TOP TEN NAMOR THE SUB-MARINER VILLAINS
Inspired by a combination of elements from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's epic 1798 poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Greek and Roman mythology, high fantasy, DC's Superman, and the myths and mysteries of the oceans, Namor is one of Marvel Comics' oldest and greatest characters. Created solely by Bill Everett and first published in Marvel Comics #1 from October 1939, the Sub-Mariner is a vitally important character to Marvel's publishing history and the lore of their universe. While he hasn't received the level of respect and admiration that he deserves in this current era of comics, his importance to Marvel will never be diminished.
Namor has been one my top favorite Marvel characters for a long time. He's a layered and complex personality, often labeled as an anti-hero (in that he opposes the surface world) and sometimes misinterpreted as villainous. Namor is a fierce defender of his people, his sole motivation being the protection of Atlantis. He has one of the most storied histories in the Marvel universe, adventures spanning pre-World War II eras, fighting alongside Captain America, the original Human Torch, and others on Marvel's first super hero team: The Invaders, to later becoming a Defender with Hulk, Doctor Strange, and the Silver Surfer, to becoming an Avenger and even a member of the X-Men for a time.
With all of this history and lore to Namor's credit, the Sub-Mariner has fought a host of villains with a large and extensive rogues' galley. Like many of Marvel's heroes, Namor's enemies are not celebrated as loudly as Spider-Man's or the Fantastic Four's, but these villains terrorizing the oceans are no less entertaining. Over the course of many years of reading and following the exploits of these characters, I've come to know and love seeing these colorful and dastardly devils appear time and again to plague the Sub-Mariner.
Here's my list of favorite Sub-Mariner villains from Marvel Comics.
"IMPERIOUS REX!"
Honorable Mentions
DOCTOR DOOM
Namor and Doctor Doom's relationship and history is quite unique and complex, but make no mistake, they are bitter enemies through and through. They share a mutual disdain for most of the world (albeit for different reasons) as well as animosity towards the Fantastic Four, both of which have sometimes seen Doctor Doom and Namor on the same side. This has often led to a misunderstanding that the two characters are allies. While they have forged temporary alliances at times, and Doom has expressed admiration and respect for Namor in their similar roles as monarchs of ostracized nations, their every team-up has been Doom manipulating Namor for his own ends.
Either outright opposing Namor and Atlantis or preying upon Namor's struggle to defend his people from calamity, Doctor Doom's self-serving nature is always discovered in the end. Namor's fury inevitably turns back on the Latverian monarch, often to Doom's chagrin. I've placed Doctor Doom as an honorable mention, despite often clashing with Namor, in that Doctor Doom will always be a Fantastic Four villain. His battles with Namor are epic and many, but he belongs on another list. Despite that though, I have to acknowledge their long-standing relationship/fued.
THE DEFENDERS OF THE DEEP
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"So..., what's Namor doing with a bunch of his enemies?" you might ask. Andromeda makes sense as she has been a longtime ally and friend (and a member of the Defenders). But the others? Bloodtide and Piranha are completely unrecognizable (and not altogether bad, but...). Orka and Tiger-Shark look pretty cool in their new designs and so do newcomers King Crab and Echidna (who briefly appeared in a pair of issues of FEARLESS DEFENDERS). And Manowar lurks in the background barely visible (see below for a better picture). Aside from Namor and Andromeda, this is a Sub-Mariner super-villain team (which is why I included it here as a bonus because... they're allies with Namor at this point in the story?).
David Marquez is the artist and delivers some gorgeous artwork here. Without getting into it, I'm not too thrilled with this story direction for Namor by Jason Aaron and, while I love the artwork, I hope Namor is treated better in the future. I digress... On with the actual list!
THE BONUSES
I may have gone a little overboard here, not going to lie. As you'll see, there are quite a few bonus villains. This blog post is my love letter to the villains of the Sub-Mariner and I felt limiting it to just ten characters wasn't enough. How often do we get to have a discussion about Sub-Mariner's rogues' gallery? Not often. So I'm taking the opportunity and going for it!
