Summary

• Namor #1 reintroduces Marvel's complex hero with dignity and rage, showcasing his multitudes in a short, compelling narrative.
• Namor's role in a civil war underwater sets up a Game of Thrones-like epic that will redefine Marvel lore forever.
• Marvel's oldest hero, Namor, is finally given the spotlight in a bold and understandable story for both new and old fans.

Warning: Spoilers for Namor (2024) #1 ahead!As one of Marvel's oldest characters, approaching any Namor title can be daunting considering his comparatively low profile and decades upon decades of lore. However, the first issue of his newest series perfectly sells Namor's unique dignity and rage to the reader, reinforcing what makes the Sub-Mariner one of Marvel's most singular characters ever written.

Namor (2024) #1 by Jason Aaron, Paul Davidson, Alex Lins, and Neeraj Menon doesn't try to reinvent the status quo - it picks up shortly after Namor's arrest in Avengers Assemble Omega (2023) #1. Despite accepting his incarceration, Namor's prison time is cut short when he is targeted by Atlantean assassins.

Surviving the attack, Namor learns that the underwater world is embroiled in civil war - and if he cannot stop it, the surface world will purge the oceans to end the chaos.

The multiverse-spanning epic, Avengers Assemble: Omega, is by Jason Aaron, Aaron Kuder, Dexter Vines, Ivan Fiorelli, Javier Garron, Jim Towe, and Alex Sinclair.

Namor's Story Is A Compelling Tale Of Power And Tragedy

Namor is arguably one of the most difficult Marvel characters to introduce to new readers. Despite being one of Marvel's most powerful individuals, his arrogance and tendency to attack at the slightest provocation his lack of representation in the MCU until 2022's Wakanda Forever means that Namor has not seen the same surge of acceptance by wider audiences as his superheroic peers.

Namor #1 manages to establish Namor's multitudes, his dignity and his fury, in a remarkably short amount of time. Flashbacks to his childhood in Atlantis and ironic narration contrast the powerful, vengeful boy of the past to the deliberately restrained Namor of the present; by contrast, Namor's role as a prisoner at the start of the book showcases his maturity and dignity against the backdrop of his abusive wardens. Namor is one of Marvel's most complicated and complex characters to write, but Namor #1 makes the character immediately understandable to newcomers and old fans alike.

A Bold Reintroduction of One of Marvel's Oldest Heroes

Namor has always been a character of contradictions: neither of land or sea, a king without his kingdom. Namor #1 uses all of Namor's history, from his early role as adversary to his modern-day penitence, to deftly weave a tale about this super-man's relationship with power, what it has cost him, and what it may cost the rest of the world without his intervention. It's a remarkable and bold start for Namor's new series - but one that manages to make one of Marvel's most difficult characters understandable to any audience.

Namor (2024) #1 is available now from Marvel Comics.