The "Killmonger's War" Universe is an alternate reality where Erik Killmonger enacted his revenge on Wakanda by manipulating the country into a war against the United States.
History[]
Killmonger's Plan[]
Military Deals[]
- "Graduated Annapolis at nineteen, MIT a year later."
- ―James Rhodes about Erik Killmonger[src]
Tony Stark ran Stark Industries and sold weapons to the United States military, including deals with Thaddeus Ross. Meanwhile, Erik Killmonger grew up in the United States of America despite being Wakandan and the son of N'Jobu, who died. Killmonger joined the military and went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he designed Project Liberator. Killmonger was sent to Afghanistan to infiltrate a Ten Rings group operating there. Killmonger heard about a plan to kidnap Stark and realized that Obadiah Stane was behind it, so he decided to stop it and use Stark as part of his plan to get revenge on Wakanda for his country abandoning him.[1]
Rescue of Tony Stark[]
Erik Killmonger rescues Tony Stark
Tony Stark went to Afghanistan to give a weapons demonstration and was driven back by a military convoy including Jimmy Ryan, Adam Pratt, and Ramirez. The Ten Rings attacked the convoy with the intent of kidnapping Stark, and several American soldiers were killed. Stark attempted to escape, but a Stark Industries Fragmentation Shell landed by him. Erik Killmonger appeared and threw the grenade away, allowing it to detonate at a safe distance. Stark admired Killmonger's heroism and decided to work with him, walking away with Killmonger.
Obadiah Stane is arrested
Stark returned to the United States of America and held a press conference, where Harry Whittington asked if Stark had learned anything from the experience. Stark announced that having seen people die at the hands of his weapons led him to realize that they needed to develop bigger weapons. He appointed Killmonger to be Stark Industries' chief security officer. Obadiah Stane tried to end the meeting, but when Christine Everhart tried to challenge Killmonger, Killmonger released evidence that Stane was responsible for the attack on Stark, leading to Stane's arrest. Stark threw a party to celebrate his return, where Pepper Potts and James Rhodes discussed their suspicions of Killmonger.[1]
Project Liberator[]
Building Drones[]
Erik Killmonger presents Project Liberator
- "J.A.R.V.I.S., search the MIT doctoral thesis database. Project..."
"Liberator."
"You got an ear for branding. I'll give you that." - ―Tony Stark and Erik Killmonger[src]
Tony Stark brought Erik Killmonger to his garage, where Killmonger admired a miniaturized Jericho missile. Stark expressed a desire for people to not need to use weapons, leading Killmonger to mention that he had developed Project Liberator, which would create combat drones that could be controlled completely remotely with the skill of a human soldier. Stark looked through Killmonger's designs and agreed to help working on it. The two developed a drone and trained it to match Killmonger's fighting skills.
J.A.R.V.I.S. reported that the Stark Liberator Drones were having issues with their regulating systems, so Killmonger explained that they would need a new power source and suggested they obtain Vibranium. Stark admired Killmonger's vibranium ring and realized that he knew someone who would be able to provide vibranium.[1]
Ambush at the Salvage Yard[]
T'Challa interrupts Ulysses Klaue's sale
- "My, my, my. I would not want to play chess with you, my friend. I leaked word of the sale to the Wakandan War Dogs. And it all played out just as you predicted it would."
- ―Ulysses Klaue to Erik Killmonger[src]
Pepper Potts was against obtaining vibranium from Ulysses Klaue, so Erik Killmonger suggested sending James Rhodes, which satisfied Tony Stark. Rhodes and Killmonger met with Klaue, who presented a Vibranium Spear. Klaue then presented the rest of his vibranium, when T'Challa led an attack on their meeting place. Rhodes tried to shoot at T'Challa, who disarmed and refused to hurt Rhodes as Wakanda had no quarrel with him.
James Rhodes is killed
T'Challa asked Rhodes to allow him to handle the vibranium, but Killmonger then took out a Sonic Taser and attacked both Rhodes and T'Challa with it, leading to T'Challa's death. Killmonger stole the glove from T'Challa's Panther Habit and used it to access the vibranium, criticizing Rhodes for wearing the uniform of the country that had oppressed black people for so long. Killmonger killed Rhodes with the Panther Habit's glove. Killmonger then partnered himself with Klaue, who had seen the whole incident.[1]
American-Wakandan War[]
Ambush on Erik Killmonger[]
Erik Killmonger gets attacked
- "Each one is for a kill. Believe it or not, Tony, I was really hoping you wouldn't make the cut."
- ―Erik Killmonger to Tony Stark[src]
Funerals were held for both T'Challa and James Rhodes, and T'Chaka addressed the United Nations. Erik Killmonger returned to Tony Stark's Mansion with the vibranium and tried to get Tony Stark to show the world that he was in charge. However, Stark noted that Killmonger ensure Stark's name would be on the paper trail leading to Rhodes' and T'Challa's deaths and revealed that he had video evidence of Killmonger being the one responsible. Stark put the room in lockdown and had a Liberator Drone attack Killmonger.
