Black Panther's Killmonger will get his own spin-off miniseries
Black Panther, in 2018, shook the superhero movie genre. In a film where various racial and ethical questions were raised of the protagonist, T'Challa, the villain Killmonger still stood out. Perhaps, in superhero movies' history, this was the second instance after Nolan's 'The Dark Knight', that audiences related to the antagonist. Now, Marvel is capitalizing on Killmonger's popularity by giving him a spin-off miniseries.
Who is Killmonger?
Erik Killmonger was born N'Jadaka. He is a Wakandan with a claim to the T'Challa, aka Black Panther's, throne. Killmonger first appeared in Don McGregor's comic series as one of T'Challa's chief antagonists. Notably, he has been dead for 10 years in the comic series.
What is the mini-series going to be about?
Killmonger's miniseries will run for five issues and explore the origin story as he gradually turns into an antagonist. The series is being spearheaded by Bryan Edward Hill and Juan Ferrerya. Juan had previously worked on comic titles like 'Suicide Squad' and 'Green Arrow'. Hill has worked on titles like 'Batman and the Outsiders'. Killmonger's series will come out in December.
How will Killmonger be portrayed in the comics?
Hill, in an interview, said that he felt the conflict between Black Panther and Killmonger was not as much about good versus evil, as about cultural and familial inheritance. Speaking of how Wakanda had let Killmonger down, Hill plans to paint a tragic character. In this light, he will explore Killmonger's early days at MIT and his choices that make him who he is.
Inside the creative process of Hill
Hill drew inspiration from the original McGregor series. He also referenced Evan Narcisse's 'Rise of the Black Panther'. Most importantly, he said his research was based on reality. To explore Erik's troubled past, he went to his friends with tough childhoods and asked them about moral choices and how their conscience affected them. This hands-on research promises authentic storytelling when the comics come out.
The influence of Ryan Coogler on the comics
Ryan Coogler's vision for Killmonger's character will affect the miniseries heavily. Hill said that Killmonger, in the movie, had a political ideal whose actions were relatable to those who faced years of injustice. Violence as a response should, however, be seen as a failure of society and addressed as such than just be chalked down to the evilness of the character, according to Hill.
Will the new comics do Killmonger political justice?
While Killmonger's ideology of militant nationalism was deplorable, his contextual motivations were relatable to the masses. Most critics pointed out that Killmonger was reduced to a one-dimensional villain by the end of the film. In his hatred for the white man, he rushed to repeat their mistakes of an imperialist agenda. Hopefully, the miniseries will explore Killmonger's political nuances and do justice to the character.
