Black Panther: Wakanda Forever pits Wakanda against Namor, among the most iconic Marvel Comics villains (and occasional hero). This epic battle promises to be one for the ages, as their clashes have been in the comics. But not every Black Panther villain earned the same esteem as Namor with fans and will likely struggle to appear in the MCU.
These Black Panther comic book villains share more in common with the obscure if fun villains inShe-Hulk: Attorney At Lawlike Man-Bull. The much more grounded tone of theBlack Panthermovies likely means these enemies stay in the comics, though they offer potential insight into where the film franchise might be headed.
Hellrazor
Hellrazor defines obscurity. He first appeared inMarvel Team-Up#87, sent by Roxxon to attack Black Panther. He ended up losing badly to T'Challa and Spider-Man. This proved his only signficant appearance, failing to achieve much with his razor-sharp wrist gauntlets against superior opponents.
He later appeared inCaptain America #319, where the Scourge of the Underworld killed him and several other villains. The Scourge of the Underworld proved a challenging villain for John Walker, U.S. Agent, early in his comic book career.
Radioactive Man
Radioactive Man developed extraordinary powers while researching nuclear science in China. He used his powers to absorb, emit, and manipulate radiation to attack others. Though the original Dr. Chen Lu version debuted inJourney into Mystery #93 early in the Marvel Comics era, he never achieved iconic villain status.
Different versions appeared over the years with the second, Igor Stancheck, dying at Shuri's hands. She killed him using the Ebony Blade, the weaponcomic book fans know Dane Whitman typically wields. Chen Lu stands a chance of appearing in the MCU as he later connected with theThunderbolts.
King Cadaver
King Cadaver remains an more obscure and unusual Black Panther comic book villain. He first appeared inJungle Action#10 in 1974 with the ability to make others feel terrible pain. Despite his instantly recognizable and strange green face, he didn't make a lasting impression on readers.
That likely stems from his death inJungle Action#17. His death proved memorable, at least. A gigantic dinosaur stepped on him, killing him seemingly forever in the comics. A variant did appear in a 2019 comic book, however.
Malice
Nakia plays a key and heroic role in Black Panther movies, so it might surprise fans that she began as a villain in the comics. Nakia first appeared in 1998's Black Panther #1 and turned to evil after failing to win T'Challa's affections while she served in the Dora Milaje. She eventually joined forces withthe powerful Black Panther villain, Killmonger.
Nakia renamed herself Malice and became a recurring villain in 2000s comic book storylines, but she proved far more compelling as an ally and love interest in the MCU.
Carnivore
Carnivore first appeared inBlack Panther #4 in 1977, written and drawn by Jack Kirby. Despite his pedigree, Andreas Zorba lounged in obscurity for years. He began as a wealthy aristocrat seeking rare artifacts and later became Carnivore in the late 1990s. His ascent into supervillainy didn't change his prospects that much.
He later fought Iron Man, Spider-Man, and the Avengers as part of The Exemplars, but he never distinguished himself in the comics, ultimately disappearing altogether in the early 2000s.
The Supremacists
Black Panther tackles challenging themes and issues in the MCU, but The Supremacists likely prove too on the nose for live-action. Their introduction reflectsthe best Black Panther comic book storylines continued dedication to confronting serious issues, but they seem cartoony in retrospect, and too simplistic for the serious subject they represented.
They vanished from the page not long after their debut inBlack Panther (Vol. 2) #1 from 1988 as did their fictional country of Azania, a colonial nation they swore to protect from outsiders.
American Panther
American Panther emerged from a period when T'Challa took over the Daredevil role in Hell's Kitchen. This vigilante dedicated himself to attacking Black Panther after The Hate Monger manipulated his grief and trauma to turn him into an armored villain. While he showed potential, he lost steam in the comics.
The character disappeared after T'Challa sent him to prison. One factor in his quick exit likely stems from his lack of dimensionality. Though American Panther escape Hate Monger's influence, he still remained a villain.
T'Channa
Black Panther faces many villains in the comics and some emerge from the multiverse. An obscure but intriguing villain also serves asa powerful Doctor Doom variant. T'Channa, T'Challa's sister from Earth-2301, challenged him for control of Wakanda. She eventually aligned with Doctor Doom and then killed him, usurping his throne.
T'Channa proved among Black Panther's most effective villains, taking over New York City and killing President Steve Rogers. With The Multiverse Saga unfolding in the MCU, she could certainly appear in live-action.
Morlun
Morlun originated as a Spider-Man villain in Marvel Comics, but attacked Wakanda in search of the Panther totem. Morlun absorbed energy from these powerful totems, from which ostensibly all superpowers derive. Despite his power and the weight of the mythology attached to the totems, he failed to stick as a villain.
The totems and Morlun both receded in importance in modern comics. Shuri defeated him relatively easily during her stint as Black Panther in the early 2010s.
Venomm
Venomm fought Black Panther inJungle Action #6, using snakes as lassos and whips. While he made for a distinctive visual, he failed to stand apart from other villains. As such, he faded into obscurity rather quickly. Since his debut in the 1970s, Venomm appears in only fifteen comic books.
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The character feels similar to other animal-based characters like Man-Bull that have appeared recently in the MCU, so a chance exists he appears in live-action at some point. Given another major character goes by Venom, though, he would likely go by another name.