#19
THE BEHEMOTH
First Appearance: Tales To Astonish #77 (March 1966)
Who He Is: The Behemoth was an ancient Atlantean construct, genetically created in their labs to be the "Last Resort" weapon. A monstrous defender of Atlantis. Hank Pym, conducting underwater experiments, accidentally created earthquakes around Atlantis, awakening the Behemoth from his centuries long slumber. Warlord Krang, allied with the Puppet Master, manipulated a clay figurine of the Behemoth (sculpted by the Puppet Master) into attacking Atlantis. Namor battled the monster but was severely outmatched. Commanding a group of eels to electrify the monster, the powerful electric shock sent feedback to Krang's clay figurine, rendering the figurine inert. Free from Krang's evil control, the Behemoth was led to an undersea area of quicksand where it sank into the Earth.
Why I Like Him: One of the main appeals of the Sub-Mariner's stories are the strange and awesome undersea creatures and monsters. I love monsters to no end and the Behemoth is one of those classic Stan Lee & Gene Colan creations. He was only used in one story arc and I'd love to see him resurrected someday (as an ally of Namor's).
#18
THE SEAWEED MAN
First Appearance: Tales To Astonish #71 (September 1965)
Who He Is: The Seaweed Man is an ancient guardian creature dwelling deep within the ocean depths. After Warlord Krang usurped the throne of Atlantis, Namor set out on an epic quest to find the fabled Trident of Neptune and prove his right by blood as the true heir of Atlantis. While nearing the sacred cave of Neptune, the Seaweed Man appeared before Namor. Revealing himself to be one of the guardians of Neptune's shrine, the Seaweed Man declared that only in defeat would Namor learn the next clue on his way to find the Trident. Unable to defeat the Seaweed Man through raw strength, Namor swam in circles at tremendous speeds to create a powerful whirlpool. The intense currents scattered the seaweed about the ocean floor and Namor was able to continue along his quest.
Years later, malevolent aliens known as Dire Wraiths were drawn to the powerful magics within the sacred Shrine of Neptune. When Namor arrived to battle them, the Dire Wraiths used their magics to enhance the power of the Seaweed Man, who had since reconstituted and lay dormant within Neptune's Shrine. Twisted and corrupted by the evil magics, the Seaweed Man became a mindless beast of destruction. Absorbing all of the Dire Wraiths magics, the Seaweed Man grew to colossal proportions and lumbered towards Atlantis and attacked. Namor, leading the entire Atlantean army, fought against the Seaweed Man yet again and, with the help of Rom - the SpaceKnight, was able to defeat the Seaweed Man once more.
Why I Like Him: A primeval mystic being, perhaps imbued with Neptune's own power, the Seaweed Man is one of the guardians of Neptune's shrine, and that alone is too cool. His initial appearance is in one of Namor's best stories: THE QUEST FOR THE TRIDENT, written by Stan "the Man" Lee. He only ever reappears in one more story and it too is one of my favorite Namor stories, found surprisingly within the pages of ROM - SPACEKNIGHT. Rom #34 and #35 see the Seaweed Man return in a big way and, if I'm being honest, present him even better than before. Both stories featuring the Seaweed Man are great and essential reads for Sub-Mariner lore. That alone makes him worthy of being on this list, even if he doesn't have many appearances to his credit.
#17
TORG - THE ABOMINABLE SNOW-KING
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner #55 (November 1972)
Who He Is: An ancient beast from times long since passed, Torg - the Abominable Snow-King, staked claim over the icy waters off the coast of Antarctica (near the ruins of the first kingdom of Atlantis). Gargantuan in size and strength along with intelligence and cunning, Torg attacked ice-breaker ships, stealing their supplies and kidnapping the crewmen. Namor, while scouring the ruins of old Atlantis, happened upon Torg and engaged the Snow-King in battle, eventually trapping him in crude oil sludge and sealing him in ice.
Why I Like Him: I love monsters and one of my favorite aspects of the Sub-Mariner comics are the sea monsters that periodically appear. Created by Namor's own creator, Bill Everett, I was instantly drawn to the character. Torg is like a combination of King Kong and the Bumble (from Rudolph) or even Gaira - the green gargantua (from War of the Gargantuas). He's only ever been used in this one issue (and wonderfully illustrated), but I'd love to see him return in a new terrifying way.
