Okoye (character)

Okoye is a fictional character and the General of the Dora Milaje in Marvel Comics. The character, created by Christopher Priest and Mark Texeira, first appeared in Black Panther (vol. 3) #1 (November 1998) within the comics.

Danai Gurira portrays the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Avengers: Endgame (2019), Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), and the Disney+ animated series What If...? (2021) in alternate timelines.

Publication history
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).

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. She has since stood at T'Challa's side. Okoye accompanied T'Challa when he recruited Queen Divine Justice. 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.

Okoye later appears as the director of the Agents of Wakanda.

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. She later assists Thing, Shuri, and the Agents of Wakanda in fighting the Cotati who have breached Wakanda's forcefield.

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.

Earth-16220
On Earth-16220, Okoye is still depicted as a member of the Dora Milaje.

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. Following the incident, Okoye tells T'Challa about some Wakandans who were suspected of being in league with Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu. 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. Okoye is later told by Shuri that T'Challa still hasn't been in contact with her. While sleeping at night, she is awoken by an attack by a Moon Knight operative. Shuri arrives to fight it as she tells Okoye to stay where she is. Okoye later confronted T'Challa about what he has been doing as he claims that Lord Ra and Lord Khonshu think they are gods. At the Temple of the Sacred Dead the next morning, Black Panther introduces Okoye and Shuri to Killmonger and Storm.

Television

 * Okoye makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes episode "Welcome to Wakanda".
 * Okoye appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes - Black Panther: Trouble in Wakanda, voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown.
 * Okoye makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in X-Men '97 episode "Tolerance is Extinction – Part 3".

Marvel Cinematic Universe
Danai Gurira portrays Okoye in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This version is a general of the Dora Milaje and the wife of W'Kabi.
 * 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, 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, 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...?.
 * In the live-action film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, 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.
 * Okoye will return in Eyes of Wakanda, an animated series on Disney+.

Video games

 * Okoye appears in Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 as part of the "Black Panther" DLC.
 * Okoye appears in Marvel Avengers Academy, voiced by Bindy Cody.
 * Okoye appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest and Marvel Strike Force.
 * Okoye appears in Marvel's Avengers, voiced by Debra Wilson.

Miscellaneous

 * Okoye appears in the table top miniatures game HeroClix.
 * Okoye appears in the table top game Marvel Crisis Protocol.