Tony Stark is killed
Killmonger fought the drone while Stark bragged about it, hoping to avenger Rhodes' death. However, Killmonger used new moves which had not been programmed into the drone, allowing Killmonger to destroy the drone. Killmonger then impaled Stark with his Vibranium Spear and declared that what set Killmonger and Stark apart was their inability to see what set them apart. Killmonger the killed Stark. He convinced the United States military that Wakanda had sent someone to kill Stark.[1]
Manipulating Wakanda[]
Ulysses Klaue is brought into Wakanda
Thaddeus Ross ordered the mass production of the Stark Liberator Drones and took over Stark Industries to ensure compliance. Just under 400 drones were created and ready, so Killmonger flew to Wakanda with a collection of drones and Ulysses Klaue. As they reached the Wakandan border, Klaue admired the forcefield, but Killmonger than killed Klaue, bringing him into Wakanda.
Erik Killmonger tells Wakanda about the Stark Liberator Drones
Killmonger was brought to the Wakandan Royal Family, where he revealed himself to be N'Jobu's son. Despite Shuri's objection, T'Chaka decided to trust Killmonger. Killmonger told the Wakandans about the liberator drones, and Shuri noted that they presented a specific challenge as they were able to communicate. Killmonger suggested they allow the liberator drones to enter the force field and then reactivate them, cutting the drones off from the American military.[1]
Invasion of Wakanda[]
Ramonda readies her troops
Wakanda elected to follow the suggestion and readied their military. Thaddeus Ross watched from the United States of America while Shuri continued to question whether they should trust Erik Killmonger. The force field was opened, allowing the Stark Liberator Drones to enter the city. The shields were then closed once the drones had entered, shutting the drones down and frustrating Ross. The Wakandans celebrated, but Killmonger discretely reactivated the drones, blaming Tony Stark for installing a backup transmitter.
Erik Killmonger helps defend Wakanda
A battle broke out as the drones advanced on the Wakandan army and Ramonda ordered her troops to charge. Killmonger helped the Wakandan army destroy the drones, earning him Ramonda's trust as the battle continued. Killmonger dedicated the battle to T'Challa, and the rest of the army agreed. All of the drones were destroyed, and T'Chaka and Shuri smiled to each other as Ross became increasingly frustrated.[1]
New Black Panther[]
Shuri and Pepper Potts become partners
The following day, T'Chaka gave the Heart-Shaped Herb to Erik Killmonger, declaring him the new Black Panther. Killmonger visited the Ancestral Plane and saw T'Challa, who scolded him for his actions. Killmonger donned a Panther Habit as Thaddeus Ross ordered for missiles to be aimed at Wakanda. Shuri visited Pepper Potts and revealed truth that Killmonger was responsible for T'Challa and Tony Stark's deaths. The two agreed to work together in hopes of forging an alliance between Wakanda and the United States of America.[1] Shuri and Potts prepared to confront Killmonger, but the Watcher suddenly appeared in the Killmonger's War universe and recruited Killmonger to join the Guardians of the Multiverse. Killmonger removed him from the universe, much to Potts and Shuri's surprise.
Erik Killmonger participates in a riot
Killmonger betrayed the Guardians of the Multiverse and got trapped in a pocket dimension by Doctor Strange[2] and was stored to be sacrificed to the Forge. Peggy Carter broke Killmonger free in order to start a riot, which Killmonger participated in. Strange attempted to go through the plan, but Kahhori and Carter stopped Strange. Kahhori then sent Killmonger back to the Killmonger's War universe.[3]
Residents[]
Landmarks[]
- City of the Dead
- Golden City, Wakanda
- Los Angeles, California
- Malibu, California
- Mount Bashenga
- Nevada
Trivia[]
- In this universe, Thaddeus Ross is part of the United States Air Force, whereas in the main universe, he is part of the United States Army.
Behind the Scenes[]
- According to The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe, a fan run site whose universe designations are approved by Marvel editorial, this universe is designated as Earth-32938.
- The design of the Stark Liberator Drones being influenced by Erik Killmonger's appreciation for anime is inspired by Michael B. Jordan's love of anime.
- The James Rhodes of the Killmonger's War universe is based on Don Cheadle rather than Terrence Howard, who played James Rhodes in Iron Man.
- Tony Stark's death in the Killmonger's War universe, along with various other versions of Stark dying throughout the first season of What If...?, led fans to complain about the consistency of it. A.C. Bradley compared Stark to Kenny McCormick from the series South Park, who was known to repeated die.[4]
Gallery[]
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