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When mentioning one of the most memorable characters in Black Panther, we cannot overlook Erik Killmonger, portrayed by actor Michael B. Jordan. Although he has not been universally regarded as the best performance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), his character’s death at the end of the film left audiences completely astounded.
Killmonger is the son of N’Jobu (Sterling K. Brown) – the brother of the late king T’Chaka (John Kani). After discovering the circumstances surrounding his father’s death linked to Wakanda, he trained to become an assassin for the CIA to seek revenge. Throughout his journey, Killmonger also witnessed the injustices faced by people of color around the world.
Once he took the throne, Erik decided to distribute Vibranium weapons to those oppressed globally. However, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) quickly intervened, stopping his plans and striking a decisive blow against this villain. Contrary to what many might think, Killmonger chose to die, as he believed that the legacy of Black Panther should not be tarnished.
Why did Killmonger have to die?
After discovering his father’s diary, Erik resolved to fulfill his father’s wish – to distribute Vibranium to people of African descent worldwide so they could rise against oppression. Killmonger always believed that personal victory would bring justice to the entire oppressed class. Even when defeated, he still valued freedom over any form of imprisonment.
For him, being thrown into Wakanda’s prison was worse than death. If the conflict between T’Challa and Killmonger ended with the villain being locked away, Black Panther would struggle to achieve an emotionally fulfilling conclusion.
Furthermore, it is often argued that if T’Challa did not witness Erik’s death, the king might not have been compelled to open Wakanda’s support centers in California, as well as the harsh reality of his own country’s existence alongside the global community. Although their methods differed, Killmonger’s ideals were fundamentally correct: Wakanda needed to assist the global community rather than isolate itself. Therefore, for T’Challa’s development, Erik had to die.
Why did Marvel choose to keep this character alive?
Black Panther and Killmonger have been rivals for many years in the original comic storyline. The villain has even succeeded in throwing T’Challa off a waterfall, taking the throne of Wakanda in various adaptations.
Although he is one of the most significant characters in Marvel Comics over the decades, Black Panther does not have many standout performances, with only a few instances being difficult to adapt to the cinematic language. With Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) dead and M’Baku (Duke Winston) returning as a supporting character, Killmonger became the most suitable choice to fill the void.
It’s noteworthy that the MCU has very few standout performances, yet Killmonger stands out as a remarkable character. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has survived several deaths and continues to play a significant role in the MCU. It is interesting to see how the conflict between Black Panther and Killmonger could be revisited in future installments. Both characters are expected to develop new layers to their personalities.
If they did not want a deadly confrontation, T’Challa and Erik could have worked together to fight a common enemy, as they both ultimately aimed to protect Wakanda. After the battle, if both returned to being rivals, it would be something fans would eagerly anticipate. Regardless of the direction, Killmonger still has the potential to evolve into a significant character, matching Loki’s prominence.
Should Killmonger have been killed or not?
The death of a character can be a highly debated topic in Hollywood. However, director Ryan Coogler was quite precise in deciding to kill off Killmonger at the end of the film. A good movie with a great character needs to have an impactful beginning and emotional conclusion.
For over two hours, viewers witnessed Killmonger’s humanity as he killed without hesitation, manipulating an entire nation, and nearly setting off a new world war. However, we also saw Erik’s deep sorrow – a child betrayed by his father and forced to confront the injustices of the world. His death was also a choice of self-determination that did not require the suffering of anyone else. This makes Black Panther stand out compared to many other superhero films.
