Warning: Contains SPOILERS for The Ultimate #10! Captain America has a long history, as his personal lore dates back to the 1940s and includes a number of other heroes who collectively constitute the first heroes of Marvel Comics. These heroes were known as the Invaders, and the three most prominent members were Captain America, the Human Torch, and Namor the Sub-Mariner. And now, Marvel is reinventing one of these Ultimate Universe heroes, possibly changing Captain America's lore within the new continuity.
In Marvel Comics'request for The latest #10 by Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri, fans get a first look at the main cover art for the upcoming issue (by artist Dike Ruan), as well as the comic's official synopsis, where it is revealed that another classic Marvel Comics character is way to make his Ultimate Universe debut: Namor the Sub-Mariner.
NAMOR AND THE RED SKULL! Captain America and the Human Torch lead a team to recruit their old comrade – Namor! But they'll have to get past the Red Skull Gang first!
As the solicitation reveals, Captain America and the Ultimates' Human Torch are on a mission that could potentially benefit the team – and, by extension, the entire world. Captain America and the Human Torch are trying to recruit Namor, hoping that the Sub-Mariner will join them because of their shared history. However, as the synopsis and cover art show, the two members of the Ultimates will have to fight a horde of Red Skull's followers before reaching Namor – which calls into question Namor's true allegiance in the Ultimate Universe.
The Ultimate Universe teases that Namor is working with Red Skull
Namor fought Red Skull alongside Captain America on Earth-616
The synopsis opens with “Namor and the Red Skull”Before explaining that the Human Torch and Captain America will have to fight Red Skull's henchmen before reaching Namor. This could mean that Red Skull has captured Namor, and it's up to the Ultimates to free him – and, hopefully, recruit him. However, there is another possibility that could change Captain America lore dramatically: Namor is working with the Red Skull.
So far in the new Ultimate Universevery little is known about each individual character. On Earth-616, there are decades of lore to look at when trying to understand a character's true motives during any given situation, but on Earth-6160, that's not the case. In fact, it's safe to assume that any character fans haven't yet met is evil, as the Creator did everything he could to corrupt as many heroes as he could before taking over the world. Could Namor be one of them?
The Ultimate Universe Could Twist Namor and Captain America's Original Relationship
Namor and Captain America were members of the Invaders during World War II
In the original Marvel Comics universe of Earth-616, Namor and Captain America fought side by side as members of the Invaders, fighting the Nazis as well as Red Skull's Hydra. This appears to also be the case in the Ultimate Universe of Earth-6160, but with a potentially mind-bending twist. Perhaps Namor was corrupted by the Creator and was a double agent secretly aligned with Red Skull. Namor is famous for hating humanity and has said he wants to conquer humans in the name of Atlantis, so teaming up with a villain hell-bent on world domination wouldn't be too strange.
Namor the Sub-Mariner may have been one of Marvel Comics' original heroes alongside Captain America and the Human Torch, but he's certainly been shown in a villainous light more than once. And now, it could turn out that Namor was never a hero in the Ultimate Universe, but rather a secret ally of the Red Skull, which would be a huge change for Captain America tradition.
The definitive #10 from Marvel Comics will be available on March 5, 2025.
Source: Wonder