Black Panther 2 Officially Makes Killmonger A Better Villain Than Thanos

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever bringing back Erik Killmonger establishes him as the best MCU villain – even better than Infinity Saga’s Thanos.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever makes Erik Killmonger the best MCU villain — even better than the Infinity Saga’s Thanos. Marvel Studios aren’t exactly known for crafting great villains, as they tend to focus on their heroes instead. From time to time, however, they introduce multidimensional antagonists who resonate with viewers as much as their good-doer counterparts. Black Panther‘s Killmonger and the MCU’s Thanos are included in that small circle, regarded as two of the best villains in the MCU.

The MCU has been much criticized for weak and forgettable villains, but they seemed to finally listen to those complaints towards the end of Phase 3. The franchise introduced some formidable antagonists during that time, including Black Panther’s Killmonger and Thanos. While their end goals cannot be any more different, what makes them both great villains is how much they commit to their respective ethos. They sell their objectives so effectively that some even buy them despite them being definitively wrong. So while they end up being defeated, they made a lasting impression in the MCU – though Black Panther: Wakanda Forever puts Kilmonger above the Mad Titan for one vital reason.

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Why Killmonger Is A Better MCU Villain Than Thanos

In an unexpected plot twist, Shuri sees Killmonger in the Ancestral Plane as part of her experience transforming to be the new Black Panther in Wakanda Forever. Instead of being reformed, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever brings back a more ruthless N’Jadaka who continues to fully believe in his argument against Wakanda and T’Challa in the first film. This makes him better than Thanos because while both were fully committed to their respective goals, convinced that they were doing the right thing, the Titan eventually had some doubts about the snap as suggested by his Soul World appearance. Meanwhile, not even death changed Killmonger’s stance on his advocacy.

Can Killmonger Return Again In The MCU?

At the end of the original Black Panther film, there were theories that Killmonger may have not died. His appearance in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever effectively confirms that he did pass away in the first movie. This means that Killmonger can’t return to the MCU full-time. Considering what Killmonger’s death means to the core theme of Black Panther‘s ending and T’Challa’s personal arc, it’s unlikely that director Ryan Coogler and Marvel Studios would walk back on that. That being said, it doesn’t mean that he can no longer re-appear in the franchise. There are a few ways to do this.

Another Kilmonger return would firstly be possible through another trip to the Ancestral Plane if it ever fits in the potential Black Panther 3 film. As seen in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Marvel Studios can be creative with how they present the realm. Secondly, a variant of Kilmonger could appear later down the line. In fact, Marvel’s What If…? already did this, but in an animated format, meaning they could do this in live-action as well. Finally, Kilmonger could reappear in the MCU through flashbacks. While the original Black Panther film established Kilmonger’s backstory, Marvel Studios could easily further explore his past through a prequel project.

Next: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Perfectly Concludes Phase 4’s Themes