"Why wear the uniform of your own oppressors? Fight for them? Die for them?" "Kid, you've gotta be part of the system to change the system." "Nah. You can burn it down."
Erik Stevens, born N'Jadaka, is a former United States Navy SEAL and Prince of Wakanda who graduated from the United States Naval Academy and earned the nickname Erik Killmonger. He sought to start a war between the United States of America and Wakanda and rescuedTony Stark from a Ten Rings assassination attempt in Afghanistan, which allowed him to earn Stark's trust, only to eventually betray him and carry out his plan. This led him to killing his cousin T'Challa and taking over his mantle as Black Panther to start a war between Wakanda and America. As his treachery was discovered, Killmonger was recruited by The Watcher for the Guardians of the Multiverse, being brought out of his home universe in order to battle Ultron. After the team defeated the AI, Killmonger attempted to take the Infinity Stones for himself. However, Arnim Zola wished to possess them as well, prompting Doctor Strange trap them both in a pocket dimension for eternity. However, both were released along with Strange's other captives by Captain Carter. Although Killmonger finally got the Infinity Stones, they were taken from him by Kahhori who later returned both Killmonger and Zola to their own realities.
Erik Stevens was born in Oakland, California to N'Jobu, a Prince of Wakanda stationed at the United States of America. N'Jobu raised his son alone, telling him about Wakanda, and even gave him his Wakandan Royal Ring. However, N'Jobu was killed by T'Chaka, who was then the Black Panther, because of vibranium smuggling, leaving Stevens alone. Frustrated at the death of his father, as well, as suffering that African-American people go through, Stevens swore revenge on America and Wakanda for doing nothing and hiding from the world in the isolation.[1]
Joining the Military[]
"Graduated Annapolis at nineteen, MIT a year later."
At nineteen, Stevens graduated from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. As his doctoral thesis, Stevens launched the Project Liberator and designed the automated Combat Drone that would replace human soldiers in the ground warfare. However, due to the interface issues, Stevens' project never came to fruition. Eventually, Stevens joined the United States Navy SEALs, becoming a part of the covert assassination squad where he earned a nickname "Killmonger".[1]
Killmonger's War[]
Rescue of Tony Stark[]
"That was a spectacular entrance, seriously." "The Ten Rings have reinforcements en route. We need to move now."
As a part of the deep cover operation, Killmonger infiltrated the Ten Rings organization. There, he discovered that the Ten Rings were working with Obadiah Stane who wanted them to assassinate Tony Stark, so he could take control over Stark Industries, promising to provide them with the weaponry. Killmonger collected every piece of evidence that proved Stane's involvement and joined his squad that was stationed in Afghanistan.
Killmonger then left his squad and arrived at Kunar where the Ten Rings ambushed the US Air force convoy that was escorting Stark. When Stark tried to flee, Killmonger intercepted a missile that landed near him, saving him from an explosion. Covering Stark from the attack, Killmonger noted that the Ten Rings have reinforcements en route, so they needed to evacuate as soon as possible. Killmonger successfully gunned down all Ten Rings operatives and got Stark away from the danger, earning his gratitude.[1]
"We have to do better, build bigger, and fight badder for them. Which is why I'm bringing in Lieutenant Erik Stevens, the Navy SEAL who saved my life, as Stark Industries' new Chief Security Officer."
Stevens was invited to the press conference in Los Angeles where Tony Stark personally thanked him for the rescue and appointed Stevens as a Stark Industries' chief security officer. During the conference, Christine Everheart questioned how Stevens rescued Stark in time, as his squad was stationed far away from that area, so Stevens should have known about the attack beforehand. Stevens revealed that he was on a covert operation inside the Ten Rings, before Obadiah Stane tried to interrupt his statement and conclude the conference.
Stevens then presented all the evidence against Stane to the reporters, exposing his cooperation with the Ten Rings and that he was behind the attack on Stark. He also uploaded all the evidence online, including wire transfers, bank documents, and phone records, alerting the authorities which resulted in Stane's arrest. Following the conference, Stevens and Stark went to a party at his mansion where Stark offered him to replace Stane as the company's COO. Stevens was hesitant to accept the offer, saying that he was just a soldier, however, Stark assured him that he needed that kind of person for his company.