#16
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner #70 (May 1974)
Who He Is: During a battle where Namor fought against Doctor Dorcas' Aquanoids (a group of genetically engineered sea creature mutants), the chemicals leftover accidentally transformed a piranha fish into a literal bloodthirsty humanoid monster. Creating more fish-men and tracking Namor to Hydro-Base, Piranha inherited Doctor Dorcas' hatred of Namor and attacked. In an ironic twist of fate, after receiving a wound, a pack of piranha came and devoured Piranha himself. But the blood of the mutated Piranha transformed the others into identical mutant Piranha creatures to return and plague Namor time and again.
Why I Like Him: Piranha has all the makings of a terrifying undersea monster. Created by Marv Wolfman (an expert at creating comic book horror), Piranha is like the crazed homicidal maniac of the ocean. Blood and guts naturally follow this villain wherever he goes. I love the idea of this character and the horror and gore that accompanies him.
#15
FATHOM FIVE
First Appearance (as a team): New Thunderbolts #1 (January 2005)
Team Roster:
Llyron (1st app - Namor The Sub-Mariner #54 Sept 1994),
Dragonrider (1st app - Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1 Sept 1984),
Bloodtide (1st app - New Thunderbolts #1 Jan 2005)
Sea Leopard (1st app - Namor The Sub-Mariner #52 July 1994),
Manowar (1st app - Fantastic Four Unlimited #11 Sept 1995).
Why I Like Them: This team consists of Sub-Mariner villains both new and old. Llyron is the son of Namor's despicable enemy Llyra and was once the ruler of Atlantis, having dethroned Namor at the time. Essentially an evil Namor, mirroring the Avenging Son in powers and appearance, he leads the Fathom Five. An Atlantean extremist group belonging to a population of Atlanteans that broke away from Atlantis, they have conducted terrorist attacks in the name of At'la'tique, purveyors of the ancient teachings of Nagala and Shakkoth. That's a fancy way of saying they're destroying the surface world to make way for their prophesied god, Set.
These guys haven't been in much as a team, but they are rife with potential. There's a great deal of background lore to them, which is shame that it isn't being used. The characters themselves are in much the same situation, either untouched or forgotten in almost 20 years or mishandled as of late. Simply put, the shining aspect of this team are the character designs. These guys, rendered by great artists like Geoff Isherwood and Tom Grummett, look great. And with the aforementioned background lore, this leaves these characters in a great position for another creator to pick up the baton and do something epic in the future.
#14
NAGALA
First Appearance: Defenders Vol.2 #7 (September 2001)
Who She Is: A Lemurian priestess and descendant of the serpent god, Set, Nagala is the great granddaughter of Naga, the former emperor of Lemurian. Utilizing ancient magic, Nagala herself is a powerful sorceress and a one-time wielder of the fabled Serpent Crown, an ancient artifact of terrible immense power and the gateway for Set to enter our dimension. Already a formidable magic user, her threat level is of the highest order when in possession of the Serpent Crown. At one time she allied herself with Attuma and his aquatic super villain team: DEEP SIX (Attuma, Piranha, Orka, Sea Urchin, and Tiger Shark). Defeated by Sub-Mariner and the Defenders, Nagala retreated into hiding. Rumors place her as the leader of At'la'tique and the commander of the Fathom Five, preparing for Set's coming.
Why I Like Her: Designed by industry legend Erik Larsen, Nagala is basically a gender swapped version the villain Naga (see below). Naga had two big story arcs and his character was done, which is cool because he was treated well in both and had a pretty decisive demise. Nagala now takes up the mission from her great grandfather and, with a ton of lore surrounding her already, has a ton of potential for stories going forward.
#13
ARADNEA
First Appearance: Fear Itself: The Deep #1 (August 2011)
Who She Is: Sister of the evil Atlantean warrior Tyrak, Aradnea is an underwater sorceress aligned with dark forces. Serving Attuma when he was the Breaker of Oceans "Nerkkod," Aradnea opened a mystical rift to the realm of the Undying Ones and fused the demons with various sea creatures, flooding the oceans with horrific monsters. Through the combined powers of Namor and the Defenders, Aradnea was defeated and the oceans were saved. Aradnea later returned as a Doom Maiden for the evil Caroline Le Fay.
