Warning: contains a preview of Avengers #53!
One of Marvel’s oldest characters, most dangerous version of Thanos in the multiverse. The petulant, planet-razing Young Thanos threatens Namor, but Atlantis' Avenging Son has little time for miniature despots. The issue, part three of 'The Death Hunters' storyline, is written by Jason Aaron, drawn by Juan Frigeri, colored by David Curiel and lettered by Cory Petit.
The Multiversal Masters of Evil have come together, consisting of the vilest villains from across different Earths, each having slaughtered countless versions of the Avengers. This team has come to Earth-616, looking to conquer it and make it their own. Opposing the new Masters of Evil is the mysterious Avenger Prime, who has dispatched an army of Deathloks, multiversal law enforcement officers, to Earth-616 to aid the Avengers. The Masters of Evil attack the Avengers, taking Ghost Rider prisoner, and the villains then launch a multi-pronged assault against the Avengers, attacking various spots around the globe, including Avengers Mountain. With the Avengers under siege, both Namor and Valkyrie (Jane Foster) offer their services - but it may not be enough, as Kid Thanos arrives on the scene.
As the preview opens, the heroes, including Black Panther, Namor and Valkyrie, have gathered at Avengers Mountain. Namor has agreed to help, but only because the Avengers’ struggle against the Masters of Evil will directly impact Atlantis. Just as Namor is ready to leap into action, Kid Thanos attacks, telling the heroes to submit to his will and prepare to be “slaughtered for science.” Namor jumps into the fray, calling Kid Thanos “a snot-nosed sadist” before hitting him as hard as he can. Enjoy the Marvel Comics preview below:
The preview ends there, leaving readers to wonder if Namor will have another encounter with Kid Thanos, but their interaction here speaks volumes about Namor’s character. He has a reputation for being moody and mercurial, and he shows it off here. While this is a younger version of Thanos, he is still immensely powerful, yet Namor has no regard for this, leaping into battle as if Kid Thanos was a D-level villain. Namor has no problem disrespecting his opponents either and he does it with Kid Thanos as well. Recently, Namor has been a true villain in stoking the flames of war between Atlantis and the rest of the world, so while his surly demeanor isn't out of character, the pretense that he's just looking for a fight is a lie readers will quickly see through - Namor is actually searching for atonement, and hurling himself at Thanos is a good start.
What's most impressive is that Namor's punch sends this version of Thanos flying. While this young version of the Mad Titan may not be as physically imposing as Earth-616's native Titan, he's still an incredible threat, having had the chance to pillage many different realities and enhance his powers with their treasures. Namor is a headstrong, often unthinking type of hero, but his epic pronouncements and strike-first attitude make him a surprisingly appropriate opponent for Thanos - something he proves by taking down this deadly variant with a single punch.
