“World War Sea” Gives Marvel Its Next World War Hulk-Scale Conflict

Warning: contains spoilers for Namor #1Marvel’s Namor, disgraced former King of Atlantis and the world’s most hated Avenger, is forced to face his destiny in Namor #1 as “World War Sea” breaks out across Earth’s oceans. Freed from his high-security prison by the heroic Stingray, Namor the Submariner will need to accept his role in Atlantis’ liberation if he is to ever end World War Sea and save his homeland from permanent destruction.

The infamous Submariner has been imprisoned since declaring war on the surface world – following the deaths of several Atlantean refugees – which saw Namor and his people slaughtering countless humans in revenge.

Namor #1 – from writer Jason Aaron with art by Paul Davidson, Alex Lins, and Neeraj Menon – has been described as “Underwater Game of Thrones,” and while the Submariner has abdicated his royal throne, the first issue of his new series proves that the former King of Atlantis will do whatever he needs to save his people.

Atlantis Is Experiencing Its Own Destructive World War

Seven undersea kingdoms are vying for control of the oceans

Namor the Submariner willingly abdicated his throne and allowed the human world to throw him in prison, so he could answer for his many crimes. However, this left a massive vacuum of power throughout the undersea kingdom of Atlantis. World War Sea, much like World War Hulk or the recent World War Orchis, is already a devastating event that is ravaging the various undersea tribes, while major cities like Atlantis and Lemuria have been abandoned and destroyed. This violent tribal Civil War is being led by seven different rival leaders all vying for the empty throne, including the villainous Attuma, and no one but Namor can stop the warfare.

Fantastic Four’s New Codename for Namor Perfectly Defines the Character

While the various tribes of the ocean warring are horrific on their own, Stingray brings even more dire news. The surface world has always feared the blue-skinned, fishlike Atlanteans and World War Sea may be the last straw that causes the world’s governments to align in their oppression of undersea people. Stingray warns that humanity will declare an “open season” on Atlanteans – and any other humanoid undersea beings – with hunters and fishers allowed to capture and kill without fear of repercussions. This is terrible, and hopefully, other Earth heroes would oppose this government-sanctioned genocide, but the possibility of this happening to his people is what finally inspires Namor to live in prison and enter the sea once more.

Namor Must Face His Failures If He Hopes To Save Atlantis

This may be the path towards Namor becoming King once more

Namor #1 makes it very clear that Namor has zero interest in regaining his royal throne, going so far as actively choosing never to touch the ocean again… until Stingray’s message forces his hand. Marvel has teased that World War Sea will change Namor, and perhaps Marvel’s, lore forever, meaning Atlantis might get an entirely new King at the end of the war. However, there is a chance that Namor will find some kind of redemption, or at least acceptance from his people, allowing him to live among the Atlanteans again, perhaps as a King, or at least as a defender of his community.

Namor the Submariner is one of the most complex antiheroes in Marvel’s long history, and if he has any hope of saving his people from the horrors of the surface world, he will need to use every ounce of his might. No one knows how World War Sea will end for Namor or Atlantis, all that is known is that nothing will ever be the same.

Namor #1 from Marvel Comics is available now in stores.