Why I Like Her: First off, she has a visually striking and captivating character design. One look at this character and you immediately feel their presence. Her abilities as a sorceress lend this character with countless possibilities for stories and for what they can or could do in the future. To be clear, I like what has been done with this character, but more than that, I'm in love with the idea of what this character could do. This character has not been featured in many comics, leaving a lot of untapped potential for greatness.
#12
PRINCE BYRRAH
First Appearance: Marvel Mystery Comics #82 (May 1947)
Who He Is: Byrrah is Namor's cousin and a true blood heir to the throne of Atlantis. Believing Namor unfit to rule Atlantis (because of Namor's mixed heritage), Byrrah set himself against Namor, campaigning to undermine Namor's legitimacy to the throne, turning the Atlantean people against him (using mind control in addition to slander), then poisoning Namor and challenging the weakened monarch to battle for the throne. Namor lost and Byrrah won the monarchy. Eventually his evil plot was outed and Namor reclaimed the throne. But Byrrah would return time and again, allied with Namor's various enemies, to hopefully defeat the Sub-Mariner once and for all.
Why I Like Him: Byrrah, along with Warlord Krang and others, add a unique style of antagonism to Namor: political intrigue. The current pop-culture description would be "Game-of-Thronesy." As a kid such stories were kinda boring, but as an adult these kinds of stories are more attractive and intriguing. Byrrah's story is among Marvel's earliest political thrillers and the character represents a different kind of threat to Namor than most of his enemies.
#11
WARLORD KRANG
First Appearance: Fantastic Four Annual #1 (June 1963)
Who He Is: Krang once proudly served Atlantis as it's chief warlord. Overtime he grew jealous of Namor, coveting the throne and the beauteous Lady Dorma (Namor's future queen). In his first act of animosity (for which there'd be many more), he challenged Namor's fealty to Atlantis (citing Namor's love for Sue Richards). He forced Namor to quest for Neptune's Trident in order to prove Namor's loyalty, a perilous quest from which none had ever returned. Namor returned with the Trident and defeated Krang, exiling him from Atlantis. Ever the schemer, Krang would return time and again to plague Namor and fair Atlantis.
Why I Like Him: Krang is a classic villain in every way. A conniving schemer, using his intelligence and resources to undermine a more physically powerful foe, Krang is the Lex Luther of Namor's rogues' gallery. Created by the legends themselves, Jack Kirby and Stan Lee, Warlord Krang may not be the most interesting of Namor's villains, but he's a longtime foe who has endured the test of time, and an essential character to the Sub-Mariner's saga.
THE TOP TEN
#10
U-MAN (MERRANO)
First Appearance: Invaders #3 (November 1975)
Who He Is: Once a scientist of Atlantis, Merrano attempted to turn Atlantis over to the Nazis in World War II. Namor banished him from the realm and made an eternal enemy as a result. Merrano joined the Axis and underwent experiments that imbued him with enhanced physical power. Leading the German U-boats against the Allied Forces, Merrano adopted the name U-Man and battled against Namor and the Invaders during the war. Later U-Man joined forces with the Nazi super villain team, the Super Axis.
Why I Like Him: Every hero needs an unredeemable truly despicable villain in their rogues' gallery, a villain with no sympathy and a truly black heart. Merrano is that character for Namor. An unrepentant monster, Merrano could easily go to Red Skull depths of evil. He was Namor's main enemy during the Invaders era.
#9
DOCTOR DORCAS
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner #5 (September 1968)
Who He Is: Dr. Lemuel Dorcas was a marine biologist, geneticist, and megalomaniac. The antithesis of Walter Newell (the super hero known as Stingray), Dr. Dorcas was obsessed with augmenting marine biology, creating new creatures and life-forms. He created many such genetic mutants and set them against Namor time and time again. Dwelling in his secret mobile underwater base, Dr. Dorcas has always been quick to unleash his latest creations against Namor. He even returned after his supposed death, having altered his own genetics with the regenerative abilities of a starfish!
