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Namor the Sub-Mariner Reading Order, Imperius Rex!

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Namor the Sub-Mariner is one of the first Marvel characters, even sometimes considered the very first original Marvel character. He was created by writer-artist Bill Everett for the comic Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1. The title was never released and Namor made his real first appearance in Marvel Comics #1 (October 1939), next to the Human Torch. At the time, he was one of the most popular characters of Timely Comics (Marvel’s predecessor) along with the Human Torch and Captain America.

Though Namor is not as popular today as he was in the Golden Age era of comics, the character remained a historically important figure and still a popular character, with a history spanning over 80 years of publication.

Also known as the Sub-Mariner, Namor McKenzie is the mutant son of a human sea captain and an Atlantean princess. As the current king of Atlantis, he will do anything to protect his people. For this reason, Namor can be a villain, a hero, or an antihero, depending on the circumstances, for the surface dwellers. He’s almost always a hero for the people of Atlantis.

Namor is also a very powerful character, with Superhuman strength, speed, durability, agility, senses, and reflexes. He can breathe underwater like all Atlanteans and can communicate and command sea life. He possesses vestigial “wings” on both of his ankles which permits him to fly, he is capable of manipulating the weather like Storm and much more. With all these powers comes a quite volatile and arrogant personality!

He is now played by Tenoch Huerta in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making his live-action debut in Black: Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Let’s dive into the Sub-Mariner’s history with this Namor Reading Order!

Namor the Sub-Mariner Reading Order

Notes on collections: Marvel Masterworks is a collection of hardcover reprints of classic stories in chronological order. A premium edition with restored artwork. The Epic Collection line is a numbered collection of sequential issues of one title (large, full-color trade paperback), sometimes including crossovers from related titles, starting from the beginning of a character – not released sequentially. Marvel Omnibus is a line of large-format graphic novel editions of reprinted comics. They often contain complete runs, either by collecting multiple consecutive issues or by focusing on the works of a particular writer or artist.

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Namor: The Golden Age

As one of the most popular characters from Timely Comics, Namor was living a lot of adventures during the 1940s, and it has been revealed that a number of those wartime adventures were propaganda. Following is Namor’s appearances during that time:

  • Marvel Mystery Comics #1-91 (1939-1949) – Namor appears regularly in the first comic book from Timely Comics.
  • Human Torch #1-37 (1940-1954) – Namor appears in the backup stories.
  • All-Winners Comics #1-21 (1941-1946) – An anthology title with a 2-to 13-page story for each character, including Namor. Timely/Marvel’s first superhero team, the All-Winners Squad, with Namor, made its first appearance in issue #19.
  • Sub-Mariner Comics #1-42 (1941-1955) – Namor’s first solo series! The title was canceled in the fall of 1949 (with issue #32), before briefly revived starting in 1954, briefly revived starting in 1954.
  • Daring Comics #9-12 (1944-1945) – Another superhero anthology, where Namor appears in the last issues.

To this date, not everything is collected. Still, you can find a lot of those issues in the following collections (some out-of-print):

In Omnibus:

In Marvel Masterworks:

Namora, the cousin of Namor, made her debut in Marvel Mystery Comics #82 (May 1947). The next year, she was the star of her own comic book series which lasted only three issues.
she was a recurring character in Marvel Mystery Comics and also in Sub-Mariner until that series ended in 1955.

The Invaders! Created by Roy Thomas and artist Sal Buscema, The Invaders is a superhero team fighting during WWII, continuing the team-up of Namor, Captain America, and the original Human Torch from All-Winners Squad. Published in the 70s, The first Invaders volume takes place before the 50s. It begins after Sub-Mariner Comics (1941) #4, Human Torch Comics (1940) #56, Sub-Mariner Comics (1941) #23, and All Winners Comics (1941) #4. A Second Invaders series was published in 1993 and set in the original 1975 Invaders continuity. The story takes place after Giant-Size Invaders #2.

