Namor

Namor the Sub-Mariner in Avengers v8 #9.

Namor is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.

Biography

Origin

Namor McKenzie was a human-Atlantean hybrid born the son of a human sailor named Leonard McKenzie and an Altantean Princess named Fen. His parents were said to had met in 1920 when his father was part of scientific expedition launching from America. Under Captain McKenzie, the ship reached a position above the ice where they dropped charges into the water as they began their scientific investigation. Unknown to them, they were above the Atlantean city where their explosion charges killed many of the natives. The Princess Fen was tasked with infiltrating the human ship and finding their secrets where upon arriving on it she was found shivering in the hold. She was brought before Captain McKenzie who mistook her for a human who suffering from the cold and attempted to warm her up as well as care for her. In their time together, Fen and Leonard McKenzie grew to understand one another as they fell in love with them marrying under human custom. During this entire time, Fen reported back to her people that they could not win against the humans. However, the King dispatched his forces against them where only a handful managed to survive battle. Meanwhile, Princess Fen came to be pregnant where she gave birth to her son Namor who was raised among the Atlanteans for the purpose of getting their revenge against the surface dwelling humans. (Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1 #1)

Growing up, Namor's constant playmate was King Thakkor's step-son Byrrah who regularly envied peoples favour over Namor, and mocked the prince's mixed heritage. One day while playing above the surface, Namor became trapped above the ice, while Byrrah and the other children fled. Fearing that he would suffocate after a prolonged period out of the water, Namor was soon rescued by a group of Atlanteans led by his mother some 15 hours later. To their surprise Namor was alive and well and they discovered that the boy could breath out of the water for an indefinite period of time. (Sub-Mariner Comics v1 #35) Days later while there was a storm raging on the surface, Namor accepted a dare from Byrrah to go above and brave the elements without fear. On the surface Namor was attacked by a pack of wild dogs left behind by a previous Antarctic expedition and managed to fight them off alone before returning home, discovering that he was more invulnerable to harm than the average Atlantean. (Sub-Mariner Comics v1 #36)

Around this time, the people of Atlantis relocated and began building a new kingdom near the Pacific Northwest. Within close proximity to humans, Namor became curious and began to venture to the surface. Along a beach he became friends with a young girl named Sandy Pierce, the daughter of Henry Pierce , a wealthy business man. Back home, Namor had aspirations to become part of his grandfathers Tri-Team that protected his people from sharks and other threats when they went on massive fish hunts. (Namor v1 #1) At 12 years old, Namor and his mother explored the remains of the USS Byrd. Followed by Byrrah, who had once more grown jealous of Namor attempted to pin his rival under one of the ships booms. However, he instead pinned Fen and found himself locked in one of the ships cabins. Namor surprised everyone when he was able to remove the 1200 pound boom off his mother and was able to rip the door free, saving Byrrah's life. In the process Namor learned he has super-human strength. (Sub-Mariner Comics v1 #37) At age 14, Namor and his mother took a trip to the Antarctic region to explore the surface during the warmer season. When the ice floe they were on split open both he and Fen fell into the crack. While Fen fell to the bottom and broke her leg, Namor was surprised when tiny wings grew out of his ankles enabling him to fly. With his new ability he was able to rescue his mother and bring her back to Atlantis for medical attention. (Sub-Mariner Comics v1 #38)

Soon Namor was introduced to his cousin Namora who was named after him. The young Namor was not interested in meeting a girl and went out playing with Byrrah and the other boys, snubbing her. Namora decided to teach Namor a lesson in humility when the boys went to go play in a sunken submarine. When Namor began playing in the torpedo tube, she blocked off the end of the tube and eventually Namor was trapped inside. While Byrrah and the others fled, Namora used her considerable strength to rescue her cousin. The two apologized to each other and formed a strong friendship thereafter that endured for decades.[13] After, Namor, Namora and Byrrah went to explore the abandoned Antarctic research town of "Little America". When Namora accidentally started a fire, trapping herself in one of the cabins, Namor came to her rescue. Having never experienced fire before, Namor was taken aback, but soon realized that contact with water revitalized his strength and he was able to save Namora from the flames. (Sub-Mariner Comics v1 #40) Soon Namor was introduced to his cousin Namora who was named after him. The young Namor was not interested in meeting a girl and went out playing with Byrrah and the other boys, snubbing her. Namora decided to teach Namor a lesson in humility when the boys went to go play in a sunken submarine. When Namor began playing in the torpedo tube, she blocked off the end of the tube and eventually Namor was trapped inside. While Byrrah and the others fled, Namora used her considerable strength to rescue her cousin. The two apologized to each other and formed a strong friendship thereafter that endured for decades. (Sub-Mariner Comics v1 #39) After, Namor, Namora and Byrrah went to explore the abandoned Antarctic research town of "Little America". When Namora accidentally started a fire, trapping herself in one of the cabins, Namor came to her rescue. Having never experienced fire before, Namor was taken aback, but soon realized that contact with water revitalized his strength and he was able to save Namora from the flames. (Sub-Mariner Comics v1 #40)

When he was 16 years old, Namor regularly hung out with his cousin Bobo in the Atlantean colony near Washington State. He took up surfing along the Pacific Northwest. One day while helping in a massive sea hunt, Namor and Bobo came to the rescue of some children threatened by a shark. (Namor v1 #1) After saving the children both Namor and Bobo were commended while the Tri-Team, who failed in their task were punished by Queen Korra and given fish gutting duty. This earned Namor the ire of his cousin Beemer a headstrong member of the Tri-Team who did not believe Namor deserved his position of power. Namor returned to the surface later that day and reunited with Sandy Pierce. The two reconnected and she eventually learned of Namor's heritage and invited him to a Memorial Day mixer, an invitation that Namor accepted. (Namor v1 #2)

