Marvel Explained: Who is Namor, the Proud Prince of Atlantis?
Finally, Namor the Sub-Mariner is joining the MCU! While we wait for ‘Wakanda Forever’ to hit theaters, let’s do a deep dive on Prince Namor.
Meet Marvel’s First Mutant
Namor was actually one of Marvel’s very first characters, created by writer and artist Bill Everett in 1939. Like “fire and water,” he was imagined as a compelling counterpart to the original Human Torch. Technically Apocalypse is the oldest mutant, but Namor was the first. Those wings on his ankles that let him fly? They’re a mutation. Namor has a bonafide X-gene and has allied himself with the X-Men on many occasions.
The prince of Atlantis was the son of Fen, an Atlantean Princess who had fallen in love with sea captain Leonard McKenzie. The two were married, then torn apart by their own peoples. Princess Fen was taken back to Atlantis, where she gave birth to a pink ‘lil baby Namor!
Growing up as Atlantean royalty, he believed it was his purpose to defend Atlantis against the many damages done to them by the surface-dwellers. One of his first major battles was against the Human Torch, who had to save the island of Manhattan from Namor’s wrath in the form of a giant tidal wave.
The Invaders
In 1940, Namor is persuaded to fight for the Allied cause. Together, Namor, Captain America, the Human Torch, and Bucky Barnes were fighting the Nazi invasion as The Invaders. Namor continued to appear in his own title and various team-ups through the 50s and comic book sales declined and the title was canceled.
In the early 1960s, Namor was brought back into the comics after a war injury. Found by the new Human Torch, Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four, the Atlantean prince had forgotten his own identity. But once he’s returned to the water, his memory is revived, and he discovers an Atlantis that’s been ruined by humanity’s nuclear experimentations.
It’s the recurring theme of any Namor story, the wrath of the ocean. While his choices often seem extreme and a little erratic, his motivations are understandable. Namor holds a lot of firsts in the Marvel comics universe, and among those is the title of ‘anti-hero’.
Namor’s Powers
The Prince of Atlantis has the usual super-guy lineup of powers: superhuman strength, speed, agility, and endurance. But being half Atlantean, he can also withstand extreme underwater pressure, breathe underwater, and see extremely well underwater.
Yes, he can even telepathically communicate with all ocean life, including his fellow Atlanteans. He’s got lots of sunken treasure that he can easily turn into cash, plenty of ancient magical artifacts, advanced Atlantean technology, and probably the necklace that lady dropped into the ocean at the end of Titanic.
He can also fly using small wings on either side of his ankles. That power comes from his lineage as a mutant.
Namor Joins the MCU
This November, Tenoch Huerta is joining the MCU as Namor in Wakanda Forever. In the comics, T’Challa and the King of Atlantis have a frienemy relationship that makes Cap and Tony look like Frog & Toad. It’s likely that during this time of political upheaval for Wakanda. Namor will be stirring up some trouble on the coasts of the country.
This Namor will be the prince of a Mesoamerican nation that sunk into the sea rather than the Greek nation. Huerta’s iteration of the character will reflect those cultural influences. It’s an incredible new way for fans to interact with the character.
What’s your favorite Namor moment from the comics?
