1 (April 2018)
  6. ^ Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever one-shot (August 2018)
  7. ^ X-Men: Wakanda Forever one-shot (September 2018)
  8. ^ Avengers: Wakanda Forever one-shot (October 2018)
  9. ^ Black Panther (vol. 3) #31 (June 2001)
  10. ^ a b Harn, Darby (April 23, 2022). "10 Best Black Panther Comics Characters Not In The MCU". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  11. ^ Black Panther (vol. 3) #1 (November 1998)
  12. ^ Black Panther (vol. 3) #24-25 (November - December 2000)
  13. ^ Wood, Matt (February 22, 2018). "5 Marvel Villains We'd Love To See In Black Panther 2". CINEMABLEND. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  14. ^ Bonomolo, Cameron (February 21, 2018). "7 Great Villains for 'Black Panther 2'". ComicBook.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  15. ^ Epps, De'Angelo (December 7, 2020). "Marvel: Ranking Black Panther's Rogues Gallery". CBR. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  16. ^ Hueck, Vinton (director); Christopher Yost (writer) (October 15, 2010). "Welcome to Wakanda". The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Season 0. Episode 17. Disney XD.
  17. ^ Strom, Marc (July 23, 2016). "SDCC 2016: Marvel's 'Black Panther' Confirms Additional Cast". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  18. ^ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (November 20, 2020). "Marvel's 'Black Panther' Sequel Shoot to Begin in July (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  19. ^ Tyrrell, Caitlin (November 3, 2022). "Black Panther 2 Sees Nakia Changed By The Blip And Loss Of T'Challa". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  20. ^ Amin, Arezou (December 23, 2023). "'What If...?' Season 3 Episode 1 Recap: Invasion of the Hulkzillas". Collider. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  21. ^ Dornbush, Jonathon (February 13, 2018). "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 Black Panther DLC Revealed". IGN. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
  22. ^ Velde, Issy van der (January 10, 2023). "Marvel Snap Will Feature Warrior Falls Less Amid New Balance Changes". TheGamer. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  23. ^ Hart, Hannah (December 24, 2022). "Marvel SNAP: Black Panther Deck Guide (Tips, Cards, & Strategies)". Screen Rant. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
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