Ulysses Klaue (Marvel Cinematic Universe)


 *  NOTE: This article is about the incarnation of Ulysses Klaue from the Marvel Cinematic film series. The mainstream version can be found here: Klaw (Marvel). 

"I only deal with the man in charge..."

- Klaw

"Ah, and to think I saw you as a crazy American."

- Klaue's last words before his death.

Ulysses Klaue is a major antagonist of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He serves as a minor antagonist in the 2015 film Avengers: Age of Ultron and the secondary antagonist of the 2018 film Black Panther.

He was portrayed by Andy Serkis, who also played Gollum in The Lords of the Rings film franchise, Capricorn in Inkheart and Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars movie franchise.

Personality
"So if you're going to fiddle with my brain and make me see a giant cuttlefish, then I know you don't do business and I know you're not in charge, and I only deal with the man in charge."

- Klaue to Wanda Maximoff, describing himself. Ulysses Klaue is a manipulative, deceitful, greedy and horrifyingly ruthless individual. He commits murder and mayhem with glee and commands his army of henchmen with an iron fist. He claims to be terrified of cuttlefish, though this may just be part of his taunting Wanda Maximoff.

Klaue is a nefarious black market arms dealer, smuggler, and gangster who operates out of South Africa. He is obsessed with gaining Vibranium metal at any cost and has successfully stolen it from Wakanda once.

Klaue is known to Tony Stark from the Stark Industries' time as weapons dealer. After a run-in with Ultron that results in the loss of his arm, Klaue comes into conflict once again with Wakanda through his partnership with Wakandan exile Erik Killmonger.

Early Life
Nothing is known about Klaue's early life other than that he was born in South Africa. It is, however, known that before the events of Age of Ultron, he successfully stole a large quantity of vibranium from Wakanda. He escapes alive but scarred, becoming one of the few people outside of Wakanda who knows the truth of the country's wealth and technological advancement.

Deal with Ultron
In Age of Ultron, Klaue is first shown talking with an associate, whom he threatens to kill. As he takes a second call, the lights go out and Klaue, who has picked up a gun, is disarmed by Quicksilver. Klaue recognizes the Maximoffs and, after toying with them dismissively, demands to speak to "the man in charge."

The one in charge is Ultron, who pays Klaue several billion dollars for vibranium. But this relationship quickly sours: Ultron says something Klaue recognizes from Tony Stark and accuses Ultron of being "one of his." This enrages Ultron, who cuts of Klaue's arm, then apologizes while kicking Klaw down a flight of stairs. Klaue manages to escape with his life when the Avengers interrupt Ultron's monologuing.

Teaming with Killmonger
Some time later, Klaue reappears working with Erik Killmonger to steal artifacts from a museum in London. He gleefully kills multiple people during the heist and reveals what he calls "just a taste" of the power of his prosthetic hand.

In Wakanda, T'Challa and the Wakandan Council discuss the theft and Klaue's history with Wakanda. We find out that the last time Klaue was in Wakanda—some 30 years prior—he killed many people, including the family of W'Kabi (the head of Wakanda's Border Tribe and best friend to T'Challa). T'Challa plans to apprehend Klaue at an underground gambling establishment in Korea, where Klaue will be selling vibranium to an unknown buyer. W'Kabi blames T'Challa's father T'Chaka for not bringing Klaue to justice long ago and exacts a promise from T'Challa: kill Klaue on sight or bring him back to Wakanda as his father failed to do.

T'challa, Nakia, and Okoye (with Shuri assisting remotely) arrive at the club and find that the mysterious buyer is CIA agent Everett Ross. A chaotic firefight ensues, Klaue and his henchmen escape with T'Challa and the others in pursuit. After a road chase in which the powerful sonic cannon in Klaue's prosthesis temporarily gives him the upper hand, Klaue is eventually taken into Ross's custody.

Klaue glibly mocks Ross during his interrogation and reveals the true nature of Wakanda. Before Ross has much of a chance to question T'Challa about Klaue's claims, Nakia runs in with a warning that something is up out back. Just then, Killmonger, Linbani and Linda blow through the wall and free Klaue. But this relationship also sours quickly: Killmonger wants to go to Wakanda after killing Linbani, so Klaue takes Linda hostage, using her as a human shield. Killmonger assures Linda that everything will be fine, but kills her with no hesitation or remorse. After a bit of a gunfight, Killmonger fatally shoots Klaue, who was at a disadvantage with only one arm.

