Namor is getting a new series right in time for the hype train of Wakanda Forever, but this isn’t just any Namor solo title. No, it’s more akin to Old Man Logan in that it explores a possible dystopian future where we get another look at a hero a bit older and maybe wiser. However, how much wiser can an egomaniac like Namor get?
Namor the Sub-Mariner #1 opens with a full page spread of the arm of the Statue of Liberty, the only thing visible in a vast sea. The sea levels have risen, and from its depths rise two heads, which you might immediately think are Atlanteans but are instead humans. Soon they are met by Namor, who has white in his hair and does not look pleased. It’s an excellent way to defy expectations while setting up a different world worth exploring.
If you’re looking for answers, writer Christopher Cantwell supplies them right up front in a double-page montage of what happened to Earth. It’s tragic while also leaving plenty of details for surprises down the line. As the story progresses, we also learn Namor has a different role in older age and is a bit sullen. He’s not precisely crying humanity has become thinned out and barely surviving, but he’s not gleeful about it either.
Much like with other alternate reality tales, the fun in this story is trying to piece together how our lead character is different and how other characters have been affected by the significant change in reality. We get to see a few essential Avengers, for instance, and it’s depressing to see how far they’ve fallen. There isn’t much left in the world to protect above the oceans, and understandably, everyone is on the edge of giving up entirely.
Sorta funny he got the hair of Reed Richard, right?
Credit: Marvel
It’s too early to tell what exactly Namor is wrestling with in this story. He’s not precisely upset he’s no longer king, nor upset with how the world is since his people are safe. He’s not a hero nor a villain, but a man seemingly unclear of his life’s purpose. Due to that lack of clarity, his motivations and direction are unclear, which makes it hard to care about his plight or position. Surrounding him is plenty to dig into, but it’s too early to say whether Namor’s personal journey is worth investing in.
Art by Pasqual Ferry hammers home Namor’s detached nature. He’s positively bored in some scenes and often disinterested. Through that disinterest, one can surmise there’s a lack of happiness or hope, which makes you wonder if this series is about putting the fire back into Namor, who is usually angry, passionate, and filled with fight. There’s also a good juxtaposition between the human city and Atlantis that helps convey the disparity between them.
Namor the Sub-Mariner #1 will grab your interest if you’re interested in sci-fi tales of dystopian futures and how we as a people survive them. There’s a clear connection from this story to our own reality that’s worth exploring, although Namor isn’t as interesting as you might think right out of the gate. Still, there are enough pieces here to come back and see if Namor will do something with himself rather than watch the world crumble before his eyes.
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