A group of Atlantean Homo mermani berate Namor the Sub-Mariner (cover to Sub-Mariner #33, art by Sal Buscema).
Homo mermanus is a fictional race of gilled aquatic humanoids that has appeared in numerous comic book series published by Marvel Comics. This race is best known as the people who live in the Atlantis of Marvel's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe. The most notable member of the race is Namor the Sub-Mariner.
An offshoot of the Homo sapiens race with an as yet undisclosed origin, Homo mermanus are a mammalian species, but with some fish-like characteristics. Each one possesses two twin gills located on their necks near the clavicle bone, which allows them to breathe underwater. Their skin pigmentation can be either blue (most Atlanteans) or green (most Lemurians and nomads)
Their physiology is also much stronger and more durable than that of the Homo sapiens, necessitated by their exposure to the vast pressure of the deep sea. As a consequence they are physically much stronger than regular humans and can swim up to 30 miles (48 km) per hour. The typical lifespan for a Homo mermanus is 150 years. However they cannot survive outside of water for longer than five minutes without aid.
The total population of Homo mermanus has been estimated at over 1,000,000 globally.
History[]
The Homo mermanus are often referred to as Atlanteans, as it is in the city of Atlantis that their first complex society emerged. Like humans they learned to domesticate animals, such as dolphins, while humans domesticated horses,dogs and camels.
Atlantis itself had been a small above ground continent with many human settlements, when an event 10,000 years ago called the "Great Cataclysm" caused it to be submerged into the sea. 2,000 years later, a group of Homo mermanus made the ruins of the human settlements in Atlantis their home and went on to develop a society there using as much of the material as they could scavenge from the wreckage. Many of the warring tribes united under a single emperor {although by the 20th century there were still some babarian tribes.}
500 years after the settlement of Atlantis, another group of Homo mermanus left Atlantis to found their own city -this time in a part of the ruins of another continent submerged during the Great Cataclysm - Lemuria in the Pacific Ocean.
These "Lemurians" would discover the Serpent Crown in the ruins of their city, and through their Leader Naga's exposure and extensive use of the ancient mystical device, they would become more serpent-like in appearance than their Atlantean cousins.
Many Atlanteans worship Neptune, Roman god of the sea.
During the 20th century the Homo mermanus race began to come into sustained contact with their human cousins. These contacts have often been hostile, and have included many aborted invasions (Atlantis Attacks etc.) and even separate occasions when large numbers of Homo mermanus were rendered comatose or sterilized for periods. During the Second World War the kingdom of Atlantis also fought against the Axis Powers in alliance with the Allied Powers.
However, not all interactions between Homo sapiens and Homo mermanus have been hostile - during the 1920s a Homo mermanus female, Princess Fen of Atlantis mated with the human sea captain Leonard McKenzie - a union which produced the first human/Atlantean hybrid - Namor{avenging son in atlantean}, the Sub-Mariner.
In the aftermath of the Civil War and the World War Hulk events the homo mermanus, blamed of terrorism due to the actions of Kamar, militaristic son of Namor, are forced to leave the seas, using the established sleeper cells to live within humanity. At now, Atlantean Army resides in Latveria, guests of Doctor Doom, and the civilians live alongside the rest of humanity.
Subraces[]
Homo mermanus is divided between the Atlanteans and the splinter group that settled in the sunken continent of Lemuria and took the name of Lemurians. They differed as they possessed a more reptilian greenish skin color compared to the blue skinned Atlanteans.
Known Atlanteans[]
Golden Age Characters[]
- Namor McKenzie[1] - Ruler of Atlantis; member of the Invaders, Defenders, Avengers; retained his mutant powers after M-Day.
- Byrrah[2] - Cousin of Namor and challenger of the Throne; currently deceased.
- Chemil[3] - Wartime nurse
- Daka[4] - uncle of Namor and possibly the father of Byrrah; briefly took over the crown of Atlantis before Pearl Harbor; later allied with the Nazis and the Seal People and led an invasion of Argentina
- Dorma[5] - wife of Namor; currently deceased.
