Iconic Marvel Character Killed Off in SQUADRON SUPREME #1

The Marvel summer event, Secret Wars, has made quite the impact on Marvel comics. Many characters from different universes are all now part of the same world, but right away, the new series Squadron Supreme did the unthinkable by killing off one a legendary character in a brutal way.

The first issue of Squadron Supreme hit stores on December 16th, featuring the writing of James Robinson and the art team of Leonard Kirk (pencils), Paul Neary (inks), and Frank Martin (colors). What's different about this series is that this new team, the Squadron Supreme, remember the events of Secret Wars and Battleworld. Now, in the new Marvel Universe, they're making a name for themselves in a memorable way.

After introductions to the new team, which consists of Nighthawk, Doctor Spectrum, Hyperion, Blur, and Power Princess, the team decides that Namor must pay for his crimes against humanity. Namor is known for being a turncoat and while many see him as a hero, he's been a villain just as often. The Squadron Supreme decides to take matters into their own hands and runs off to attack Namor and his fellow Atlantians.

Hyperion takes the battle to Namor and the two are pretty evenly matched. However, this isn't the Hyperion from the classic Marvel books, who was once an Avenger and a hero. This Hyperion, who originates from another Earth, has no problems doing the unthinkable. What happens next is a pretty big game changer in the Marvel universe.

Hyperion single-handily raises Atlantis out of the ocean and does probably the most dastardly thing a villain can do by tossing it into the ground, destroying it. Why go that far? Hyperion is simply getting Namor's attention in a big way. Namor, now filled with rage, tries to go after Hyperion, but Namor isn't thinking.

Namor gets blasted by Hyperion and loses the battle. Namor is one of Marvel's tougher characters, so there's a little bit of hope that he'll be ok, especially considering that he's one of Marvel's oldest characters, even pre-dating the actual company. The next page isn't very reassuring.

The Squadron Supreme stands above a decapitated Namor, reveling in their victory. Writer James Robinson is known for embracing the past and history at Marvel, so seeing the Sub-Mariner's head removed from his body could be quite the shock to long-time comic fans.

Namor first appeared in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 back in 1939. This was 6 months prior to Marvel Comics #1, the issue many incorrectly consider to be the character's first appearance. Bill Everett created the character and wrote and drew both the introductory issue, as well as Namor's Marvel Comics appearance.

The golden age character helped usher in the start of Marvel comics, fighting nazis alongside the All-Winners Squad with Captain America and Bucky. Namor was both a hero and a villain working with the Avengers and Defenders but also teaming up with villains like Doctor Doom.

Death is rarely permanent in comic books but killing off a character that's been around since World War II is quite the statement to make in the first issue of a series. Squadron Supreme #1 is available in local comic shops and in digital formats through Marvel and Comixology.

I thought this Hyperion was on the Avengers with Metal-Arm Thor, Shang Chi, Sunspot, Cannonball etc. if it is the Hyperion I'm talking about, that is Definitly out of character. Can anyone confirm that this isn't a new Hyperion? Or if it's the Hyperion I was talking about?

It's the same Hyperion.

To be fair at this point Namor is as much a villain as Thanos is. So it's not like he's going around killing good guys.

I love when comics do stuff like this. Attack on Titan is the way I like my comics. Dark, some what realistic, and at any moment anyone could die.

Namor die. Lets all agree that Marvel have no plan to make Namor important (at least for upcoming years). Must be sad to for Namor fans because Marvel don't listen to you guys. Namor don't have comics series, he die, and don't have movies. Even Ant-man will have his movie sequel and Daredevil has netflix show

I remember reading The Exiles a while back (amazing, amazing series... for 89 issues, until Claremont took over)...

...anyway, back on topic. I remember in the Exiles whenever they went to a dimension where Hyperion (and the Squadron) existed, pretty much all the classic heroes either never gained prominence or were summarily killed off... by Hyperion.

So it's somewhat interesting seeing the group existing in the main universe this time around. I'm not sure where this is going, but judging from the track record with regards to Superman-type characters existing on the main Marvel earth, it likely can't be good news for everyone else.

WOW! This was some epic dark stuff. Really interesting story arc going on. I wonder though, how will Wakanda and Black Panther react to this? He and Namor had some serious bad blood. Also, There is no way they aren't going after T'Challa. That will be interesting.

Poor Namor can't even appear in a movie, cartoon, and now dead in comics. He can't even be part of the X-Men.

~MIB

That was quite easy.

Namor may deserved to be punish for some of the things that he did. But he didn't deserve to die and Atlantis didn't deserve to be destroyed.

Why would they?

