‘Killmonger Locs’ Are Everywhere in Video Games. This Artist Is Sick of It

The hairstyle popularized by the Black Panther villain Erik Killmonger has become a ubiquitous default for Black characters in video games. Industry experts and artists argue that this trend persists largely because the style is technically easier for developers to render and animate compared to more complex, authentic Black hairstyles. Danielle Udogaranya, a prominent artist and advocate, is actively challenging this industry standard. She argues that the over-reliance on this specific look contributes to a lack of representation and perpetuates lazy design practices that fail to honor the diversity of Black hair textures and styles. By pushing for more sophisticated character customization tools and better technical support for diverse hair assets, Udogaranya aims to force game developers to move beyond these limited defaults and provide more inclusive, accurate, and respectful representations of Black characters in modern gaming.