Why I Like Him: Dr. Dorcas is the resident mad scientist of the Sub-Mariner saga (the Doctor Moreau of the ocean essentially). With him in the story there's no telling what crazy things we'll see. He also brings with him a degree of uncertainty, you never know what he's planned and or created. He's the character who created some of Namor's most recognizable foes like Tiger Shark, Piranha, and Orka. Now, Dr. Dorcas is considerably less interesting to me than his creations, but without Dr. Dorcas we wouldn't have so many crazy and wonderful creatures in the Marvel universe.
#8
TYRAK
First Appearance: Avengers #154 (December 1976)
Who He Is: A spy and supporter of the warlord, Attuma, Tyrak began working in secret against the Avengers and ultimately in service of Attuma taking the Atlantean throne. Intelligent and cunning, Tyrak was experimented on and turned into an Atlantean super-soldier. Imbued with super strength and enhanced durability, Tyrak single handedly defeated a team of Avengers before going after Namor and Hydro-base. He revealed another power to increase his size and strength at will, becoming giant-size and nearly unstoppable. Tyrak has returned multiple times at the behest of Attuma laying waste wherever he appears.
Why I Like Him: Created by industry legends Gerry Conway and George Perez, Tyrak is a force to be reckoned with whenever he appears. He's actually had more appearances in the Avengers than in Sub-Mariner comics, Tyrak has always been working towards Namor's defeat. I see Tyrak like the Juggernaut to Attuma's Magneto. I like his design by George Perez and I always like seeing him show up and wreak havoc. Tyrak has a ton of potential and is a powerhouse villain.
#7
ORKA
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner #23 (March 1970)
Who He Is: Mungo was an Atlantean loyal to Warlord Krang, even after Krang's disgrace and exile. A simple-minded, physically imposing figure, he selflessly served Krang's whims. When Krang encountered Dr. Dorcas, Krang volunteered Mungo for Dorcas' experimentation. Dorcas transformed Mungo into Orka, greatly enhancing his strength, altering his anatomy to allow him to breath air, and granting him dominion over killer whales. Orka possesses physical strength far greater than Namor and is willing to kill if his master wishes it!
Why I Like Him: I've always had a soft spot for super strong brutish characters (Hulk, Abomination, ect.). I encountered Orka at a young age in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Master Edition. He's a character that immediately forces Namor to think of other means to defeat him since physically overpowering Orka isn't an option. I like characters who force heroes into those types of situations. He's so strong he's fought off Thor and the Avengers on his own! Orka's design, while a little outdated, has always been something I've liked (rooted in my nostalgia). He's in need of an update and a writer to take him seriously, for sure. But even reading those classic stories today he's still a fun, if archetypal, character.
#6
SET
First Appearance: Marvel Feature #6 (September 1976)
What It Is: During the dawn of Earth's existence (the First Age if you like your Tolkienisms) primal gods roamed and fought over dominion of the world. The great seven-headed serpent god, Set, was among the most powerful and malicious. Set eventually fled inside another dimension as did the other elder gods to avoid being wiped out by the Demogorge, the great devourer of gods. Constantly seeking to return to Earth, Set's power and influence has manifested many times upon our dimension. In the Hyborian age Set created the race of Serpent Men who battle against Conan, King Kull, and Red Sonja. Concentrating all of Set's power on a single object, the Serpent Men created the Serpent Crown. The Serpent Crown remained the greatest source of Set's power on Earth and was potentially a means to allow him to enter our dimension. When the oceans drank Atlantis and Lemuria the Serpent Crown was lost for ages.
Millennia later a group of homo-mermanus discovered the Serpent Crown and founded Lemuria. These people evolved into the present day Lemurians. The Serpent Crown slowly influenced their genetics, giving them green skin and reptilian features. When the Serpent Crown was used against Namor, the Atlanteans and Lemurians clashed. The Lemurian king, Naga, used the Serpent Crown to open a gateway for Set to emerge. As Set passed through the gateway a contingent of Earth's greatest super heroes were able to stop Set's arrival and close the portal.