Yea I guess your right

Ugh. Current Namor was headed in this direction for a while. The Character deserves better and will eventually get it. I would love to see the Original Defenders Smite the new Squadron but I doubt we will see that. The book was cool but I prefer the earlier versions of this team.

Lol

I LOVED this issue!! I've always hated Namor and he deserved everything he got in this issue, cant wait to see where this series goes.

I'll agree that Atlantis didn't need to be destroyed, but Namor murdered worlds and before he murdered worlds he had fun killing Reeds and Sues. This isn't justice really, but I'll shed no tears for him. Besides he's just dead, it's not like that a serious condition in the marvel universe.

At least the Squadron actually did something, unlike the rest of the MU heroes that were ok with what the Iluminati and then the Cabal did. Or if they weren't they haven't done anything for what 8 months now?

He didn't deserve to die for destroying multiple universes.

i can't wait to read this in Trade Paperback !

@cagnazzo82: Uh oh, I really like this Squadron but of course like everyone else in the 616, I hope they dont try picking off other heroes, we already know they defeat the Uncanny Avengers but thats because they are going after the SS, and in one of the preview issues for the ANAD Marvel, it was from the Squadrons perspective inspecting every team and they only saw the Ultimates as a threat, and since they are far away in space, I doubt they will be on earth anytime soon.

If they're going against illuminati members black bolt stomps. they have no defense against Stephen. Hulk could possibly solo squadron supreme. Iron man's new suit adapts. Black Panthers has the Ultimates on speed dial to catch a body

Faux JL are jerks.

So glad Supreme Nighthawk is back :)

this new Supreme Squad is the action team we didn't know we needed. Good to see people are enjoying it. At CBR people are crying that it was too dark, too violent. Someone even mentioned being sick by the fatality lol.

@egie_asemota1: t'challa will need a plan bro!! i don't he will be happy about this. just saying. if it happens that he is not happy about it. he will need to call on the avengers to fight the squadron supreme

There was absolutely no subtly or nuance in this issue.

besides, that might not be the only namor marvel have, after all, all the alternative universe are all together. just saying.

@medulaoblaganda: I think Ultimate Namor is still unaccounted for. Marvel could always bring him in.

Lol, Doctor Spectrum freaking punted his head too.

I thought Black Panther killed him already

He didn't. Hyperion corrected that error.

@micah: so, never worry about him dying. ultimate namor from the same universe where namor was killed could pop in. just saying. lol. i was just wondering why marvel couldn't even make a solo series of namor. is it because namor will have the same story aquaman has? namor came first. but i believe another namor will pop in, in later squadron supreme issue. could that be a decoy? lol

Well have to see. Aquaman and Namor are different enough to provide different experiences for the reader. I know I would have read a Namor solo lol. But I'm betting Ultimate Namor will show up later in the book. Might happen might not, that's what I like about this book the unknown.

We hardly ever get to see Namor anymore, he's not in any of the movies or shows or books or games...what's with that? I really like him.

Namor is a bigger prick than aquaman or dr. Doom. Hopefully Namor stays dead.

Soo when will these self-rightous A-holes gonna get the same treatment ?

He was a large part of the last volume of New Avengers.

@micah: let's just wait and see. when is the next issue coming out?

@hexthis: believe me, an alternative namor will show up in that same comic.

Serves him right for what he did to Wakanda.

Personally I think Thor Odinson will deal with Hyperion once he's shown again. From what we've seen, they had a really good friendship going on, and I believe Thor will not like what he has been doing. I see him trying to talk, and reason with him, but obviously that won't work.

Also Namor deserved what he got, but Atlantis didn't need to suffer, especially since not everyone in the city was following Namor's orders on the battlefield.

My favorite series from marvel.

agreed.

Know one likes a hater. Namor death was long over due.

I've got no problems with the Squadron taking out Namor, after everything hes done to Wakanda in the last few years and everything he did with the new Cabal the Sub-Mariner more than deserved it. My qualm is with this team of heroes taking an already fractured society like Atlantis and leveling the whole place to get at one guy, with this line up of skills and and intellects I'm sure that the Squadron could have come up with a plan that didn't involve this much pointless death and destruction.

Awh man, that really irritates me...I liked Namor. I don't look at his actions as wrong nor as right. His loyalty was to his people and he would do whatever it meant to save them, even if it meant blowing up other earths, at least he was doing something about it.

I really hope to see him again, not ultimate Namor but earth 616, alive and well. But even more than that I hope to see The Squadron Supreme get what they deserve, or what I feel they deserve, death. I get that it was personal, but they were being very hypocritical by destroying Atlantis, that was just horrible.

He got what he deserved.

Place your bets for how long until he returns. I'll give him 6 months.

Who is the Talon looking guy?