Marvel's first superhero was Namor the Sub-Mariner, the haughty prince of Atlantis. A strong-willed leader with impressive powers, Namor has been a Marvel mainstay since his debut in Marvel Comics #1, written, penciled, and inked by Bill Everett.
Namor is a heroic character whose arrogance and desire to protect Atlantis have historically led him into conflict with a few Marvel superheroes. Namor's greatest foes stand on both sides as he's also been seen as a hero and a villain over the years. The Atlantean antihero's MCU debut raised Namor's notoriety to levels not seen since the 1940s.
Updated on April 27, 2023, by Scoot Allan: The MCU reimagined the classic character of Namor the Sub-Mariner for his live-action debut in 2022's Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The sequel explored the ongoing rivalry between Namor and Black Panther that fueled the war between their kingdoms. Of course, Black Panther isn't Namor's only enemy in the comics.
13 The Fantastic Four
First encountered in Fantastic Four #4 (May 1962) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
While Namor may have helped birth Marvel in the 1930s, the Fantastic Four was one of the first superhero teams in Marvel history. The FF's appearances in the 1960s helped make the company what it is today. The team's early adventures combined adventure with realistic characters to great success. This was no exception when the team introduced Namor to the Silver Age.
Following Namor's unsuccessful declaration of war on the surface world, Namor and the FF have largely remained on the same side. However, Namor holds a special enmity for Reed Richards due to his love for Sue Storm. That tension remains a critical dynamic in their relationships, though Namor and Reed still respect each other as equals.
12 Doctor Dorcas
First encountered in Sub-Mariner #5 (June 1968) by Roy Thomas and John Buscema
Doctor Lemuel Dorcas is a classic example of a mad scientist. Through his extensive knowledge of undersea life, Dorcas hoped to conquer the world. Dorcas's specialties have led him to continual conflict with the Scourge of the Seven Seas as he frequently has made alliances with Atlantean malcontents.
Dorcas has used his scientific knowledge to mutate a variety of humanoids into monstrous beings, ranging from giving Orka killer whale-like powers to transforming himself into a horrifying sea star-like being. Dorcas's profligate monster-mashing and ally-making have made him a dangerous threat to the Prince of Atlantis.
11 U-Man
First encountered in Invaders #3 (August 1975) by Roy Thomas and Frank Robbins
Though Namor's first stories saw him attempting to destroy the surface world, he would later team up with Captain America and the original Human Torch to battle Nazis in World War II. Namor's appearances battling the Axis powers would be the first time readers saw him in a truly heroic role.
As Namor fought for the Allies, Merrano/U-Man fought for the Axis. U-Man was an Atlantean scientist who tried to betray Atlantis to the Nazis, making him the perfect foil for the noble Namor. U-Man's appearances have continually seen him as an undersea quisling seeking to betray his people for his own gain.
10 Llyra
First encountered in Sub-Mariner #32 (December 1970) by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema
While most of Namor's villains have attacked him in physical combat or through political means, Llyra struck out at his heart. She was a shape-changing Lemurian mutant who sought to claim power underwater after a childhood spent on the surface. She decided to kidnap and replace the love of Namor's life, Lady Dorma.
Llyra wed Namor as Dorma, though her scheme failed. She returned in a rage and murdered Lady Dorma, forever earning Namor's hatred. Llyra later attempted to claim the throne of Atlantis by tricking Namor into thinking she had his child Llyron, though the true father was actually Namor's human nephew. Llyron was artificially aged to adulthood and has the memories of Llyra.
9 Piranha
First encountered in Sub-Mariner #70 (February 1974) by Marv Wolfman and George Tuska
One of the most frightening fish in the sea is the tiny but ravenous piranha. Dr. Lemuel Dorcas used radiation in his experiments, and exposure mutated a piranha into an intelligent humanoid monster. It devoured Dorcas' assistants and further mutated, gaining the ability to control other fish.
Piranha exposed his controlled fish to radiation to create an army of Men-Fish who threatened Prince Namor. However, Piranha's Men-Fish devoured him after Namor injured him in battle. They each grew into new versions of Piranha before Namor destroyed them. The original Piranha later regenerated before falling in a zombie invasion from a dark but important Marvel timeline.
8 Orka
First encountered in Sub-Mariner #23 (March 1970) by Roy Thomas and Marie Severin
Before Orka became his supervillain self, he was an Atlantean warrior who joined the armies of Warlord Krang. Namor defeated Orka and exiled him from Atlantis. He agreed to be the subject of Doctor Dorcas's body-altering experiments. However, Orka's new powers still weren't enough to match up to Namor.
Orka has been consistently enhanced over the years to make the killer whale-themed villain a serious threat. Orka's usually limited intelligence made him a consistent tool for other, more ambitious supervillains. However, his sizable strength and invulnerability still command respect from those like Namor who have faced him in battle.