- Ertve [6] - Wartime High Priest and member of the Council of Three.
- Fen[7] - Mother of Namor; currently deceased
- Folma[8] - Wartime lieutenant
- Harla[9]
- Jadda[10]
- Karal[11]
- Lerza[12]
- Lucas[13]
- Mara[14]
- Mel[15]
- Namora (Aquaria Nautica Neptunia) - Cousin of Namor[16]
- Nostromas[17] - Wartime physician
- Petrod[18] - wartime sentry.
- Sarna[19]
- Thakorr[20] - Namor's Grandfather; currently deceased
- Til[21]
Modern Age Characters[]
- Amir[22]
- Amo[23]
- Andromeda Attumasen[24] - former member of the Dragon Circle and the Defenders.
- Arath[25]
- Argos[26]
- Arkus[27] - Military Officer
- Ashur[28]
- Askid[29]
- At'la'tique[30]
- Attuma[31] - Barbarian warlord and usurper
- Attumacht[32]
- Azir[33]
- Balaal[34]
- Banara[35]
- Beemer[36]
- Betty[37]
- Blabek[38]
- Bloodtide[39] - member of Fathom Five.
- Bobo[36]
- Brodar[40]
- Burka[41]
- Cirin[42]
- Corak[43]
- Coral[44] - currently deceased
- Crab[45]
- Dakkor (Iron Man Annual #10, 1989</ref>
- Dara[46] - currently deceased
- Dashak[volume & issue needed]
- Deathcharge [47]
- Delta Nine [48]
- Dragonrider[49]
- Eel[50] - mutant; leader of SURF; current status and whereabouts unknown.
- Elanna [51]
- Epititus [52]
- Fara[53] - currently deceased
- Fathom Five[30] - members include Bloodtide, Dragonrider, Llyron, Manowar and Sea Leopard
- Gorgul[54]
- Gort[23]
- Govan[55] - Ambassador of Atlantis
- Grokku[56]
- Ikthon[57] - Head Scientist
- Immannu[58]
- Jakka[59] - currently deceased
- Janus[60] - Sleeper agent
- Joe Atlantis[61]
- Kalen[62]
- Kamar[63] - son of Namor; former member of 13th Cell; currently deceased
- Kamuu[51]
- Kavor[volume & issue needed]
- Keerg[64] - warlord
- Kor-Konn (Sub-Mariner #4, 1968)
- Kormok - High Priest - First appeared in Sub-Mariner #17 (Sep 1969)
- Korra[65] - grandmother of Namor; presumed deceased.
- Korro[volume & issue needed]
- Krakos[66]
- Krang[67] - Exiled warlord and former member of the Serpent Squad
- Kyral[48]
- Llyron[68] - pseudo-clone of Namor; member of Fathom Five.
- Lord Arno[23]
- Lorvex[69]
- Madoxx[70]
- Mako[71] - genetic creation of Vyrra; presumed deceased.
- Mako[23]
- Manowar[30]
- Marcan[volume & issue needed]
- Minnow[45]
- Morcan[72] - criminal
- Morel[73]
- Mussels[45]
- Namorita Prentiss[74] - clone of Namora; former member of the New Warriors; killed by Nitro
- Nautak[75] - currently deceased
- Nereus[76]
- Nia Noble[77] - half Atlantean; Queen of Neptunia.
- Numara D'athahr[78]
- Orelem[79]
- Orka[80] - mutated warrior; former member of Heroes for Hire; currently deceased.
- Orrek[51]
- Ossem[81]
- Paul[82]
- People of the Black Sea[83]
- Politus[84]
- Proteus[85]
- Proteus[86]
- Raman[87]
- Ramin[88]
- Ramon[volume & issue needed]
- Relun[volume & issue needed]
- Remora[89]
- Rennar[51]
- Ronga[90]
- Ruthar[91]
- Saru-San[54] - presumed deceased
- Seahorse[45]
- Seaweed[45]
- Serestus[92]
- Seth[93]
- Shakkoth[94] - High Priest and member of Council of Three and At'La'Tique.
