Okoye first appeared in Black Panther (vol. 3) #1 (November 1998). She last appeared in Black Panther (vol. 3) #62 in 2003 until returning in Black Panther #171 (2018).[1]
Fictional character biography
She joined alongside her friend
Nakia to be among T'Challa's wives-in-training. However, when Okoye discovered that T'Challa had no interest in marrying either of them, she immediately came to accept this.[2] She has since stood at T'Challa's side. Okoye accompanied T'Challa when he recruited Queen Divine Justice.[3] She was also with T'Challa when they tested
Kasper Cole on whether he was worthy of the Black Panther garb. Okoye herself tested Kasper if he would stay with his pregnant girlfriend or leave her for Okoye.[4]
Okoye later appears as the director of the Agents of Wakanda.[5]
During the "
Empyre" storyline, Okoye is among those that help to deal with the
Cotati invasion. While on the Wakandan Helicarrier, she detects plant-based activity in Antarctica as
Ka-Zar states that the
Savage Land is there.[6] She later assists Thing, Shuri, and the Agents of Wakanda in fighting the Cotati who have breached Wakanda's forcefield.[7]
Skills and abilities
Okoye is highly skilled in multiple forms of combat, and the leader (and General) of the Dora Milaje. She is exceptional in using various Wakandan weaponry and tools, especially skilled in the use of spears. Okoye is a great tactician and military strategist.
Other versions
Earth-16220
On Earth-16220, Okoye is still depicted as a member of the Dora Milaje.[8]
Earth-6160
During the "
Ultimate Invasion" storyline,
Maker visited
Earth-6160 and remade it into his own image. Okoye is depicted as a former Dora Milaje and the Queen of Wakanda making her the wife of
T'Challa. When it comes to the threat of Lord
Ra and Lord
Khonshu, Okoye and T'Challa recommend that a reconnaissance mission be done to see how bad it is. She would later get proof when a suicide bomber tries to kill T'Challa only for
T'Chaka to push him out of the way and take the blast.[9] Following the incident, Okoye tells T'Challa about some Wakandans who were suspected of being in league with Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu.[10] Okoye later watches Shuri's sparring match as it was mentioned that they haven't heard from T'Challa in weeks. Then they spar for a bit.[11]
In the live-action film Black Panther, she works with T'Challa to capture
Ulysses Klaue. However, when
Erik "Killmonger" Stevens seemingly kills T'Challa in a trial by combat for Wakanda's throne, Okoye and the Dora Milaje are forced to serve him due to their loyalty to the throne. When T'Challa returns alive and Killmonger refuses to abide by the trial's rules, Okoye leads the Dora Milaje in helping T'Challa overthrow him.
In the live-action film Avengers: Infinity War,[14] Okoye joins the Wakandans and the
Avengers in fighting
Thanos' forces. While she survives
the Blip, she is horrified to witness T'Challa and half of the Wakandans fall victim to it.
In the live-action film Avengers: Endgame,[15] Okoye begins working with the Avengers through
Natasha Romanoff, reporting directly to her and monitoring issues in Wakanda. After the Avengers undo the Blip, Okoye and the revived Wakandans join them in fighting an alternate timeline version of Thanos and later attends
Tony Stark’s funeral.
Alternate timeline versions of Okoye appears in the
Disney+ animated series What If...?.[16]
In the live-action film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,[17] Okoye joins
Shuri in finding
Riri Williams after
Namor threatens Wakanda, but is defeated by his forces and stripped of her rank. Despite this, Okoye continues to defend Wakanda and later receives the "Midnight Angel" armor from Shuri to defeat
Attuma in combat and rescue
Everett K. Ross.