Silver and Bronze Age Namor

At some point, Namor was missing until he was rediscovered by Johnny Storm, the new Human Torch, living as an amnesiac homeless man, in Fantastic Four #4 (May 1962). To help him gain his memory back, the Human Torch just threw him into the water. But Namor, discovering the wreckage caused by humankind underwater, demands revenge! The Sub-mariner becomes an anti-hero during the 60s, fighting against the human race but also on a quest for identity. He was also too fiercely independent to stay an ally to villains like Magneto and Doctor Doom for too long.

Once again, Namor was quite popular among readers, but couldn’t have at the time his own title due to publication and distribution restrictions. So he was a guest star in several titles and had a starring feature in Tales of Astonish before finally having once again his own title with Sub-Mariner.

Namor also teamed up with Doctor Strange and Hulk to protect the Earth, and the Defenders were formed. Though, Namor will leave the group for a time to be part of the Super Villain Team-up. It failed and he rejoined the Defenders later.

Following are major Namor’s appearances during that time (without the guest starring):

  • Fantastic Four #4 (1962) – Namor’s returned in the Silver Age era. The character will make other guest appearances in the FF after.
  • Tales to Astonish #70-101 (1959-1968) – Namor became a feature in this anthology comic book starting from issue #70.
  • Sub-Mariner Vol 1 #1-72 (1968–1974)
  • The Defenders Vol.1 #1-14, #52-56, #69, #74, #78-85, #92-93, #98-101, #107-125 (1972-1985)
  • Super Villain Team-Up #1-13 (1975-1980)
  • Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-4 (1984)

Collected in Epic Collection:

Collected in Marvel Masterworks:

The Defenders Collected Edition :

For the moment, the 4-issue miniseries Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner published in 1984 is uncollected. After that, the character wasn’t associated with any titles and was simply a guest star for the next years.

Namor enters the Modern Age

Entry Point! Coming from writers Roy and Dan Thomas and artist Rich Buckler, Saga of the Sub-Mariner is a series recapping the history of Namor. Relive the life and times of Marvel’s mightiest mutant as only he could see it. Imperius Rex!

Then, Namor received again an ongoing series which was initially written and penciled by John Byrne. From #23-36, Jae Lee became the penciler. Byrne left the title after issue #32 and he was followed by Bob Harras (#33-40). Writer Glenn Herdling and artist Geof Isherwood took over creative duties for the rest of the series.

Following the tragic events of Atlantis Rising, Namor appears in Fantastic Four until the conclusion of the series with Onslaught.

  • Fantastic Four Epic Collection: Strange Days
    Collects The Fantastic Four #403–416, Fantastic Four: The Legend, Onslaught: Marvel Universe; material from Tales of the Marvel Universe

    • Onslaught! Fantastic Four #414-416 are part of this Marvel event, leading us to a new Marvel era…

Heroes Reborn (totally optional)! Namor was also moved into the pocket Universe with the Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Captain America during the relaunch Heroes Reborn. He appeared in a few issues during that time:

Namor in the 2000s

As part of the Marvel Tsunami line (an imprint create to appeal to manga readers), Marvel published a story with teen Namor, while adult Namor was reunited with the Defenders and part of the New Invaders during the first years of the noughties before Civil War interrupted everything.

It’s time for The Civil War! Following a massive tragedy, The U.S. Government proposed the Superhuman Registration Act, intending to register all super-powered beings as living weapons of mass destruction and requiring all costumed heroes to unmask themselves before the government and subject themselves to federally mandated standards. Heroes had to choose between rallying behind either Iron Man’s pro-registration forces or Captain America’s opposition. Check out the complete reading order.

For Namor, it means to obtain vengeance for the death of a dear one, while some conflicts rises with Atlantis.

Sub-Mariner: The Depths is an out-of-continuity horror tale published under the Marvel Knights imprint. From British writer Peter Milligan and painter Esad Ribic, this is the story of an expedition gone wrong. Beware, Namor hardly features in it, but if you like gothic horror tales, this is for you.

