Okoye (character)

Okoye is a fictional character, a member of the Dora Milaje in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira, first appeared in Black Panther #1 (November 1998) within the comics.

Okoye
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceBlack Panther #1 (November 1998)
Created byChristopher Priest
Mark Texeira
In-story information
Place of originWakanda, Africa
Team affiliationsDora Milaje
Agents of Wakanda
Avengers
Supporting character ofBlack Panther
Abilities
  • Master martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant
  • Master tactician, strategist, and field commander

Danai Gurira portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Gurira will return in the upcoming sequel, Black Panther II (2022).

Publication history

Okoye first appeared in Black Panther #1 (November 1998). She last appeared in Black Panther #62 in 2003 until returning in Black Panther #171. (2018)[1]

Fictional character biography

She joined alongside her friend Nakia to be among T'Challa's wives-in-training. However, when Okoye discovered that T'Challa had no interest in marrying either of them, she immediately came to accept this.[2] She has since stood at T'Challa's side. Okoye accompanied T'Challa when he recruited Queen Divine Justice.[3] She was also with T'Challa when they tested Kasper Cole on whether he was worthy of the Black Panther garb. Okoye herself tested Kasper if he would stay with his pregnant girlfriend or leave her for Okoye.[4]

Okoye later appears as the director of the Agents of Wakanda.[5]

During the "Empyre" storyline, Okoye is among those that help to deal with the Cotati invasion. While on the Wakandan Helicarrier, she detects plant-based activity in Antarctica as Ka-Zar states that the Savage Land is there.[6] She later assists Thing, Shuri, and the Agents of Wakanda in fighting the Cotati who have breached Wakanda's forcefield.[7]

Skills and abilities

Okoye is highly skilled in multiple forms of combat, and the leader (and General) of the Dora Milaje. She is exceptional in using various Wakandan weaponry and tools, especially skilled in the use of spears. Okoye is a great tactician and military strategist.

In other media

Television

Film
  • Danai Gurira portrays Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.[9]
    • Okoye appears in Black Panther where she is the general of the Dora Milaje. She has the utmost respect for T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) and the nation of Wakanda and is the wife of W'Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya). She stands beside T'Challa for the majority of the film, but is forced to switch her allegiance to Erik Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) when he usurps the throne. After seeing that T'Challa is alive, and thus still legally King with the personal combat challenge incomplete, she leads the Dora to fight against Killmonger the moment he invalidates his own claim by refusing to continue the challenge. During W'Kabi's fight with M'Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye eventually convinces W'Kabi to stand down causing those fighting alongside him to also stand down.
    • Okoye returns in Avengers: Infinity War.[10] She fights alongside the Avengers in Wakanda against Thanos's forces. She survives when Thanos eliminates half of all life in the universe, but watches in horror as T'Challa disintegrates.
    • Okoye returns in Avengers: Endgame.[11] In the five years following Thanos's victory, Okoye joins the Avengers, using Wakanda's resources to monitor issues in and around Africa. After the Hulk successfully brought back everyone who was killed by Thanos, Okoye fought alongside the revived T'Challa and Shuri against Thanos's forces. She was later present at Tony Stark's funeral. She resumed serving T'Challa.
    • She is expected to appear in the sequel of Black Panther.

Video games

Tabletop Games
  • Okoye is available as a character in the game "Marvel Crisis Protocol as part of a two-pack with Shuri (the younger sister of T'Challa). She is a member of the "Wakandans" group.

References
  1. Erao, Matthew (March 28, 2018). "Black Panther's Okoye Jumps from Movie to Marvel Comics". Screen Rant. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  2. Black Panther (Vol. 3) #11. Marvel Comics.
  3. Black Panther (Vol. 3) #25. Marvel Comics.
  4. Black Panther (Vol. 3) #62. Marvel Comics.
  5. Avengers Vol. 8 #12. Marvel Comics.
  6. Empyre: Avengers #1. Marvel Comics.
  7. Empyre #3. Marvel Comics.
  8. Eric Goldman (May 25, 2018). "OKOYE WORKS TO HELP SAVE SHURI IN NEW 'LEGO MARVEL SUPER HEROES – BLACK PANTHER: TROUBLE IN WAKANDA' SHORT". Archived from the original on 2018-06-12.
  9. Strom, Marc (July 23, 2016). "SDCC 2016: Marvel's 'Black Panther' Confirms Additional Cast". Marvel.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  10. Fleming Jr., Mike (June 14, 2017). "'The Walking Dead's Danai Gurira Starring In 'Avengers: Infinity War'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  11. Breznican, Anthony (March 14, 2019). "Marvel updates Avengers: Endgame poster to include Danai Gurira's name". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 14, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  12. Dornbush, Jonathon (13 February 2018). "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 Black Panther DLC Revealed". IGN. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
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