Black Panther: 10 fun facts that will blow your mind

6. Erik Killmonger

If you’ve followed Ryan Coogler’s career as a filmmaker, you would know that one of his regular collaborators is Michael B. Jordan, who some Marvel fans will know as Johnny Storm in Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four. Jordan joined Black Panther as Erik Stevens/N’Jadaka/Killmonger, who is the secret son of N’Jobu, the younger brother of T’Chaka. This makes Killmonger the paternal cousin of T’Challa and Shuri much to their mother’s horror.

In the comics, N’Jadaka is still Erik Killmonger. Although, the difference between the two incarnations is that the Killmonger of the comics was actually born in Wakanda, while the MCU’s version was born in America.

Also, he was never known as Erik Stevens in the comics, while this is Killmonger’s American name. Not to mention the comic villain does not have royal blood, as he is of no relation to T’Challa and Shuri His father, N’Jobu, isn’t their uncle in the comics either. What makes the comic version of Killmonger so evil is that he converts Nakia, the love interest of T’Challa, to the dark side and gives her the moniker Malice.

One can assume the reason N’Jobu was made to be T’Chaka’s brother was to add more of an emotional impact for Killmonger to want to be King of Wakanda and to avenge his father’s death. It also makes the audience care about him.