Millennia later a group of homo-mermanus discovered the Serpent Crown and founded Lemuria. These people evolved into the present day Lemurians. The Serpent Crown slowly influenced their genetics, giving them green skin and reptilian features. When the Serpent Crown was used against Namor, the Atlanteans and Lemurians clashed. The Lemurian king, Naga, used the Serpent Crown to open a gateway for Set to emerge. As Set passed through the gateway a contingent of Earth's greatest super heroes were able to stop Set's arrival and close the portal.
Why I Like It: Set is the uber-powerful evil entity of the Namor mythology (the Marvel Conan mythology too). One of my favorite sagas of Namor's is that of the Serpent Crown. Set represents the dire stakes at risk when the Serpent Crown is involved. Of all of Namor's battles, his struggles against Lemuria and the Serpent Crown have saved the Earth and perhaps our reality from utter destruction, unbeknownst to the other heroes or the world. The stakes are always pretty epic in comic book storytelling, but Set launches the threat into the stratosphere.
Admittedly, Set isn't a character that shows up a lot. Set is more of an ominous evil presence in the background. Of course, my affinity for monsters plays a little part in my liking of this character too.
Admittedly, Set isn't a character that shows up a lot. Set is more of an ominous evil presence in the background. Of course, my affinity for monsters plays a little part in my liking of this character too.
#5
NAGA
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner #9 (January 1969)
Who He Is: The ancient tyrannical ruler of long lost Lemuria, Naga was once a normal looking blue-skinned merman. One day Naga discovered the fabled Serpent Crown and the donned helm. The power of Set quickly overtook his mind. It gave him vast magical power as well as immortality. The longer he worn the crown the more his body changed. His blue skin took on a green complexion, scales eventually appearing. And finally his face transformed into more serpentine features. The influence of the Serpent Crown began transforming all the Lemurians under his ruler. Then, one day, a Lemurian thief stole the crown and hid it far away where Naga would never again find it.
Present day, the Serpent Crown reemerged in Atlantis. Namor, upon returning home, discovered all the citizens of Atlantis enthralled by the mysterious crown. His beloved Dorma donned the crown and was possessed by the power of Set. A Lemurian Quester, Karthon, retrieved the crown and returned it to an infirmed Naga, restoring his vitality and might. With the crown once again in hand, Naga threatened to take over all the oceans and then the surface world itself. Namor knew Naga had to be stopped. The two monarchs battled each other. Naga conjured beasts from the nightmares of Namor's mind, even controlling the very oceans themselves. It was not by Namor's hand that Naga met defeat, but rather one of Naga's own men, Karthon, who slew the tyrant.
Present day, the Serpent Crown reemerged in Atlantis. Namor, upon returning home, discovered all the citizens of Atlantis enthralled by the mysterious crown. His beloved Dorma donned the crown and was possessed by the power of Set. A Lemurian Quester, Karthon, retrieved the crown and returned it to an infirmed Naga, restoring his vitality and might. With the crown once again in hand, Naga threatened to take over all the oceans and then the surface world itself. Namor knew Naga had to be stopped. The two monarchs battled each other. Naga conjured beasts from the nightmares of Namor's mind, even controlling the very oceans themselves. It was not by Namor's hand that Naga met defeat, but rather one of Naga's own men, Karthon, who slew the tyrant.
Why I Like Him: Naga hasn't been in too many books, but the stories he has been involved in were epic. Even after death his spirit endured inside the Serpent Crown. He reemerged on multiple occasions where the Serpent Crown had been donned, including during the final moments of the ATLANTIS ATTACKS saga. He's a foe that Namor has never beat and is sort of the vessel for Set upon our plane of existence. He's completely insane and hellbent on unleashing Set upon the universe. Naga's debut story arc is one of Namor's earliest seminal sagas and still one of the the greatest. Naga is a character I'd love to write in the terribly unlikely scenario I'd be working for Marvel.
#4
SUMA KET
First Appearance: Namor the Sub-Mariner #36 (March 1993)
Who He Is: Millennia ago the ancient Atlanteans were plagued by horrific creatures known as the Faceless Ones. A demonic sorcerer and necromancer named Suma Ket and his servants, the Unforgiven Dead, arrived in Atlantis and defeated the Faceless Ones. Grateful for Suma Ket's help, the Atlanteans disposed of their king and placed Suma Ket as their new king. Suma Ket soon revealed his true intentions, becoming a tyrannical ruler and sacrificing Atlantean children for demonic rituals. The true heir to the throne of Atlantis eventually returned with the god Neptune and together were able to defeat Suma Ket and banish the necromancer to eternal damnation within the mystic Grey Waters.
