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Namora

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Namora
Namora on the cover of Sub-Mariner Comics #27 (August 1948 Timely Comics).
Art by Bill Everett.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceMarvel Mystery Comics #82 (May 1947)
Created byUnconfirmed writer
Ken Bald (penciller)
Bob Powell (cover artist)
In-story information
Alter egoAquaria Nautica Neptunia
SpeciesAtlantean–human mutant hybrid
Place of originAtlantis
Team affiliationsMonster Hunters
Agents of Atlas
Renegades
"Avengers" (1959)
PartnershipsNamorita
Namor
Fin
Notable aliasesAvenging Daughter
Sub-Mariner
Sea Queen
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, and reflexes
  • Flight via wings on her ankles
  • Aquatic adaptation
  • Longevity

Namora (/neɪˈmɔːrə/; Aquaria Nautica Neptunia) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by artists Ken Bald and Syd Shores, the character first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #82 (May 1947). Namora is from Atlantis and is the daughter of an Atlantean father and a human mother and is the cousin of Namor.

Namora appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), portrayed by Mabel Cadena.[1]

Publication history

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Cover art for Marvel Mystery Comics #82.

Namora debuted in the 12-page comic story "The Coming of Namora!" published in Marvel Mystery Comics #82 (May 1947), pencilled by Ken Bald and inked by Syd Shores.[2] Namora also featured on the cover drawn by Bob Powell. Her costume was designed by Sub-Mariner creator Bill Everett.[3] Initially, she and Namor had no apparent familial relationship, and romantic interest was sometimes implied between the two.[4]

She had her own comic book series, Namora, which ran from August–December 1948.[5] While this title lasted three issues, she regularly appeared with Namor in Marvel Mystery Comics and also in Sub-Mariner until that series ended in 1955.[6]

The character was not seen again for 16 years until she made a brief flashback appearance in the Silver Age Sub-Mariner series, in Sub-Mariner #33 (January 1971). Her death was established in Sub-Mariner #50 (June 1972), where her corpse is shown to Namor, and depicted in flashback in #51 (July 1972).

Over the next 30 years, Namora appeared in a number of flashbacks and alternate reality stories, including What If? #9 (June 1978), The New Warriors Annual #1 (1991), What If? #47 (March 1993), The New Warriors #44 (February 1994), Avengers: Forever #4-5 (March–April 1999), and Marvel: The Lost Generation #3-2 (December 2000-January 2001).

Namora eventually reappears, alive, in the Agents of Atlas series, in issues #1-6 (October 2006-March 2007). She also appears in The Incredible Hulk #107-112 (August–December 2007), Giant-Size Marvel Adventures: Avengers #1 (September 2007), World War Hulk #2 (September 2007), Spider-Man Family #4 (October 2007), and The Incredible Hercules #121-122 (November–December 2008).

Namora received an entry in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004.

Fictional character biography

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Namora is a character that originated in the Golden Age of Comic Books.[7] Her original name was Aquaria Nautica Neptunia, but she was nicknamed "Namora" in honor of Namor.[8] Like Namor, she is a hybrid mutant who possesses superhuman strength and is able to fly via the wings on her ankles. When her father was killed by treasure-hunting surface-dwellers, she fully changed her name to Namora, the Atlantean term for "Avenging Daughter", as Namor means "Avenging Son". Namora is Namor's cousin (though not by blood), and became his companion for several years.

Namora dies after being poisoned by Llyra.[9] She is survived by her clone Namorita, whom she had passed off as her daughter because of Atlantian taboos against cloning. The series Marvel: The Lost Generation revealed that she was a member of the Monster Hunters in 1956.

Agents of Atlas

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Cover art for Agents of Atlas #4.
Art by Tomm Coker.

Some time later, the Agents of Atlas find a damaged coffin, which appears to contain the mummified corpse of Namora.[10] Upon closer inspection, Marvel Boy disables a holographic display creating the corpse image, revealing Namora to have been preserved inside the coffin.[11] After being awakened, Namora joins the Agents of Atlas.[12]

Dark Reign

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The Agents of Atlas oppose Norman Osborn's agenda by taking on the role of "supervillains", in order to form close ties to Osborn. After some time, the group becomes aware of Osborn's Cabal, only to learn that Namor is a member of the Cabal. Upon finding this out, the Agents confront Namor for his involvement in the group. Initially at odds with each other for their recent decisions, Namora and Namor end up entering a relationship.[13] However, they separate after learning that their relationship had been engineered by the elders of Atlantis.[14]

Infinity

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During Infinity, Namora's Atlantean School is chosen as one of the institutions set to do battle in the new Contest of Champions. However, Atlantis is attacked and decimated by the forces of Thanos before the competition can begin.[15]

Powers and abilities

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Namora possesses superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability, and reflexes. She is nearly invulnerable as bullets and other missiles cannot penetrate her extremely tough skin. She can swim at superhuman speeds, breathe underwater, and is immune to the cold and pressures of the depths. She can also see better underwater than a normal human.

