Namor

[We R. Venom]

What is hell is up with Namor. One of the most powerful characters in all of marvel. I know he's got his own comic, but what is the deal. why wont someone use him in something other as well.

[Dermie]

What is hell is up with Namor. One of the most powerful characters in all of marvel. I know he's got his own comic, but what is the deal. why wont someone use him in something other as well.

Actually, Namor does NOT have his own comic at the moment (although that will likely change as his movie gets closer). He is a regular cast member in the NEW INVADERS series, as well as making a number of guest appearances in AVENGERS this past year, and he is currently guest starring in NEW THUNDERBOLTS.

[Titanium]

There was talk about some sort of Atlantis crossover event this year, like a war, but I haven't seen anything about that for a while.

[We R. Venom]

thanks guys, all questions answered

[sepia]

Yes, it's a shame how they handle Marvel's first hero.

Namor Vol. II had been a failure.

As a fan of the Sub-Mariner I can't recommend the New Invaders – C. P. Smith simply can't draw him, he looks horrible.

Namor also appears in the New Thunderbolts # 2 and 3. I saw an online-preview, it looked great.

[Dermie]

There was talk about some sort of Atlantis crossover event this year, like a war, but I haven't seen anything about that for a while.

It was cancelled when Chuck Austen left AVENGERS, and then Bendis started the Avengers Disassembled event instead.

[Dermie]

As a fan of the Sub-Mariner I can't recommend the New Invaders – C. P. Smith simply can't draw him, he looks horrible.

Write to Marvel and tell them you feel that way. Tell them that you love Namor and want to support the series but that you don't like the art. That is the only way they are going to make any changes (rather than just cancelling the series).

I think New Invaders is great...but I don't think the artist is the right fit for this series. I hope Marvel finds another project for Smith, and gives Invaders a different artist so it can have a long and successful run!

[StoneGold]

Honestly, Namor is hard to write for. He's not really much of a hero, at least not when on top of his game. And he's a little too "conquer the world"-ish for a regular villain-type series.

[Dr. Hfuhruhurr]

Honestly, Namor is hard to write for. He's not really much of a hero, at least not when on top of his game. And he's a little too "conquer the world"-ish for a regular villain-type series.

True, but I actually enjoyed John Byrne's concept for his Namor series. Namor as the driving force behind Oracle seemed to be an idea that had a lot of legs. The execution of the concept was less than ideal, however.

I also felt that Super-Villain Team-up was an interesting concept, teaming up Namor the anti-hero with arch-villain Doc Doom. Again, while the idea was interesting, it seemed to lose something in the translation.

But, you're right, you can't write Namor as a straight super-hero series and he doesn't work anymore as a villain. Although I have to say, the writer who seems to capture his personality best is Christopher Priest. I loved his appearance in Black Panther.

[idwfan]

I've never really warmed to him but I have given him enough oppurtunities to try persuasde me other wise. I have a couple of annuals fro mthe early ninties and some of that series. Along with his short lived run in Marvel Team-Up vol. 2 and all the last series with him as a teen. I just can't seem to say that he a character worth getting much anymore. But saying that the New Invaders is a great book.

[FanboyStranger]

I don't think Namor can really sustain a series because he is a pompous, arrogant, hotheaded blueblood, and, in general, people don't have a lot of sympathy for people like that. However, it's those qualities that make him excellent as a "villain" and in team books. I absolutely loved the Namor/Hercules dynamic in Stern and Buscema's Avengers run.

Priest does write an excellent Namor, but then again, Priest writes nearly every character he writes excellently (except, for some reason, Wolverine... I dunno).

[blue13]

I don't think Namor can really sustain a series because he is a pompous, arrogant, hotheaded blueblood, and, in general, people don't have a lot of sympathy for people like that.

exactly.

and honestly, he's just not very interesting.

i mean, what's his angle? environmentalist? wife-stealer? what?

and if you're a namor fan, don't get your hopes up about the movie.

proceed with caution.

the movie isn't gonna work with a low budget like punisher (around $30 million). it's gonna need lots of special effects -- the studio is gonna have to plunk down $100 million, at least. and if anything, there is just a FLOOD of comic book movies right now.

not every character or book warrants a movie.

[Davideaux]

I like Namor a great deal. But he is very difficult to write correctly.

