Nakia (comics)

Nakia Shauku (/ˈnɑːkiə/) 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 (November 1998).

Lupita Nyong'o portrays Nakia in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Panther (2018) and the sequel Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022).

The character was introduced in Black Panther vol. 3 #1 (Nov. 1998) and was created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira.

As a child, Nakia of the Q'Noma Valley marsh tribe was picked by her tribal elders to be Wakandan Dora Milaje, "Adored Ones" or wives-in-training and spent three years training before being presented to King T'Challa; barely a teenager, she was instantly smitten with him, although he promised that her role was purely ceremonial. She became close friends with her fellow Dora Milaje, Okoye who, unlike her, took satisfaction with being just his bodyguard. Nakia's obsession with King T'Challa increased dramatically when Mephisto cast an illusion over T'Challa causing him to kiss Nakia. She consequently became jealous of T'Challa's American ex-girlfriend Monica Lynne and plotted to kill her, but T'Challa rescued her and banished Nakia bringing great shame on her tribe and Wakanda.

Nakia was captured by Achebe and tortured by him until Erik Killmonger came and freed her. Killmonger used the Altar of Resurrection on her and in the process gained enhanced abilities. Killmonger decided to name her Malice after the previous one. She went after T'Challa and his female allies and while battling Queen Divine Justice, killed one of T'Challa's allies, Nicole "Nikki" Adams.

Nakia and Man-Ape kidnap several of T'Challa's friends, poisoning them out of revenge. Nakia also plans on killing Monica and Dakota North, believing that the latter was also one of T'Challa's lovers. In the end, T'Challa foils the plan of Nakia, who manages to escape but not without giving him the antidote for his friends.

When Everett K. Ross is captured and tortured by the Hatut Zeraze, Nakia steps in to rescue him. Despite this, she is still in exile from the Dora Milaje. Embittered and cast out, Nakia developed an arsenal of weapons, including an herb called jufeiro that gives her power over men. However, longtime use of the drug makes her severely ill. In a desperate attempt to lure Black Panther to her before she dies, Nakia tracks down the Mimic-27, a transforming weapon used by the Dora Milaje.

Nakia sends Mimic-27 after T'Challa's ex-wife, Ororo Munroe (aka Storm of the X-Men), but the weapon breaks free of Nakia's control and attacks her. The Dora Milaje request Nakia's aid in stopping the Mimic, but she refuses to act until she can see her king again. While the heroes of New York battle Mimic's doppelgängers, Nakia and the Dora Milaje battle the Mimic itself, which is tainted with Nakia's malignance. Nakia overcomes her mirror reflection and finally quells Mimic, but dies without Mimic to sustain her. Nakia is returned to Wakanda and given a proper burial, which is attended by Black Panther, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and the Avengers.