Klaue sneers at Killmonger's supposed stupidity for wanting to go to Wakanda, showing him a brand they gave him while he was there as a sign of what happens to outsiders and asks Killmonger what makes him think he can get in. Killmonger shows him the hidden markings under his lips (his true name, N'Jadaka), revealing that he is the son of Prince N'Jobu, the very same Wakandan who was in league with Klaue before his death. Realizing this, Klaue simply finds it amusing to be played by someone he thought to be "...just some crazy American", and laughs maniacally before Killmonger kills him with another shot. Killmonger brings Klaue's body to Wakanda and delivers it to W'Kabi in order to be allowed to enter the country as part of his plan to overthrow T'Challa.

Abilities
Klaue had possessed many abilities, such as:
 * Cleverness: Klaue manages to sneak into Wakanda, and seems to have a knack for escaping dangerous situations and evading capture.
 * Physical Strength: Though not shown to be enhanced, Klaue is a strong and capable combatant.
 * Firearm Skills: Fittingly for an arms dealer, Klaue seems comfortable and skilled in a shootout.
 * Vast Resources: Klaue has amassed a considerable amount of wealth and an army of henchmen as a black market arms dealer.
 * Expert Assassin: He is an incredibly skilled individual at executing assassinations when getting paid.

Weapons

 * Beretta 90Two: This gun was Klaue's weapon of choice in Avengers: Age of Ultron and he used it as his own personal sidearm.
 * Salient Arms International Glock 17: Klaue used this custom Glock as his sidearm in Black Panther.
 * SIG Sauer P226R: In Black Panther Klaue used this pistol during his confrontation with Agent Everett Ross in South Korea.
 * Sonic cannon: After losing his arm in Age of Ultron, Klaue has a prosthetic one outfitted with a sonic weapon of varying intensity.

Family

 * Great Grandfather †

Allies

 * Intelligencia - Former Employers
 * Baron Wolfgang von Strucker † - Acquaintance
 * N’Jobu † - Ally
 * Klaue's Army † - Subordinates
 * Klaue's Mercenaries † - Subordinates and Right-Hand
 * Erik Killmonger † - Employer and Killer

Enemies

 * T'Challa - Archenemy
 * T'Chaka † - Former Target
 * Ultron †
 * Quicksilver †
 * Scarlet Witch
 * The Avengers
 * Steve Rogers/Captain America
 * Tony Stark/Iron Man - Former Acquaintance
 * Thor
 * Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
 * Clint Barton/Hawkeye

Quotes
"Klaue: Shoot them! Mercenary: Which ones? Klaue: ALL OF THEM!!"

- Klaue's ordering his mercenaries to kill both Ultron and the Avengers before escaping.

"Ultron: Upon this rock, I will build my church. Vibranium. Klaue: You know, it came at great personal cost. It’s worth billions... Ultron: Now, so are you. It’s all under your...dummy holdings? Finance is so weird. But I always say, "Keep your friends rich and your enemies rich, and wait to find out which is which.""

- Ultron and Klaue discussing on their deal.

Trivia

 * In the comics, Klaue (also known as Klaw) was once a chemist and a scientist and not a criminal.
 * In the comics, Klaue was T'Chaka's killer. However, in the MCU, it was Helmut Zemo who caused the king's death.
 * All the Phase 2 movies featured a scene where someone loses an arm or hand, in reference to Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. In Age of Ultron, that someone is Klaue. Those Star Wars references are Kevin Feige's ideas, as he himself is a fan of Star Wars.
 * Klaue claims to be terrified of cuttlefish.
 * Klaue is the number one enemy of Wakanda throughout the first half of Black Panther (and consequently most of the MCU up to that point), being the first ever to smuggle Vibranium, damage their property and cause casualties and get away with it, and Erik Killmonger is still working with him and keeping a low profile at the beginning of the film, after which he kills his partner and ends up taking the throne as a result.

Navigation
Ulysses Klaue Ulysses Klaue (Marvel Cinematic Universe)