Okoye

Okoye is a Wakandan warrior and devoted member of the Dora Milaje, the elite all-female royal guard serving the Black Panther. Fiercely loyal to Wakanda above all else, she rose to lead the Agents of Wakanda and later temporarily wielded the power of the Iron Fist.

Few characters have rooted themselves so firmly in the world of Wakanda as Okoye, who made her Marvel debut in the landmark 1998 Black Panther #1 — a milestone issue brought to life by the celebrated creative team of Christopher Priest, Joe Quesada, and Mark Texeira that helped redefine what a Black Panther story could be. Over nearly three decades of publication, she has remained a constant presence across titles like Black Panther, Ultimate Black Panther, and even the wild crossover terrain of Predator vs. Black Panther, sharing pages with heavyweights like T'Challa, Shuri, Spider-Man, and Venom. That kind of longevity — 63 appearances spanning 1998 to 2026 — speaks to a character who has genuinely earned her place in the Marvel universe rather than simply passing through it. If you're building out your Wakanda reading list, Okoye is absolutely essential.