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Namor the Sub-Mariner
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Creation & Design

Namor was created by Bill Everett and first appeared in 1939. He was one of the first superheroes in comic book history, combining elements of both heroism and anti-heroism.

Early Years

Namor's early stories often depicted him as a protector of Atlantis, battling surface dwellers who threatened his underwater kingdom. His character was complex, often torn between his Atlantean heritage and his interactions with humans.

Character Development

Over the years, Namor has evolved from a straightforward hero to a more nuanced character, often grappling with moral dilemmas and the consequences of his actions. His relationships with other heroes and his role as a ruler of Atlantis have added depth to his character.

Cultural Reception

Namor has been well-received by fans and critics alike, often praised for his complexity and depth as a character. His stories have explored themes of environmentalism, nationalism, and identity.

Character Details

Real Name:
Namor McKenzie
First Appearance:
Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
Aliases:
Sub-Mariner, Prince of Atlantis
Species:
Atlantean
Gender:
male
Affiliations:
Invaders, Avengers, Defenders
Abilities:
Superhuman strength, Underwater breathing, Flight (winged ankles), Hydrokinesis
Equipment:
Trident of Poseidon, Atlantean technology
Weight:
200lbs
Height:
6' 0"
Eye Color:
green
Hair Color:
black
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Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
First Funnies ⋅ 1939
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Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
 
Low
$4.5k
Mid
$14k
High
$33k

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Namor the Sub-Mariner

1st appearance of American Ace

1st appearance of the Holy One, later known as Thakorr, a former ruler of Atlantis

Only nine copies are known to exist

View more (1)

This comic was intended to be a giveaway at movie theaters but it never went into full production

Marvel Comics #1
Timely ⋅ 1939
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (2)
Marvel Comics #1
 
Low
$68k
Mid
$400k
High
$1.2M

Key Facts

1st appearance of the Human Torch, Jim Hammond

2nd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner - 8 pages of the 12-page story reprinted from Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1

1st appearance of Dorma, Namor's cousin

1st appearance of Ka-Zar, David Rand

View more (9)

1st appearance of Angel, Thomas Halloway, a private detective and vigilante

1st appearance of the Masked Raider, Jim Gardley

1st comic book published by Timely, later becomes Marvel

Retitled Marvel Mystery Comics after this issue

80,000 copies were produced of the first printing with an October 1939 date on the cover

The second printing could be identified by the October 1939 date blacked out, replaced with November 1939

The first printing sold out within a week and was quickly reprinted at a quantity of 800,000, the same as Superman #1

Although published in October, the cover date was changed to have a longer on-sale period at newsstands

💰 In March 2022, a 9.2 known as the Pay Copy due to publisher notations that tracked creator payouts sold for $2.42 million

Marvel Mystery Comics #2
Timely ⋅ 1939
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #2
 
Low
$6.5k
Mid
$18.2k
High
$63k

Key Facts

3rd appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner

2nd appearance and origin of the Human Torch

2nd appearance of American Ace

Marvel Mystery Comics previously titled Marvel Comics

Marvel Mystery Comics #3
Timely ⋅ 1940
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #3
 
Low
$2k
Mid
$6.2k
High
$32k

Key Facts

4th appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner

3rd appearance of the Human Torch

1st appearance of Betty Dean, an ally of Namor during World War II

Marvel Mystery Comics #4
Timely ⋅ 1940
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #4
 
Low
$11.2k
Mid
$33.2k
High
$96k

Key Facts

1st cover appearance of Namor the Sub-Mariner

1st appearance of Electro, a robot

First depiction of a Nazi flag on a Timely (Marvel) cover

See Top Notch Comics #2 for first Nazi symbol on a comic cover

Marvel Mystery Comics #8
Timely ⋅ 1940
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #8
 
Low
$1.7k
Mid
$6.3k
High
$21k

Key Facts

First battle of the Human Torch vs Namor the Sub-Mariner

Marvel Mystery Comics #9
Timely ⋅ 1940
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #9
 
Low
$12k
Mid
$40k
High
$120k

Key Facts

Second battle of the Sub-Mariner versus the Human Torch

2nd cover appearance of Sub-Mariner

Marvel Mystery Comics #10
Timely ⋅ 1940
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #10
 
Low
$1.2k
Mid
$3.5k
High
$16k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs the Human Torch

Marvel Mystery Comics #17
Timely ⋅ 1941
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #17
 
Low
$500
Mid
$1.5k
High
$6.9k

Key Facts

Team-up of Sub-Mariner and the Human Torch

Sub-Mariner Comics #1
Timely ⋅ 1941
View Details
Sub-Mariner Comics #1
 
Low
$6.5k
Mid
$22.8k
High
$89k

Key Facts

First Sub-Mariner solo title

Human Torch #5
Timely ⋅ 1941
View Details
Human Torch #5
 
Low
$800
Mid
$2.2k
High
$12k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs. Human Torch