Namor: The First Mutant and the X-Men

The Marvel superhero world was put upside down when it was discovered that the shape-shifting alien race known as the Skrulls had secretly infiltrated every super-powered organization on Earth with one goal – full-scale invasion! This Secret Invasion (see reading order) led us to Dark Reign with Norman Osborn in control. During that period, Namor was part, for a short time, of the Dark X-Men team before leaving the group to join the X-Men. The Sub-Mariner will even have his own related spin-off called Namor, The First Mutant.

When a powerful and ancient evil overtakes our world, each hero must make a sacrifice to save the Earth in Fear Itself (see reading order). During that event, the Sub-Mariner finds an ally in his old friend Dr. Strange. A new version of the Defenders is formed, leading to a new ongoing series with Doctor Strange, Red She-Hulk, Namor, the Silver Surfer, and Iron Fist.

Avengers Vs X-Men Reading OrderWith the return of the Phoenix Force, everybody thinks it’s in Hope Summers. As a result, it’s Avengers Vs. X-Men, where Namor plays an important role. To find the full reading order of the event, follow the link.

  • Avengers vs. X-Men Hardcover
    Collects Avengers vs. X-Men #0–12, AvX: VS #1–6, Avengers vs. X-Men: Infinite #1, 6, 10, Material from Marvel Point One
  • Avengers vs. X-Men Companion
    Collects Avengers Academy #29-33; Secret Avengers #26-28; Avengers #25-30; New Avengers #24-30; X-Men Legacy #266-270; Wolverine & The X-Men #9-16, 18; Uncanny X-Men #11-20; AVX: Consequences #1-5; A-Babies VS. X-Babies #1

Namor: New Avengers in Marvel Now!

We enter Marvel Now!, a period when Namor became part of Jonathan Hickman’s New Avengers. The title focuses on the members of The Illuminati (Black Panther, Iron Man, Dr. Strange, Black Bolt, Mr. Fantastic, Sub-Mariner, and the Beast) who are armed with the six Infinity Gems against an infinite legion of parallel realities. Check out Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers Reading Order for more Avengers stories and other collections.

All-New Invaders! The Kree Empire intends to conquer the universe using an army of Norse Gods! Four heroes united by their past – Captain America, Namor, the original Human Torch and the Winter Soldier – must now wage war against the Kree to save Earth!

Alert Event! It’s the end of Hickman’s Avengers run, but also of an era for Marvel with the 2015 Secret Wars (find the full reading order of the event here). The interdimensional Incursions have eliminated each and every alternate universe one by one. And now – despite the best efforts of scientists, sages and superhumans – the Marvel Universe and Ultimate Universe have collided…and been destroyed! All that exists in the vast empty cosmos is a single, titanic patchwork planet made of the fragmented remains of hundreds of devastated dimensions: Battleworld! 

  • Secret Wars
    Collects Secret Wars #0,#1-9, Free Comic Book Day 2015.

Namor in All-New, All-Different Marvel

It’s an All-New, All-Different Marvel World right now! Namor is in the crossfire of the Squadron Supreme, the sole survivor of lost Earths determined to make him pay for his crimes.

Secret Empire Icon 29Alert Event! The Secret Empire took over. The Cosmic Cube has remade Captain America into a secret true believer in the cause of Hydra! Now, using the trust and respect he’s been accorded by the great powers of the Marvel Universe, Steve Rogers makes Hydra’s ideals a reality—and changes the landscape of the world dramatically! The Secret Empire Reading Order will help you navigate the event, though it has to be said it is optional reading for Namor.

Namor in Marvel Fresh Start (2018-)

It’s time for a Fresh Start. Namor joined the red squad, a new team of X-Men led by Jean Grey following her return in Phoenix Resurrection, before waging a war against the Avengers. Though at this stage, you know Namor, and when circumstances will require it later, he will help the Avengers…

Blast from the past! Following are two stories published around this period, but taking place in the past.

The story continues…

Did we forget an important issue? Did we make a mistake? Let us know in the comments!

Last Updated on April 22, 2024.

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