Black Panther (vol. 4) #38
Back to Africa, Conclusion
With the help of a hyper-intelligent ape, Eik Killmonger has taken over neighboring Niganda. After rescuing his sister, the Black Panther (T’Challa) challenges Killmonger to a one-on-one duel.[1] While preparations are being made, Zuri and a team of soldiers have stormed the underground complex to shut down the force fields being used to fend off the Wakandan Air Force. There, they have come upon the super ape in charge. It has just figured out a way to use the captured Monica Rambeau’s energy form to power its laser cannon.
Both T’Challa and Killmonger are soon informed of the battle going below while they are being suited up in armor for their final battle. T’Challa gets the info from the Dora Milaje as they suit him up and bring him the Ebony Blade. While Killmonger gets word from a young man that he calls his son.[2]
The two being fighting and trading barbs with one another. Things are evenly matched until Killmonger uses some of his provided technology to change the magnetic polarity of T’Challa’s armor and sword making it impossible for him to grasp his enchanted weapon. Then, using a buzzsaw built into the gauntlet of his armor, Erik begins cutting open the Black Panther’s armor.
Meanwhile, back in Wakanda, Shuri and G’Mal have been taken to the hospital after being rescued from Niganda. Shuri has been thoroughly examined and it is determined she is in good health. However, Queen Ramonda shows up with Brother Voodoo (Jericho Drumm) to examine them, much to the chagrin of the doctors. Ramonda reminds them that Drumm is a guest of the king and is to be allowed to do what he needs to do. Brother Voodoo has been staying in Wakanda since detecting the body thief known as the Cannibal stalking the area. Now he has finally found the body stealer who has taken up residence inside G’Mal’s body.[3] Since the real G’Mal is dead and gone, Voodoo has no choice but to kill the Cannibal and injects him in the leg with a strong sedative.
Back in Niganda, Monica grows tired of being used as a weapon against her allies. She has been trying to figure out a way out of the energy field that is keeping her prisoner. Unfortunately, it keeps changing frequencies making it impossible to escape, or so it seems. She then decides to employ the training T’Challa gave her and splits her energy form into thousands upon thousands of miniature versions of herself. She then scours the field until she finds a crack that she can escape out of.[4] Before they can succumb to the poison, “G’Mal” kisses Brother Voodoo on the mouth, causing him to jump bodies. Cannibal is shocked to see that "Jericho’s” mindscape is that of an alien world. Shockingly, Drumm’s soul appears to be a member of the Skrull race. In fact, he is a Skrull invader who has been searching for the Cannibal because his presence could prematurely expose his infiltration.[5] The two begin to fight, but the battle takes too long and the Skrull’s body cannot survive having two souls in it at once. Before long, it too collapses dead to the ground and reverts back to its true form just as doctors rush in to see what’s going on.
While on the field of battle, one of the Dora Milaje fears that King T’Challa won’t win with fight against Killmonger. Despite warnings, she tries to run out into the middle of the battle. She doesn’t get very far as she is soon shot by a sniper watching the fight from the rooftop. The Black Panther hears the shot and only looks back for a brief moment before getting back into the fight. It’s at this point, that Monica Rambeau gets free from her prison, taking out the ape that has been helping Killmonger. The resulting explosion distracts Killmonger in battle. With the force fields now down, the Wakandan Air Force can now swoop in and eliminate the other mutant animals.
Monica, furious over being held prisoner, passes through Killmonger’s body while turning back into human form. This is like a bullet passing through him and is fatal. When Killmonger’s lifeless body falls to the ground, his son runs to his father’s side and weeps. He blames the Black Panther for killing his father, and vows that he will have his revenge.[6] T’Challa isn’t happy that Monica took out Killmonger for him, but Rambeau feels justified after how she was humiliated. Mroe over, she notes that T’Challa has never been able to defeat Killmonger in the past, so she took hit upon herself to end it. T’Challa points to the mourning child and tells her that all she did was download his hatred onto the next generation.[7][8]
T’Challa then gets a sit-rep from his people. Medics have been able to treat the Dora Milaje who was shot in the battle and she is pulling through. Zuri, however, reports that the intelligent ape that assisted Killmonger escaped in the confusion. Unwilling to accept that, Monica flies off to hunt it down. When the people of Niganda ask if the Black Panther will live up to his promise to help them out. He tells them that his people will guide the Nigandans on how to become self-sufficient so they won’t become victims to another tyrant.
Meanwhile, the boy who calls himself Killmonger’s son takes his father’s body back to a hidden base. There are a group of people who call themselves the sons and daughters of Killmonger, and they all vow that the Black Panther must die![9]
Recurring Characters
Black Panther, Erik Killmonger, Shuri, the Cannibal, Zuri, W’Kabi, Ramonda, “Brother Voodoo”
Continuity Notes
This has been going on over the last three issues. The hyper evolved apes were created by Erich Paine. See X-Men (vol. 2) #175-176 and Black Panther (vol. 4) #8-9.
As of this writing (Feb, 2024) it is unclear if this child is Killmonger’s biological son or someone he adopted. They have not been seen since this issue.
The Cannibal was part of Ulysses Klaw’s invasion of Wakanda that took place in Black Panther (vol. 4) #1-6. Brother Voodoo became aware of his presence and has been hunting him since issue #18.
T’Challa taught Monica to use her powers in new and different ways in Black Panther (vol. 4) #13 and 24.
The Skrull is part of an invasion of Earth that will take place primarily in the pages of Secret Invasion #1-8. The Black Panther’s involvement in repelling the invaders will be chronicled in Black Panther (vol. 4) #39-41. Per the softcover edition of Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #2, the Skrull here only just recently swapped out with Brother Voodoo.
Killmonger’s death isn’t permanent, as he’ll be brought back to life using a Resurrection Altar (again!!) in Black Panther (vol. 7) #19.
Here, T’Challa draws a parallel between Killmonger’s son and himself when he witnessed his own father get kill. T’Chaka, T’Challa’s father, was infamously killed before his own son by Ulysses Klaw. This tale was originally told in Fantastic Four #53.
Monica’s assertion that T’Challa has never beaten Killmonger is not correct. He beat the bastard once before in Jungle Action (vol. 2) #17. Everyone seems to have forgotten this. She also mentions how T’Challa has a contingency plan against Galactus. We saw this Black Panther (vol. 3) #14.
As of this writing (Feb, 2024), this is the last we see of the mutant ape, Killmonger’s alleged family of unnamed sons and daughters. As such their subsequent fates are unknown. The Nigandans, however, won’t learn their lesson here as they will come under the rule of Zenzi, another Black Panther antagonist, as seen in Black Panther (vol. 6) #2.
