Okoye debuted in Black Panther (vol. 3) #1 (November 1998), created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira.[3] She last appeared in Black Panther (vol. 3) #62 in 2003 until returning in Black Panther #171 (2018).[4] She appeared in the 2018 Amazing Spider-Man: Wakanda Foreverone-shot,[5] the 2019 Black Panther and the Agents of Wakanda series,[6] and the 2024 Ultimate Black Panther series.[7]
Fictional character biography
Okoye 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.[8] She has since stood at T'Challa's side. Okoye accompanied T'Challa when he recruited Queen Divine Justice.[9] 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.[10]
During the "Empyre" storyline, Okoye is among those who help battle the Cotati invasion. While on the Wakandan Helicarrier, she detects plant-based activity in the Savage Land.[12] She later assists the Thing, Shuri, and the Agents of Wakanda in fighting the Cotati when they breach Wakanda's forcefield.[13]
Powers and abilities
Okoye is highly skilled in multiple forms of combat, being 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.[14]
Reception
George Marston of Newsarama described Okoye as a standout character from the '90s, saying that Danai Gurira's portrayal of Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has made her a household name, and concluding that her journey to stardom began in 1998 and continues to rise.[15] Deirdre Kaye of Scary Mommy called Sabra a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[16] Thayer Preece of Comic Book Resources called Okoye a fan favorite character.[17]
Other versions
An alternate universe variant of Okoye from Earth-16220 appears in Spidey: School's Out.[18]
In the live-action film Black Panther, she works with T'Challa to capture Ulysses Klaue. 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,[25] Okoye joins the Wakandans and the Avengers in fighting Thanos' forces. She survives the Blip, but is horrified to witness T'Challa and half of the Wakandans fall victim to it.
In the live-action film Avengers: Endgame,[26] Okoye begins working with the Avengers through Natasha Romanoff, reporting to her and monitoring issues in Wakanda. After the Avengers undo the Blip, Okoye joins them in fighting an alternate timeline variant of Thanos and later attends Tony Stark's funeral.
Alternate timeline variants of Okoye appear in the Disney+ animated series What If...?,[27] voiced by Danai Gurira in the first season and by Kenna Ramsey in the episode "What If... the Emergence Destroyed the Earth?".[22][28]
In the live-action film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,[29] Okoye joins Shuri in finding Riri Williams after Namor threatens Wakanda, but is defeated 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.
^ ab"Okoye Voices (Black Panther)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 16, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
