3 pictures presented without comment

[Ender]

Namor, Prince of Atlantis normally:



Namor, Price of Atlanis in Brian Bendis's "Dark Reign"



Brian Bendis:

[Ghost Rider]

Bendis hopes he's as badass as Namor.

[Havok]

That is hilarious. Who decided that Namor should start looking like a balding drunk though?

[Publius]

Namor has traditionally been one of Marvel's most readily recognizable characters; the combination of his widow's peak, swept back black hair, pointed ears, pointed eyebrows, sharply defined jaw, and generally condescending attitude has made him easily identifiable regardless of who draws him. Likewise his voice; virtually all writers have given him much the same speech pattern (fairly dripping with hauteur), so that his has been one of the most consistent characters over the past 70 years.

In Secret Invasion: Dark Reign, he is chiefly recognizable as Namor because he is specifically identified by name. Neither his appearance nor his speech pattern is particularly characteristic. Given how distinctive Namor has been for many decades, this reflects poorly on both the illustrator (Alex Maleev) and the writer (Brian Michael Bendis).

[Ford Prefect]

I want to reply to this by smashing my fists into my keyboard until the bloody keys are scattered across the room. I really do.

[Majin Gojira]

The only good thing to come out of that special was the final conversation between Namor and Doom, basically saying "Dude, we've been through this before. We're to smart to fall for this BS."

[Crom]

I would be interested in hearing what motivated the artistic choices that brought all this about. My fear is that this would somehow become the new Namorian standard. I was starting to like Namor.

[Grasscutter]

It's odd because Maleev is perfectly capable of drawing a Namor that looks and moves like Namor:

[Shroom Man 777]

That new grim and gritty (check the stubble) version of Namor is interesting. I like the cut of his jib.

[Darth Hoth]

A new definition of "author insert" for Marvel?

[Havok]

Grasscutter
Even that is pushing it. Namor has never been, either originally or otherwise, depicted with a rounded chin. He also isn't in the midst of male pattern baldness, but has a very pronounced widow's peak. There is a distinct difference. Something that... Maleev seems to completely miss.

[Shroom Man 777]

I think he kind of resembles Robert Patrick, the T-1000. Such an angular face, with the sharp features and such.

[NeoGoomba]

I always enjoyed the joke in Toyfare where people keep calling Namor "Spock". Not a bad comparison.

This, however, looks like Namor is attempting to audition for the role of Vic in The Shield.

[Crom]

I'm relieved we didn't get Brian Michael Bendis in a green scale speedo.

[Rye]

Back to the status quo, immediately! WHO DARES CHANGE NEMO? I mean, NAMOR?? Bleh, 60 year old characters appearing aged (complete with baldness) isn't so bad, though I agree he should look like Robert Patrick rather than the guy writing it, hah.

[Crom]

Back to the status quo, immediately! WHO DARES CHANGE NEMO? I mean, NAMOR?? Bleh, 60 year old characters appearing aged (complete with baldness) isn't so bad, though I agree he should look like Robert Patrick rather than the guy writing it, hah.

Namor is unique in that he hasn't been retconned younger. He's kind of quasi-immortal and thus has a reason why he never looks older.

[CarsonPalmer]

Am I the only one who thinks Brian Bendis bears a slight resemblance to Kevin Spacey?

[Havok]

Back to the status quo, immediately! WHO DARES CHANGE NEMO? I mean, NAMOR?? Bleh, 60 year old characters appearing aged (complete with baldness) isn't so bad, though I agree he should look like Robert Patrick rather than the guy writing it, hah.

And if you knew anything about what you are talking about you would know that Marvel uses a sliding time scale and all the events that happened in the 60s in RT only happened about 15 years ago in universe. Also you would know that the average Atlanteans live to be around 120, and obviously Namor is far beyond average, and that he is considered to be at the peak of his power ATM.

Needless to say, there is a nice big glass of Shut the Fuck up waiting for you on the sink.

[JME2]

This, however, looks like Namor is attempting to audition for the role of Vic in The Shield.

That was my thought, too.

Anyway, fun find.

[18-Till-I-Die]

You know, even if they are trying to "age" him or whatever (i doubt it...) that still makes no sense as his entire face's bone structure seems to have changed. That's not putting on weight that's your entire chin and jawline changing. That can't happen normally, as far as i know. Not to mention the fact that even if they were trying to make him look older, or some such, then why does he look like Bendis. Realistically (lol) if he were going to become old and bald, he'd still look like himself...basically like Spock but old and balding. His entire head-shape, jaw structure and nose wouldn't dramatically shift in shape and size just cause he gets old, at least as far as i know.

And of course the whole "Atlanteans age slower than Sean Conery" thing and he's only, like, thirty out of 120 possible years meaning he should look more like a teenager by our standards of aging. Or put another way, if someone was one-fourth the way through their lifespan (lets say 70-80 for humans) they'd be about 17-20, so if Atlanteans age physically even remotely like us he's not even half way through his lifepsan. He shouldn't LOOK old or balding he should realistically be about the same physical age as Patriot or Stature. And last i checked most teens/twentysomethings we're balding or grizzled.

[Glimmervoid]

Back to the status quo, immediately! WHO DARES CHANGE NEMO? I mean, NAMOR?? Bleh, 60 year old characters appearing aged (complete with baldness) isn't so bad, though I agree he should look like Robert Patrick rather than the guy writing it, hah.

