Who is Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
No, Namor is not just any answer of the MCU to DCU’s Aquaman, in fact, he is way older than Aquaman and all the other Marvel characters in the comics. It’s really a question as to why Namor would just debut in the MCU now in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, when he is that old! Given life in the big screens by Tenoch Huerta, Namor the Sub-Mariner is expected to be the villain of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and he poses a war to the nation in the midst of their loss of T’Challa but why did he appear just now? Let’s start with who he is first. Namor the Sub-Mariner first appeared in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly months before the release of his official debut in Timely Comics’ Marvel Comics #1 in 1939 with Human Torch. He is half-human, half-Atlantean who will do everything in his power to protect their kingdom.
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What Are The Powers of Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
Namor lives under the sea in his kingdom, walks on land, and even flies in the air! He controls the elements, has telepathy when underwater, could manipulate water, too, and he has superhuman abilities of strength, durability, agility, and reflexes which makes him a formidable combatant. As for his MCU debut in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, he will not be from Atlantis but from Talocan, an underwater colony, and his appearance may have been triggered by an undersea earthquake which Okoye mentioned in Endgame. Seen in various trailers, Namor dons a colorful headpiece with various piercings on his body, and he wants to make sure that Wakanda is an ally or not. Also, as M’Baku mentioned, Namor is intricately connected to vibranium.
Warning: This portion contains spoilers for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Read at your own risk!
Is Namor Really Evil in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
Well, Namor’s not usually an outright villain like in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, he is a hero at times but he has some villainous traits like his temper and arrogance, which is why he is more of an anti-hero who would destroy anything on his way to reach his goals. Just like any other ruler, Namor only wants the protection of his kind in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. See, when T’Challa revealed to the world how powerful vibranium is, various nations went through expeditions around the world to look for it. When everyone in Wakanda thought that vibranium only exists there, that is where they are wrong. It also exists at some part of the Atlantic Ocean, that is where the Talocan tribe is located, away from the prying eyes of the world and living peacefully within their own nation. The US government stumbled upon their vibranium and they fought back for what is theirs, isn’t that how it is supposed to be? Well, Namor sought the help of Wakanda to strike on everyone on the surface but that didn’t sit well with the Wakandans.
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What is the Origin of Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
In Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Namor revealed his story to Shuri. Old as time, dating back to 1571, Namor shared that their people are suffering because of diseases and war from the Spanish conquistadors, so they prayed to Chaak, their Mayan god for protection, They found a flower, glowing under the sea, and it turns out to be a plant growing from vibranium itself. Namor’s mother was pregnant then, and she drank it, thus, Namor became the first being to be able to breathe in both water and land. For years, Namor became the protector of the Talocan tribe and they haven’t resurfaced until the CIA stumbled upon their vibranium. His people call him K’uk’ulkan, the Serpent god as per M’Baku, and they worship him like how the Wakandans do with Black Panther.
Is Namor a Mutant in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
As he personally confirmed to Shuri, Namor is a mutant. He became like that when his mother, a human, drank a potion from the glowing flower found on vibranium. He became a mutant being able to breathe both under water and on land. As Shuri and Riri deduced, Namor’s way of breathing is different. He didn’t need oxygen from the air above, he takes the oxygen from water, into his skin, and that becomes what he breathes, allowing him to live in both environment. Also, Namor has wings on his ankles allowing him to fly. However, Shuri cut it off during their final battle. Still, in the end, Shuri and Namor had a truce, Wakanda would keep them a secret and protect them in exchange for the peace that the Talocan wouldn’t strike on the nation.
Why is He Named Namor in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever?
Following the death of his mother, Namor brought his mother back to the place where she came from as her dying wish is to be buried with their ancestors. However, when they arrived, they saw the cruelty of the Spanish conquistadors to the people, thus, Namor retaliated. Namor and the Talocans killed the conquistadors and upon burying his mother, one Spaniard dying called Namor, “El niño sin amor,” thus, he took on the name Namor. Are you excited for Namor’s official MCU debut? Catch him in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, now in theaters!
