It was said in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever that Namor is as powerful as Hulk. But is that really an accurate assessment of his power?
The comparison to the Hulk in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever raises questions about just how powerful Namor really is. Played by Tenoch Huerta, the Savage Sub-Mariner was depicted as a true MCU powerhouse in Black Panther 2 when he went up against the Wakandan army and nearly won.
Prior to the big showdown between Shuri and Namor, Marvel set expectations for how difficult it would be to stop him with a reference to the Green Goliath himself. When discussing how the people of Wakanda would respond to Namor’s threats, M’Baku claimed that the villain was as strong as the Hulk. This is obviously high praise for any character in the MCU, especially since the comic hero is commonly referred to as “the strongest one there is.” However, it’s worth wondering if M’Baku’s assessment of Namor’s strength is accurate, or simply an exaggeration.
How Namor’s MCU Power Level Compares To Hulk (So Far)
Based on what’s been seen from so far, it’s fair to say that Namor is indeed one of the strongest forces in the MCU. Thanks to his sheer might, Namor easily outclassed every character in Wakanda Forever. Even with her new Black Panther suit, Shuri was not a physical match for Namor. It took Shuri exploiting his weakness for the villain to finally become vulnerable. How Namor was able to make short work of his enemies in the movie is close to what would one expect of someone like the Hulk, whose strength makes nearly everyone around him seem powerless. Similar to how things went with Namor (prior to the final fight), Hulk wouldn’t have faced much difficulty fighting Wakanda Forever’s protagonists.
Namor boasts an impressive combination of abilities that would make him a challenging adversary to any hero or villain in the MCU, Hulk included. A big part of what makes him so dangerous is the fact that Namor’s fighting capabilities aren’t defined only by his colossal strength; he can also fly. Not being confined to the ground would give Namor an advantage over most opponents, whereas Hulk has to rely solely on raw power.
Namor Isn’t More Powerful Than The Hulk In Marvel Comics
Since Namor’s powers appear to be in line with his comic counterpart, it’s possible that a fight with Hulk would play out in a way that’s not at all unlike the battles the two have had in the source material. In the comic books, Namor and Hulk have engaged in multiple slugfests, but the results haven’t always been the same due to how close their power levels are. Both characters can win, but who comes out on top typically depends on the circumstances. When Hulk’s rage crosses a certain threshhold, for example, even Namor can’t reign him in. After being separated from Bruce Banner and sent into a fit of rage in The Incredible Hulk #316, the Hulk overpowered a gathering of Marvel Comics heavyweights that included Namor.
Like the MCU character, Namor’s performance in battle depends largely on his proximity to water and how hydrated he is. Even when Namor isn’t in a weakened state, he has lost to the Hulk in the past, although his defeats rarely come without extreme difficulty on Hulk’s part. But when both are fully submerged in water, Namor is capable of attaining decisive victories over Hulk, as evidenced by his wins in Avengers #3 and Tales to Astonish #100. Namor the Sub-Mariner admitted in Avengers #3 that Hulk was “the strongest of all land creatures,” but proved by winning their fight that he’s the “supreme” fighter of the two when they’re underwater.
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Namor Would Beat Smart Hulk
A proper Hulk vs. Namor battle in the MCU could go either way (with Hulk having a slight advantage), but if it were to happen as things are now, the odds would firmly be in the Sub-Mariner’s favor. Considering that his strength grows the madder he gets, Hulk’s anger has a lot to do with any edge that he has against Namor. After all, a calm Hulk is significantly weaker than Namor. He always gets angrier as the fight goes on, and when he does ultimately prevail, that’s typically what makes those wins possible.
This particular aspect of his character is a must for him to match up against Namor in the MCU, but it’s not a quality shared by the current version of the character. Anger isn’t a part of the equation anymore now that Bruce Banner is in control of Hulk’s mind. For that reason, it’s hard to imagine him holding his own for very long if they were to come to blows anytime soon. Chances are, Smart Hulk doesn’t have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with Namor and walk away the winner.
