Black Panther (vol. 3) #20
Retribution
Over the skies of Africa, a Wakandan Air Force plane makes its way back to its homeland from America. On board are Queen Divine Justice and Okoye of the Dora Milaje, and American State Department operatives Nikki Adams and Everett Ross. Ross protests returning to Wakanda because he quit his job as the American attaché to King T’Challa (aka the Black Panther).[1] However, Nikki reminds him that T’Challa made him regent of the country and he needs to be protected by Erik Killmonger who is trying to take over the nation.[2] When Everett questions this plan since going to Wakanda will bring him closer to Killmonger. However, the others are confident that T’Challa will keep him safe.
Meanwhile, the Black Panther and Killmonger are settling their feud once and for all with a one-on-one honor battle at the edge of Warrior Falls.[3] The brawl has been going on for two straight hours, with neither man saying a word. However, they are also evenly matched and continue fighting until both are out of breath and take a breather. Finally speaking, Erik complains about how his recent dental work has been ruined. T’Challa doesn’t see how Killmonger can rely on levity in this situation. However, this — and hatred — is all Killmonger has left to live for so long as T’Challa continues to rule Wakanda. He assures his mortal foe that he will see the entire country destroyed before allowing the Panther’s rule to continue. He also believes that T’Challa is willing to do the same thing after destabilizing Wakanda’s economy to try and stop him, pointing out the innocent people he is harming by doing so.[4] T’Challa’s only response is to tell Killmonger that they will resume their battle at the next dawn.
Later, the ship carrying the Panther’s allies arrives in Wakanda. As they fly past N’Jadaka Village — Erik Killmonger’s home village — Everett sees Killmonger’s tower is still standing and pleads to go back as the conflict hasn’t been resolved yet. As if in response to this observation, soldiers begin opening fire at their aircraft, forcing Okoye to take evasive manouvers. This comes as a shock to everyone as they thought Killmonger had been defeated. With their plane in flames and about to crash, they are all force to eject and parachute into the village below. Queen Divine Justice takes a moment to drink in the sights of an American capitalist hellscape in the middle of Africa before whistling for a passing taxi cab to pick them up.
Meanwhile, the battle between the Black Panther and Killmonger resumes for another few hours in a continued stalemate. After both men become winded once more, they agree to take a lunch break.
At that same time, in Rio Dejinero, Marc Spector is out in his Steve Grant persona with his love Marlene Alraune to do some gambling.[5] At the roulette table they are visited by Brother Voodoo (Jericho Drumm), whom “Grant” has previously met in his alter-ego, the Moon Knight.[6] Voodoo asks “Steve” to meet with him at the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Mount Coronado in 10 minutes as Moon Knight as a life hangs in the balance. When Spector checks his watch to see the time, Marlene asks Marc who he was talking too. When he looks up, he sees that Drumm is gone and — more distrubing — nobody else saw him. Seeing how confused Spector is, Alraune suggests that stop gambling for the rest of the evening.
Back in Wakanda, the Black Panther suggests that Killmonger relent as soon neither of their bodies will be able to move from exhaustion. He assures Erik that if he ends this pointless battle, he will be allowed to live in peace. Unfortunately, Killmonger refuses to surrender, reminding him that neither of them — who saw their fathers cut down by invaders — will ever live in peace.[7] Since he has cheated death more than once, Erik will not rest until T’Challa dies for once.[8] Killmonger wants T’Challa to finally express the same level of hate that Erik feels for him as well. However, T’Challa explains that such emotions are beneath a worthy ruler and demonstrates this by fighting back with no emotion when their fight resumes.
Concurrently, Moon Knight makes his rendezvous with Brother Voodoo, who says that he needs the hero’s assistance in contacting Khonshu. Spector tells Voodoo that he has severed ties with the Egyptian deity that gave him his powers.[9] However, Brother Voodoo assures him that there is still a connection even though Marc has turned his back on Khonshu.
