Namor

Latest revision as of 05:21, 10 February 2025

Namor the Sub-Mariner in Avengers v8 #9.

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

Biography

Origin

Prince Namor in Marvel Mystery Comics v1 #4.

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)

Atlantis temporarily relocated to a colony in the Pacific Ocean when Namor was a boy. One summer when he was young, Namor surfaced and played with a 'dry girl' called Sandra Pierce on the beaches of California. It was a wonderful afternoon both would remember for years to come. (Namor v1 #1) When he was sixteen, Namor and his cousin Bobo were apprenticing with the Tri-Team, trident wielding Atlanteans who protected the Neptune Net by which King Thakorr fished for the entire colony. Bobo's older brother Beemer was already a full member of the Tri-Team, and often picked on his brother and on Namor for being a 'pink-belly'. Namor convinced Bobo to put on a gill-scarf and go with him to pick up dry girls on land. He crossed paths with Sandy again, now a teenager herself. She and Namor were quickly smitten with each other and she brought Namor as her guest to a fancy mixer at the beach club. Namor shared his secrets with Sandy, telling her not only that he was a water-breathing prince of Atlantis, but also about feeling different as the only true amphibian among his people. (Namor v1 #3) Namor soon invited Sandy to visit him in Atlantis, using special breathing worms. While Bobo got to know Sandy's friend Liz, Namor brought Sandra all the way down to the ocean floor. They came back several times, and Sandra got to know Namor's family at his cousin's birthday party. Despite Beemer and his mother Zarina's attitudes, Sandy was welcomed by the royal family, and she and Namor continued to grow closer. (Namor v1 #5) Matters became more complicated when Sandy brought Namor to meet her parents. Atlantis was dealing with oil deposits seeping through from underneath the rock, polluting the waters. Sandy recognized the substance, but didn't say anything to the confused Atlanteans. However, her father found a splotch of oil on her clothes when she resurfaced, and saw the chance for profit. Despite the Great Depression going on, Mr. Pierce sank his funds into searching for the oil reservoir, and began racking up significant debt. When workers came to collect their back pay during dinner with Namor, the sea prince stood up for Henry Pierce against his employees. Realizing how desperately Pierce needed it, Namor offered to moderate a deal between Henry and Atlantis. He spoke to Thakorr and Korra and explained how Henry wanted to siphon away the 'black stuff' and encouraged the king and queen to consider strengthening ties with the surface world this way. Sandy was concerned about allowing drilling in Atlantis, but Namor did not see any harm. (Namor v1 #6)

Sub-Mariner

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)

Defenders

Oracle, Inc.

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)

Civil War

Dark Reign

X-Men

Last King of Atlantis

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)

Namor was shown to be a deeply prideful individual who resented asking help from those he considers weaker than him. (Namor: The First Mutant v1 #2) He had a standoffish and combative demeanor, even towards allies, often demanding and threatening rather than asking or requesting. (New Avengers: Illuminati v1 #1)

For all his flaws however, Namor possesses noble qualities in equal measure. He will always side with the few and downtrodden against the many and powerful. (Uncanny X-Men v2 #11) He has a strong sense of right and wrong, and is willing to fight against injustice, even if it turns him against his allies. (New Avengers: Illuminati 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)

He had shown himself to be quite cosmopolitan and open in his tastes, even engaging in sexual relationships with distinctly non-humanoid partners. (Uncanny X-Men v2 #8)

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)

At one point, he declared the seas off-limits to surface dwellers and established a team of superhuman aquatic beings to help enforce this policy. This saw him being the leader of the Defenders of the Deep as they ruthlessly struck at any incursion into the ocean. (Avengers v8 #9)

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)

Alternate Versions

• In X-Universe v1 #1 (1995), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the Age of Apocalypse reality that was designated as Earth-295 in the Multiverse.
• In A-Next v1 #3 (1998), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the Marvel Comics 2 reality that was designated as Earth-982 in the Multiverse.
• In Ultimate Fantastic Four v1 #24 (2005), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the Ultimate Marvel reality that was designated as Earth-1610 in the Multiverse.
• In Secrets of the House of M v1 #1 (2005), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the House of M reality that was designated as Earth-58163 in the Multiverse.
• In Marvel 1602: Fantastick Four v1 #4 (2006), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the Marvel 1602 reality that was designated as Earth-311 in the Multiverse. This version was named Numenor who was the Emperor of Bensaylum, the 'city of the gods' beyond the edge of the world.
• In Iron Man Noir v1 #2 (2010), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the [[Marvel Noir] reality that was designated as Earth-90214 in the Multiverse.
• In Thanos Imperative v1 #1 (2010), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the [[Cancerverse] reality that was designated as Earth-10011 in the Multiverse.
• In Age of X: Alpha v1 #1 (2011), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the Age of X reality that was designated as Earth-11326 in the Multiverse.
• In Age of Ultron v1 #2 (2013), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the Age of Ultron reality that was designated as Earth-61112 in the Multiverse.
• In Dark Ages v1 #1 (2021), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the new Dark Ages reality that was designated as Earth-80763 in the Multiverse.
• In Heroes Reborn v2 #6 (2021), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the new Heroes Reborn reality that was designated as Earth-21798 in the Multiverse.
• In Maestro: World War M v1 #1 (2022), an alternate version of Namor appeared in the Future Imperfect reality that was designated as Earth-9200 in the Multiverse.

In other media

Television

• In The Marvel Super Heroes, Namor appeared in the setting of the animated television series during the Namor segments where he was voiced by actor John Vernon.
• In Fantastic Four, a character based on Namor named Prince Triton appeared in the setting of the 1967 animated television series where he was voiced by actor Mike Road.
• 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 The Avengers: United They Stand, Namor appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "To Rule Atlantis" where he was voiced by actor Raoul Trujillo.
• 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.

Films

• In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Namor appeared in the setting of the 2022 live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was portrayed by actor Tenoch Huerta Mejía.

Video games

• In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Namor appeared as an NPC in the setting of the video game.
• In Marvel Contest of Heroes, Namor appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
• 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.
• In Marvel Super War, Namor appeared as a playable character in the setting of the MOBA video game.
• In Marvel Rivals, Namor appeared as a playable character in the setting of the third person hero shooter where he was voiced by actor Daniel Marin.

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)
• Namor:

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

This article is a stub. You can help Multiversal Omnipedia by expanding it.