Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda

The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda is a government that features in Marvel Comics.

History

The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda

Stranded, the Wakandan colonists came upon a desolate world on the outer edges of the cosmos. Separation from their homeland and besieged by the whims of deep space resulted in them pushing forward their country's concept of self-defense to a radical outcome. This was that self-defense could be achieved through the conquest of all potential enemies. This saw the transformation of a small starving colony into a growing expansionist empire. (Black Panther v7 #1)

During their expansion, the Wakandans spread to the nearest galaxy that was renamed T'Chaka's Reach that was ruled by an interplanetary empire headed by the Rigellians. The Intergalactic Empire of Wakana was noted to had fought them in a short war and became the victors thus resulting in the species becoming nomads in the galaxy. Afterwards, they claimed the clusters of worlds in the S'Yaan Expanse where records indicated that they mercilessly dealt with the native inhabitants of that galaxy. During the empire's expansion, they came upon the Matrix of Mamadou that was a galaxy gripped by a warring set of powers. It came to be conquered though at great cost to the Wakandans who had to contend with the Kronans, the Shadow People and a colony of Klyntar. (Black Panther v7 #4) All these races that were conquered had their knowledge pilfered by the Wakandans who placed the data within their Imperial Archive. (Black Panther v7 #7)

Three years ago, a figure emerged claiming to be the true T'Challa who was mocked at first. However, he was subjected to the trials of strength and courage where he outlasted all. On Bast, he was seen as the second coming of his namesake and journeyed out of Nehanda's Lattice where he fought the Shi'ar Empire on behalf of his nation with it said that he met his end at that point. (Black Panther v7 #3)

A young N'Jadaka came to rise to the position of avatar of the goddess Bast where the fanatical warrior came to serve as her avatar. Under his reign, he came to raze whole star systems in order to impose order where there was none and bring the purifying light of Bast's gospel to the region. In time, the people chanted his name and bathed in his triumphs as they came to love him. However, some among the ruling Imperials were threatened by this mercenary and plotted his downfall. This saw the Imperium dispatching N'Jadaka and his warriors to clear a small outpost of the Between where they were ambushed by a large enemy force. This forced them to retreat until N'Jadaka found the last surviving Klyntar. The Symbiotes came to bond with him an gave him the necessary power to kill his attackers. He then returned to the throne world where he killed the ruling emperor and claimed the throne for himself as he turned the empire into a conquering force in the cosmos. However, he began to fear of a prophecy that spoke of Bast's legendary avatar returning who would depose N'Jadaka. (Black Panther v7 #6)

The Maroon rebels came to find the location of the M'Kraan Shard that was deemed to be a great weapon for their cause. Commander N'Yami came to also hear word of a possible champion for their cause in a gladiator that the Emperor had begun to fear. She had hoped to free him and thought that he would be the second coming of the warrior king T'Challa that would lead the Maroon to victory. (Black Panther v7 #5)

Under the Manifold, a force of Askari raiders ambushed the Maroon's base in an effort to eliminate them. Ultimately, the rebels managed to escape but the Imperial forces managed to kill their leader Captain N'Yami. (Black Panther v7 #4) This forced the Maroon rebellion to go into hiding over the course of the next 5 years. In the past year, they came to receive a steady stream of Nameless who were looking for shelter until eventually the Askari hunted them down. Despite the attack, the Maroon were able to repel the enemy detachment and defeat them. (Black Panther v7 #5) Emperor N'Jadaka during a meeting with the the Orisha (Wakandan gods) came to speak to his patron namely the goddess Bast. He came to reject her and deprived her of her power as he N'Jadaka went on the path to achieve godhood. (Black Panther v7 #6) Meanwhile, the rebels came to kidnap the empire's chief technologist in the hope of recovering all the memories of the nameless that were stored within the Imperial Archives. (Black Panther v7 #7)

A notable event came when the emperor's daughter Zenzi came to defect to the rebel Maroons. (Black Panther v7 #11)

N'Jadaka with his armies subsequently attacked them; however, the defeated goddess Bast had possessed Zenzi and betrayed N'Jadaka by making his Askari crash their Masai Fighters into the Emperor's Imperial flagship while the Teku-Maza's rebel commander rigged the planet's core to explode as a last ditch attempt to stop N'Jadaka; resulting in the sacrifice of thousands of lives and the apparent death of the Emperor; however, the symbiote survived and carried the soul of its former host. (Black Panther v7 #15)

During the Last Annihilation, the forces of the Dread Dormammu came to invade the universe with the Faltine dispatching an army of Mindless Ones to conquer all space. In this time, he was targeting several mystically important worlds as part of a ritual to merge this realm with his own Dark Dimension. This involved conquering five planets that would be the corner stones of a giant cosmic pentagram. One of these worlds was the Shi'ar planet of Aerie where the Shi'ar Imperial Guard battled the Mindless Ones. The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda under the leadership of M'Baku were dispatched to lend their aid in fighting off the invaders. (Last Annihilation: Wakanda v1 #1)

