This article contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
The Midnight Angels make their MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, bringing exciting comic lore to the realm of live-action as well as potentially teasing a major MCU supervillain. Since their introduction in Captain America: Civil War and Black Panther, the Dora Milaje are established to be among the most formidable human warriors in the MCU, and while this is the case in the comics as well, there exists a small and elite division within them called the Midnight Angels. This group debuted in the comics rather recently, but they were established specifically to combat one of the deadliest supervillains in the Marvel universe, whose MCU debut seems inevitable.
In the MCU, Shuri is shown developing the Midnight Angels’ signature suits of powered armor early on, giving one to Okoye in Wakanda’s second battle with Namor’s forces in Black Panther 2’s third act. In the comics, the Midnight Angels are comprised of the finest warriors within the already-elite Dora Milaje, and their powerful armored suits allow them to engage none other than Doctor Doom, who had stolen Wakanda’s supply of vibranium in the 2010 storyline Doomwar. The MCU version of the Midnight Angels takes some liberties with the comic version, notably not being commissioned as an anti-Doom measure, but their inclusion hints at Doctor Doom’s introduction to the MCU.
The Midnight Angels In Marvel Comics Explained
In Doomwar, Doctor Doom strikes at Wakanda by stealing their vibranium and attempting to take over the advanced nation. Despite Wakanda’s vast resources, T’Challa and Shuri struggled against Doom, and thus a special strike team was formed to defeat him. The finest warriors of the Dora Milaje were renamed the Midnight Angels and sent into battle alongside the nearly-invulnerable mercenary Deadpool. In later storylines, the Midnight Angels would don flying suits of powered armor in addition to their advanced Wakandan weaponry, making them even more formidable. The armor and superlative status of the Midnight Angels is not the only thing separating them from the rest of the Dora Milaje, however.
The Dora Milaje serve the Wakandan royal family as bodyguards, soldiers, and any number of specialized roles, but the Midnight Angels exist to serve the nation and people of Wakanda above all else. Two former Dora Milaje, Ayo and Aneka, after defying the Wakandan royal family and losing their status as Dora Milaje, stole Midnight Angel armor and resolved to serve Wakanda as a whole rather than exclusively its leaders. Elements of their character development were given to Okoye in Black Panther 2, with her reluctant service under Killmonger and failure to protect Shuri from Namor costing her the position of Dora Milaje.
How Powerful Is The Midnight Angels Armor?
The Midnight Angels armor in the comics significantly enhances the strength and durability of its wearer, as well as granting them flight and enhanced offensive weaponry. Since the armor debuts years after Doomwar, it is safe to assume that it is made of vibranium and uses vibranium-based devices. The capabilities of the MCU version of the armor appear to be the same, making its wearers, especially the formidable Dora Milaje, capable of fighting superpowered foes like Namor’s Talokanil warriors. The Midnight Angels give the Dora Milaje an Iron Man-like suit to supplement their exceptional combat skills.
Wakanda Forever's Midnight Angels Tease The MCU's Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom is by far one of the greatest threats in the Marvel Comics universe. Doctor Doom is presumed to appear or at least be teased in the MCU’s Fantastic Four adaptation, given Doom’s bitter rivalry with Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic). The introduction of the anti-Doom Midnight Angels armor and Namor (who frequently appeared in classic Fantastic Four stories) may be preparing the MCU for one of its greatest villains.
One of the main differences between the Midnight Angels in the MCU and their comic counterparts is that they are created to fight Namor and the Talokanil, not Doctor Doom in the films. With Namor having made an unstable truce with Wakanda, however, the Midnight Angels may become the next generation of Wakanda’s most elite soldiers. The Midnight Angels will likely continue appearing in the MCU after Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, combating not only Kang the Conqueror but also the dreaded Doctor Doom.