Reception

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Critical response

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Deirdre Kaye of Scary Mommy called Namora a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character.[16] Charles Nichola Raymond of Screen Rant called Namora a "capable hero in her own right,"[17] while Philip Etemesi ranked her 2nd in their "Marvel's 10 Most Powerful Aquatic Characters" list.[18] Megan Nicole O'Brien of Comic Book Resources ranked Namora 2nd in their "Marvel: 10 Best Golden Age Heroines" list.[19] Comics Buyer's Guide ranked Namora 76th in their "100 Sexiest Women in Comics" list.[20]

Marvel Cinematic Universe

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Nicole Drum of ComicBook.com called Namora a "fan favorite."[21]

Other versions

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Exiles

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An alternate universe version of Namora appears in Exiles. This version is a blue-skinned gender-swapped counterpart of Namor. Decades prior, Namora allies with Charles Xavier, who convinced her to not attack the surface world. She would later do so after anti-mutant hysteria led to the imprisonment of most mutants, killing most of Earth's heroes and taking over the world before she is eventually forced to join the Exiles. After learning her teammate Morph was seemingly killed by Hyperion, she attempts to kill Hyperion, only to be killed by him.[22]

Marvel Mangaverse

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An alternate universe version of Namora appears in the Marvel Mangaverse story "Eternity Twilight".

Marvel Her-oes

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An alternate universe version of Namora appears in Marvel Her-oes, written by Grace Randolph. This version is a teenager and classmate of Jennifer Walters and Janet van Dyne who hides her Atlantean heritage by posing as a Greek exchange student named "Namora Aquarius".[23]

Ultimate Marvel

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An alternate universe version of Namora makes a minor appearance in Ultimatum.[24]

In other media

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References

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  1. ↑ Zachary, Brandon (February 23, 2023). "How Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Turns Namora Into a Real MCU Threat". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  2. ↑ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 252. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  3. ↑ Benton, Mike (1992). Superhero Comics of the Golden Age: The Illustrated History. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 134. ISBN 0-87833-808-X. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Cronin, Brian (April 30, 2019). "When Did Namora Become Namor's Cousin?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  5. ↑ Lord-Moncrief, Devon (November 27, 2022). "Who Is Black Panther's Namora?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  6. ↑ Markstein, Don. "Namora". Don Markstein's Toonopedia. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978-1605490564.
  8. ↑ Rajput, Rohit (July 26, 2022). "Who is Namora? MCU fans can't keep calm over appearance of Namor's cousin in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever teaser". Sportskeeda. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  9. ↑ Sub-Mariner (vol. 2) #50 (June 1972)
  10. ↑ Agents of Atlas #3 (December 2006)
  11. ↑ Agents of Atlas #4 (January 2007)
  12. ↑ Agents of Atlas #5 (February 2007)
  13. ↑ Agents of Atlas (vol. 2) #6 (August 2009)
  14. ↑ Agents of Atlas (vol. 2) #7 (September 2009)
  15. ↑ Infinity: The Hunt #1 (November 2013)
  16. ↑ Kaye, Deirdre (November 16, 2020). "Looking For A Role Model? These 195+ Marvel Female Characters Are Truly Heroic". Scary Mommy. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  17. ↑ Raymond, Charles Nicholas (June 26, 2021). "Why Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Could Introduce Two Atlantean Superheroes". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  18. ↑ Etemesi, Philip (November 17, 2022). "Marvel's 10 Most Powerful Aquatic Characters, Ranked". Screen Rant. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  19. ↑ O'Brien, Megan Nicole (November 8, 2020). "Marvel: 10 Best Golden Age Heroines, Ranked". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  20. ↑ Frankenhoff, Brent (2011). Comics Buyer's Guide Presents: 100 Sexiest Women in Comics. Krause Publications. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-4402-2988-6.
  21. ↑ Drum, Nicole (February 6, 2023). "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Star Doesn't Know When Namora Will Return to the MCU (Exclusive)". ComicBook.com. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  22. ↑ Exiles #64 (May 2005)
  23. ↑ "Writer Grace Randolph talks MARVEL HER-OES #1 on sale April 21, 2010!". Marvel.com. April 16, 2010. Archived from the original on April 22, 2010. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
  24. ↑ Ultimate Fantastic Four #60
  25. ↑ Martinez, Kiko (July 27, 2022). "Meet Mexican Actress Mabel Cadena, One of the Stars of Wakanda Forever". Remezcla. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  26. ↑ Damore, Maegan (December 2, 2022). "Piecing Together MARVEL Puzzle Quest: Namora (Origin)". Marvel.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ Bricken, Rob (July 24, 2022). "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Figures and Funkos Released". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
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