He works well on the Avengers but his solo adventures are spotty.

A writer would do well to focus more on Atlantean society and politics. Many writers attempt that angle but I'd like to see it be the dedicated focus of his book.

[niall mc cann]

and honestly, he's just not very interesting.

i mean, what's his angle? environmentalist? wife-stealer? what?

He's a born king who knows it and doesn't take s#!t off of nobody. He's cocky and arrgoant, but with the power and force of will to back it up.

He's got a very finely honed sense of right and wrong, and if he feels he's dealing with people (like us in the surface world, for example) who don't, he has no compunctions about forcing us (militarily or otherwise) to live up to the exceptionally high standards he sets; he's no hypocrite, though; he's not asking us to do anything he himself wouldn't.

He's also the biggest hot-head of the MU, and the MU hero most likely to take over the world.

I love Namor. To bits. I hate the stupid "oh, actually, all the times i was mad, that was actually an oxygen imbalance and i wasn't in control of my actions" thing that got introduced. That just lets us off the hook. Namor is the eternal outsider; he stands apart from us and is more than willing to critique our sins and failures, violently if necessary. He's our global conscience. He's one of the MU's best and coolest supporting characters, and one of my faves.

Long live Namor, i say.

IMPERIOUS REX!

[sepia]

Yes, I think the Sub-Mariner is a great character and he's more difficult to write than the usual super-heroes.

I enjoyed Fantastic Four 1234 where he is portrayed as a dark, royal and mysterious person. Jae Lee is my all time favorite Namor artist.

Byrne was o.k., but Namor belongs to the sea and not on land in a business suit.

When DC is able to run a Aquaman series, Marvel could do the same with Namor. But not as a smooth character as in Namor Vol. II (the Tsunami series). They should give him a more real life personality without cutting his edges. I also don't want to see a dumb-ass crying for vengeance every two pages.

The movie had been delayed two times and as much I want to see it come true, I fear there never will be a Sub-Mariner movie.

I'm sure Namor will appear in comics as long as Marvel exists. But that's not enough – he deserves his own series!

[Frank]

exactly.

and honestly, he's just not very interesting.

i mean, what's his angle? environmentalist? wife-stealer? what?

and if you're a namor fan, don't get your hopes up about the movie.

proceed with caution.

the movie isn't gonna work with a low budget like punisher (around $30 million). it's gonna need lots of special effects -- the studio is gonna have to plunk down $100 million, at least. and if anything, there is just a FLOOD of comic book movies right now.

not every character or book warrants a movie.

Frankly if you don`t find Namor interesting then all comic-book characters must be uninteresting to you. Because he`s one the best, most complexe character that`s ever been created. And it`s precisly because of THAT that he hasn`t had many good books since writers have had trouble getting a fix on what he is. Especially the old school super-hero writers of the past. I think someone that write more complexe stuff like most of the best writers of today would be more apt at writing him.

To understand the Submariner is going back to the time he was created in the early 40s and the lead characters that were all the rage in entertainment from the flawed private dicks of pulp novels to noir movies starring Humphrey Bogart. You would never see magor movie stars these days play flawed anti-heroes like Bogart was doing, becoming clearly the villains in half of his pictures because they would be afraid for their images. And it`s the same with comic-book heroes of these days(excepted for Punisher but he`s written as a psychopath) with a more gentle Superman for instance. Entertainment is more safe that it was back then so it`s hard for people to "get" Namor and understand how to use him in modern times. Namor is a force of nature, it`s the best way to play him. "Marvels" by Alex Ross and Kurt Busiek captured that essensse so well with him and the Original Human Torch locked in a cataclysmic never-ending continuing battle. Like the elements he is unstoppable and he`s without mercy. That say a woman get into that storm and capture some of it, it is a powerful iconic image. More so that say...Superman and Lois Lane and their little cat-and-mouse games.

Yes, Marvel never knew what they had in their hands.

More than one occasion movie-makers were able to do stuff that comic-book companies could not, so I hope that whatever writer(s) and director take this film, I hope they use the Namor concept well...and make him lay the smackdown since this could be something if used right. Have him at the UN Building and destroy the roof as first act of war. He doesn`t even need an atlantean army for that.

P.S. You know guys, BWS would be great on a Namor ongoing, contrary to other writers that failed before, Bary has the imagination to back it up. It would not be boring.

