Warning! Spoilers ahead for Avengers #41 from Jason Aaron and Javier Garrón
In the latest issue of Marvel's Namor, the Sub-Mariner.
The Phoenix has been holding all the potential hosts together in the White Hot Room, an alternate plane of existence created by the Phoenix Force itself. While the destructive and sentient power has been handpicking and creating match-ups of heroes to fight one another (such as Captain America vs. Doctor Doom), the fighters all get a chance to talk amongst themselves in between battles, and the gathered heroes such as Cap, Black Panther, Wolverine, She-Hulk, Black Knight, and more all come to an easily-made decision.
No matter what, Namor cannot become the final Phoenix host. Namor is seen in Avengers #41 from Jason Aaron and Javier Garrón stalking the White Hot Room like an enraged and cornered animal. He's desperate, challenging all of the assembled fighters with a fury. Even the fourth grader Moon Girl knows that Namor shouldn't become the new Phoenix, and the truly comical thing is that Namor was the one who summoned the Phoenix Force in the first place. However, it eventually becomes Namor's turn to prove his worth against Echo, and the entire ocean literally burns with the heat of the Phoenix powers that were granted to him, augmenting his rage tenfold.
Things don't seem very promising for Echo by the issue's end, and it seems more than likely that Namor will be that much closer to getting exactly what he wants. As if his rage, temperament, and propensity to turn villainous weren't enough red flags, many of the Avengers have already seen what Namor is capable of with the power of the Phoenix. Namor was a Phoenix host in the past, during 2012's Avengers vs. X-Men, and the power eventually corrupted him. He even attacked Wakanda with a massive and devastating flood, with losses the likes of which the nation had never seen.
As a result, there's plenty of evidence that proves Namor would be the worst option to be the final host out of all of the contenders the Phoenix has chosen. The rest of the Avengers and gathered fighters all know it, in spite of the fact that the Sub-Mariner is the one who seemingly wants it the most. The power of the Phoenix Force is just as tempting as it is corruptive, and Namor is already volatile enough in Marvel Comics without throwing in the fire of the Phoenix to his already substantial power.
