Everything We Know About Stingray, Marvel’s Undersea Avenger

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Walter Newell, also known as the character Stingray, is one of the lesser-known Marvel heroes who has had some major impacts over the years. First appearing in 1967’s Tales to Astonish #95, the genius engineer and oceanographer has been involved with some of Marvel’s most harrowing events, such as Armor Wars and Civil War. While many readers may be unfamiliar with Stingray, the hero has been a member of numerous superhero teams, including the Avengers and Deadpool’s Mercs for Money.

While Stingray has often been left on the sidelines, the recent Namor series from writer Jason Aaron has brought the character back in a big way and could point to a brighter future for the aquatic hero. After Namor officially dissolved the Atlantean monarchy and united the seven kingdoms in Namor #8, the future of the new Atlantean Government and their relationship with the surface world may lie on the shoulders of Stingray.

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Who Is Stingray?

The lesser-known Marvel Hero has a long history

Walter Newell showed signs of his genius from an early age, having a fascination with the uncharted depths of the ocean. Walter took this passion to pursue a PhD in oceanography and used his free time to become an engineer to develop new technology to study and traverse the seas. Walter eventually designed and constructed a domed city underneath the ocean that could shelter and feed humanity beneath the earth’s oceans. However, the city was attacked by the villain Plunderer, and Walter was saved by Namor and Lady Dorma.

As Stingray, Walter would find himself encountering numerous other heroes such as the Defenders, and even fought the Hulk in 1977’s Incredible Hulk #221 (by Roger Stern, Sal Buscema, Alfredo Alcala, Janice Cohen, and Denise Wohl. Stingray would later become the caretaker of Hydrobase and the Hydro-Men, which the Avengers later used as their primary headquarters after Avengers Mansion was destroyed by the Masters of Evil.

Stingray also fought against Iron Man in Armor Wars when Stark believed that his suit was based on Stark technology. The aquatic heroes’ time on Hydrobase was later put to an end when Doombots sank it into the ocean in Avengers #311 (by John Byrne, Paul Ryan, Tom Palmer, Nelson Yomtov, and Bill Oakley). Walter was saved by Quasar and became an official member of the Avengers after they moved back into the Avengers Mansion.

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Stingray, The Avenger

Walter Newall became a valued ally to many heroes.

Along with being with the Avengers, Stingray continued his friendship with Namor and helped him on many adventures, even working alongside the Sea King and the Atlanteans in an underwater sea base. Stingray would later go against his former Avenger teammates when Namor went missing after being framed for crimes against the surface world.

The team disbanded after finding Namor, and Stingray rejoined the Avengers when Kang the Conqueror began attacking the heroes around the world. During Kang’s attack, Stingray fought alongside the Atlanteans who rebelled against the current king, Attuma. Stingray would again leave the team and was part of Captain America’s Secret Avengers during the Civil War event.

Newall would be involved in numerous other adventures until his next big outing during the Avengers & X-Men Axis event, where Doom assembled his own team of Avengers after the main heroes disappeared, and he turned to the side of good. Stingray, along with the other Avengers, battled against an evil Scarlet Witch, and the team was abandoned after Doom condensed a portion of the Scarlet Witch’s power due to the team’s intervention.

Stingray then found himself as a member of Deadpool’s Mercs for Money team, where vigilantes would pose as Deadpool to extend his reach around the world. However, Stingray was secretly working for Steve Rogers to keep tabs on the team, and the group quickly crumbled after the members got fed up with Deadpool. Until the newest Namor series from Jason Aaron, Stingray was last seen in Avengers #9 (by Jason Aaron, David Marquez, Justin Ponsor, and Cory Petit), where he was seemingly killed by his old friend Namor. Aaron has brought the character back to play a bigger role in the Marvel Universe and usher in a new era for the Atlanteans.

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Walter Newall Returns To Atlantis

The Stingray sets Namor on his new path

The 2024 Namor series (by Jason Aaron, Paul Davidson, Alex Lins, Neeraj Menon, and Joe Caramagna) finds the former Atlantean King imprisoned in Sea Cage Prison, serving his time for his past crimes against humanity. After assassins try and take his life, Stingray visits him and reveals that this was all part of a bigger war happening beneath the ocean dubbed World War Sea. With Namor’s throne vacant, the seven lords of the sea kingdoms waged a civil war on each other that threatened both Atlanteans and the surface.

Using his status as the world’s leading oceanographer, Stingray was able to get Namor released for four days to return to the sea and restore order among his people. Namor defeated the Seven Sea Lords, but through his adventures, discovered that the original Atlantas were sunken by the sea god Neptune. After learning the truth of his Kingdom, Namor destroyed the throne and united the Seven Kingdoms together in a unified Atlantis that is governed by a council of seven representatives from across the world’s oceans.

With this newly installed Atlantean government, the U.N. Security Council appoints Newall to act as liaison between the new Atlantis and the surface. With Atlantis now being a movable island and its people able to move freely across the sea, Namor leaves his people to their new future and goes to traverse the secret seas.

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What Stingray’s New Position Could Mean

Stingray could be the new unofficial King of Atlantis on the surface

With Namor gone to the deep, and the relationship between Atlantis and the surface shaky at best, Stingray will seemingly play a critical role in this new transition. Namor #8 (by Jason Aaron, Paul Davidson, Alex Lins, Neeraj Menon, and Joe Caramagna) indicates that Stingray will be the bridge between the two people as he is invited to the new Atlantis, making him their voice for the people above. While not the official ruler of the Kingdom, his status as liaison puts him in a position of power that the character rarely sees.

While the future of Stingray is bright, many challenges lie ahead as Atlantis and the surface learn how to navigate this new relationship. As the voice for Atlantis, Stingray can be viewed as the new King to the people of the surface and creates an entire new dynamic between the growing tensions between the two peoples. There is currently no word on whether this story will continue by Aaron or another writer for a new series, but it’s clear that the writer has some plans in mind for the character and could finally be time for Walter Newall to get the spotlight he deserves.

“}]] Stingray is one of Marvel’s lesser-known heroes and member of the Avengers, but could be stepping into a much bigger role in the new era of Atlantis.  Read More