Later, Stevens visited Stark at his workshop where he found Stark's portable Jericho firearm prototype which impressed him. They talked about Stark's father before Stevens told him about his father, only by lying that had died due to gang violence. Following a brief conversation about weapons, Stevens told Stark about the Project Liberator that would make human soldiers obsolete and minimize casualties, however the project never came to fruition. Stark then decided to help Stevens to realize his project and launched a development of the drone prototype. Stevens helped programming drone's close quarter combat algorithms, basing him off his own technique.[1]
"I would not want to play chess with you, my friend. I leaked word of the sale to the WakandanWar Dogs. And it all played out just as you predicted it would." "We better load up the product. The Dora'll be here soon."
The development stalled due to the issues with the drone's regulating processor, so Stevens commented that they need to find another power source. Stevens suggested using vibranium that could act as a self-sustaining energy source and gave Tony Stark his vibranium ring as a sample. Stark praised Stevens' idea but noted that his father used all existing vibranium during World War II, although Stevens informed Stark that Ulysses Klaue had a vibranium supply in his possession.
Pepper Potts was strongly against Stevens' idea, as Stark Industries does not fraternize with black market dealers. Surprisingly for her, Stevens agreed with Potts, noting that shareholders would not approve of that decision either, so Stark decided to send James Rhodes there as company's military liaison. While on the contact with Stevens, Rhodes arrived at the Churchill ship to negotiate the vibranium purchase. Stevens informed Rhodes that he needed to cut their conversation short and ask Klaue to show him the vibranium.
Suddenly, the ship was attacked by Black Panther who was tracking down Klaue to retrieve the stolen vibranium. When Black Panther took down Klaue's men and tried to speak with Rhodes, Killmonger attacked them both with the Sonic Taser Cannon. Killmonger killed Black Panther with the cannon, to Rhodes' shock who did not understand why he did that. Killmonger then commented Rhodes wearing the uniform of their oppressors and fighting for their cause and Rhodes replied that system can only be changed from the inside.
Killmonger did not agree with Rhodes' words and killed him using the claw glove from T'Challa's Panther Habit. He then set a crime scene, making it look like Rhodes and T'Challa killed each other and told Klaue to load the vibranium. Klaue told Killmonger that he leaked the information about the purchase to the War Dogs, so the Wakandans will discover the body of their prince and assume that he was killed by Rhodes. Killmonger then told Klaue to get away before the Dora Milaje arrive at the scene.[1]
Stevens returned to Tony Stark's mansion, showing him the Vibranium Spear he got from Ulysses Klaue. Stevens then noticed that Stark was watching the news about the death of James Rhodes and told him that they need to stand up against Wakandans who were threatening war against them. Stark suddenly revealed that he knew that Stevens was behind Rhodes' murder due to J.A.R.V.I.S. surveying the area. Stevens knew that even if Stark calls the authorities, they will not arrive at time to save him, but Stark unleashed the drone prototype against Stevens.
Using the vibranium from Stevens' ring, Stark powered up a drone that attacked Stevens. He had trouble dealing with it, since the drone's combat algorithms were programmed after Stevens' technique. Stevens then decided to improvise and used the vibranium spear to strike down the drone before impaling Stark with it.
Stevens told Stark that he did not want to kill Stark but he left him with no choice. Stark said that he thought they were not so different, as both were orphans trying to do right by their fathers. Stevens, however, told Stark that the fact that he could not see the difference between them was a difference on its own before finishing off Stark with a vibranium spear.[1]
"War is here. The drones are made up of vibranium alloy. Just like your weapons. Almost indestructible." "Oh, please. They're built by Americans. We'll be home in time for lunch."
Following the murder of Tony Stark, Killmonger deleted all recordings of his crime from J.A.R.V.I.S.' memory and called Thaddeus Ross and Pepper Potts to the scene. There he accused the Wakandans as responsible for the crime and called it an act of vengeance for the death of Prince T'Challa at the hand of the Americans. General Ross considered this an act of war and ordered Stark Industries, now in possession of the US Government, to mass-produce the Stark Liberator Drones to prepare for the war against Wakanda. Potts tried to object, but her pleas were refused.
