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The Political Genius of Erik Killmonger in Black Panther

2018; RELX Group (Netherlands); Linguagem: Inglês

10.2139/ssrn.3150563

1556-5068

Dallas Glenn,

Comics and Graphic Narratives

Erik Killmonger has been one of the most praised villains of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in recent memory. The portrayal of this character by Michael B. Jordan in the 2018 film Black Panther has led to many sociological, political, economic, and human geographic discussion among African and African-American viewers of the film. In the film, Killmonger is portrayed as a killing machine who has all of the athletic, physical, and tactical skills needed to defeat any opponent in battle. One aspect of the character that is not discussed by critics and viewers nearly enough, however, is the superior intellect and brilliance that Killmonger possesses and displays in the fields of business and politics. In this paper, this aspect of Erik Killmonger's character will be discussed in detail, including his amazing and decades long ascension to the Wakandan throne.