- Shalak[95]
- Sharkskin[96]
- Shem[97]
- Squid[98] - Leader of the School.
- Stegar[51]
- Sulomor[99] - delegate to Mazikhandar; currently deceased
- Talan[48]
- Tanas[51]
- Tareva[100] - Soceress
- Teneel[volume & issue needed]
- Thakos[101] - Warlord and member of the Council of Three.
- Thallo[48]
- The Mad Twins[102]
- Timoran[66]
- Tornaga[90]
- Trident Team[volume & issue needed]
- Tyrak[23] - Size-changing criminal.
- U-Man (Meranno)[103]
- Undertow[96]
- Unforgiven Dead/Old Ones[volume & issue needed]
- Vashti Cleito-Son[104] - Grand Vizier and member of Council of Three.
- Vayor[105]
- Volpan[27]
- Vyrra[106] - Outlaw geneticist; currently deceased.
- Worta[107]
- Xiomara[75]
- Zantor[108]
- Zantor[109]
- Zarina[110] - aunt of Namor
- Zartra[111]
- Zoga[112] - Mutated rebel; currently deceased.
- Zoran[113]
Other Media[]
Video games[]
- The game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance has a stage where the players must travel to the underwater city of Atlantis to stop a riot orchestrated by Attuma who believed he would become the sea kingdoms new ruler as foretold in the Atlantean Chronicles. Within the game, there is also a temple devoted to Negrete whose shrine was protected by temple guardians trained to defeat any trespassers. The Eyes of Negrete were holy objects used by the temple priests for access to the inner sanctums of the temple. In the Atlantis briefing, Captain America mentions that the Atlanteans aren't fans of the surface dwellers.
References[]
- ↑ Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
- ↑ Sub-Mariner Comics #35 1954
- ↑ Human Torch Comics #5 1941
- ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #24, 1941
- ↑ Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
- ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #4
- ↑ Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
- ↑ Human Torch Comics #3
- ↑ Sub-Mariner Comics #5, 1942
- ↑ Sub-Mariner Comics #5, 1942
- ↑ Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1, 1939
- ↑ Sub-Mariner Comics #5, 1942
- ↑ Sub-Mariner Comics #1, 1941
- ↑ Human Torch Comics #7, 1942
- ↑ Sub-Mariner Comics #1, 1941
- ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #82
- ↑ Human Torch Comics #5
- ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #4
- ↑ Human Torch Comics #7, 1942
- ↑ Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1
- ↑ Marvel Mystery Comics #4, 1940
- ↑ Wolverine vol. 2 #42
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- ↑ Sub-Mariner #1, 2007
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #3 (2006)
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Sub-Mariner #63 (Jul 1973)
- ↑ New Warriors #3, 1999
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- ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 New Thunderbolts #1
- ↑ Fantastic Four #33 (1964)
- ↑ Night Thrasher #11, 1994
- ↑ Marvel Premiere #17
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- ↑ Hulk/Sub-Mariner 1998 Annual, 1998
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- ↑ New Thunderbolts #1
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #31, 1970
- ↑ Roger Stern (w), John Buscema (p), Tom Palmer Sr (i). "Assault On Atlantis" Avengers 272 (October 1986), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #4, 2007
- ↑ Kurt Busiek & Erik Larsen (w), Erik Larsen (p), Sal Buscema (i). "Headhunt" Defenders vol. 2 5 (July 2001), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #56, 1972
- ↑ 45.0 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 Marvel Comics Presents #12, 1989
- ↑ Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #1, 1984
- ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner Annual #4
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 Namor the Sub-Mariner #20, 1991
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #1 (Sep 1984)
- ↑ New Mutants Annual #5