This is the sixth issue in the series despite indicating #5 on the cover

Human Torch #8
Timely ⋅ 1942
View Details
Human Torch #8
 
Low
$1.4k
Mid
$4.8k
High
$14k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs the Human Torch

Human Torch #10
Timely ⋅ 1943
View Details
Human Torch #10
 
Low
$440
Mid
$1.2k
High
$7.9k

Key Facts

Sub-Mariner vs the Human Torch

All Select Comics #1
Timely ⋅ 1943
View Details
All Select Comics #1
 
Low
$2.5k
Mid
$9k
High
$25k

Key Facts

Stories featuring Captain America, Human Torch and Sub-Mariner begin

All Winners Comics #19
Timely ⋅ 1946
View Details
All Winners Comics #19
 
Low
$800
Mid
$2.4k
High
$11k

Key Facts

1st team appearance and origin of the All Winners Squad: Captain America, Bucky, Human Torch, Miss America, Sub-Mariner, Toro and the Whizzer

Marvel Mystery Comics #82
Timely ⋅ 1947
View Details
Marvel Mystery Comics #82
 
Low
$1.1k
Mid
$3.8k
High
$11.2k

Key Facts

1st appearance of and origin of Namora

First team-up of the Sub-Mariner and Namora

Sub-Mariner Comics #32
Timely ⋅ 1949
View Details
Sub-Mariner Comics #32
 
Low
$750
Mid
$1.9k
High
$7.5k

Key Facts

Origin of Sub-Mariner retold

Sub-Mariner Comics #33
Timely ⋅ 1954
View Details
Sub-Mariner Comics #33
 
Low
$250
Mid
$875
High
$2.5k

Key Facts

Origin of Namor from Marvel Comics #1 retold with additional details

Sub-Mariner Comics #35
Timely ⋅ 1954
View Details
Sub-Mariner Comics #35
 
Low
$115
Mid
$385
High
$1.1k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Byrrah

Origin of Namor, as a boy discovers he can live outside of water

Sub-Mariner Comics #37
Timely ⋅ 1954
View Details
Sub-Mariner Comics #37
 
Low
$200
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$800
High
$2k

Key Facts

Partial origin of Namor, age 12

Sub-Mariner Comics #38
Timely ⋅ 1955
View Details
Sub-Mariner Comics #38
 
Low
$200
Mid
$800
High
$2k

Key Facts

Origin of Namor's winged feet and his ability to fly

Fantastic Four #4
Marvel ⋅ 1962
View Details
Fantastic Four #4
 
Low
$1.2k
Mid
$5.7k
High
$15.1k

Key Facts

1st appearance of Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age

First time the Human Torch activates his power while shouting, 'Flame On'

Fantastic Four #6
Marvel ⋅ 1962
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Fantastic Four #6
 
Price Trend
Low
$450
Mid
$1.3k
High
$4.5k

Key Facts

First team-up of two super-villains in the Marvel Universe, Doctor Doom and Sub-Mariner

2nd appearance of Doctor Doom

2nd appearance of the Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age

Fantastic Four #9
Marvel ⋅ 1962
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Fantastic Four #9
 
Low
$130
Mid
$395
High
$2.4k

Key Facts

3rd appearance of the Sub-Mariner in the Silver Age

Strange Tales #107
Marvel ⋅ 1963
View Details
Strange Tales #107
 
Low
$120
Mid
$420
High
$1.3k

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by Jack Kirby

Fantastic Four Annual #1
Marvel ⋅ 1963
View Details
Fantastic Four Annual #1
 
Low
$215
Mid
$810
High
$1.8k

Key Facts

Origin of the Fantastic Four retold

1st appearance of Krang, an Atlantean warlord

1st appearance of Lady Dorma in the Silver Age

Namor finds Atlantis

Avengers, The #3
Marvel ⋅ 1964
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Avengers, The #3
 
Low
$115
Mid
$510
High
$1.6k

Key Facts

Classic battle of the Avengers vs the Hulk and Sub-Mariner

Uncanny X-Men #6
Marvel ⋅ 1964
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Uncanny X-Men #6
 
Low
$180
Mid
$650
High
$1.8k

Key Facts

Namor is confirmed to be a mutant in this issue making him the first mutant to appear in Marvel Comics having been introduced in 1939

3rd team appearance of The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants: Magneto, Scarlet Witch, Quicksilver, Mastermind, Toad

Strange Tales #125
Marvel ⋅ 1964
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Strange Tales #125
 
Low
$40
Mid
$120
High
$420

Key Facts

Classic battle of the Human Torch and the Thing vs the Sub-Mariner

Fantastic Four #33
Marvel ⋅ 1964
View Details
Fantastic Four #33
 
Low
$60
Mid
$245
High
$875

Key Facts

1st appearance of Attuma, an Atlantean barbarian

Tales to Astonish #70
Marvel ⋅ 1965
View Details
Tales to Astonish #70
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$140

Key Facts

Solo stories featuring Namor the Sub-Mariner begin

1st appearance of King Neptune and his trident, a powerful weapon in the Marvel Universe

Tales to Astonish #77
Marvel ⋅ 1966
View Details
Tales to Astonish #77
 
Low
$12
Mid
$40
High
$125

Key Facts

First use of Namor's battle phrase, 'Imperious Rex'

Decades later, when Thor asks Namor the meaning of the phrase, Namor answers, 'It means I’m going to feed your sorry Asgardian hide to the biggest sharks I can find.'