[blue13]

Frankly if you don`t find Namor interesting then all comic-book characters must be uninteresting to you. Because he`s one the best, most complexe character that`s ever been created. And it`s precisly because of THAT that he hasn`t had many good books since writers have had trouble getting a fix on what he is. Especially the old school super-hero writers of the past. I think someone that write more complexe stuff like most of the best writers of today would be more apt at writing him.

oh, that's the reason -- cuz writers have a trouble getting a fix on what he is.

yeah, that explains why he's son uninteresting. please.

frank, there are lots of complex characters out there -- scott summers, batman, even superman is hard to get a handle on...but writers have made them interesting.

namor is not interesting, no matter how you spin it. i'm going by general consensus here -- because you are DEFINITELY entitled to your opinion.

that's why his book's been canceled, what, 5 times? he's not sympathetic, and honestly...i've never understood why he's so proud.

case in point, if you turned down so many times by sue, wouldn't that humble you? and don't even get me started on the myth about his "nobility".

a noble person doesn't chase another man's wife. wolverine is noble, at least he turned down jean in new x-men.

[Zero Hunter]

I liked the Byrne Namor series because it took him out of his element. After Byrne left though the book went to hell very fast. I hate when they concentrate on the undersea politics in books like this. That was what ruined the Peter David Aquaman series after he left. All of them are the same with it being some evil faction out to rest control of the kingdom away from the king. Boring as hell.

[niall mc cann]

P.S. You know guys, BWS would be great on a Namor ongoing, contrary to other writers that failed before, Bary has the imagination to back it up. It would not be boring.

I'd buy that in a second.

That's interesting about the noir stuff too (although i disagree that modern film stars are more constricted in their roles), i hadn't thought of Namor as a hard-boiled hero before, moreof a Tarzan-esque noble savage. That's an interesting take.


a noble person doesn't chase another man's wife. wolverine is noble, at least he turned down jean in new x-men.


He can kill as many people as he likes with impunity, but try it on with a married woman and that's ignoble?

And he and Jean have more than once shared fairly passionate clinches. If Scott had walked in on any of them, i think he'd have been as entitled to be upset about that as jean was when she found him and emma.

During the course of living his life, namor encountered a (not yet married) woman with whom he developed a deep and reciprocal affection. He's entitled to express that towards her, just as she is entitled to turn him down. And if someday she decides he's the one for her, she's entitled to turn around and tell Reed, and let the chips fall where they may.

edited to add "not yet"

[lboinyamouf4sho]

oh, that's the reason -- cuz writers have a trouble getting a fix on what he is.

yeah, that explains why he's son uninteresting. please.

frank, there are lots of complex characters out there -- scott summers, batman, even superman is hard to get a handle on...but writers have made them interesting.

namor is not interesting, no matter how you spin it. i'm going by general consensus here -- because you are DEFINITELY entitled to your opinion.

that's why his book's been canceled, what, 5 times? he's not sympathetic, and honestly...i've never understood why he's so proud.

case in point, if you turned down so many times by sue, wouldn't that humble you? and don't even get me started on the myth about his "nobility".

a noble person doesn't chase another man's wife. wolverine is noble, at least he turned down jean in new x-men.

how can you say namor is not interesting?? i can understand saying that you aren't interested in him, but obviously others like myself find him very interesting. as far as sue rejecting him, why would that humble him?? i would xpect that a man who has rarely been rejected found it as somewhat of a turn on and made him want her even more.

has namor been introduced in the ultimate universe yet?? maybe he could get a good ongoing series there.

[Jaye]

Not much to add, but I think he is one of the most interesting, no doubt.
And I'd like to see an Ultimate version of him. Heck, I'd like to see any version of him right now.

13th

[Sharcque]

For years now, I've wanted Namor to join the X-Men. In additoin to being Marvel's 1st hero, he's also their 1st mutant. I think he could bring such a dynamic to the team ---- lots of bickering, and condescension towards the rest of the team, but when the chips are down, he'd whip ass like no other.

[protege]

What- doesn't Wolverine do that now?

[Brian R]

I love Namor, but like others have stated, its tough to sell a title where the main character is such a dick. Aquaman is more likeable than him, which is why he generally sells more books. However, its not like Aquaman is EVER near the top of the sales charts, DC keeps him around no matter how bad things get because he's an icon.

