Marvel Comics #1
If you’re going to start somewhere, you have to start at the top with Namor’s first story. “The Sub-Mariner” is just one story in Marvel comics 1 since 1939 but the perfect introduction to the character who is Marvel’s first mutant character and arguably one of their best and most complex. Written and art by Bill Everett, the story gives readers a vengeful anti-hero who is very dissatisfied with the surface world and has very good reasons for it. It’s a great story and a great taste of what’s to come.
Fantastic Four #4 from 1961 (and, in fact, #6 and #9, too).
While Namor was a popular character throughout the 1940s, the 1950s saw the character’s decline only to return in the early 1960s as an antagonist to the Fantastic Four and, in the process, see the character’s assimilation into the Marvel Universe as we know it. . “The Coming of the Sub-Mariner” storyline helps pave the way for the Namor that many casual Marvel fans know and arguably love, but these stories are fun for more than just that. The old comics – especially the early Fantastic Four comics – are just a hoot. Frequently a product of their time and the social values of the time, the language and stories sometimes come across as archaic, but they’re full of fun, and Namor is surprisingly different if you really allow yourself to pay attention. On top of that, you have Jack Kirby art and who doesn’t love old school crazy Namor eyebrows?
Marvels: Sub-Mariner footage
Kind of a unique take on Namor, the 2020 one-shot is set in 1946 and told from the perspective of Namor’s human friend Betty Dean. It gives readers an outsider’s view of the character and offers a glimpse into how ordinary people see the hero, his behavior, and his experiences as well as aspects of who readers don’t think much of since they’re used to seeing him in either a heroic or villainous context. Furthermore, the issue explores themes of war-related post-traumatic stress disorder. There’s also Namor fighting the Nazis, which is always a victory.
Daredevil #7
If you just want an exciting story and a truly legendary battle between two lovable characters, then you need look no further. reckless #7 by Wallace Wood and Stan Lee. The issue sees a conflict between Daredevil and Namor, and while that alone is a thing of glory, this is a notable issue for several other reasons. First, it’s the first appearance of Daredevil’s red outfit but then it’s an incredible story. The case sees Krang convince Namor to try reasoning with humanity, so he sues the United States over how it treats Atlantis, Matt Murdock, of course, Namor’s lawyer. Namor is arrested for crimes against the United States, and in all of this, Namor discovers that Krang has taken over Atlantis, and decides to go out and deal with him, and this leads to Namor fighting the army, which leads to Daredevil trying to stop him because Namor against the army is bad news. The whole affair is epic. You can’t waste it. (And can we also get some straight action on this? Nice please?)
Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen
Never forget that while Namor is a massive force and kinda grumpy at times, he’s also funny and smart. like that. Kieron Gillen certainly hasn’t forgotten that and his confrontation with Namor superhero x-men very fun. Best when enjoyed in their bundled form together sword 1-5, superhero x-men (1981) 534-544, X-Men: Regeneration 1 f superhero x-men (2011) 1-3, the story sees Namor as part of the Cyclops’ “Extinction Team” and there are some really classic moments. It’s also a powerful reminder that while many people think of Namor as the antagonist of the Fantastic Four, he’s also the hero of the X-Men as well.
Namor: The Sub-Mariner is directed by John Byrne and Jay Lee
Byrne and Lee’s run with Namor is a radical reinvention of the character in that we see him morph more into a different kind of role – one as a corporate behemoth with Oracle Incorporated making positive life change on the surface. We also see a more heroic Namor in this race, but there are also some really crazy moments in this race as well, as well as some totally out of the series technical moments thanks to Lee. The whole show can be uneven at times, and that’s definitely something readers should try to keep in context with the time period in which it was created, but it’s Byrne’s characterization of Tiger that still carries through in the comics to this day that makes it very much worth a visit or check first.
King in Black: Namor
Never forget that Namor was once a young man, and this five-issue mini-series features a flashback story from his teenage years that gives readers plenty of New Atlantis lore. The story sees Namor remember banishing a team of Atlantean warriors, the Swift Tide, who have become a group of deadly monsters. The story is a fascinating look at some of the experiences that helped shape the adult persona readers know.
Sub-Mariner Epic
Released in 1988, this 12-issue miniseries is largely a way to introduce Namor’s origin story as well as Marvel’s history of ancient Atlantis and the rise of the people of Atlantis. This particular series is a good read for those fans interested in how different the MCU’s Talokan is from Atlantis. It also features Princess Finn and Leonard Mackenzie meeting, who could turn down any appearances of Princess Finn?
Namur: Semi-Navigator: Occupied Beaches No. 1
This is a new series that, as of the time this list was written, has only one issue but is one well worth reading. The issue explores an older Namor on a devastated world – specifically Earth that is nearly uninhabitable due to ecological collapse. Namor ruled the seas and thus the world for decades, but now, an older and wiser Namor sees the suffering of the humans who remained and changed in perspective and purpose. Writer Christopher Cantwell is a huge fan of Namor, and it shows in his approach to the character here that makes it worth the read.
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