While this is going down, Everett and the others have taken a monorail into the central city of Wakanda when they couldn’t get a cab. Along the way, the fact that she is living in one of the most advanced civilizations in the world — one built and entirely populated by Black people — finally hits her and she sheds tears by the beauty of it all. When they get off at the central station, they are greeted by Zuri and Monica Lynne. While Zuri insists that they cannot interfere with the battle between the Black Panther and Killmonger, Monica insists that Everett — as the regent of Wakanda — put a stop to it before it is too late. As they race to Warrior Falls, Monica explains that the two have been fighting all day and all night until one yields or dies. Given how T’Challa has rarely defeated Killmonger, she fears that the outcome of this battle will not end in his favor.
Meanwhile, he battle between the two mortal enemies is reaching its end. Killmonger boasts that regardless of the outcome he will still succeed even if the Panther wins. He will become a martyr either in capture or death, and Wakanda’s economy will still be in shambles. That’s when everyone else — Everett and Monica and company by sky-cycle and Brother Voodoo and Moon Knight via teleportation — arrives on the scene. When Ross calls out to T’Challa, it provides the distraction Killmonger was waiting for and he lands one final blow that knocks the Black Panther to the ground. He then tells everyone gathered that the battle is over and T’Challa is dead![10]
Recurring Characters
Black Panther, Erik Killmonger, Brother Voodoo, Everett Ross, Queen Divine Justice, Okoye, Nikki Adams, Zuri, Moon Knight, Marlene Alraune
Continuity Notes
Everett tried to quit his job in Black Panther (vol. 3) #18 when he learned that his boss/girlfriend Nikki had a past relationship with the Black Panther. He found that out the issue before. Readers have known this secret since Black Panther (vol. 3) #6.
T’Challa put Everett in charge of Wakanda in Black Panther (vol. 3) #13 to fill in while he conducted business in America. Erik Killmonger has been keeping him busy pretty much since so Ross hasn’t had the title removed as yet.
Warrior Falls is significant because this is where the Panther and Killmonger first fought way back in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #7.
T’Challa sent the Wakandan economy in a freefall over the last two issues in order to force Killmonger to initiate his final attack.
At the time of this story, Marc Spector used two other aliases: The wealthy Steve Grant and the taxi driver Jake Lockley since Moon Knight #1. As per Moon Knight (vol. 8) #11, these aren’t just aliases but actual multiple personas as Spector suffers from disassociate identity disorder.
Brother Voodoo and Moon Knight previously crossed paths back in Moon Knight #21.
Both T’Challa and N’Jadaka’s fathers were killed when Wakanda was attacked by Ulysses Klaw. These events were first accounted in Fantastic Four #53 and Jungle Action (vol. 2) #7 respectivly.
Like any good Marvel villain, Killmonger has managed to cheat death more than once. 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. How he cheated death this time around was explained in Black Panther (vol. 3) #18.
As explained in Moon Knight #1, Marc Spector was killed under the shadow of a statue of Khonshu while operating as a mercenary in Egypt. He was resurrected by Khonshu to become his champion. Here he states he cut ties with Khonshu, this is in reference to the events of Moon Knight (vol. 3) #1-4. He mentions that he also got rid of the “Ankh and everything”. This is in reference to a bunch of Egyptian themed weapons that he used from Moon Knight (vol. 2) #1. However, the stopped using these tools as far back as Marc Spector: Moon Knight #1.
I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but just in case, T’Challa’s brush with death doesn’t last very long as we’ll see over the next two issues.
Topical References
The opening subtitle to this story reads “If Ever a Wiz There Was”, this is a line from the song “We’re Off to See the Wizard” from the 1939 film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. As this film is considered a classic, this wouldn’t necessarily be considered a topical reference. As is the later reference “Ding-Dong the witch is dead!” which is a reference to another song from the same film.
One of the visible billboards in N’Jadaka Village is for the musical Cats. This should be considered topical as it could be replaced with a more contemporary example.
Erik Killmonger is depicted drinking a bottle of Poweraide, a real world brand of sports drink. Its depiction here should be considered topical as this is a real world product.