Namor should be a villain, thats when he shines. Not some run-of-the-mill villain, but more along the lines of Magneto in that his ideology puts him firmly at odds with most of the populace.

Maybe we could have a "Villains of the Marvel Universe" ongoing, portraying all the best bad guys in Marvel, and showing us how they work their plots for world domination and the like. Namor would work perfectly in a title like this, showing us that hes not EVIL, but he is still a good villain.

[chicainery]

He's a born king who knows it and doesn't take s#!t off of nobody. He's cocky and arrgoant, but with the power and force of will to back it up.

He's got a very finely honed sense of right and wrong, and if he feels he's dealing with people (like us in the surface world, for example) who don't, he has no compunctions about forcing us (militarily or otherwise) to live up to the exceptionally high standards he sets; he's no hypocrite, though; he's not asking us to do anything he himself wouldn't.

He's also the biggest hot-head of the MU, and the MU hero most likely to take over the world.

I love Namor. To bits. I hate the stupid "oh, actually, all the times i was mad, that was actually an oxygen imbalance and i wasn't in control of my actions" thing that got introduced. That just lets us off the hook. Namor is the eternal outsider; he stands apart from us and is more than willing to critique our sins and failures, violently if necessary. He's our global conscience. He's one of the MU's best and coolest supporting characters, and one of my faves.

Long live Namor, i say.

IMPERIOUS REX!

Lovely post and I totally agree.

Imperious Rex!

[sepia]

1. The Sub-Mariner should be like the sea: an unpredictable and passionate natural force, but not without being noble and fair.

2. He's an outsider, among humans and his own race. He shouldn't join the Avengers or X-Men permanently (Even so, the issues when he joined the Avengers are great.). The Defenders fit him better, because they are outsiders themselves.

3. He belongs to the sea and the Antarctic – his place of birth. Sure, he should also approach the land but his base is under the water (Byrne's run was entertaining but not true to the character).
We haven't seen much of the Antarctic environment (it's the most extreme and fascinating continent on earth) in any of his series, I think this is a mistake.

4. Namor needs a mature approach (Yes, Windsor-Smith would be a great choice). Too often he had been shown as a childish maniac.

I think he is one of the most underrated heroes. There is so much potential in this character.

I'm sure with good story and art a Namor series will sell easily 20.000 copies over a long period. But it seems this isn't enough for Marvel. The problem is: they only want top-sellers. That's the reason why they launch, relaunch and cancel their series like crazy. In a long term this will damage Marvel.

I know the business is about making money, but without people in the company who appreciate their great characters this isn't "my" comic company anymore.

[protonik]

For years now, I've wanted Namor to join the X-Men. In additoin to being Marvel's 1st hero, he's also their 1st mutant. I think he could bring such a dynamic to the team ---- lots of bickering, and condescension towards the rest of the team, but when the chips are down, he'd whip ass like no other.

I always felt that was a stupid, stupid tag line for Namor. He isn't the first mutant. He's HALF ATLANTEAN!!! Namor ain't no stinking mutant in the X-Men sense.

Besides, Northstar looks too much and acts too much like Namor for it to be comfortable and the bantering about Northstar's "unmanly acts" would get to be too much. Then again, Northstar isn't a mutant either, he's the son of an Asgardian elf or some such.

Jason

[Artemis1]

He was featured in Marvel Age Fantastic Four #1.

[Paradox]

protonik forgot to look down:

I always felt that was a stupid, stupid tag line for Namor. He isn't the first mutant. He's HALF ATLANTEAN!!! Namor ain't no stinking mutant in the X-Men sense.

Current popular "mutant theory" says that he is. Yes, he's a hybrid, but he still displays a property not found in either of the parts of his...hybridity. :) Ergo, "mutant".

Pssst...look at the ankles! ;)

[iwarrior]

I always felt that was a stupid, stupid tag line for Namor. He isn't the first mutant. He's HALF ATLANTEAN!!! Namor ain't no stinking mutant in the X-Men sense.

Besides, Northstar looks too much and acts too much like Namor for it to be comfortable and the bantering about Northstar's "unmanly acts" would get to be too much. Then again, Northstar isn't a mutant either, he's the son of an Asgardian elf or some such.

Jason


I think they were just trying to drum up interest in Namor by tying him into th X-Men indirectly.