- ↑ 51.0 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 51.5 Sub-Mariner #64, 1973
- ↑ Web of Spider-Man Annual #4, 1989
- ↑ Incredible Hulk #118, 1969
- ↑ 54.0 54.1 Sub-Mariner #4, 1968
- ↑ Paul Jenkins (w), Lee Weeks (p), Nelson and Lee Weeks (i). "Sleeper Cell Part 6" Civil War: Front Line 8 (January 2007), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Steve Englehart (w), Sal Buscema (p), Frank McLaughlin (i). "If Atlantis Should Fall" Defenders 8 (September 1971), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Sub-Mariner v1 #7
- ↑ Namor #34
- ↑ Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #2, 1984
- ↑ Wolverine vol. 3 #43
- ↑ Paul Jenkins (w), Ramon F. Bachs (p), John Lucas (i). "Part Three" Civil War: Front Line 3 (September 2006), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner #38, 1993
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #1 (2007)
- ↑ Marvel Team-Up vol. 2 #8
- ↑ Namor vol. 2 #1
- ↑ 66.0 66.1 Sub-Mariner #1, 2007
- ↑ Fantastic Four Annual #1 (1963)
- ↑ Namor #50
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #54 (Oct 1972)
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #64 (Aug 1973)
- ↑ Marvel: The Last Generation #12
- ↑ USAgent vol. 2 #2
- ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner #35, 1993
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #51 (Jul 1972)
- ↑ 75.0 75.1 Marvel Comics Presents #121, 1993
- ↑ Namor #36
- ↑ Invaders vol. 3 #2
- ↑ New Thunderbolts #3
- ↑ Night Thrasher #11, 1994
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #23 (Sep 1970)
- ↑ Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #9, 1989
- ↑ Wolverine vol. 3 #44
- ↑ Gerry Conway (w), Gene Colan (p), Tom Palmer Sr (i). "And So Enters The Amazing Spider-Man" Daredevil 77 (June 1971), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Wolverine #42, 2006
- ↑ Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #2, 1984
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #36, 1971
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #66 (Oct 1973)
- ↑ John Byrne (w), John Byrne (p), John Byrne (i). "Biology Class" Alpha Flight 14 (September 1984), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner #46, 1994
- ↑ 90.0 90.1 Ed Hannigan (w), Don Perlin (p), Tex Blaisdell (i). "Battle Royal" Defenders 84 (June 1980), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Marvel Comics Presents #7, 1988
- ↑ Kurt Busiek (w), Alan Davis (p), Mark Farmer (i). "Global Presence" Avengers vol. 3 43 (August 2001), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Tales to Astonish #98 (Dec 1967)
- ↑ Sub-Mariner vol.2 #1 (1984)
- ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner #15, 1991
- ↑ 96.0 96.1 New Mutants Annual #5, 1989
- ↑ Roger Stern (w), John Buscema (p), Tom Palmer Sr (i). "Captives" Avengers 282 (August 1987), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Marvel Comics Presents #12
- ↑ New Invaders #0
- ↑ Roger Stern (w), Mike Mignola (p), Mark Badger (i). Doctor Strange & Doctor Doom: Triumph & Torment 1 (1989), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #16 (Aug 1969)
- ↑ Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #3, 1984
- ↑ Invaders #3 (1975)
- ↑ Tales to Astonish]] #71 (Sep 1965)
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #4, 2007
- ↑ Namor the Sub-Mariner #19 (1991)
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #31, 1970
- ↑ Hulk/Sub-Mariner 1998 Annual, 1998
- ↑ Tales to Astonish #72, 1965
- ↑ Namor #5 (2003)
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #66, 1973
- ↑ Marvel Comics Presents #7
- ↑ Sub-Mariner #3, 2007
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- Gruenwald, Mark & Sanderson, Peter (1985). Atlantis. In Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Deluxe Edition #1: Abomination- Batroc's Brigade pp. 40–41. New York: Marvel Comics.