Changing the background of Namur is a good thing

in less than a month, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever It arrives in theaters and is eagerly awaited Black Panther The sequel to the live-action Marvel Cinematic Universe comes for the first time featuring one of the oldest and most enduring comics characters, Namor the Sub-Mariner. Played by Tenoch Huerta in the upcoming movie, MCU’s Namor is a little departure from the anti-hero Marvel Comics fans they’ve come to love and hate over nearly a century of storytelling. in black panther 2, Namur is not the king of Atlantis, but rather the king of Talocan, an ancient underwater kingdom with connections to both the Aztec and Mayan cultures. The latest trailer for Wakanda Forever highlighted more of the shift in Namor’s story, with M’Baku (Winston Duke) saying that people call him “K’uk’ulkan” or “feathered god” instead of a king.

The change in Namur’s background and cultural origin is a major change that has the potential to see some massive shifts in how the MCU version presents the iconic character not only in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but in the future of the MCU, too. As one might imagine, there are those who have some questions or reservations about this change. After all, Namur is the half-human, half-Atlantic son of Emperor Thakur Finn’s daughter and American sea captain Leonard Mackenzie has a rich 83-year history on the pages of Marvel Comics. But the beauty of stories of all kinds is that they have room for change and growth, and giving the MCU to Namur something new is not only a good thing, but it opens the door to a new world of storytelling with one of Marvel’s most iconic characters.

Keeps Namor distinct from Aquaman in the capital

Half-human, half-Atlantic son of a man and woman living in the sea who became king of Atlantis – it’s a basic and general description of the character, but it applies equally to both Namur and Aquaman and during Namur’s debut in 1939 (Aquaman first appeared in DC More fun comics In 1941), Arthur Curry / Aquaman made his big screen debut before Namur. It’s not hard to see how, for moviegoers, the direct adaptation of Namur’s comic book origin looks like an Aquaman version.

While the full details of Namor’s MCU story remain a mystery, by giving Namor a whole new history, one with roots in Mesoamerican culture and legend, MCU Namor stands alone. Allowing both ocean kings to have a place in the wider world of live-action comics-inspired entertainment is always a good thing.

Gives Namur a richer background on par with Black Panther

One of the things that makes Black Panther such an interesting character both in the MCU and in the comics is the cultural background. T’Challa/Black Panther is a character whose story is closely linked to that of his people, both in terms of his role as the leader of the African nation of Wakanda, but also in terms of how his powers relate to his people’s history. The ancient Wakandan ritual is drinking the essence of the herb in the shape of a heart. Where many of the main heroes in the MCU get their power through things like science or training and experience, turning into a Black Panther is something associated with an entire people and a part of the world with its rich history that feels largely rooted in something that while Wakanda An imaginary nation, it could be real.

Expanding Namor’s background by focusing his story not in Atlantis but in Talocan applies a similar cultural depth to a character who is simply not quite as pervasive in its comedic counterpart. Atlantis of Comics itself is generally based on the fictional island that is part of an allegory about Plato’s hubris. Timaeus And the Critias, while the real-life Tlalocan concept—from which the MCU’s Talocan seems to draw inspiration from—is an important part of Aztec and Mesoamerican culture, a paradise ruled by the rain god Tlaloc and a concept that exists even in modern culture among Nahua-speaking people. By focusing the origin of Namor in the Talocan, it grounds the character in something that is still fictional but contains elements of reality in a way that Atlantis does not.

The new original is more interesting

While Tlalocan, Tlaloc, and other aspects of Aztec and Maya mythology are by no means new, the reality is that the MCU is incorporating these things into Namor’s storyline. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever It opened a whole new interest in this special aspect of human history. The average person on the street has an idea of ​​Atlantis; Until now, the ideas of heaven for those who died due to water or the “feathered serpent god” K’uk’ulkan were very abstract. Now, we’re seeing people talking about these concepts on social media, writing thought articles about them, and further exploring this rich and wonderful world.

And for the comic book lovers? An added bonus is the possibility that the new origin of Namor can unlock links to new deities within the MCU outside of the Asgardians. After all, Namur Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Appearance looks very much like that of Quetzalcoatl, which appears noticeably on the pages annual bull Number 10 from 1982 where the god was just one of several people who teamed up with Thor to save all of the myths and divine realms from complete oblivion.

representation issues

While there are a lot of reasons for the change in Namur Black Panther: Wakanda Forever It is a good thing, and perhaps the most important thing is acting. The old adage “If you can see it, you can be” is one that is often brought up in discussions about representation of diversity in entertainment and the idea of ​​expanded representation within not only the MCU but positive Hollywood influence is something Huerta himself has even admitted.

“Latino Americans are always the bad guys in Hollywood movies,” Huerta previously told Empire magazine. “And now we’re the heroes—or against the hero, in this case.”

He also talked about his journey and how he knows there are kids like him who are watching his accomplishments and realize they can do it too.

“It’s an honor,” Huerta said at the Marvel Studios show at Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con. “I come from the hood, and thanks to the embed, I’m here. I wouldn’t be here without the hood. Lots of kids wear a hood, look at us, dream of me being here, and they will.”

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Opens in theaters November 11th.

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