"Hey,he's a mutant! Buy this book fanboy!!!"

Namor is a hard character to like. He's arrogant and resents humanity. He's an anti-hero in a sense,but doesn't have the "coolness" factor that the term usually implies in our field. The key to making a series starring Namor work is to get a high-profile creative team on it,so people will check it out regardless of who's in it.

I mean,look at what happened when Byrne left Namor.

[Brian R]

I think they were just trying to drum up interest in Namor by tying him into th X-Men indirectly.

"Hey,he's a mutant! Buy this book fanboy!!!"

Namor is a hard character to like. He's arrogant and resents humanity. He's an anti-hero in a sense,but doesn't have the "coolness" factor that the term usually implies in our field. The key to making a series starring Namor work is to get a high-profile creative team on it,so people will check it out regardless of who's in it.

I mean,look at what happened when Byrne left Namor.

If he WAS an x-man, he would probably have his own series by now.

[StoneGold]

Then again, Northstar isn't a mutant either, he's the son of an Asgardian elf or some such.

Jason
Retconed away ages ago.

[blue13]

He can kill as many people as he likes with impunity, but try it on with a married woman and that's ignoble?

And he and Jean have more than once shared fairly passionate clinches. If Scott had walked in on any of them, i think he'd have been as entitled to be upset about that as jean was when she found him and emma.

During the course of living his life, namor encountered a (not yet married) woman with whom he developed a deep and reciprocal affection. He's entitled to express that towards her, just as she is entitled to turn him down. And if someday she decides he's the one for her, she's entitled to turn around and tell Reed, and let the chips fall where they may.

edited to add "not yet"

first, yes, wolverine and jean have had their share of "passionate clinches".

but wolverine turned her down in new x-men...during a moment of weakness.

that IS noble.

second, a deep and reciprocal affection? PLEASE. spoken like a true namor fan -- wishful thinking (read: deluded).

sue's attracted to him, that's it. there's no deep affection. if there was, she would have left reed.

and sure, he's entitled to let sue know that -- when she WASN'T married. but all these years, after having been turned down so many times -- it's borderline pathetic.

no, that IS pathetic. get a clue and move on, have some pride.

[blue13]

how can you say namor is not interesting?? i can understand saying that you aren't interested in him, but obviously others like myself find him very interesting. as far as sue rejecting him, why would that humble him?? i would xpect that a man who has rarely been rejected found it as somewhat of a turn on and made him want her even more.

has namor been introduced in the ultimate universe yet?? maybe he could get a good ongoing series there.

first, of course there are people out there who find namor interesting.

just not many. how come he doesn't have his own book if he's so "interesting"? how many times has it been tried, only to get canceled?

four? five?

second, OF COURSE getting rejected has to humble him. i mean, sure, the first couple of times -- it's somewhat of a turn-on like you said, and makes him pursue her even more.

but not continuously, there's a limit.

[anthony!]

Then again, Northstar isn't a mutant either, he's the son of an Asgardian elf or some such.

Jason

Actually wasn't that at some pointed retconned so that Northstar was a true mutant. I get so cofused sometimes...

-A!

[We R. Venom]

Well He is one of the strongest in marvel, I just feel someone needs to write better for him. Give him something that stciks. Save the world a million times, do something. And give him a comic.

[niall mc cann]

first, yes, wolverine and jean have had their share of "passionate clinches".

but wolverine turned her down in new x-men...during a moment of weakness.

that IS noble.

No arguement. He doesn't want Jean to have to exist in his world, so he turns down what he want's the most. Wolvie's cool.

second, a deep and reciprocal affection? PLEASE. spoken like a true namor fan -- wishful thinking (read: deluded).

sue's attracted to him, that's it. there's no deep affection. if there was, she would have left reed.

I disagree. She doesn't leave Reed because she's in love with Reed, and that's cool. That doesn't cheapen the friendship she and namor share. Sue agonised over her Reed/Namor choice. If all that was up for grabs was the man she loved versus a hot stud in a speedo, then Sue's a lot shallower than i took her to be. It wasn't, though, and she isn't.

and sure, he's entitled to let sue know that -- when she WASN'T married. but all these years, after having been turned down so many times -- it's borderline pathetic.

no, that IS pathetic. get a clue and move on, have some pride.