And if you knew anything about what you are talking about you would know that Marvel uses a sliding time scale and all the events that happened in the 60s in RT only happened about 15 years ago in universe. Also you would know that the average Atlanteans live to be around 120, and obviously Namor is far beyond average, and that he is considered to be at the peak of his power ATM.

Needless to say, there is a nice big glass of Shut the Fuck up waiting for you on the sink.

Correct me if I am wrong but I am fairly sure that does not apply to World War II hero. All the heroes that fought in WW2 (like Captain America, Nick Fury and indeed Namor) still fought in World War 2 but have been brought to the modern again in one way or another, Captain America by being frozen in ice, Nick Fury by the infinity formula and Namor by not being human and hence aging slower.
I am fairly sure I remember a reference to him being a member of the Invaders and fighting in WW2 made just a few years ago.

[Tsyroc]

Correct me if I am wrong but I am fairly sure that does not apply to World War II hero. All the heroes that fought in WW2 (like Captain America, Nick Fury and indeed Namor) still fought in World War 2 but have been brought to the modern again in one way or another, Captain America by being frozen in ice, Nick Fury by the infinity formula and Namor by not being human and hence aging slower.
I am fairly sure I remember a reference to him being a member of the Invaders and fighting in WW2 made just a few years ago.

Namor was definitely part of the Invaders.

With the way he was drawn in those stories it could even be argued that he was obviously quite a bit younger then since he was much thiner than how most artists currently draw him, which is usually much more muscular. Also, since one of the main guys he would go toe to toe with in WWII was Master Man, it could also be interpreted that younger Namor was maybe half as strong as the current Namor, but that's going mostly by what the various Handbooks of the Marvel Universe have stated as strength levels for Namor and Master Man.

[Glimmervoid]

Correct me if I am wrong but I am fairly sure that does not apply to World War II hero. All the heroes that fought in WW2 (like Captain America, Nick Fury and indeed Namor) still fought in World War 2 but have been brought to the modern again in one way or another, Captain America by being frozen in ice, Nick Fury by the infinity formula and Namor by not being human and hence aging slower.
I am fairly sure I remember a reference to him being a member of the Invaders and fighting in WW2 made just a few years ago.

Namor was definitely part of the Invaders.

With the way he was drawn in those stories it could even be argued that he was obviously quite a bit younger then since he was much thiner than how most artists currently draw him, which is usually much more muscular. Also, since one of the main guys he would go toe to toe with in WWII was Master Man, it could also be interpreted that younger Namor was maybe half as strong as the current Namor, but that's going mostly by what the various Handbooks of the Marvel Universe have stated as strength levels for Namor and Master Man.

Yep just found the quote.

Initially a worldwide wartime menace circa his debut in 1939, Namor, half-human scion of undersea Atlantis, became a dedicated U.S. ally as a member of the Invaders. Active off and on until 1958...

-Civil War: Battle Damage Report, First Printed 2007 page 37

This is writen in universe by Iron Man, I think. So he has been active since at least 1939, making him at the very least 68 likly older.

[Havok]

Namor was born in 1916 IIRC, so he was only about 20 when he made his first appearance in the surface world. Going by the average Atlantean age span of about 120, he would be well into his later life, being about 92. However, Namor is far from an average Atlantean.

Namor did indeed fight with the Invaders, along side Steve Rogers, James Barnes, the original Human Torch etc., but again, he was in his mid to late 20s during this time.

Any seeming lack in strength for Namor then as compared with now could be attributed both to not being mature as far as his power goes and that at the time, the unknown fact that his powers and mind reacted adversely to pollution and from extended periods of time out of the ocean/water usually resulted in a lack of strength and him becoming slightly to severely irrational and unstable mentally.

[Havok]

Back to the status quo, immediately! WHO DARES CHANGE NEMO? I mean, NAMOR?? Bleh, 60 year old characters appearing aged (complete with baldness) isn't so bad, though I agree he should look like Robert Patrick rather than the guy writing it, hah.

And if you knew anything about what you are talking about you would know that Marvel uses a sliding time scale and all the events that happened in the 60s in RT only happened about 15 years ago in universe. Also you would know that the average Atlanteans live to be around 120, and obviously Namor is far beyond average, and that he is considered to be at the peak of his power ATM.

Needless to say, there is a nice big glass of Shut the Fuck up waiting for you on the sink.

Correct me if I am wrong but I am fairly sure that does not apply to World War II hero. All the heroes that fought in WW2 (like Captain America, Nick Fury and indeed Namor) still fought in World War 2 but have been brought to the modern again in one way or another, Captain America by being frozen in ice, Nick Fury by the infinity formula and Namor by not being human and hence aging slower.
I am fairly sure I remember a reference to him being a member of the Invaders and fighting in WW2 made just a few years ago.

The first part of my response was directed at the "60 year old characters...", which didn't address Namor specifically, but the original Marvel Universe characters in general. However, it does still apply to Namor and Captain America as far as their recent adventures go that aren't attributed directly to WWII or, in Cap's situation, someone other than Steve Rogers wearing the Cap suit, IIRC. (i.e. The Avengers thawed out Steve Rogers 15+ years ago.)