Namor the Sub-Mariner

Namor the Sub-Mariner

Creation & Design

Namor was created by Bill Everett and first appeared in 1939. He was one of the first superheroes in comic book history, combining elements of both heroism and anti-heroism.

Early Years

Namor's early stories often depicted him as a protector of Atlantis, battling surface dwellers who threatened his underwater kingdom. His character was complex, often torn between his Atlantean heritage and his interactions with humans.

Character Development

Over the years, Namor has evolved from a straightforward hero to a more nuanced character, often grappling with moral dilemmas and the consequences of his actions. His relationships with other heroes and his role as a ruler of Atlantis have added depth to his character.

Cultural Reception

Namor has been well-received by fans and critics alike, often praised for his complexity and depth as a character. His stories have explored themes of environmentalism, nationalism, and identity.

Character Details

Real Name:
Namor McKenzie
Aliases:
Sub-Mariner, Prince of Atlantis
Species:
Atlantean
Gender:
male
Affiliations:
Invaders, Avengers, Defenders
Abilities:
Superhuman strength, Underwater breathing, Flight (winged ankles), Hydrokinesis
Equipment:
Trident of Poseidon, Atlantean technology
Weight:
200lbs
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
green
Hair Color:
black
First Funnies Apr 1939

Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1

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1st appearance and origin of Namor the Sub-Mariner
1st appearance of American Ace
1st appearance of the Holy One, later known as Thakorr, a former ruler of Atlantis
Only nine copies are known to exist
This comic was intended to be a giveaway at movie theaters but it never went into full production
Timely Nov 1939

Marvel Comics #1

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1st appearance of the Human Torch, Jim Hammond
2nd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner - 8 pages of the 12-page story reprinted from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
1st appearance of Dorma, Namor's cousin
1st appearance of Ka-Zar, David Rand
1st appearance of Angel, Thomas Halloway, a private detective and vigilante
1st appearance of the Masked Raider, Jim Gardley
1st comic book published by Timely, later becomes Marvel
Retitled Marvel Mystery Comics after this issue
80,000 copies were produced of the first printing with an October 1939 date on the cover
The second printing could be identified by the October 1939 date blacked out, replaced with November 1939
The first printing sold out within a week and was quickly reprinted at a quantity of 800,000, the same as Superman #1
Although published in October, the cover date was changed to have a longer on-sale period at newsstands
💰 In March 2022, a 9.2 known as the Pay Copy due to publisher notations that tracked creator payouts sold for $2.42 million
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3rd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner
2nd appearance and origin of the Human Torch
2nd appearance of American Ace
Marvel Mystery Comics previously titled Marvel Comics
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$4.2K
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4th appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner
3rd appearance of the Human Torch
1st appearance of Betty Dean, an ally of Namor during World War II
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1st cover appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner
1st appearance of Electro, a robot
First depiction of a Nazi flag on a Timely (Marvel) cover
See Top Notch Comics #2 for first Nazi symbol on a comic cover
Timely Sep 1941

Human Torch #5

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Sub-Mariner vs. Human Torch
This is the sixth issue in the series despite indicating #5 on the cover
Timely Sep 1946

All Winners Comics #19

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1st team appearance and origin of the All Winners Squad: Captain America, Bucky, Human Torch, Miss America, Sub-Mariner, Toro, Whizzer
Marvel Sep 1962

Fantastic Four #6

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First team-up of two super-villains in the Marvel Universe, Doctor Doom and Sub-Mariner
2nd appearance of Doctor Doom
2nd appearance of the Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age
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Origin of the Fantastic Four retold
1st appearance of Krang, an Atlantean warlord
1st appearance of Lady Dorma in the Silver Age
Namor finds Atlantis
Marvel Jul 1964

Uncanny X-Men #6

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Namor is confirmed to be a mutant in this issue making him the first mutant to appear in Marvel Comics having been introduced in 1939
3rd team appearance of The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants: Magneto, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Mastermind, Toad
Marvel Aug 1965