Overview

The original Wakandan colonists after being separated from their homeland and besieged by the whims of deep space came to push forward their country's traditional notion of self-defense. This came to evolve into a more radical outcome namely that true defense meant the conquest of all potential foes. (Black Panther v7 #1) Thus, preventative strikes were rationalised which gradually evolved into preventative occupation to preventative conquest. (Black Panther v7 #4) The empire often spoke of the grandeur of its civilisation though much of their achievements was stolen. (Black Panther v7 #3) Imperial Wakandans through gene therapy came to be a long-lived people that remained in the prime of their life. (Black Panther v7 #6)

Over the years, their society had evolved with a class system that included:

• Imperials : the highest cast of Wakandans who claim to be blood descendants of the founders of the empire though this was hard to validate or refute. (Black Panther v7 #1) Those born into the Imperial caste were said to be anointed to rule. (Black Panther v7 #5)
• Nameless : the Miners were subjects condemned by the empire to slavery in the Vibranium mines with them consisting of individuals who were mind-wiped and thus knowing nothing of their history. (Black Panther v7 #1) By stealing their memories, it was said that the empire stole the future of these slaves. (Black Panther v7 #5)
• Askari : serving as both the police force of the empire and the arm of its slave trade where as a caste they were hated by the Nameless and denigrated by the Imperials. Askari hailed from many races including those that had been conquered by the empire. (Black Panther v7 #1)

In addition, the empire came to enslave several races that included:

• Teku-Maza : a blue to green skinned aquatic humanoid race that were one of the earliest people incorporated into the empire. They hailed from a Jovian planet whose mass mainly consisted of liquid. Originally, they were an entirely aquatic race but genetic modifications made them amphibious. It was said that they were distantly related to the Atlanteans of Earth. (Black Panther v7 #7)
• Kronans : a humanoid race made of near solid rock where a group of them came to the Benhazin star system through a wormhole but landed far from the planet Bast. After 2 centuries, these Kronans came to be conquered by the Imperial Wakandans and subjected to their control. (Black Panther v7 #7)
• Rigellians : a humanoid race who formed an empire within T'Chaka's Reach that was disconnected from the greater Rigellian people. Their nation came to be the first to fall to the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. Rigellians came to be found throughout the empire and were overrepresented among the lower class, slaves and Maroons. (Black Panther v7 #7)
• Shadow People : a humanoid race where a detachment of them came to make their way into imperial territory during the early days of the Wakandan empire. They came to multiply across the centuries and colonised most of the solar system. Despite their success at colonization, they proved to be no match for the Imperial Wakandans leading to their subjugation. Shadow People could be found throughout the hierarchy of the empire. (Black Panther v7 #7)

Leadership over the empire was held by a figure holding the title of Emperor who was considered an avatar of the goddess Bast. (Black Panther v7 #4) They were able to enter the chamber of the Wakandan gods through the Orisha Gate. This allowed them to speak to the gods where the avatar could speak to their god. (Black Panther v7 #6)

A sect of Imperial Wakandans came to embrace the forbidden practice of transcorporealism that was the transmission of the self out of flesh and into a machine. Such a practice was believed to offend the Orisha and were scorned with these individuals being known as the Between. This group consisted of people who were vaguely humanoid but had cold dead eyes and their skin was a deep silver as their bodies were made of a mutated Vibranium that allowed their limbs to be reformed into various tools or weapons. (Black Panther v7 #6) Another group that came to emerge known as the Maroons consisting of rebels that fought against the vast reach of the empire. These consisted of freed Nameless and took the fight back against the Wakandans. (Black Panther v7 #1)

'T'Challa' was said to be a common name in the empire and was often adopted by those wanting a reincarnation. (Black Panther v7 #3)

As a result of aggressive expansion, the empire was noted to had encompassed five galaxies. (Black Panther v7 #1) It was said that as conquerors the Wakandans quickly became masters of their corner of the universe. (Black Panther v7 #4) They were said to evolve quickly making them a difficult foe to overcome. (Black Panther v7 #7)

Some high ranking citizens of the empire were known to control pleasure ships that flew across space as they entertained their occupants. Special arrangements were made for the high-end clientele on the ship. (Black Panther v7 #7)

When the Askari stole memories, it was said that they were stored within the Imperial Archive. It was said that the empire did not destroy knowledge but plundered it. (Black Panther v7 #3) The vast collection of knowledge was seen as the font of the empire's power. All of its content was plundered from the memories of the millions they had enslaved. Among its contents included data taken from the Rigellians that gave the empire its vast knowledge of the stars. From the Teku-Maza, they pilfered literature and son whilst from the Kronans they learnt the true power of Vibranium that became the lifeblood of the empire. The empire learnt governance and hierarchy from what they had stolen from the Shadow People. The Archive was said to be alive where it did not hold knowledge but also analysed and dissected it for the empire's benefit thus devising new patterns and ways to conquer as well as enslave. (Black Panther v7 #7)

