Dora Milaje

Last updated

Dora Milaje
Dora Milaje.jpg
Dora Milaje in Doomwar #5 (August 2010).
Art by Scot Eaton
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Black Panther , vol. 3 #1 (November 1998)
Created by Christopher Priest
Mark Texeira

The Dora Milaje are fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are a team of women who serve as special forces for the fictional African nation of Wakanda.

Contents

Members of the Dora Milaje appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and the Disney+ series The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and What If...? (both 2021).

Publication history

The Dora Milaje first appeared in Black Panther , vol. 3 #1 (November 1998), created by writer Christopher Priest and artist Mark Texeira. [1] Priest, however, claimed that credit for their creation really should go to his Marvel Knights editors Jimmy Palmiotti and Joe Quesada, "who thought it would be great if the Panther had female bodyguards." [2] The Dora Milaje share similarities with the Dahomey Amazons (Agoji), the all-female military regiment of the Kingdom of Dahomey, [3] [4] [5] which was located in West Africa in what is now the Republic of Benin.

The 2017 series "World of Wakanda" written by Roxane Gay and Yona Harvey, tells the story of the couple Ayo and Aneka, two former Dora Milaje. [6] [7]

In the 2018 limited series Wakanda Forever, written by Nnedi Okorafor, the Dora Milaje act in team-ups with Spider-Man, the X-Men and the Avengers. [8] [9]

Fictional character biography

To keep peace in Wakanda, the Black Panther picked dora milaje ("adored ones") from rival tribes to serve as his personal guard and ceremonial wives-in-training.[ volume & issue needed ] [10]

Members

Collected editions

TitleMaterial collectedPagesDate PublishedISBN
World of Wakanda Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1–6144June 27, 2017 978-1302906504
Wakanda ForeverAmazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever, X-men: Wakanda Forever, Avengers: Wakanda Forever, Black Panther Annual vol. 2 #1136November 6, 2018 978-1302913588

In other media

Television

Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Dora Milaje appear in live-action media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Video games

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klaw (character)</span> Fictional supervillain

Klaw is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a human physicist who has been transformed into solid sound, and who wears a sonic emitter on his right wrist as a prosthetic device. He is often in conflict with the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, and he is also an enemy of the Black Panther and Ka-Zar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Panther (character)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Black Panther is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist-coplotter Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #52, published in July 1966. Black Panther's birth name is T'Challa, and he is the son of the previous Black Panther, T'Chaka. He is the king and protector of the fictional African nation of Wakanda, a technologically advanced society drawing from a supply of vibranium, a fictional metal of extraordinary properties. Along with possessing enhanced abilities achieved through ancient Wakandan rituals of drinking the essence of the heart-shaped herb, T'Challa also relies on his proficiency in science, expertise in his nation's traditions, rigorous physical training, hand-to-hand combat skills, and access to wealth and advanced Wakandan technology to combat his enemies. The character became a member of the Avengers in 1968, and has continued that affiliation off and on in subsequent decades.

Wakanda, officially the Kingdom of Wakanda, is a fictional country appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the country first appeared in Fantastic Four #52. Wakanda is located in sub-Saharan Africa and has been depicted as being in East Africa. It is home to the superhero Black Panther.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Man-Ape</span> Comics character

Man-Ape (M'Baku) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Roy Thomas and John Buscema, the character first appeared in The Avengers #62. Man-Ape is depicted as a frequent adversary of the superhero Black Panther.

Bast is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared as an idol in Fantastic Four #52, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and is based on the Egyptian cat goddess Bastet. Bast is a member of the Heliopolitan and Wakandan pantheons. and the patron of the superhero Black Panther.

T'Chaka is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the father of T'Challa and Shuri. He was the king of Wakanda and Black Panther before T'Challa; he inherited both titles following the death of his father, T'Chanda aka Azzuri the Wise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erik Killmonger</span> Fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics

Erik Killmonger is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler, he first appeared in Jungle Action #6. The character is commonly depicted as a skilled hunter and mercenary born in the fictional African nation of Wakanda, who holds a grudge against the country and its people after his biological parents were killed when he was young. Raised outside of Wakanda, he eventually returns as a revolutionary leader and terrorist to exact his revenge, and repeatedly challenges the nation's king and protector, Black Panther, who becomes his most prominent adversary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuri (character)</span> Fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics

Black Panther / Aja-Adanna (Shuri) is a superheroine appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Reginald Hudlin and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 4 #2. Shuri is the princess of the fictional African nation of Wakanda. She is the daughter of T'Chaka and younger sister of T'Challa, who is the king of Wakanda and the Black Panther, an earned title and rank given to the paramount chief of the nation.

<i>Black Panther</i> (film) 2018 Marvel Studios film

Black Panther is a 2018 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the 18th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, and it stars Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa / Black Panther alongside Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, and Andy Serkis. In Black Panther, T'Challa is crowned king of Wakanda following his father's death, but he is challenged by Killmonger (Jordan), who plans to abandon the country's isolationist policies and begin a global revolution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everett K. Ross</span> Fictional character

Everett Kenneth Ross is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Primarily an ally of superhero Black Panther, the character exists within Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe.

Nakia Shauku is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira, the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 3 #1.

Okoye is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Christopher Priest and artist Mark Texeira, the character first appeared in Black Panther #1. Okoye is the General of the special forces for the fictional African nation of Wakanda called Dora Milaje.

