Black Panther (vol. 3) #16
Local Hero
After meeting with the Black Panther (T’Challa), Nikki Adams learned that the mastermind of a recent plane hijacking as a man named N’Jadaka. The Panther said that he is a dead man, piquing her curiosity enough to see if the United States government has a file on this man.[1]
At that same moment, in Wakanda, the man previously known as N’Jadaka — aka Erik Killmonger — has interfered with a tribal elephant hunt. While he saved the life of Everett Ross — who has been put in charge of the nation in T’Challa’s absence — he is attacked by W’Kabi and the other warriors who recognize Killmonger for the villain he is. Killmonger fights off most of the warriors until the only one left standing is W’Kabi, the Black Panther’s trusted right-hand-man.[2] As the two fight, the battle is watched from the sidelines by Everett, Monica Lynn, and Killmonger’s pet leopard, Preyy.
W’Kabi believes he is fighting an impostor, since he believes Killmonger to be dead.[3] Regardless of this, Erik defeats the warrior in battle. However, he is stopped short of killing his opponent thanks to Monica Lynn. She takes the opportunity to remind W’Kabi how he initially was against T’Challa’s relationship with her.[4] That’s when Everett pipes up and asks if he will have to fight Killmonger now that he is regent of Wakanda.
By this time, Nikki Adamas has been connecting the dots between N’Jadaka with government records and reports from Everett. She finally makes the connection that N’Jadaka is the birth name of the Black Panther’s greatest enemy, Erik Killmonger. These records note that Killmonger is an American citizen that live in Harlem and is now considered deceased.
Meanwhile, unaware that his foe is in Wakanda, the Black Panther has been searching Harlem for any sign of him there. Helping him is the NYPD’s Francis Tork. The two rendezvous outside the Apollo when they both turn up nothing. As T’Challa makes the realization that Killmonger isn’t in America, he is suddenly ambushed by the female criminal known as Nightshade (Tilda Johnson). The Panther counters, but she has coated herself in a refractive oil that makes his energy knives harmless. Worse, she pelted Tork with gas pellets filled with pheromones that make him a loyal slave to her. T’Challa quickly knocks Tork out and then tries to grab Nightshade as she flees. Unfortunately, she is prepare for this, and slaps on a chemical compound that begins to eat through his Black Panther garb. She then leaves the Panther to be beaten by an angry mob of people affected by her pheromone gas. Luckily, the Falcon (Sam Wilson) is there to rescue the Black Panther and flies him to his nearby limo.[5] There, Okoye of the Dora Milaje, is waiting for him with a bag of the heart shaped herbs that give T’Challa his powers.[6]
Back in Wakanda, Erik Killmonger brings Monica, Everett, and W’Kabi to N’Jadaka Village, named after him following his rise to political prominence.[7] At the same time, Nikki has managed to pull up a detailed dossier on Killmonger.[8]
While this is happening, the Black Panther is getting the Falcon up to speed on what’s going on between him and Killmonger. However, T’Challa is certain that the attack by Nightshade wasn’t intended to kill him. He is convinced that Killmonger is attempting to disgrace as the recent coup on Wakanda has negatively impacted his political standing among the people of Wakanda.[9] T’Challa thanks Sam for his help but assures him that he can handle things from here and sends him on his way. Word is then sent back to the Black Panther’s New York base of operations in Brooklyn. There, a Wakandan elder is waiting with Queen Divine Justice, a young Chicago resident that is next in line to fill the a role on the Dora Milaje.[10]
Its at this time that Everett Ross calls Nikki Adams to give her an update. She isn’t interested in what he has to say until he says that he is being made a guest of Erik Killmonger. Having just read the file on him, she tries to warn Everett that Killmonger is a madman and tells him to run away before it is too late.
At that moment, back in New York, the Black Panther’s limo is attacked by Nighshade once more. However, she hasn’t come alone as she brought along some other local crooks to help her out. These include Boss Morgan, Cottonmouth, Stiletto, and Cockroach Hamilton. They have all been paid a large sum of money to eliminate the Black Panther. But before they can carry out this mission Morgan is hit in the side of the head with an empty pop can. This was tossed by some allies who have come to T’Challa’s aid: The Falcon, Power Man and Iron Fist!
