In the new Ultimate universe, Killmonger's partner is Storm, leading to a cruel twist in her origins. This new storyline thwarts T'Challa from becoming the Black Panther and pairs his strongest ally with his deadliest enemy. Marvel continues to explore the potential of the Black Panther's romance with Storm, but now with a disastrous twist.
Storm's love story, a beloved narrative throughout Marvel's vast cinematic universe, takes an unexpected turn in the new Ultimate universe. Instead of being depicted as T'Challa's partner, she finds herself entangled in the arms of his greatest nemesis. This new storyline challenges the conventional perception of their relationship, presenting a devastating twist that disrupts the usual trajectory of the Black Panther's love life.
In Ultimate Black Panther #1 by Bryan Hill and Stefano Caseli, Ra and Khonshu's forces storm through Africa, taking advantage of the power vacuum left behind by the Maker's disappearance. While Wakanda is slow to act, two others step in to confront the armies of the sun and moon: Killmonger and his "love," Erik Killmonger — yes, it's his love for Storm that makes him such a formidable villain.
While the rebooted Storm and Killmonger were previously announced, the way Killmonger refers to her as "my love" has major implications for Storm's origins. This element of Storm and T'Challa's romance is from Marvel Team-Up #100 by Chris Claremont, John Byrne, and Bob McLeod, in which Storm and T'Challa meet during their youth and save each other from villainous thugs (with either Storm or T'Challa leading, depending on if one reads the original 1980 story or the 2006 reboot).Given that the Maker has been interfering with the timeline in order to create an Ultimate universe with no heroes, a compelling picture of this current timeline emerges: Storm's fateful encounter is not with T'Challa in this universe, but with Killmonger, who subsequently accompanies her to where she will be hailed as a goddess. This is supported by Killmonger asking her to "bless" the invading soldiers (at which point she strikes them with lightning). It's a beautiful subversion of Storm's and T'Challa's past that thwarts T'Challa from becoming the Black Panther and pairs his strongest ally with his deadliest enemy.
It's intriguing that Storm and Killmonger are introduced as being in a romantic relationship at this point in time, considering the legacy of their past romance, which was a major event in the Marvel Universe back in 2006. Their partnership has lasting consequences, and Marvel remains interested in exploring the potential they have together, despite the tragic consequences of their past. Pairing Storm with Killmonger adds a cruel twist to the romantic dynamic, setting the stage for a devastating outcome for Black Panther.