7 Doctor Doom
First encountered in Fantastic Four #6 (September 1962) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
While Namor's relationship with the Fantastic Four is a critical aspect of the Marvel Universe, equally important is his relationship with Doctor Doom, the team's greatest enemy. Doctor Doom was one of Namor's closest allies and they first teamed up as "The Diabolical Duo." Their partnership ended when Doom betrayed Namor which became a recurring theme in their relationship.
Doctor Doom and Namor were both proud rulers of militaristic nation-states who have a little too much in common to ever truly get along. The pair have repeatedly joined together in various schemes to take over the planet and ensure the safety of their respective kingdoms. However, their partnership has always been destroyed by their mutual animosity.
6 Suma-Ket
First encountered in Namor the Sub-Mariner #36 (January 1992) by Bob Harras and Jae Lee
The introduction of the powerful villain known as Suma-Ket would eventually lead to one of Marvel's worst hero redesigns. Suma-Ket's wife Artys-Gan threatened Namor first, though after her defeat she took over the body of Namor's mother Fen. She helped raised Suma-Ket, the Dark King of ancient Atlantis, and his necromantic Unforgiven Dead.
Suma-Ket set his sights on the throne of Atlantis and faced Namor in battle. Suma-Ket earned a unique distinction among Namor's villains as he is one of the few who have actually killed the Sub-Mariner. Father Neptune resurrected Namor and equipped him with powerful Atlantean armor that gave him an edge in battle so he could defeat Suma-Ket and the Unforgiven Dead.
5 The Squadron Supreme
First encountered in Squadron Supreme #1 (February 2016) by James Robinson and Leonard Kirk
In addition to constantly conflicting with world governments and evil energy corporations, Namor counts multidimensional Justice League analog the Squadron Supreme among his foes. Featuring powerful heroes like Hyperion and Doctor Spectrum, Namor earned their acrimony through his actions with the Cabal.
As part of the Cabal, Namor destroyed multiple parallel worlds, and the superpowered survivors formed a new roster of the Squadron Supreme. Following the events of Secret Wars, the new Squadron Supreme assassinated Namor and destroyed Atlantis to prevent him from causing more damage. Time travel saved Namor and the Avengers took the Squadron down.
4 Warlord Krang
First encountered in Fantastic Four Annual #1 (July 1963) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
Like many others, Warlord Krang has fought against as well as alongside Namor. The Atlantean general served as steward of Atlantis during the post-WWII period in which Namor was missing from the nation. he ceded the crown back to Namor upon his return and became Namor's general in the assault on New York City.
Krang began to drift away from Namor when the latter renounced his war with the surface. Krang's hatred for the surface world runs deep, leading him to exile Namor, join supervillain groups, and summon monsters in his ongoing attempt to conquer Atlantis and lead them in a war against the surface world.
3 Black Panther
First encountered in Black Panther #21 (December 2006) by Reginald Hudlin and Manuel Garcia
Like Doctor Doom, Black Panther is another Marvel monarch with strong ties to the Fantastic Four. However, the Panther is decidedly more heroic than either Doom or Namor. T'Challa and Namor have a complicated relationship. Recent years have focused on their enmity, but the two have often teamed up as allies and Avengers.
What makes Namor one of Black Panther's most iconic villains is the damage that Namor did to Wakanda. During the Avengers Vs. X-Men event, Namor destroyed much of Wakanda with a tidal wave, forever altering his relationship with the warrior-king of Wakanda.
2 Tiger Shark
First encountered in Sub-Mariner #5 (June 1968) by Roy Thomas and John Buscema
Arguably the most successful of Doctor Dorcas's supervillain experiments, Tiger Shark became one of Marvel's most vicious supervillains. After Olympic swimmer Todd Arliss suffered a debilitating spinal injury, he agreed to an untested procedure that combined his DNA with both the Sub-Mariner and a tiger shark.
The operation was largely a success, though it gave Arliss a thirst for blood rivaled only by his massive strength. Tiger Shark has allied with numerous supervillains, ranging from Namor's classic enemies like Attuma and Krang to more villainous groups like the Masters of Evil. Whoever his allies, Tiger Shark's hatred for Namor runs deep.
1 Attuma
First encountered in Fantastic Four #33 (September 1964) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby
If Namor's Atlantis is like Rome, then Attuma's Atlantean tribe are the barbarians at the gates. Born with incredible speed, strength, and invulnerability, Attuma believes himself destined to conquer Atlantis. Attuma is an ignoble enemy, attacking and enslaving whoever stands in his way.
Some of Namor's greatest defeats in the comics have come at the hands of Attuma. He's led multiple attacks on the surface world and has taken the throne of Atlantis. Attuma is violent, cruel, and dangerous, and his no-holds-barred means of conquest have made him a perfect foil for the impetuous but ultimately noble Namor.