Recurring Characters
Black Panther, Erik Killmonger, Flacon, Power Man, Iron Fist, Boss Morgan, Nightshade, Cockroach Hamilton, Cottonmouth, Stiletto, Queen Divine Justice, Francis Tork, W’Kabi, Monica Lynn, Nikki Adams, Redwing, Preyy
Continuity Notes
N’Jadaka was Erik Killmonger’s birth name, which he abandoned just as he was abandoned by the people of Wakanda when he was younger, as explained in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #7. Killmonger hired Hydro-Man to hijack a commercial airliner to send a message to the Panther, as seen in Black Panther (vol. 3) #13-14.
Erik Killmonger is surprised to see that W’Kabi has a bonic arm. This is because W’Kabi had his arm crushed during an attack on Wakanda by Killmonger, as seen in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #17-18.
At this point, Killmonger has managed to cheat death. He was killed in a life or death battle with the Black Panther in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #17. He was briefly resurrected as a zombie slave of the Mandarin in Iron Man Annual #5, however he was brought back to full life in Over the Edge #6. He died again and was resurrected once more, how he cheated death this time around is explained in Black Panther (vol. 3) #18.
W’Kabi made his disapproval of Monica in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #7.
The heart shaped herbs are the source of T’Challa’s powers as per Avengers #87.
In his narration, Everett states that the Falcon was bitten by a radioactive seagull and that’s how he has his ability to mentally communicate with his bird, Redwing. He’s being hyperbolic obviously, in reality, Sam Wilson was given his abilities by the Red Skull, who used the Cosmic Cube to turn Sam into an ideal crime fighting partner to Captain America circa Captain America #117 as told in Captain America #186. What he is accurate about is how the Black Panther helped Sam build the artificial wings he uses to fly. These original wings were created in Captain America #170.
This prominence due to his previous attempt to conquer Wakanda, as documented in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #7-18.
A footnote here thanks “Troy Westblade of the Wakandan Embassy” and lists a website address: www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/2888. This was an actual fan site back in the day when people used to sign up for free websites (with up to 2 megabytes storage!!) during the early days of the internet. Geocities is long defunct, but as you can tell from the highlighted link an archived version survives on archive.org’s Way Back Machine.
This would be the coup staged by the madman known as Achebe, with the backing of the American government. See Black Panther (vol. 3) #1-12.
The Dora Milaje are “brides-in-waiting” a ceremonial position given to young women representing each unique tribe that makes up Wakanda. Her predecessor was Nakia, who disgraced herself in the eyes of the king by trying to kill Monica Lynn as seen in Black Panther (vol. 3) #11. When T’Challa found out he exiled her in issue #13, the same issue where Queenie got herself busted and had to be bailed out of jail.
Topical References
A number of the subtitles for this issue make pop culture references. They are:
“He’s dead, Jim” is a reference to Doctor Leonard McCoy (played by the late DeForest Kelly) in the original Star Trek TV series. McCoy commonly associate with this phrase, having said it (or some variation) at least twenty times during the series run. This could be considered a topical reference as it could be replaced with a more contemporary example.
“Mirror, Mirror” is, I’m assuming, part of a famous line from Disney’s 1937 animated film adaptation of Snow White. This wouldn’t be a topical reference anymore since Disney has owned Marvel Comics since 2009, and this would now be a case of brand synergy.
“Meet George Jetson” is part of the theme song to the The Jetsons an animated family sitcom that originally aired from 1962 to 1963. This would be a topical reference as a more contemporary example can be used.
Nikki Adams is depicted owning an original iMac G3 computer. These computers first came on the market in 1998 and were sold until they were discontinued in 2002. They were highly popular at the time this story was published because of their easy-to-use design and being available in a variety of colours. This should be considered a topical reference as these computers are obsolete.