1st appearance of Behemoth, a protector of Atlantis

Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1
Marvel ⋅ 1968
View Details
Iron Man and Sub-Mariner #1
 
Low
$80
Mid
$200
High
$800

Key Facts

Standalone issue bridging Tales of Suspense and Tales to Astonish to Iron Man #1 and Sub-Mariner #1

Sub-Mariner #1
Marvel ⋅ 1968
View Details
Sub-Mariner #1
 
Low
$60
Mid
$180
High
$600

Key Facts

First Namor solo series in the Silver Age

Origin of Namor

Sub-Mariner #5
Marvel ⋅ 1968
View Details
Sub-Mariner #5
 
Low
$35
Mid
$115
High
$385

Key Facts

1st appearance and origin of Tiger Shark

1st appearance of Diane Arliss, the wife of Stingray

1st appearance of Doctor Dorcas

Sub-Mariner #8
Marvel ⋅ 1968
View Details
Sub-Mariner #8
 
Low
$25
Mid
$90
High
$375

Key Facts

Iconic cover art by John Buscema

Classic battle Sub-Mariner vs The Thing

4th appearance of Vision

Sub-Mariner #9
Marvel ⋅ 1969
View Details
Sub-Mariner #9
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100

Key Facts

Helmet of Power revealed to be the Serpent Crown, a vessel of Set's power - appeared as the Helmet of Power in Tales To Astonish #101

1st appearance of King Naga, a Lemurian emperor

Sub-Mariner #10
Marvel ⋅ 1969
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Sub-Mariner #10
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$50

Key Facts

Origin of the Serpent Crown

1st appearance of Karthon, tasked to find the Serpent Crown

Sub-Mariner #12
Marvel ⋅ 1969
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Sub-Mariner #12
 
Low
$4
Mid
$10
High
$40

Key Facts

Origin of the Serpent Crown

Avengers, The #71
Marvel ⋅ 1969
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Avengers, The #71
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$115

Key Facts

Black Knight joins the Avengers

1st unofficial team appearance of the Invaders: Captain America, Human Torch and Sub-Mariner

Sub-Mariner #20
Marvel ⋅ 1969
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Sub-Mariner #20
 
Low
$15
Mid
$50
High
$150

Key Facts

First battle of Doctor Doom vs Namor

Sub-Mariner #22
Marvel ⋅ 1970
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Sub-Mariner #22
 
Low
$3
Mid
$9
High
$30

Key Facts

First meeting of Namor and Doctor Strange

Crossover story arc continues from Doctor Strange #183 and concludes in The Incredible Hulk #126, leads to the formation of the Defenders

1st appearance of Nameless One, leader of the Undying Ones, a race of ancient demons

Iron Man #25
Marvel ⋅ 1970
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Iron Man #25
 
Low
$5
Mid
$15
High
$50

Key Facts

Battle of Iron Man vs Sub-Mariner

Iron Man Annual #1
Marvel ⋅ 1970
View Details
Iron Man Annual #1
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$50

Key Facts

Reprinted stories featuring Iron Man and Sub-Mariner crossovers

Sub-Mariner #29
Marvel ⋅ 1970
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Sub-Mariner #29
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$45

Key Facts

First meeting and battle of Namor and Hercules

1st team appearance of the Sirens, agents of Zeus

Sub-Mariner #33
Marvel ⋅ 1971
View Details
Sub-Mariner #33
 
Low
$5
Mid
$20
High
$65

Key Facts

1st appearance of Namora since the Golden Age, briefly in a flashback

Engagement of Namor and Dorma

Marvelmania Magazine #4
Independent ⋅ 1971
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Marvelmania Magazine #4
 
Low
$10
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$30
High
$100

Key Facts

An independently-published magazine produced by fans but authorized by Marvel Comics

Included interviews, features of upcoming projects, character bios and comic strips

Sub-Mariner #35
Marvel ⋅ 1971
View Details
Sub-Mariner #35
 
Low
$10
Mid
$30
High
$100

Key Facts

Battle of Hulk, Silver Surfer and Namor vs The Avengers

Sub-Mariner #38
Marvel ⋅ 1971
View Details
Sub-Mariner #38
 
Low
$4
Mid
$12
High
$40

Key Facts

Origin of Namor

Marvel Feature #1
Marvel ⋅ 1971
View Details  ⋅  View Variants (1)
Marvel Feature #1
 
Low
$35
Mid
$95
High
$385

Key Facts

1st team appearance and origin of The Defenders: Doctor Strange, Hulk, Sub-Mariner

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