SENATOR KAMAL RAKIM
Real Name: Kamal Rakim
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: United States senator
Group Membership: U.S. Senate
Affiliations: Henry Peter Gyrich, (grudgingly) Iron Man (Tony Stark), Everett K. Ross
Enemies: Nikki Adams, Black Panther (T'Challa), White Wolf (Hunter)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York, USA
First Appearance: Black Panther III#6 (March, 1999)
Powers/Abilities: Senator Rakim has no unusual abilities. In his college days, he was a decent brawler.
Height: Unrevealed
(approximately 6'1")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark brown
History:
(Black Panther III#6 (fb)) - In college, Kamal Rakim was a classmate of
Prince T'Challa of Wakanda. As a black supremacist, Rakim wanted to
look up to and admire T'Challa, but when he saw T'Challa engaged in a
romantic relationship with the white student Nikki Adams, he was
insulted and started a fight with him. T'Challa easily defeated Rakim
and his friends.
(Black Panther III#6) - Many years later, Rakim became a U.S. senator but remained a black supremacist. When the White House arranged an official reception for Prince T'Challa and his entourage at the New York Hilton, Rakim received an invitation to the event. Rakim believed the event had only been staged to give positive publicity to the White House and that his invitation was an afterthought. Not noticing any other black people on the invitation list, Rakim let word of the reception reach the general public, knowing that many black people would want to see T'Challa in person.
Rakim came to the reception and noticed Nikki Adams (now an official with the U.S. State Department) was also present. Rakim re-introduced himself to T'Challa and apologized for the fight he started in college. He then revealed the massive crowd which had gathered outside the Hilton to see T'Challa.
(Black Panther III#8) - Now in his garb as the Black Panther, T'Challa became incensed at Rakim for staging the event, believing Rakim had done this knowing that the large black crowd would make the police nervous and provoke a riot. Rakim denied any malevolence, claiming he only wanted to give people a look at him. When T'Challa cautioned Rakim not to make him angry, Rakim retorted that if T'Challa struck him he would "become exactly what these white people all think we are." As the Avengers had also responded to the gathering, Captain America arranged for a police officer to escort Senator Rakim from the scene before violence erupted. Ultimately a riot did break out, thanks to the manipulations of another of T'Challa's foes -- Achebe.
(Black Panther III#41) - After album producer Myron "MGM" Mason was killed by the gang 66 Bridges, Senator Rakim took the matter to Tony Stark, requesting the Avengers investigate his death. Stark didn't believe it was an Avengers affair, but Rakim revealed Mason had been working for the CIA, laundering money for the secret police in Volcan Domuyo and running narcotics with the protection of the DEA. Given the powerful entities protecting Mason, Rakim found his death very suspicious, as it suggested there had been a shift of power. Rakim had been unable to get any people of influence to respond to his calls so had finally approached Tony Stark in-person. Stark resented being manipulated by Rakim but agreed to investigate.
(Black Panther III#45) - The plot Rakim started Iron Man on ultimately involved King Solomon's Frogs, which had fallen into the possession of the corporation Xcon and from them, to the White Wolf. Senator Rakim attended a briefing held by Everett K. Ross in which he explained the entire plot to Rakim and other government representatives including Henry Peter Gyrich.
Comments: Created by Christopher Priest and Joe Jusko.
Senator Rakim was a terrific political foe for T'Challa; he wasn't really a bad guy, he even had laudable goals - but he was pretty much a jerk.
This profile was completed 05/06/2022, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Prime Eternal.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Senator Kamal Rakim should not be confused with:
images: (without ads)
Black Panther III#6, page 17, panel 5 (main)
Black Panther III#6, page 14, panel 5 (college)
Black Panther III#6, page 17, panel 7 (face)
Appearances:
Black Panther III#6 (March, 1999) - Christopher Priest (writer), Joe
Jusko (artist), Joe Quesada (editor), Jimmy Palmiotti (editor)
Black Panther III#8 (May, 1999) - Christopher Priest (writer), Joe
Jusko (artist), Joe Quesada (editor), Jimmy Palmiotti (editor)
Black Panther III#41 (April, 2002) - Christopher Priest (writer), Sal
Velluto (penciler), Bob Almond (inker), Mike Marts (editor)
Black Panther III#45 (August, 2002) - Christopher Priest (writer), Sal
Velluto (penciler), Bob Almond (inker), Mike Marts (editor)
First posted: 09/04/2026
Last updated:
09/10/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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