Tales to Astonish #70

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Solo stories featuring Namor the Sub-Mariner begin
1st appearance of King Neptune and his trident, a powerful weapon in the Marvel Universe
Marvel Mar 1966

Tales to Astonish #77

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First use of Namor's battle phrase, 'Imperious Rex'
Decades later, when Thor asks Namor the meaning of the phrase, Namor answers, 'It means I’m going to feed your sorry Asgardian hide to the biggest sharks I can find.'
1st appearance of Behemoth, a protector of Atlantis
Marvel Sep 1968

Sub-Mariner #5

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1st appearance and origin of Tiger Shark
1st appearance of Diane Arliss, the wife of Stingray
1st appearance of Doctor Dorcas
Marvel Jan 1969

Sub-Mariner #9

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Helmet of Power revealed to be the Serpent Crown, a vessel of Set's power - appeared as the Helmet of Power in Tales To Astonish #101
1st appearance of King Naga, a Lemurian emperor
Marvel Dec 1969

Avengers, The #71

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Black Knight joins the Avengers
1st unofficial team appearance of the Invaders: Captain America, Human Torch, Sub-Mariner - the team becomes official on the final page of Giant-Size Invaders #1
Marvel Feb 1970

Sub-Mariner #22

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First meeting of Namor and Doctor Strange
Crossover story arc continues from Doctor Strange #183 and concludes in The Incredible Hulk #126, leads to the formation of the Defenders
1st appearance of Nameless One, leader of the Undying Ones, a race of ancient demons
Marvel Jun 1975

Giant-Size Invaders #1

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1st official team appearance of the Invaders: Captain America, Bucky, Sub Mariner, Human Torch, Toro - named on final page
1st appearance of Master Man, a Nazi agent
Origin of the Golden Age Sub-Mariner
Marvel Aug 1975

Invaders #1

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1st team appearance of the Invaders II: Bucky, Captain America, Human Torch, Sub-Mariner, Toro
Marvel Sep 1977

Invaders #20

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1st full appearance of second Union Jack, Brian Falsworth
Backup story reprinting Namor's first appearance from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 (1939)
[October 2021 - Rumor that Union Jack will appear in the MCU]
Marvel Dec 1985

Avengers, The #262

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Namor joins the Avengers, nominated by Captain America
Origin of Captain America retold from Avengers #4 where it was revealed that Namor had caused Steve Rogers to drift into warmer waters after spending decades encapsulated in ice
Marvel Nov 1986

Alpha Flight #40

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Marriage of Namor and Marrina
Specialty border printed on select covers published in November 1986 celebrating Marvel's 25th Anniversary or more precisely, the 25th year since Fantastic Four #1 was published in November 1961
Marvel Jul 1988

Avengers, The #293

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1st appearance of Chairman Kang, leader of the Council of Kangs
1st appearance of Kang of Other Earth
1st full appearance of Kang-Nebula, Ravonna Renslayer
1st cameo appearance of Kang Cobra
1st cameo appearance of Namor and Marrina's children, egg hatchlings
Marvel Jun 2003

Namor #1

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Twelve-issue limited series that explores the origin of Namor the Sub-Mariner beginning in the 1920s
1st appearance of Bobo, Beemer, Queen Korra
TwoMorrows Dec 2009

Jack Kirby Collector, The #54

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Cover art depicts Namor in the foreground and a frozen Steve Rogers in the background as told in the origin of Captain America in Avengers #4 (1963)
Interior article, part two of The Magic of Lee and Kirby
Marvel Feb 2018

X-Men: Red #1

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1st cameo appearance of Trinary
1st appearance of a new X-Men Team led by Jean Grey: Laura Kinney, Nightcrawler, Gentle, Trinary, Honey Badger and Namor
Marvel Oct 2018 Vol 8

Avengers #9

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Death of Stingray
1st team appearance of Namor's Defenders of the Deep: Tiger Shark, King Crab, Orka, Andromeda, Bloodtide, Manowar, Piranhas, Echidna

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