Wakanda is a great and powerful nation. It's been entrenched into Marvel Comics history for some time now and has produced some truly phenomenal characters. The people who live there have a certain amount of power that's unmatched compared to other nations.
Certain individuals from Wakanda have risen to prominence due to their onscreen portrayal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, even within the comics, many of these characters were presented as being incredibly powerful. We're ranking the 10 most powerful Wakandans that have been shown in the comics.
10 RAMONDA
The Queen Mother certainly isn't a physical threat compared to other members of this list. However, there is a certain amount of power that comes with the role that she inhabits. Firstly, her years as the Queen means that she has a lot of wisdom.
She's very intelligent and tactical and knows how to politically maneuver in difficult situations. Secondly, due to her role as both the wife to the previous King, as well as the mother of the current one, she has a lot of power within Wakanda. She has access to an army, unlimited resources, and a lot of wealth.
9 OKOYE
Okoye is the ruthless leader of the Dora Milaje. These powerful warriors are the most well-trained army in the world. They will defend Wakanda until their last breath and are incredibly loyal to the throne and their King. They represent a lot of traditions within the country.
Okoye herself is an incredibly powerful figure within the nation. As the leader, she is a fierce warrior and can stand toe to toe with the best of them. Not only this, she has command of an army and is also an adviser to the King, a very well-regarded position.
8 HUNTER
Hunter is a well-known character from the comics that has actually inspired the change for the Winter Soldier. Known as the White Wolf, Hunter is the adopted son of the King and essentially an outsider to Wakanda due to his white skin.
Despite this, he was welcomed with open arms and has become a key member of the royal family. In times of trouble or strife he has actually stood in for the Black Panther on a number of occasions, showing his combat skills and value within the country to fill this traditional role.
7 NAKIA
Nakia holds a lot of political power in both the comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has at times been incredibly close to the King and therefore can hold his ear on very big issues. She also has a lot of experience in the field of espionage, acting as a spy for Wakanda.
In the comics, Nakia became incredibly obsessed with T'Challa and eventually had a villainous turn, sporting the name Malice. As Malice, she is an incredibly skilled fighter and a powerful villain in the story of both Wakanda and indeed the Black Panther's life.
6 10,000,000 BC BLACK PANTHER
The original Avengers team from 10,000,000 BC has recently made their debut in the comics. There was a Black Panther who was a member of this team, although his name is unknown. He's an incredibly important figure in the history of Wakanda.
He was a superpowered individual and believed to be the first man to don the Black Panther costume. He's clearly well regarded, as he had the honor of serving on the Avengers team and is also part of the creation of Wakanda when the vibranium asteroid hit the Earth.
5 T'CHAKA
T'Chaka is the father of T'Challa and a previous King. He also sported the Black Panther costume for some time and was responsible for protecting his country and indeed the wider world. He's another very important and powerful figure in the country's history.
In fact, T'Chaka is one of the most noteworthy kings that has ever sat on the throne. He was responsible for safeguarding his country for so long and wore the crown during a great period of growth for the nation. He also was a great father and set up the future so that it would continue to be great.
4 SHURI
Shuri is not only the most intelligent person in Wakanda but she's also one of the most intelligent people in the whole world. She rivals even the likes of Tony Stark and Reed Richards, with her weapons, gadgets and inventions helping to redefine the country she loves.
As the Princess of Wakanda, she has a wide range of political and economic power. However, she likes to get her hands dirty and can often be found on the battlefield alongside her brother. She's also put on the Black Panther costume in the past, joining other members of her family in carrying on this tradition.
3 M'BAKU
The Man-Ape M'Baku has been both friend and foe to the royal family. In past comics, he's acted as a rival to the throne. Unlike in the films, he's actually found himself working alongside villains like Klaw in order to get what he feels he is entitled to.
In the films M'Baku has a change of heart, becoming a great ally to King T'Challa. He has fought alongside him many times since they joined forces and this makes M'Baku politically and physically one of the most powerful men in the country. He is also the leader of his own tribe, essentially providing a private army.
2 KILLMONGER
Erik Killmonger has a few different origins, whether you are looking at the comics or the movies. In general though, this character has had a severe impact on the country of Wakanda and can be considered a Wakandan on a number of levels.
He has always acted as an enemy of this nation, but he is an incredibly powerful villain to be up against. Killmonger is for the most part both politically and emotionally motivated, with his actions often having dire consequences for the citizens of Wakanda. He is also an incredibly skilled fighter.
1 T'CHALLA
King T'Challa is the most famous Wakandan both in pop culture and indeed in the world of Marvel Comics and the MCU. He is the current King of Wakanda and the current Black Panther.
T'Challa has brought both the mantle of the Black Panther as well as his nation to international prominence. He has increased its presence in the world and can be considered a hero through and through. He has the most political and financial power and is probably the best fighter in the country. Plus, he is enhanced by the heart-shaped herb that he consumes.