Early in Imperial history, the Wakandans came to master gene therapy allowing the species to be long-lived and remain in the prime of their lives. (Black Panther v7 #6) Superior technology was then matched with the typical Wakandan ferocity in battle. (Black Panther v7 #4)

Vessels used by the empire included:

• Masai-class : a class of fighter craft used by the empire. (Black Panther v7 #2)
• Zulu-class : a class of fighter craft capable of short-range space fold and were operated through a neural net. (Black Panther v7 #2)
• Musa-class : a class of freighter used by the empire. (Black Panther v7 #2)

A type of pleasure ship was used by the Wakandans. (Black Panther v7 #7)

A particularly noted weapon developed by the empire was the Koukou Array that was an advancement of the Vibranium Shock Bomb technology secretly implemented by Wakanda in the past. It was created to split planets in half via vibration and counter frequency emissions generated through a phalanx of Vibranium sputniks. The Koukou Array weapons system employs its vibranium reserves to asserting dominion over a planets very biospheric functionality in order to cause global catastrophes. Ones powerful enough and in simultaneous fashion as to trigger tectonic, gravitational and atmospheric disruptions that could rip planets to pieces. The array system is powered by Vibranium cores which cycle and rechannel internal energies between it's numerous satellite relays, the current hosts of the Wakandan Empire used this effect to create a planetary defense grid in place of a weapon of ultimate destruction when defending against enemy assault. The destructive potential of this weapon led it to be declared an outlawed superweapon by other galactic powers. (Last Annihilation: Wakanda v1 #1)

The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda was a sprawling imperium that was composed of five star clusters located in the far reaches of the universe. (Black Panther v7 #4) These included the Benhazin System which was the originating galaxy that contained their home planet of Bast. Nearby was T'Chaka's Reach that was the first to fall to the empire that was once ruled by the interplanetary empire of the Rigellians. The S'Yaan Expanse was another cluster of worlds containing a rich network of star systems located in a 'Goldilocks Zone' in beings worlds capable of supporting carbon-based life. These worlds were conquered not for their resources but rather for their lush beauty with few worlds requiring terraforming. The remaining galaxies dominated by the Wakandans were the Matrix of Mamadou and Nehanda's Lattice. (Black Panther v7 #4)

Worlds under the empire's control included:

• Bast : throne world of the empire. (Black Panther v7 #2) The system was said to had been rich in Vibranium with a ring of asteroids being made entirely of Vibranium though this was long gone after being mined millennia ago. (Black Panther v7 #4) The capital was known as the Golden City which served as the home of the emperor. (Black Panther v7 #7)
• Goree : a major Vibranium node for the empire. (Black Panther v7 #1)

A notable area within their territory was the Ptah Region. (Black Panther v7 #7)

They knew their original homeworld of Earth as Wakanda Prime. (Black Panther v7 #6)

Members

• N'Jadaka : He was known as the Decimator of the Teku-Maza and the Scourge of the Rigellians. (Black Panther v7 #6)
• Nareema : a female Imperial Wakandan who came to marry N'Jadaka and bore him a daughter they named Zenzi. (Black Panther v7 #7)
• Zenzi : daughter of Emperor N'Jadaka and his wife Nareema. When Zenzi was young, she accompanied her father during his tyrannical reign. (Black Panther v7 #7) At one point in her life, her father sent her away from the heart of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda to ensure her safety, but after her father, N'Jadaka, dueled the avatar of the goddess Bast and drained her divine powers into himself, Bast possessed Zenzi and defected to the Maroons as part of a plan to stop the Emperor. (Black Panther v7 #11)
• Achebe :
• Kofi : a male Imperial Wakandan who served as the Empire's chief technologist and was tasked with the maintenance of the Imperial Archive. (Black Panther v7 #7)
• Demba : a male Imperial Wakandan who served as a counselor in charge with putting down the Maroons rebellion but his failure led to him being killed by Emperor N'Jadaka. (Black Panther v7 #2)
• M'Baku : a male Imperial Wakandan who was one of enslaved Nameless of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. Forced to work as a Vibranium miner, he grew to loathe the metal that enriched the Empire. He was eventually freed by the Maroons and joined them in their mission of combatting slavery. (Black Panther v7 #4)
• N'Yami :
• Nakia Cabral : a female Imperial Wakandan born to the House of Tafari of the Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda. (Black Panther v7 #5) As such, she belonged to the dominant elite of an a unequal society and enjoyed a frivolous life in exchange for total submission to the throne of Emperor N'Jadaka. (Black Panther v7 #11)
• Taku :
• Manifold :

Notes

• The Intergalactic Empire of Wakanda was created by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Daniel Acuña where it made its first appearance in Marvel Legacy v1 #1 (September, 2017).

Appearances

• Marvel Legacy v1: (2017)
• Black Panther v7:
• S.W.O.R.D. v2:
• Last Annihilation: Wakanda v1: (2021)

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry

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