Marvel’s First Hero Is The Best Way To Introduce The MCU’s Mutants

Marvel’s mutants will eventually appear in the MCU, and the best way for the franchise to introduce them may well be through the first mutant in the comics, Namor. Namor the Sub-Mariner debuted along with the entire mainstream Marvel universe (Earth-616) in 1939, but he was later retroactively made a mutant. Namor is rumored to appear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, but wherever he first appears, he will provide the MCU with a natural way to introduce their iteration of mutants.

Namor was the first of Marvel’s original three Golden Age superheroes, which also included the Human Torch (Jim Hammond) and Captain America. When Namor the Sub-Mariner subsequently made his Silver Age Marvel comeback in Fantastic Four, he became a morally gray character antagonizing heroes and villains alike. In an early issue of X-Men, however, Namor was also revealed to not only be an Atlantean but also a mutant, leading Professor X and Magneto to establish an alliance with him.

When Disney acquired 20^th Century Fox, mutants finally became available for the MCU to adapt to film. With the Infinity Saga concluded, it’s unclear how the MCU franchise will introduce the iconic X-Men mutant superhero team and explain the whereabouts of mutants during Thanos’ attacks, but Namor presents a way for the MCU to segue into their depiction of mutants seamlessly. Whether he appears in Black Panther 2 or the upcoming Fantastic Four movie, the MCU could emphasize Namor’s mutant status and mention that other parties are interested in allying with him, implying ties to both the X-Men and Brotherhood of Mutants, respectively.

Given Namor’s morally gray status since his Silver Age reintroduction to Marvel’s comics, he can interchangeably be an ally and adversary to the government of Wakanda and the Fantastic Four, as his ultimate loyalty is to Atlantis and its people. Namor’s rumored appearance in Black Panther 2 is due to the character’s conflicts with Wakanda in the comics, particularly his rivalry with T’Challa, despite not being a member of his rogue’s gallery. Namor has also famously butted heads with the Fantastic Four (though they have also worked together as well), and given his discovery as an amnesiac New Yorker by the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), he could also naturally fit into the upcoming Jon Watts film.

Namor would provide a natural explanation for where the X-Men and Brotherhood might have been throughout the MCU’s history. While the Infinity Saga began and ended without mentioning any mutants, Namor could explain that the two teams have been operating outside of the public eye, using their abilities to hide from parties like SHIELD. In this way, Namor operating openly in Marvel’s Black Panther 2 or the Fantastic Four debut could open the floodgates for the MCU to introduce more famous mutant teams like the heroic X-Men and villainous Brotherhood teams.