| For alternate versions of the Attack on Wakanda, see the Attack on Wakanda's Event Hub |
- "There has been an attack. This man, Ulysses Klaue, stole a quarter ton of vibranium from us and triggered a bomb at the border to escape. Many lives were lost."
- ―T'Chaka to N'Jobu[src]
The Attack on Wakanda was the result of a successful attempt by Ulysses Klaue, with the assistance of N'Jobu, to steal a cache of vibranium from Wakanda.
Background[]
- "They have a mountain full of it. They've been mining it for thousands of years and they still haven't scratched the surface. I'm the only outsider who's seen it and got out of there alive."
- ―Ulysses Klaue to Everett Ross[src]
2.5 million years ago, a meteorite made of vibranium landed in the heart of Africa. Centuries later, five tribes formed around the area, which they named Wakanda. As the tribes warred over the metal, a warrior-shaman named Bashenga was guided by a vision of Bast, who led him towards the Heart-Shaped Herb that had mutated as a result of the metal's powers and granted its user superhuman abilities.
As time passed, the Wakandans used the metal to develop highly advanced technology. To protect themselves from the chaos that was slowly consuming the rest of the world, they created a cloaking field that allowed them to hide in plain sight.[3] Later, the world learned about the existence of vibranium and many researchers attempted to find a source. They failed and then Wakanda became a legend. Howard Stark managed to obtain a small amount of vibranium during his trip to Africa, and used it to create Captain America's Shield.[4]
Attack[]
- "Wakanda is a third world country and you stole all their vibranium."
"I stole... All of it? I took a tiny piece of it." - ―Everett Ross and Ulysses Klaue[src]
Over time, however, N'Jobu became convinced that Wakanda's isolationist policies were doing more harm than good and that people of African descent around the world were being oppressed. He decided that the only course of action was to initiate a global revolution. To arm his cause, he revealed his country's existence to an outsider, Ulysses Klaue, and gave him relevant information to enter Wakanda.
Using N'Jobu's lead, Klaue managed to avoid all Wakandan security systems and successfully infiltrated Wakanda. Inside, he stole a quarter-ton of vibranium. Wakandans then spotted him and attempted to stop him. However, Klaue triggered a bomb and the explosion killed numerous Wakandan citizens, including W'Kabi's parents, which gave him the opportunity to escape.[3]
Aftermath[]
- "If this guy got out of Wakanda with some of their trade goods..."
"I thought your father said he got the last of it." - ―Tony Stark and Steve Rogers[src]
Zuri, who was tasked to spy on N'Jobu, found a cache of vibranium in his bag and informed King T'Chaka that Wakanda had been betrayed. T'Chaka then visited his brother in Oakland, California and ordered him to return to Wakanda and face judgment. But as he turned his back, an enraged N'Jobu lashed out on Zuri, pulling a gun on him. Before he could kill Zuri, T'Chaka killed N'Jobu, stabbing him with his claws.
For almost thirty years, Wakandans pursued Klaue around the world in order to get back the stolen vibranium.[3] Klaue successfully avoided them, although he was captured once. During this encounter, the Wakandans branded Klaue's neck with the symbol for 'thief' as punishment for stealing the vibranium, before he managed to escape them and went off the grid.
In 2015, Klaue's vibranium was purchased by Ultron, who used it to create new bodies for himself and deadly weapons as part of his plan to eliminate humanity on Earth.[5]