<i>World of Wakanda</i> Comic book spin-off of Marvels Black Panther

Black Panther: World of Wakanda is a comic book series and a spin-off from the Marvel Comics Black Panther title. It published six issues before being canceled. The series was primarily written by Roxane Gay, with poet Yona Harvey contributing a story to the first issue. Alitha E. Martinez drew the majority of the art for the series, for which Afua Richardson contributed cover art to the first five issues, as well as art for a short story in the first issue. Gay and Harvey became the first two black women to author a series for Marvel; counting Martinez and Richardson, upon its debut the series itself was helmed entirely by black women. Ta-Nehisi Coates served as a consultant for the series.

White Wolf is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Christopher Priest and artist Mark Texeira, the character first appeared in Black Panther vol. 3 #4. Hunter is known under the codename White Wolf. He is the adopted brother of the superheroes T'Challa / Black Panther and Shuri. He is the leader of the Wakanda's secret police Hatut Zeraze. The character is an antihero who has been a mercenary and a defender of Wakanda at various points in his history.

<i>Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</i> 2022 Marvel Studios film

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a 2022 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Shuri / Black Panther. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to Black Panther (2018) and the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joe Robert Cole, the film stars Letitia Wright as Shuri / Black Panther, alongside Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Mabel Cadena, Tenoch Huerta Mejía, Martin Freeman, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Angela Bassett. In the film, the leaders of Wakanda fight to protect their nation in the wake of King T'Challa's death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">T'Challa (Marvel Cinematic Universe)</span> Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

T'Challa is a fictional character portrayed by Chadwick Boseman in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. He is initially depicted as the prince of the fictional African nation of Wakanda who holds the appointed title of Black Panther. He uses an advanced vibranium suit and is imbued with superhuman strength and agility granted to him by the heart-shaped herb, as a blessing bestowed upon him by Wakanda's patron deity Bast, from whom the visage of the Black Panther mantle assumed by the chosen royal members is representative and evocative of.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shuri (Marvel Cinematic Universe)</span> Character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Shuri is a fictional character portrayed primarily by Letitia Wright in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, also inspired by the James Bond character Q. She is the courageous and tech-savvy younger sister of T'Challa, and the daughter of T'Chaka and Ramonda, all preceding monarchs of Wakanda. Highly intelligent and a master engineer, she is Wakanda's lead scientist and the princess of the country. Following her father's death, Shuri assists her brother in reclaiming the Wakandan throne from their cousin N'Jadaka and then helps remove Bucky Barnes's programming. Later, she assists the Avengers by attempting to use her technology to safely remove the Mind Stone from Vision's head. However, she gets stopped by Corvus Glaive and shortly after, falls victim to the Blip. After getting restored to life, she joins the battle against an alternate Thanos. Following her brother and mother's death, she becomes the new Black Panther, defeating Namor in combat and forming an alliance with Talokan against the rest of the world.

The Marvel Comics character Black Panther has appeared in various other media since his debut in Fantastic Four #52. A live-action feature film starring Chadwick Boseman as the character and directed by Ryan Coogler was released in 2018, with Boseman also appearing as the character in other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) including Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

References

  1. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 115. ISBN   978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. Johnston, Rich (October 6, 2018). "Priest Credits Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti For Dora Milaje - 20 Years of Marvel Knights at Cup O'Joe NYCC 2018". Bleeding Cool News And Rumors. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  3. Carter, Terry (February 24, 2018). "The Female Warriors Who Inspired Black Panther's Dora Milaje Are Freakin' Badass". Popsugar . Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  4. Jones, Ellen E. (October 23, 2019). "Warrior Women With Lupita Nyong'o review – a kick-ass tale worthy of an Oscar". The Guardian.
  5. Coleman, Arica L. (February 22, 2018). "There's a True Story Behind Black Panther's Strong Women. Here's Why That Matters". Time . Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. Scott, Sydney (November 11, 2016). "Roxane Gay And Yona Harvey Didn't Hesitate To Take On The 'World Of Wakanda'". Essence. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  7. Dockterman, Eliana (July 28, 2017). "Roxane Gay on How to Build a More Inclusive Comic Book Industry". Time .
  8. McMillan, Graeme (March 16, 2018). "'Wakanda Forever' Brings Dora Milaje to the Rest of the Marvel Universe". The Hollywood Reporter .
  9. Markus, Tucker Chet (March 16, 2018). "Fighting for Wakanda Forever". Marvel Entertainment.
  10. 1 2 Broadnax, Jamie (February 21, 2018). "Get to know the Dora Milaje, Black Panther's mighty women warriors". Vox.com.
  11. 1 2 Black Panther vol. 6 #1. Marvel Comics.
  12. Black Panther Vol. 3 #13. Marvel Comics.
  13. Black Panther Vol. 5 #7. DC Comics.
  14. Doomwar #4. Marvel Comics.
  15. 1 2 Black Panther Vol. 3 #1. Marvel Comics.
  16. Black Panther Vol.3 #16-17. Marvel Comics.
  17. "Queen Divine Justice". Marvel Universe. June 23, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  18. Black Panther: World of Wakanda #1. Marvel Comics.
  19. "Voice Of Dora Milaje - Black Panther". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 12, 2018. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  20. "Voice Of Aneka - Avengers Assemble". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 14, 2017. Check mark indicates role has been confirmed using screenshots of closing credits and other reliable sources{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  21. "The Zemo Sanction". Avengers Assemble. Season 5. Episode 5. October 14, 2018. Disney XD.
  22. "Widowmaker". Avengers Assemble. Season 5. Episode 21. February 17, 2019. Disney XD.
  23. Goldman, Eric (May 25, 2018). "Okoye Works To Help Save Shuri In New 'Lego Marvel Super Heroes – Black Panther: Trouble In Wakanda' Short". Marvel News. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018.
  24. "X-Men '97: Every Marvel Cameo in the Season Finale". TV Shows. May 15, 2024. Retrieved May 19, 2024.