Is Namor A God?! Why M’Baku Calls Him The Feathered Serpent

The latest trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has M’Baku reveal that Namor is known as the “Feathered Serpent God,” and there’s a good reason for that. The new trailer for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever provides a better look at Namor and the conflict to come with his people and Wakanda. Not only has Namor been confirmed to be a mutant in the MCU, his being likened to a god can also help to flesh out the history of mutants in the MCU.

The main antagonist of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is Namor the Sub-Mariner, the king of Atlantis and one of the first Marvel characters to be created. Unique to the MCU, Namor and his people appear to draw inspiration from Mesoamerican culture through their costume designs and various associated terminologies. The MCU’s Namor the Sub-Mariner, for example, is now king of Talocan, a paradise in Aztec culture, and Namor’s actor Tenoch Huerta even learned how to speak a Mayan language for the role (via Vice).

The idea of Namor being a god likely isn’t meant to be taken literally. However, it can still serve to add to his character by exploring the historical context of the terminology. Mesoamerican culture is likely going to be a big part of Namor’s character in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and it even goes into why M’Baku calls him the Feathered Serpent God in the latest trailer. There’s a lot of historical context behind that terminology, and its usage serves to add a lot of context to Namor’s character. Here’s a breakdown of the most important points of the title and what they mean for Tenoch Huerta’s Namor and the MCU, as a whole.

What Is The Feathered Serpent God?

First and foremost, what needs to be discussed is what the Feathered Serpent God is supposed to be. The Feathered Serpent was a prominent figure in Mesoamerican religions, with all versions being some sort of winged serpent with ties to the sky and weather. Quetzalcoatl of the Aztec mythology is the most famous of the Feathered Serpents, but there are other versions such as Kukulkan of the Yucatec Maya and Q’uq’umatz and Tohil of the K’iche’ Maya. Namor is explicitly called Kukulkan in the trailer, and his outfit appears to take inspiration from Quetzalcoatl, so it’s likely that Namor is meant to reference multiple different Feathered Serpents. Quetzalcoatl is also the patron god of Aztec mythology, so Namor being compared to him works to establish his place in Talocan.

Is Namor A God In Marvel Comics? Will He Be In The MCU?

Namor is referred to as the Feathered Serpent God in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’s trailer, but it’s unlikely that that’s meant to be taken literally. Namor doesn’t have a history of being referred to as a god in the comics, and while the MCU is already making changes to his character, it’s unlikely that it would be changed in a big way like that. Namor being called the Feathered Serpent God is likely because of the wings on his ankles, a trait not shared by the rest of his people and a sign of him being a mutant; the fact that Feathered Serpents like Quetzalcoatl and Kukulkan have occasionally had human characteristics associated with them also helps with this.

How Namor Being A “God” Can Connect To Him As A Mutant

It’s unlikely that Namor will be an actual god in MCU’s upcoming Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but his being likened to one can still work to connect to his being a mutant and mutants in the MCU, in general. As previously mentioned, Namor’s title of Kukulkan the Feathered Serpent God is likely due to the wings on his ankles, which are supposed to be a sign of his mutant powers. If that is the case, then it can add a lot to Namor’s character since there would be a lot to explore in the irony of him waging war against humanity when it’s thanks to his human heritage that he was able to ascend to his position, in the first place.

Another thing to consider is what Namor’s situation can mean for mutants as a whole in the MCU. With Namor being treated as a god because of his mutation, it sets up a precedent for mutants in the MCU being treated as diving beings by different cultures, and that can work to explain why they haven’t been part of the MCU until recently; they were either reveling in their status if people worshipped them or hiding from persecution if people hated them. This idea also has support from the comics, as there have been multiple instances of mutants being likened to gods; Azazel, for example, called himself Satan during biblical times, and Apocalypse was likened to the Egyptian god Set when he ruled over Egypt.

Namor likely won’t be a literal god in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but him being referred to as one still holds a lot of importance. Namor being likened to both the Mayan god Kukulkan and the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl firmly establishes his role in the story, and with his title likely coming from his mutation, it can also work to establish how mutants will be treated in the MCU going forward. Naturally, it won’t be until the movie’s release that the full depths of Namor’s character are explored, but what’s been given so far still manages to set up a lot for the movie and beyond.