“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”‘s Midnight Angels Have a Very Different Origin in the Comics

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” introduces quite a few new heroes, including Riri Williams, aka Ironheart (Dominique Thorne) and Namor (Tenoch Huerta). We also meet one of the Dora Milaje, Aneka (Michaela Coel), a little better. Aneka joins with Okoye (Danai Gurira) to become the Midnight Angels, wearing special suits made for them by Shuri (Letitia Wright). Ahead, we’re breaking down just who the Midnight Angels are, Aneka’s history in the comics, and where we’ll see these characters again going forward in the MCU.

Who Is Aneka in the Marvel Comics?

In the comics, Aneka is a member of the Dora Milaje. She kills a Wakandan chieftan because of his abusive behavior toward the women in his village. Despite those mitigating circumstances, Queen Ramonda sentences her to death. Another Dora Milaje, Ayo, who’s played by Florence Kasumba in the MCU, can’t let it stand and steals Midnight Angels armor to break Aneka out of prison. Ayo gives her the other Midnight Angel armor. In the comics, Aneka and Ayo are in love and in a relationship with each other. Coel has said that she was interested in playing Aneka because she’s queer.

Who Is Aneka in the MCU?

Aneka makes her debut in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” as a loyal Dora Milaje. We learn she is a bit of a rebel; Okoye chastises her for using special daggers Shuri made her instead of the traditional spear that all Dora Milaje carry. During the movie’s final battle, she and Okoye – who Queen Ramonda removed from the Dora Milaje – wear the Midnights Angels armor to defend Wakanda.

Who Are the Midnight Angels in the Comics?

In the comics, Aneka and Ayo wear stolen Midnight Angels armor and operate as vigilantes, correcting injustices they see without Wakanda. Most of those injustices have to do with the treatment of women and girls. They are often frustrated with the state of affairs under King T’Challa, and they lead their own army of Dora Milaje, who they say are loyal to the country and its people, not to the whims of the king. In the comics, they take control of the Jabari-Lands. Eventually, they do make peace with King T’Challa.

Who Are the Midnight Angels in the MCU?

The dawn of the Midnight Angels plays out very differently in “Wakanda Forever.” Okoye is removed from her place as general in the Dora Milaje after she brings Shuri to America with her to find Riri Williams, only for Shuri to be kidnapped by Namor. After Shuri and Riri are rescued by Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), Okoye still does not return to the order. When Shuri plans an assault on Namor and his fighters, Okoya and Aneka suit up in the Midnight Angels armor instead of the Dora Milaje uniforms. The armor not only enhances their fighting skills, but it also allows them to fly.

It’s not clear what Marvel’s longterm plans for the Midnight Angels are yet, but there are some possible clues. Marvel previously announced an untitled Wakanda series that would come to Disney+. There are very few details about the series, except that Gurira will return as Okoye. Producer Nate Moore told Collider on Nov. 1 that the series isn’t that far along because the producers have been focusing on “Wakanda Forever” and the “Ironheart” series, but it doesn’t seem like a huge stretch to guess that the series could focus on the Midnight Angels. If it happens, it’ll probably fit into Marvel’s Phase 6.

Director Ryan Coogler also confirmed in a November interview with Variety that his production company has multiple series set within Wakanda in development. Those series could also focus on or at least feature the Midnight Angels.