10 Disturbing Times Superheroes Lost It

8. Namor's War Flashbacks - Marvels Snapshots: Sub-Mariner

Superman Red
Marvel Comics

Although Namor is no stranger to attempting to destroy entire civilisations himself - at different points in his life he has completely submerged New York, Wakanda, and an entire alternate Earth - even he was shocked beyond reproach by the Nazi war crimes of World War II.

Like many soldiers returning from the war, Namor is plagued with memories of the atrocities he witnessed while working with the Invaders in Europe. This can cause him to snap at the most unexpected moments.

When a date to the funfair is interrupted by Verrill Shark, Namor is enraged at the sight of the former Nazi accomplice. The sight of a swastika on Shark's stolen mecha-suit only irritates the Sub-Mariner even further: he flies into a blind rage, attacking Shark with no concern for the safety of the hundreds of innocent carnival-goers.

When this happens to Namor, there's no calming him down. Even the sight of his former teammate, the Human Torch, just induces flashbacks to the ovens they discovered at Nazi concentration camps. It doesn't help that he refuses to see a doctor, claiming that "a Prince of the Realm does not seek 'help.'"

We're telling you now, Prince of the Realm: seek help!

Contributor
Contributor

Jimmy Kavanagh is an Irish writer and co-founder of Club Valentine Comedy, a Dublin-based comedy collective. You can hear him talk to his favourite comedians about their favourite comics on his podcast, Comics Swapping Comics.