Issue 159 - Namor Capes On the Couch - Where Comics Get Counseling

Before he makes his big screen debut in Wakanda Forever, we take a deep dive on NAMOR! To what depths does his distrust of the surface world go?




Intro New patron: Citizen Amar-Kareem



Background (4:55) Namor Mckenzie, the Sub-Mariner, created by Bill Everett in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly (April 1939) and Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939)

Namor was born from a human father, sea captain Leonard McKenzie, and an Atlantean, Fen, daughter of Emperor Thakorr

His unique parentage gave him both strengths and weaknesses that other Atlanteans did not possess: he is pink skinned like humans as opposed to the blue skin of pureblood Atlanteans, but he cannot survive in water or on land for prolonged periods of time, or it will impact his psyche

Initially Namor was, if not a full villain, at best an antihero or well-intentioned extremist, attacking Americans in the name of protecting Atlantis and the ocean

Once WWII started, he joined other heroes in attacking Nazis

After WWII, he suffered an amnesiac attack, and once he recovered, he joined Professor Xavier in searching for mutants - Xavier’s attempt at repairing his memories, however, created further issues in Namor’s mind, and gave him bipolar disorder

He was later found wandering the streets of New York as an amnesiac vagrant - upon learning that Atlantis was destroyed by nuclear bombs, his memories returned and he vowed revenge on the surface world, pitting him against the Fantastic Four numerous times

He would attempt several times to woo Susan Storm away from Reed, but although Sue admits an attraction to Namor, she remains loyal to her husband

He married twice - his first wife Dorma was killed shortly after the wedding by an evil mermaid, and his second wife Marrina was driven mad, and Namor was forced to kill her with the Ebony Blade - she survived, and Norman Osborn altered her DNA to turn her into a raging beast as part of his revenge on Namor, who killed her once again #BecauseComics

In the 90s, he searches for sunken treasures and uses the money to finance a corporation that focuses on conservation

He is a member of the Illuminati, and notably the only one opposed to sending the Hulk into space, as he foresaw dire consequences should Bruce return - he was the only one who Bruce didn’t seek vengeance upon when Hulk came back

Due to his mutant abilities, he formally joins the X-Men, and is one of the Phoenix Five during AvX, but is the first one to be defeated and lose his Phoenix Force powers

Namor is killed by the Squadron Supreme in retaliation for his numerous attacks on Earth and other worlds, but this is undone by time travel after the team realized Namor’s murder would lead to global destruction

Fights the Agents of Atlas after Atlantis’ guardian dragon is stolen - after some battling, Namor & the agents come to an understanding, and then team up against the King in Black




Issues - born of two worlds, welcome in neither Mixed parentage creates hostility

Unique physiology leads to bipolar disorder, or at least manic/depressive swings

Zealotry for Atlanteans leads to issues with both his people as well as surface dwellers



Break Plugs for Last Sons of Krypton, Cheers to Comics, and Meghan Fitzmartin



Treatment In-universe - 

Out of universe - Mixed race parentage



Skit Hello Namor, I’m Dr. Issues. - I am King Namor, ruler of Atlantis. I am not one of your colleagues, we are not fraternizing over a beverage. You will address me accordingly.

My apologies, your majesty…your highness…your Atlantean Majestic highness? I’m bad at this. -I gave you one job and yet you have failed. But I am a forgiving ruler, so you will get one more chance.

Thank you, King Namo…wait, you don’t rule me! -That is not the point. As long as you show the proper respect, and the appropr