Killmonger reunites his long lost family
A few days after, Killmonger, along with Ulysses Klaue and a batallion of Liberator drones, arrived in Wakanda. Klaue escorted Killmonger to the protective barrier that was hiding Wakanda from the outside world, and after talking about Wakanda for a moment, Killmonger shot Klaue in the head. He then crossed the barrier and presented Klaue's body to the Border Tribe and then presented his War Dog Tattoo. Now sure of his Wakandan heritage, the Border Tribe escorted Killmonger to the Citadel, where he introduced himself as the son of N'Jobu and that he came to offer them his assistance.
Killmonger charges into battle
Killmonger then met with T'Chaka, Ramonda, and Shuri, offering them his assistance. He warned them about the Drones and told them that they needed to be ready for battle. Once the force field was lifted, the Drones came inside, and became deactivated. However, Killmonger reactivated them secretly using a remote he had on him. When the Drones charged the Wakandan army, Killmonger rode on top of a White Rhinoceros and charged into battle. During the battle, he rescued Okoye from a Drone, which impressed her and Ramonda. When the Drones had all been destroyed, Killmonger was accepted by the Wakandans for his bravery in the battle. Afterwards, T'Chaka and Killmonger went to Mount Bashenga where T'Chaka appointed him as the new Black Panther.[1]
Killmonger then received the Heart-Shaped Herb and entered the Ancestral Plane. There he was met by T'Challa, who told him that his actions would eventually catch up to him either in his world or in the after-life.
Killmonger becomes the new Black Panther
Killmonger ignored this and awoke, receiving the Panther Habit, and taking his place in the Citadel.[1]
Killmonger then saw that the war he hoped would happen didn't go as planned, as Shuri and Pepper Potts, via secret video footages that Shuri had been able save, exposed the truth of his deception to both the USA and Wakanda, declaring him as an enemy of both sides. As Shuri, Potts, and the Dora Milaje came after him, Killmonger escaped to the Citadel, looking out at the chaotic Wakanda. Then, The Watcher appeared before him and stated that he had been chosen before transporting him away.
Killmonger was transported to a dimension outside of time and space in a bar conjured by Doctor Strange. He then met Peggy Carter, T'Challa, Thor, and Gamora. Killmonger was visibly surprised to see T'Challa, albeit another universe's version of him and one very different from the one from his universe. The Watcher then appeared and told them about the threat they faced, while Strange explained the Infinity Stones to them. The Watcher then dubbed them as the Guardians of the Multiverse and transported them to an uninhabited planet on another universe.[2]
Being on the planet, Killmonger became fascinated by a Sentry head that Thor had brought with him, which caused Gamora to get suspicious. Killmonger then participated in the toast that Doctor Strange gave, having a drink that Strange materialized for them. After Thor accidentally alerted Ultron to their presence, Strange provided them all with the Guardian Vishanti protection spell. When Ultron arrived, he used the Infinity Stones to crush the mountain they were standing on, but the spell allowed them to be unharmed. Killmonger then waited with Gamora while the rest of the team obtained the Soul Stone and then hopped into a portal into Ultron's home universe.
After the others had arrived, Killmonger witnessed Black Widow's arrival and Ultron's return to obtain the Stone. During the battle Killmonger repeatably attacked Ultron with his vibranium claws. Killmonger along with everyone else was briefly subdued due to Ultron using the Time Stone to reverse time, however Strange was able to use his own Time Stone to stop Ultron from getting the Soul Stone.
Killmonger stands with his teammates to confront Ultron
When Strange had Ultron at bay, Killmonger grabbed onto one of the magical chains to keep him still while Gamora had the Infinity Crusher over Ultron's Infinity Armor to eradicate the stones. When Ultron was unleashing the full power of the Infinity Stones to kill Strange, Killmonger was barley able to keep his ground due to the amount of power but was saved when Black Widow was able to shoot an arrow containing Arnim Zola into Ultron's eye where Zola effortlessly killed Ultron and stopping his reign of terror. After the fight Killmonger recovered from the shocking blow.[2]
"The Watcher owes us this. With these Stones, we could fix our worlds, our lives. T'Challa, Thor, are you gonna turn down the one thing guaranteed to save your homes? Peggy, you can be with your fella again. Strange, you more than anyone know that this is it."