He did let her know when she wasn't married. What they felt didn't end at the altar, though. To the best of my knowledge, they've never acted on that since then. Did i miss a storyline?

And the very last thing Namor needs more of is pride. Self-control, certainly. Humility, absolutely. A more prideful Namor? It's more than the planet could stand, i think.

On the mutant thing... I've never liked people describing Namor as a mutant. Technically he is, sure, but the X-books have established that in the MU, the word "mutant" has a specific cultural cache above and beyond the purely genetic, medical(?) sense of the term. I don't believe namor in any way identifies himself as part of a broader mutant culture or movement (a la X-men). He'd be a good avenger, though, i'd say. I haven't read the issues where he actually served.

[Rich L]

He was a good Avenger - his sparring with Herc was great!

And I think that Sue and Namor got together briefly at some point when Reed was presumed dead (#381 - #405ish) in Namor's own book, but I could be wrong.

[niall mc cann]

He was a good Avenger - his sparring with Herc was great!

And I think that Sue and Namor got together briefly at some point when Reed was presumed dead (#381 - #405ish) in Namor's own book, but I could be wrong.

Ah, well. presumed dead is extenuating circumstances, surely?

Like i say, i didn't read it, but I can imagine him as an Avenger. He fills a kind of Quicksilver gap, in my mind anyway (QS is another fave of mine... i guess i just got a thing for the a-holes of the MU :D ).

[psm]

frank, there are lots of complex characters out there -- scott summers, batman, even superman is hard to get a handle on...but writers have made them interesting.

Curious as to why you feel those characters are complex? Especially, Batman who seems to be extremely simplistic in personality and morality. I think its very simple to understand his character. Maybe we have different views of what makes a character complex. For me it's the duality of a character that constantily provide conflict within the character themselves.

With Namor you have someone who's violent, lecherous, arrogant, moody and hot headed. Yet he's also loyal, protective, brave, intelligent, noble, introspective and at times charming. At least he's this way when written by the likes of Roger Stern or Chistopher Priest.

Maybe its me and I just see more than is there. But I think of him the same way I think about Constantine or the old Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns. He's a true anti hero who can be as harmful as he is helpful.

Although, honestly as much as I like Namor I don't know if I would lose any sleep over him not having a comic. I don't think he's accessible enough to maintain a long series. He would work better in small doses. IMHO.

[Shellhead]

first, of course there are people out there who find namor interesting.

just not many. how come he doesn't have his own book if he's so "interesting"? how many times has it been tried, only to get canceled?

four? five?

second, OF COURSE getting rejected has to humble him. i mean, sure, the first couple of times -- it's somewhat of a turn-on like you said, and makes him pursue her even more.

but not continuously, there's a limit.

Cancellation doesn't mean much these days. Ever since comics left the spin racks and got stuck in the specialty stores, sales have been massively down. Quesada doesn't know what the hell he's doing, he keeps pulling all kinds of desperate stunts to try to boost overall sales, including cancelling and restarting comics left and right. Captain America is a popular character, and his current run is excellent, but this is like his third series in five years. Doesn't matter. JSA over at DC didn't have a regular monthly series for nearly 20 years when their current run started, and now that title is one of their most popular.

Let's look at two of the cancellations that you have mentioned. The tsunami series was an odd experiment, to pitch a century-old hero as the star of a teen romance comic. Yeah, teenage girls don't buy many comics, and when they do, they probably don't fantasize about guys who look like Namor. Byrne's series had a better chance, but this was at a time when Byrne seemed to be burning out, running low on creativity... he hasn't recovered either, judging by the horrendous work that he did on JLA last year.

What you don't seem to grasp, probably because you're young, is that times change, writers and artists come and go, and none of that diminishs the quality of a character. That quality is just potential until the next talented team comes along to make the character popular again.

Sub-Mariner was introduced to comic fans nearly 70 years ago. So were many other characters, but most of them have fallen by the wayside, because they just weren't that fascinating. Stan Lee brought Sub-Mariner back to popularity in the 60's, first as a villain, then as a hero. By the 70's, Namor was appearing in 3-4 monthly comics: Sub-Mariner, Defenders, Super-Villain Team-Up, and Invaders. He also appeared from time to time in Fantastic Four, Marvel Team-Up and Marvel Two-in-One. By the way, Super-Villain Team-Up had very heavy turn-over in writers, and yet the portrayal of the strong leading characters, Namor and Dr. Doom, remained consistant and entertaining from month to month.

