Many are the fans of marvel superheroes anxiously awaiting the arrival of mutants within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (mcu), evidenced by the number of actors approached to take over the role of Wolverine. However, one of early marvel characters might just be the best way to introduce mutants to the universe of marvel studios.
the prince of the seas paving the way for mutants?
Marvel’s mutants will eventually show up in the MCU, and the best way for Marvel Studios to introduce them might just be through one of the very first mutants to appear in the comics: Namor. Originally the character was created in 1939 by Bill Everett for the comic book Motion Picture Funnies Weekly, then he was later retroactively turned into a mutant. And the fact is that Namor should appear in the next movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. But wherever it first appears, it will provide the MCU with a natural way to introduce his iteration of the mutants.
Namor, also known to us as the Prince of the Seas, was one of the first three superheroes appearing in Marvel Comics #1which also included Jim Hammond and Captain America’s Human Torch. When Namor made his return to the Silver Age of comics in The Fantastic Fourit becomes a kind of antihero, which opposes both heroes and villains. However, in an early issue of The X-Men, Namor was revealed to be not only an Atlantean, but also a mutant.
When Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, the MCU was finally in a position to be able to bring the story of mutants to the movies. The Infinity Saga being completed and phase 4 having begun to lay the new foundations for the future of the MCU, it’s not yet known how Marvel Studios will introduce the iconic mutant superhero team of the X-Men, nor how they will explain where the mutants were during the previous events (for example during the attack of Thanos). But Namor could be a good way for the MCU to integrate its portrayal of mutants seamlessly.
That he appears in the film Black Panther 2 or in the next Fantastic Four movie, Marvel Studios Might Emphasize Namor’s Mutant Status and mention that other parties are interested in allying with him, which implies ties to the X-Men but also to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. And considering Namor’s status as an anti-hero since his Silver Age reintroduction in Marvel comics, he can come across as both an ally and an adversary to Wakanda and the Fantastic Four. for his loyalty is to Atlantis and its people.
Namor could then provide a “natural” explanation for what mutants have been doing throughout MCU history. While The Infinity Saga took place without mentioning any mutants, Namor could explain that mutants have so far operated outside of the public eye, using their abilities to hide from organizations like SHIELD for example. In this way, the introduction of Namor could pave the way to the appearance of the most famous teams of mutants and their iconic characters, such as Professor X and Magneto.