Thousands of years later Suma Ket's wife, Artys-Gran, returned and released Suma Ket and the Unforgiven Dead from their prison. Suma Ket led another assault on Atlantis nearly killing Namor and taking back the throne. In order to defeat this most deadly of enemies, Namor quested the farthest depths of the oceans for the sacred armor of Atlantis and the power of Neptune himself. Gathering up allies composed of friends and foes alike, Namor led a grand battle against Suma Ket with the fate of the oceans and that of the Earth hanging in the balance.
Why I Like Him: Suma Ket is the central villain in my favorite Sub-Mariner story. He is essentially the dark lord Sauron of the ocean. His story is grand and epic, stretching far into the Marvel mythology in what feels like a sweeping fantasy epic of the highest stakes. And Jae Lee's artwork is insanely cool and frightening to behold. I doubt anyone but Jae Lee could render the character in such an incredible way. I love the design and it is equally complimented by his story. Suma Ket, to me, represents the ultimate evil Namor has ever had to face, pushing the hero to unknown lengths in order to triumph. Suma Ket's power is only rivaled by the serpent god, Set, and the power of the Serpent Crown. At least for me.
#3
TIGER SHARK
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner #5 (September 1968)
Who He Is: Todd Arliss was a world class Olympic swimmer who had reached his peak. In a Faustian deal with Dr. Dorcas, Arliss agreed to be experimented on in order to surpass his limits. Combining Arliss' genetics with that of Namor's and a Tiger Shark, Todd Arliss was transformed in body and mind into TIGER SHARK. The tiger shark's bestial instincts proved dominant, giving Todd Arliss a savage and blood thirsty personality coupled with the speed, strength, and durability of Namor. Tiger Shark proved more than a match for Namor and has become one of the Sub-Mariner's most tenacious enemies.
Why I Like Him: I am a sucker for characters who are essentially the hero's dark mirror image. I love Abomination, Sabretooth, and others similarly matched to their heroic counterparts. Tiger Shark is among that list. He's got power enough to battle Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and the Defenders and adds a degree of uncertainty wherever he appears. He's very akin to Sabretooth, a murderous bloodthirsty beast. He's one of the few to have bested Namor in battle. And though Llyra was involved, it was ultimately Tiger Shark who killed Namor's father.
#2
LLYRA
First Appearance: Sub-Mariner #32 (December 1970)
Who She Is: Daughter of a Lemurian man and a human woman, Llyra is a green-skinned human/mermaid mutant. Able to breath both in water and on land, Llyra ventured to Lemurian and usurped the throne from Namor's ally and fellow king, Karthon. Namor then arrived and freed Lemuria from Llyra's maniacal rule, earning Llyra's eternal scorn. Seeking to hurt Namor in any way that she can, Llyra has concocted numerous insidious plots against the Avenging Son.
Why I Like Her: While not a giant monster, genetic experiment, or evil underwater dark lord, Llyra may be the most heinous of Namor's enemies. Among all of the Sub-Mariner's enemies, Llyra has perpetrated some the worst acts against Namor in his entire publication history. Chief among her evil exploits being impersonating and then orchestrating the death of Namor's true love; the Lady Dorma, a devastating blow that has forever haunted the Avenging Son ever since.
Adding to Llyra's list of crimes, she later allied herself with Tiger Shark and aided the villain in the murder of Namor's father. Llyra then allied herself with Namor's evil cousin and heir to the throne of Atlantis; Prince Byrrah and, together, fatally poisoned Namora and kidnapped her daughter Namorita. She then became an ally the of Eternal deviant, Ghaur, and assisted in bringing the serpent god, Set, to Earth. And further still, she slept with Namor's half brother in order to bear a son, the green-skinned Llyron, in a bid to take the Atlantean throne. Among all of Namor's enemies, none has inflicted as much horror and torment upon the Sub-Mariner than Llyra.