Just because Quesada doesn't appreciate Namor doesn't mean that the character is boring or lacks potential. It just means that current writers are utilizing his potential.

[Alan2099]

I think they were just trying to drum up interest in Namor by tying him into th X-Men indirectly.

"Hey,he's a mutant! Buy this book fanboy!!!"
Namor was revealed to be a mutant way back in the begining of the original X-men book back when Namor was the more popular character. They weren't trying to drum any extra intrest because there was no extra intrest to be drummed up.

[Neolucifer]

I like namor , especially when dealing with the likes of Doom and Black panther . THen you really got the royalty vibe !!!

This is probably the road that should be followed more often , rather than the lecherous Sue Storm's stalker and bad loser :mad: .
It could be nice at first , allowing for some FF/namor antagonism and interraction , but now that many trials to seduce/abduct sue ?? This is indeed pathetic and overdone .

Then i also aint a fan of the Namor business-man from the oracle days . Its bureaucracy , OPA , industrials wars and such were boring as hell . Also his business man status is far less appealing and classy than the rank of Prince/King . At last i sure could have lived without silly stories invloving tree ants and iron fist :D .

Now , i'll sound quite picky , but i also dont want a namor confined to the sea , and playing adventurer/explorer , "submariner indy" seeking treasure and what not , fighting giant Urchins along dolphins (i know i'm exagerating but still... :D ) .

What i wish for is a Namor acting like the cocky , arrogant , snob and yet mighty king he is supposed to be . Taking what he wants , allying himself with whoever he wants , dealing once and for all with atlanteans rebels (at least sightly diminish their numbers) , doing "good" or "evil" deeds for the sake of his people , and his own pride and satisfaction !! You could even say , a light version of Doom maybe :D

[Alan2099]

The Plotics angle might work better if Namor actually had somebody to do that for him. let Generic Atlantian Joe or Buisness man #897678 have to go to the courts and buisness meetings and all that and THEN have to come back and have namor going, "NO. I don't care about red tape I want this and I want it NOW!"

[Sharcque]

Huge Namor fane here. Remember the 90's Namor series by Byrne with a brand new Jae Lee? That series was awesome!!! No one's gotten him right since. Never thought I'd say this, but "Bring back Byrne!" . Now if you'll all excuse me, I'll be tuning in to CNN to see if they've announced that hell has frozen over. :D

[Neolucifer]

ah the jae lee's namor era ! Or the amnesiac Lorenzo lamas twin :D .
I cant say i digged it , the story isnt really at fault , but sadly most of the time (i say most because he doesnt always paint everything in black , or should i say he doesnt always add some color to black pages :D ) i dislike Jae Lee's work .

Still i remember loving his rendition of Doom in that very precise run . Especially that page where doom arise from the water wihout his hood and shouts "KHAN !!"

[Paradox]

We R. Venom makes a weird connection:

What is hell is up with Namor. One of the most powerful characters in all of marvel. I know he's got his own comic, but what is the deal. why wont someone use him in something other as well.

Maybe because "One of the most powerful characters in all of marvel." has absolutely nothing to do with the questions you asked?

Power does not equate to interesting nor to being worthy of your own book or guest-shots.

That said, I DO like Namor and DO find him interesting, and like seeing more of him.

[Shellhead]

Nick Fury is another great Marvel character who has been around for a long time, had several titles cancelled, but is still worthy of a title when the right creative team takes interest. Like Namor, he is a flexible character who can fit into any title as either an ally or an opponent, depending on the requirements of the story.

[niall mc cann]

With Namor you have someone who's violent, lecherous, arrogant, moody and hot headed. Yet he's also loyal, protective, brave, intelligent, noble, introspective and at times charming.

If for some reason you wanted to sum Namor up in one line, you'd do it like that.

Little bag of contradictions. Great character.

[CaptainCarrot]

At the Wizard World LA Cup O Joe panel, Quesada mentioned that he had talked with a big name writer recently about a Namor pitch. He said they weren't really in much of a hurry to do a Namor series as his big budget movie wasn't due until 2007. It seems they'll wait until mid 2006 at least before giving him another push to coincide with the film