Namor caves under the weight of war in this Invaders #1 exclusive preview

World War II was a formative time for the superhero genre, throwing fantastic characters into a real-world conflict to connect their heroism with that of Allied soldiers. The Invaders were Marvel’s team of superheroes that helped rally soldiers against the Axis powers, with Captain America, Bucky, Namor, the Human Torch, and other international figures putting their differences aside to quell the spread of fascism. Now, the team is back in a new Invaders series by writer Chip Zdarsky, artists Carlos Magno and Butch Guice, colorist Alex Guimarães, and letterer Travis Lanham, but those old allegiances have been shattered by the current situations of the former colleagues. Namor is back to waging war against the surface world for the damage it has done to the oceans, and the Invaders are banding together to stop him before his wave of destruction obliterates global civilization.

This exclusive preview of next week’s Invaders #1 flashes back to show Namor’s determination and drive during World War II, putting himself at risk to save his fellow soldiers. Zdarsky wrote a complex, captivating Namor in the recent Defenders: The Best Defense mini-event, and despite this villainous turn, Namor remains a noble character fighting to protect the future of his people. This preview reinforces how Namor and the rest of the Invaders were brothers in arms during the war, with Butch Guice and Alex Guimarães’ artwork emphasizing the grisly, high-stakes nature of battle. Namor’s power is intensified in the image of a mostly naked man taking bullets to save the lives of other soldiers, but even Namor can’t withstand the overwhelming barrage of attacks, especially when he’s away from a replenishing water source. Guice’s war imagery is both exciting and somber, and despite Captain America’s proclamation of victory at the end of this excerpt, there’s an undeniable layer of tragedy that blankets the scene.