Recovering the Ultron Sentry head he reprogrammed, Killmonger used it to combine his Panther Habit to Ultron's Infinity Armor. Now wielding the Infinity Stones, Killmonger offered the other Guardians of the Multiverse a chance to use the stones to help fix their universes. However the other Guardians refused and Star-Lord asked Kilmonger to return the stones, but Killmonger refused. As the other Guardians prepared to engage him over the stones, Killmonger unleashed the full power of the Infinity Stones.
Just then Arnim Zola, who was now in control of Ultron's body, tried to take the stones for his own purposes and the two engaged in a deadlock battle between the stones. During this conflict, Doctor Strange realized that they were never meant to defeat Ultron, but to keep the stones separated. With this knowledge, Strange encapsulated both Killmonger and Zola in a pocket dimension frozen in time, ultimately carrying out The Watcher's true plan. The Watcher then told Strange that he must make the sacrifice to stand watch over the pocket dimension, observing Zola and Killmonger in their reality bubble for all eternity, and ensuring that they would never escape, a task which Strange accepted.[2]
Killmonger and Zola were both still kept in the new Sanctum Infinitum, now joined by universe killers and righteous heroes. Strange intended to sacrifice him and the others to the Forge. When Carter confronted Strange, Killmonger was released by her alongside other inmates. Getting control of the Infinity Stones, Killmonger killed Thanos with a snap of his fingers and confronted her and Kahhori. However, Kahhori used her Space Stone-granted powers to separate Killmonger from Ultron's armor and send him to the battlefield, allowing Carter to take both the armor and the Infinity Stones for herself. Killmonger landed in the middle of a battle, where he watched an old Chinese man punching a viking soldier, an angry grey alien running, a Chinese dragon throwing several green aliens and a floating woman that shot a beam. Donning his Panther Habit, Killmonger took part in the battle by fighting the Chinese man and accidentally bump into the grey alien before two variants of Thor used their hammer against each other, creating an electric explosion. Eventually, Killmonger was dropped into the Forge along with everyone else, until he was sent home by Kahhori.[3]
Personality[]
"I did what I had to do." "For what? A throne?" "For vengeance. For my father. And for all my brothers and sisters who suffered through oppression while you just sat back and watched."
Heart-Shaped Herb Enhancement: After having consumed the Heart-Shaped Herb, Killmonger's physical attributes have been significantly enhanced to levels comparable to a super soldier. Unlike the Super Soldier Serum, the effects can be removed by drinking a serum that negates the powers of the herbs for ritualistic combat for a fair fight to become King of Wakanda.
Enhanced Strength: Even before Killmonger's physical strength was augmented by the Heart-Shaped Herb, he was already strong enough to throw a missile with one hand to a considerable distance.
Nigh-Omnipotence: As the former wielder of five Infinity Stones, KIllmonger was a very powerful being who was able to contend against many members of the Guardians of the Multiverse with ease.
Death Inducement: To be added
Energy Manipulation: To be added
Energy Projection: To be added
Telekinesis: To be added
Abilities[]
"You forget you programmed the drone yourself? Your moves are his moves." "I guess I have to freestyle, then."
As a Navy SEAL, Killmonger is highly trained in martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. He provided the movements for the Stark Liberator Drones to use in battle. After being made the prince of Wakanda, Killmonger was trained in the acrobatic fighting style used by the Black Panthers. In the fight with Ultron, Killmonger employed techniques previously used by TâChalla against Ultron.
Spear Mastery: Killmonger is innately skilled with a spear, as he used one to kill Tony Stark.
Master Marksman: To be added
Master Acrobat: To be added
"Made quite a name for himself since joining the SEALs as part of an elite ghost squad that specializes in high-target wetwork." "Please tell me that's plumbing." "Assassinations."
Sanctum Infinitum: Both Erik Killmonger and Arnim Zola were kept in the new Sanctum Infinitum alongside other universe killers. In a confrontation between his container and Captain Carter, he was freed from captivity and joined a fray between his fellow inmates. Later, Killmonger was nearly dropped into the Forge, but was sent back to his home reality by Kahhori.
Erik Killmonger is a fan of anime. Michael B. Jordan, who portrays the character, is a well-known anime fan.
In What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?, Killmonger is called Lieutenant Erik Stevens. However, his white dress uniform bears the rank insignia of a US Navy Admiral.
What If...? | Episode 1.06: What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark?
What If...? â An Immersive Story (depiction)
What If...? | Episode 2.09: What If... Strange Supreme Intervened?
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