Who are the Dora Milaje and why are they so Downright Deadly?

Who are those stoic, statuesque warriors protecting Wakanda’s panther-themed king at all costs? They’re known as the “Dora Milaje,” and you should approach the king with utmost care or face an immediate lethal stabbing by Vibranium spear.

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Why are the Dora Milaje so protective of their king, a god-anointed superhero who probably doesn’t need protecting? And why are they so darn capable, and a means to perpetuating peace between Wakanda’s occasionally irascible tribes? Let’s grab a few Marvel comics and dig in.

(Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Productions)

The Dora Milaje are more than unbeatable bodyguards.

Yes, guarding the king is their primary objective, but the creation of this female warrior sect is a means to maintain peaceful relations between Wakanda’s 18 tribes. “Dora Milaje” translates to “Adored Ones,” which implies the Dora Milaje's other function – they’re the king’s “wives in training.” But…not really. The king won’t actually marry them, as this function is considered ceremonial (honestly, the king considers them daughters, and makes no romantic overtures).

Why “ceremonial?” Dora Milaje are hand-selected, by the Black Panther, from each of Wakanda’s 18 tribes – they’re the best/brightest young women each tribe has to offer (and to have one’s daughter chosen for Dora Milaje training is indeed a high honor). So, with each tribe contributing a potential wife/bodyguard to the king, civil war is usually avoided due to national participation.

Before a young candidate is chosen by their tribe, they undergo years of advanced training. And if they’re indeed selected to serve the king as a Dora Milaje, the training continues under the Black Panther himself, and other experts/educators in various fields. They’re truly the best of the best, and the Black Panther makes sure their level of excellence is always maintained.

The function of Dora Milaje was once considered archaic, but renewed to establish peace.

The concept behind the Dora Milaje was cast aside generations ago, but tribal upheaval demanded its reestablishment.

Due to the rebellious actions of the Jabari tribe, and under threat of a national civil war between multiple tribes, T’Challa reinstituted the Dora Milaje. His first two recruits? Nakia and Okoye.

Granted additional training under T’Challa and various educators, Nakia became T’Challa’s aide, and Okoye his driver. They were loyal, rarely talkative, and dangerously capable in their particular positions.

Nakia had…feelings for the king, and they endangered perceived competition.

Nakia had feelings for the king – feelings that were exacerbated when, under Mephisto’s influence (it’s a loooong story), T’Challa kissed Nakia (thinking she was, in fact, his love interest Monica Lynne). With Nakia’s feelings/advances rebuffed by a king who attempted explanation, Nakia took advantage of an opportunity to do away with Monica, ejecting her from a moving jet. Nakia’s deception discovered, T’Challa threatened to return her to her tribe. Nakia fled, but ended up in the arms of T’Challa’s enemy, Achebe, who tortured her and left her for dead. “Rescued” by another regular Black Panther rogue, Erik Killmonger, Nakia was molded into the assassin Malice.

The Dora Milaje are quite skilled, and armed appropriately.

Speaking only to their king, and in the Hausa language, the Dora Milaje are usually armed with Vibranium spears, and adorned in Vibranium-laced armor. They also communicate with Kimoyo Beads, use jetpacks, fly any number of aircraft including Quinjets (The Avengers’ preferred form of airborne conveyance), and expertly utilize most weapons, especially the bleeding-edge variety created by Wakanda’s premier scientists and weapons engineers. They’re also naturally brilliant and athletic, always excelling in their teachings and martial training.

They helped turn the tide against Wakanda’s greatest enemies.

Over time, the ranks of the Dora Milaje increased, becoming a small, highly-skilled army to employ against Wakanda’s incredible threats. And that list of threats included the likes of Doctor Doom, Namor, Erik Killmonger, Iron Man (during the Superhuman Registration Act debacle, but Tony’s heart was in the right place), and Achebe.

During the epic Doom War story arc, Doctor Doom overtook Wakanda through a cleverly constructed coup. And during this invasion/destabilization, T’Challa learned his Dora Milaje – and their Vibranium-based weaponry – were no match for robots (specifically, “Doombots”) and magic. So, to retake Wakanda, T’Challa created a specially trained sect of Dora Milaje called the Midnight Angels. With the help of Deadpool (yes, Deadpool), they successfully invaded Doom’s castle and helped T’Challa defeat the armored Latverian monarch (while rendering Vibranium inert. So, we’ll call it a pyrrhic victory).

Are the Dora Milaje unbelievably fierce and absolutely necessary?

Yes, and ooooh yes. Not only are they multi-capable fighters and tacticians, they’re a necessary political implement to assure tribal cooperation. Any more insights into the deadly/beautiful Dora Milaje? Leave your first-person exploits with Wakanda’s dangerous daughters in the comments (below).

Who would immediately (like, without hesitation) forsake Earth and join Optimus Prime in a last-ditch effort to emancipate Cybertron? That’s right – Tiras. An experienced geek-culture pundit, Tiras regularly consumes and reviews all manner of fantastical, fictional, and high-concept content. He also dreams of ending an eons-long war between two factions of intimidatingly tall transforming robots.

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