Everett Ross refers to Erik Killmonger as an “extra from Mandingo”. He is referring to the 1975 film based on a novel of the same name that was published in 1957. The story was set in the Antebellum South during the Atlantic Slave Trade. It was widely panned as an exploitation film upon its release. However, its had become more favorable in recent times due to its accurate portrayal of ugly history of slave ownership, even if it is considered a big budget exploitation film. That said, this should be considered a topical reference because a more contemporary example could be used in its place.
The marquee outside the Apollo Theater in Harlem lists that it is running a version of Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. Since this is a classical play, this wouldn’t be considered topical. The appearance of the Apollo should be considered factual as well since the building itself has been designated a heritage building.
Everett makes a number of pop culture references when describing Killmonger and N’Jadaka Village:
He compares N’Jadaka Village as like being Epcot Center (known as EPCOT since 1993) is an attraction at the Walt Disney World theme park in Florida. Since this is a case of brand synergy. He also references Disneyland, the Walt Disney Corporation’s theme park in California. This is also a factual reference for the same reason.
He compares Killmonger to both Fidel Castro and Gordon Gecko. Castro was the leader of Cuba from 1958 until his death in 2008. Gecko on the other hand is a fictional character portrayed by actor Michael Douglas in the 1987 film Wall Street and its 2010 sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. These name drops should be considered topical references as they can be replaced with more contemporary examples.
He also likens all the above to a dysfunctional amalgam of Wakanda, likening it to the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” being sung by Marilyn Manson. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” was performed by actress Julie Garland in the 1939 film adaptation of the Wizard of Oz. Marilyn Manson (born Brian Warner) is the eponymous front man of a metal band that came to prominence in 1993. At the time, Manson’s music stoked controversy from pearl clutchers that like to blame entertainment for acts of violence.
He’s not wrong to make these comparisons since N’Jadaka Village has come totally commercial with advertisements that would put Times Square to shame. There are billboards for Blockbuster Video, Burger King, Brother Industries, and McDonalds. There is also a theater marquee advertising the 1997 comedy George of the Jungle. These should all be considered topical as they are real world companies. The movie reference should be considered topical as well as it could be replaced with a more contemporary example.
Apparently on a roll, Ross also contrasts Killmonger between four people:
John Shaft, a fictional private eye appearing in a novel of the same name in 1971 by author Ernest Tidyman. The character was adapted to film and appears in 11 films (7 made for movie and 5 feature films). The character was famously portrayed by actor Richard Roundtree. Shaft was portrayed as a cool dude or as promo for the films called him “Hotter than (James) Bond, and cooler than Bullitt”
On the same vein is Super Fly a series of exploitation films, or more specifically the main character Youngblood Priest (played by actor Ron O’Neil) a cocaine dealer trying to get out of the life. It spawned three sequels and a remake.
Michael Milken was a financier who was famously convicted for securities fraud and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 1989. He only served 2 years for testimony against his colleagues. Somehow this absolute scumbag is one of the richest men in the world and is now better known for his political contributrions. In 2020 he was pardoned by then President Donald Trump… Speaking of whom…
Trump is also name dropped here, at the time this comic was published, Trump was best known as a real estate magnate. He is also obscenely wealthy due to his scummy business acumen. He was also famously a lame duck President who served a single term from 2017 to 2021 amid four years of controversies, scandals, a mismanaged pandemic that killed millions, and an attempted coup when he lost the next election. Guy is a scumbag as well and is certainly going down as the worst American President since Ronald Reagan. Writer Christopher Priest clearly saw the writing on the wall over a decade earlier (as can anyone with any critical thinking skills) given how he has paired Trump with Milken here.
The original twin towers of the World Trade Center are depicted as part of the New York City skyline in this story. This should be considered a topical reference as these buildings have since been destroyed during a terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Since then, the new Freedom Tower has been constructed in their place.
We round off this episode with a teaser for next issue that reads “Dolomite’s Seven Ups" (Cage and the Boys Get Their Grove On)” Dolemite is the alter-ego of comedian Rudy Ray More, who made three films based on the character. The Seven Ups was an action film made in 1973. Since this is talking about the next issue and not used as part of the story, you can take them for what you will.