#1
ATTUMA
First Appearance: Fantastic Four #33 (December 1964)
Who He Is: Warlord barbarian in the wilds of the ocean, Attuma and his people were banished from Atlantis long ago. Born with incredible physical strength and power far beyond that of other Atlanteans, Attuma believes he was born to be the future king of Atlantis. Raised a warrior, Attuma waged a war with Atlantis in a bid to take the throne by force, becoming king through "right by might." His plans came to a crushing halt when he was defeated by Namor and the Fantasic Four. Ever since, Attuma has been a threat to Atlantis and even the entire Earth at times.
Why I Like Him: If there is one villain among Namor's rogues gallery worthy of the title "Arch-Nemesis" it's Attuma. Attuma is essentially an evil super-powered "Conan the Barbarian" of the ocean. Battling not only Namor but also having battled the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, the Defenders, Alpha Flight, and others including Hulk, Jean Grey, and Spider-Man, Attuma is not only a threat to Atlantis, but the Marvel universe as a whole. His plots have always been grand and global in scope, with numerous bids to conquer Atlantis and the surface world, then aiding Ghaur in bringing about the reign of Set.
Personally I love Attuma's warlord persona and imposing appearance. His design is simple yet powerful, donning the skull of an undersea beast like a warrior wears the head and pelt of a lion or bear, Attuma exudes power. He has the makings of a great character with a tragic past and complex motivations. He has the versatility of character the likes of a Doctor Doom or Green Goblin where he can be either a "villain of the week" or a layered deadly threat. Over the years he has grown into a formidable foe that not only pushes Namor to his limits, but any hero unlucky enough to cross his path. Whenever Attuma is involved you know the fate of the world is at stake.
In short, Attuma is just badass and one of my favorite Marvel super-villains over all.
And there you have it!
The top ten Sub- err... Top Twenty Sub- err... Um.... 25 of my favorite Sub-Mariner villains. 'Phew!'
Obviously I had a tough time stopping going on and on about these characters. I was thinking of other Sub-Mariner centric lists while writing this one, like a list of Namor's great supporting cast and a list of the giant monsters of the deep, a list of my favorite Sub-Mariner stories, and a list of the ancient and powerful relics of the Sub-Mariner lore. The undersea world Marvel has crafted is truly rich in detail, history, and wonderful characters.
These guys need more love and quality treatment as there is so much that can still be done with them. And you know what, there are a plethora of other Namor villains spanning his 83 year history to be further revisited too. Marvel has some great rogues galleries among their catalog of characters and Namor's rogues are no less great, they just haven't been spotlighted lately as all.
What do you think?
Who are your favorite Sub-Mariner villains?
Leave a comment below!
And for more top ten lists, check out the posts below!
TOP TEN GHOST RIDERS
TOP TEN GHOST RIDER VILLAINS
TOP TEN DOCTOR STRANGE VILLAINS
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPERNATURAL HEROES
TOP TEN MARVEL HEROES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE HULK STORIES
TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS
TOP TEN MARVEL COSMIC WOMEN
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS
TOP TEN THOR VILLAINS
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HEROES
TOP TEN FAVORITE X-MEN
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HERO TEAMS
TOP TEN MARVEL ROMANCES
TOP TEN CAPTAIN MARVEL STORIES
TOP TEN GHOST RIDER VILLAINS
TOP TEN DOCTOR STRANGE VILLAINS
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPERNATURAL HEROES
TOP TEN MARVEL HEROES YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF
TOP TEN LEAST FAVORITE HULK STORIES
TOP TEN INCREDIBLE HULK VILLAINS
TOP TEN MARVEL COSMIC WOMEN
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER VILLAINS
TOP TEN THOR VILLAINS
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HEROES
TOP TEN FAVORITE X-MEN
TOP TEN MARVEL SUPER HERO TEAMS
TOP TEN MARVEL ROMANCES
TOP TEN CAPTAIN MARVEL STORIES
And just for a little extra, also because there aren't a whole lot of group pictures featuring Namor's rogues, I wanted to include this photo too. Also because the artwork is amazing!
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| With the exception of Andromeda, these are all enemies of Namor |