During these years, he admired Atlantis's own champions that were the Swift Tide that were at the city who were negotiating an alliance with the Chasm People. (King in Black: Namor v1 #1)

After defeating some raiders, he was informed about the nature of their mission which was to find the long lost Unforgotten Stone. This mystical relic was a key to a prison containing the Great Old Ones who once long ago ruled the seas until they were defeated by the Atlanteans. Thus, the Swift Tide was tasked with ensuring the relic was not used to open the seal containing the great threat. In reality, the stone was uncovered by humans who thought it a source of great power but their experiments opened a doorway into the evil within it. This dark energy spilled into the water as the Swift Tide entered the scene where they managed to push Namor, Attuma and Dorma to safety but were themselves consumed by it. This saw them transformed into dark denizens of the Great Old Ones where they came to serve their new masters. (King in Black: Namor v1 #2)

Fantastic Four

Once Sebastian Shaw was in search of a new person for the title of the White King of the Hellfire Club. He hosted a party to which he invited the most influential men in the world and tried to decide who would be the best fit for this position. Rejecting the candidacy of Tony Stark, he chose Namor, and invited him to join the Club. Namor contemptuously rejected the proposal, saying that if Sebastian once again dared to waste his time on such a minor thing, he would kill him. This drove Shaw into a frenzy, so he ordered Emma Frost to force Namor to join the Club, no matter what the cost. A few days later, she faked a suicide attempt by jumping overboard a yacht to attract Namor's attention. He rescued her and they spent two weeks together in Atlantis. Shaw, however, tired of waiting for news from Emma, and thinking that Namor killed or captured her, decided to send the Sentinels for her. The Sentinels attacked Namor and Emma and caused damage to Atlantis, and Namor took this as a declaration of war. Finding where the Sentinels came from, Namor, along with Emma, went there and clashed with Shaw, Donald Pierce, and Tessa. Tessa mind-wiped Emma to erase the memories of her betrayal and make her loyal to the Club again. Surrounded by two telepaths, Shaw explained to Namor that he would never get close enough to kill him. Namor left but vowed to take revenge one day. (Uncanny X-Men Annual v2 #2)

Later on, Namor, flying near the Savage Land, spotted Magneto lying unconscious near a volcanic eruption. He picked Magneto up and brought him to Atlantis to recuperate. Namor then left Atlantis to join the Fantastic Four on a mission and returned to find that Magneto had usurped his throne. The Fantastic Four and Namor made short work of Magneto, and Namor regained his kingdom. (Fantastic Four v1 #104)

Illuminati

Following the events of the Kree-Skrull War, Iron Man called a meeting of several of the world's most influential superhumans: Namor, Reed Richards, Professor X, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt, and Black Panther. Iron Man had realized that each of those present had pieces of vital information that if put together could have prevented Earth nearly falling victim to the conflict between the Kree and Skrulls, and wished for them to create a united organisation gathering every superhero on Earth under one banner. Namor objected to this idea, pointing out that Iron Man and the other heroes could not even control their current groups, and that shining a spotlight on all of their dirty business would be foolish. Instead, the group, with the exception of Black Panther, agreed to meet privately to discuss threats and events of great importance. At Namor's insistence, they agreed to keep their meetings a secret. (New Avengers: Illuminati v1 #1)

Overview

Personality and attributes

He came to be known by the title of the Avenging Son. (Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1 #1) Other titles he was known by included being the Prince of Atlantis, the Emperor of the Deep, the Lord of the Seven Seas, the Supreme Commander of the Undersea Legions, and the Lord of the Undersea World. (Fantastic Four Annual v1 #1)

He was said to be a youth of dynamic personality who was quick in thought and fast in action. (Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1 #1)

His mother had taught him that surface Earthmen were a cruel people that nearly exterminated their race. (Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1 #1)

Powers and abilities

He was described as being an ultra-man of the deep who was capable of living on land or in the sea whilst also having the power of flight. (Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1 #1)

Like some fish, he as able to navigate by sensing faint electrical currents within the water. (Namor: The Best Defense v1 #1)

It was said that he had the strength of a thousand men. (Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1 #1)

At one point, he claimed to have had all the powers of the creatures in the sea. Namor said that he could charge the air with electricity using the power of an electric eel and use the radar sense of a cave fish from the lowest depths to see invisible foes. (Fantastic Four v1 #9)

The trumpet-horn wielded by his ancestors was capable of rousing slumber aquatic beasts like Giganto. (Fantastic Four v1 #4)

Notes

• Namor the Sub-Mariner was created by Bill Everett where he made his first appearance in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1 #1 (April, 1939)

In other media

Television

• In Spider-Man, Namor appeared in the setting of the 1981 animated television series in the episode "Wrath of the Sub-Mariner" where he was voiced by actor Vic Perrin.
• In Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, Namor appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "7 Little Superheroes" where he was voiced by actor William Woodson.
• In Fantastic Four, Namor appeared in the setting of the 1994 animated television series in the episode "Now Comes the Sub-Mariner" where he was voiced by actor James Warwick
• In Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, Namor appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episodes "Imperious Rex" and "Atlantis Attacks" where he was voiced by actor Michael Adamthwaite.

Video games

• In Marvel Strike Force, Namor appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
• In Marvel: Future Fight, Namor appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.

Appearances

• Motion Picture Funnies Weekly v1: (1939)
• Fantastic Four v1:
• Namor the Sub-Mariner v1:
• New Avengers v3:
• Uncanny X-Men v2:
• Avengers v8:
• King in Black: Namor v1: (2020)

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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