Throughout the history of Marvel Comics, Namor has been portrayed as a great combatant and strategist, who mostly comes out on top during fights. However, he can be defeated, something that has been proven again in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, where Shuri gets the better of him during a beach duel.
On the Marvel Comics pages, Namor’s defeats are spaced out far and wide, making it harder for fans to recall the last time he was humiliated. While most of the defeats have been easy to recover from, others have left the Atlantean king a shell of his former self.
10 Namor Loses Ground After His Attack On Wakanda
Avengers Vs. X-Men #8: Story by Brian Michael Bendis/ Art by Adam Kubert, Laura Martin, John Dell, and Larry Molinar/ Letters by Chris Eliopoulos
After binding with the Phoenix Force, Namor attacks Wakanda by flooding the nation, drowning hundreds in the process. However, he is soon defeated, thanks to the combined efforts of Captain America, Thor, and Scarlet Witch. The defeat proves a bitter one for Namor because he misses the chance to establish himself as the best fighter in Marvel Comics, given the quality and quantity of opponents he faces during the attack.
For once, Namor squares off a good number of the most powerful Avengers, and he sure deserves to be lauded for holding his own for a decent amount of time. Furthermore, it’s a pyrrhic victory for the Avengers, given the level of destruction caused to Wakanda. Despite falling in defeat, Namor still achieved part of his plans, bringing brutal destruction upon his enemies.
9 Namor Is Defeated By Hydra And The Atlantean Rebellion
Secret Empire (Vol 1) #4: Story By Nick Spencer/ Art by Rod Reis, Leinil Francis Yu, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Sunny Gho/ Letters by Travis Lanham
Namor has two consecutive defeats in the Secret Empire storyline. First, he is defeated by Hydra forces, which destroy an Atlantean temple and force him to hand over a Cosmic Cube shard. Then, Namor's own people turn on him after he becomes a tyrant in order to protect them from the Hydra government.
The first loss is surprising because it’s rare that Namor cannot defend his own territory against outside forces. Even though losing the Cosmic Cube is acceptable, watching a sacred place get destroyed isn't. As for the second loss, it’s important for Namor's character development, and it helps him realize the error of his ways.
8 Namor’s Loses His First Fight Against The Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four (Vol 1) #4: Story by Stan Lee/ Art by Jack Kirby and Stan Goldberg/ Letters by Artie Simek
When Johnny Storm cures him of his amnesia, Namor moves back to Atlantis only to find that it's been destroyed by nuclear tests. Namor then teams up with Giganto to attack New York but is defeated by The Fantastic Four.
Namor’s loss can be blamed on him being ill-prepared. Having lived with health problems for a while, he can't stage an attack of such scale. Neither is Namor strong enough to hold his own against The Fantastic Four. As expected, it turns out to be a humiliating moment for him.
7 Namor And Hulk Lose To The Avengers
Avengers (Vol 1) #3: Story by Stan Lee/ Art by Jack Kirby, Paul Reinman, and Stan Goldberg/ Letters by Sam Rosen
When Hulk becomes disgruntled and leaves the Avengers, Namor convinces him to join him. The two fight the Avengers but lose because they try to outshine each other. Logically, two of the strongest Marvel characters ought to impress, even against a powerful team like the Avengers, but that’s not what happens.
The battle proves more comical than violent, thanks to the bickering between Namor and Hulk. And the chuckle-triggering moments continue when Hulk quits midway and lets Namor fight the Avengers by himself. The cartoonish frustrations later on when Namor punches icebergs in the Artic become even more hilarious.
6 Magneto Forces Namor To Retreat
X-Men (Vol 1) #6: Story by Stan Lee/ Art by Jack Kirby and Chic Stone/ Letters By Sam Rosen
Upon learning that Namor is a mutant, both Professor X and one of the greatest X-Men villains, Magneto, try to recruit him. Namor eventually teams up with the X-Men in a fight against Magneto, but retreats to the sea when things become too tense.
It’s a rare moment of cowardice from Namor but one that slightly makes sense since it’s a surface world war that he shouldn’t be participating in. However, as a mutant, Namor is obligated to help his kind whenever they are in trouble, so leaving them to Magneto’s mercy puts a stain on his reputation.
5 Namor Loses His Second Fight Against The Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four Annual (Vol 1) #1: Story by Stan Lee/ Art by Dick Ayers, Jack Kirby, and Glynis Wein/ Letters by Artie Simek
Namor declares war on the surface world when the United Nations rubbishes his declaration that all waters and the airs above them belong to Atlantis. He attacks New York again, but The Fantastic Four thwart his plans just like before.
The fight is mostly won by intelligence rather than sheer might, with Reed Richards building a device to evaporate water from the Atlantean helmets, causing them to struggle to breathe. Love is partly to blame too because Namor’s desire to protect his crush, Sue Storm, makes him moderate his aggression. On a positive note, the defeat serves as a lesson to never fall for the enemy.
4 Paul Destine Mind Controls Namor
Sub-Mariner (Vol 1) #1: Story by Roy Thomas/ Art by John Buscema and Frank Giacoia / Letters by Sam Rosen
One of Namor’s greatest enemies, Paul Destine, aka, Destiny, attacks Atlantis and subdues Namor. He then mind-controls him, making him go and live in New York as a beggar. The loss to Destiny is memorable because Namor gets taken out of action for years.
On most occasions, the Atlantis ruler quickly bounces back, but this time, he remains on the sidelines. It’s also a perfect victory for Destiny because Namor can't get himself out of the state he's put in and only manages to do so with the Human Torch's help.
3 Namor Gets Decapitated
Squadron Supreme (Vol 4) #1: Story by James Robinson / Art by Leonard Kirk, Paul Neary, and Frank Martin Jr./ Letters by Travis Lanham
Namor gets trounced when the Squadron Supreme attacks Atlantis because of the Atlantis ruler’s contributions to the fall of Earth-31916 and Earth-4290001. It all ends in a barbaric fashion, with Namor getting decapitated.
A total massacre, the Squadron Supreme attack makes Namor look more hopeless than he has ever been. Nothing he tries works, and the loss is more devastating for him because he witnesses Atlantis' destruction before he gets killed, too. Luckily, the ever-useful resurrection comic angle brings Namor back.
2 A Corrupted She-Hulk Decimates Atlantis
Avengers (Vol 8)# 49: Story by Jason Aaron/ Art by Javier Garrón, and David Curiel/ Letters by Cory Petit
After being corrupted by Russian forces, the formidable fighter, She-Hulk, becomes the Winter Hulk. Once the corruption is complete, She-Hulk is sent to destroy Atlantis. Throughout the history of Marvel Comics, foes that have been brainwashed or genetically modified have always been more formidable.
Mirroring much of the Winter Soldier's brutal behavior, the new Winter Hulk shows no mercy to her targets, ripping through them like they're nothing. Namor fails to protect his people, and the sea literally turns red from the slain Atlanteans' blood.
1 Namor Is Forced To Retreat After Captain America Surrenders
Civil War #7: Story by Mark Miller/ Art by Jason Aaron, Javier Garrón, and David Curiel/ Letters by Cory Petit
At the height of the Civil War, Namor and the Atlanteans join Captain America in opposing the Superhero Registration Act. While Namor and his forces put up a good fight, the Atlanteans eventually retreat after Captain America surrenders.
Namor isn’t to blame for the loss, but it still stings because he had committed so many forces to the cause, and it all turns out to be for nothing. Even though the surrender proves frustrating for Namor, Captain America’s decision is laudable because he prevents excessive bloodshed.