Namor’s bulge isn’t the reason he’s one of Marvel’s sexiest characters

When Tenoch Huerta took on the role of popular Marvel antihero Namor, he probably didn’t think his nether regions would become a topic of hot scrutiny online. Soon after, however, the publication of Wakanda Forever: Black PantherAn image that went viral of Huerta’s behind-the scenes photo suggested there was a misalignment between his real-life swimsuit fit and his movie appearance. Huerta later clarified that his on-set photo had been edited to show a larger bulge. But that didn’t stop people online from buzzing about how some higher powers at Marvel decided to nerf Namor’s sex appeal by editing out his package.

Bulge or no bulge, though, Namor had already slid his way to the top of my own MCU Male Crush List — and it has absolutely nothing to do with what he’s packing in his swimsuit. Personally, I think the Marvel Cinematic Universe is so chock-full of shirtless, shredded men that one prime pecker more or less doesn’t really make a difference. Marvel studio execs seem to think being buff is a necessary trait for a leading man, even though plenty of MCU heroes have power sets that don’t solely rely on physical strength. It’s boring to see the similarities in MCU hero appearances. I don’t want another muscular white man named Chris who punches things; I want something Continue reading. Namor’s version in Wakanda Forever is exactly what I didn’t know I needed.

Image: Marvel Studios

It’s been a long time since a new MCU character became an instant crush for me. Metaphorically, I’m writing his name with a glittery gel pen while giggling and twirling my hair. He’s a refreshing splash of water, finally quenching the unfulfilled thirst brought on by the deluge of handsome yet totally bland Marvel men. But what is it about Namor that’s got me in a tizzy? It’s not just that he’s handsome, because at this point, it’s basically a prerequisite that MCU superheroes have to be incredibly hot. Even so, they don’t all make it onto my moodboard of beautiful men.

MCU features many shirtless scenes featuring the MCU’s leading men with their toned bodies. At first, seeing Peggy Carter get flustered when she gazes upon Steve Rogers’ newly transformed, well-oiled body in Captain America: The First Avenger felt validating. It’s not surprising that comic book females have a notoriously distorted body. They parade about in very revealing clothes. Women in older action and sci-fi flicks didn’t usually fare any better. Marvel’s introduction of shirtless scenes made it seem exciting that the studio had finally figured out how to cater to me. The novelty soon wore off. All those identical bodies weren’t really doing anything for me. Turns out that feeling included isn’t the same as feeling attracted.

I’m not a prude. As much as anyone attracted to men, I enjoy a shirtless scene. But somewhere along the line, it seems like the Marvel studio heads decided that showing a male character without a shirt was the key to proving he wasn’t just the hero, but the romantic hero. Nearly every male lead was given a shirtless scene. Sure, maybe it highlighted Peter Quill’s fuckboy personality when one of the first trailer shots of him in the original Guardians of the GalaxyHe was barefoot and wet in the movie. The MCU movies began to pile up and it became apparent that everyone had to have bodies to rival their comicbook counterparts. The MCU’s Ant-Man has abs! Ant-Man has to have abs. The whole point of his existence is to shrink his body to an impossible size.

Image: Marvel Studios

Abs aren’t the sole mark of what makes a hero attractive. I place Steve Rogers over Peter Quill in my ranking of MCU crushes — not because I prefer Chris Evans’ shirtless body over Chris Pratt’s, necessarily, but because Captain America is loyal, dependable, and will go to the ends of the Earth for the people he loves. The same goes for Thor, although Chris Hemsworth was a very attractive person, Thor has never resonated with his fans. Thor: Ragnarok He became more of a goofy herbo than a brooding, sexy hunk. He still ranks below his brother Loki, who’s dominated fan crush lists since 2012’s Avengers. And for me, Loki is still below Bucky Barnes, who is below — well, I won’t get into my whole ranking, but just know that Namor has swum nearly all the way to the top.

Namor is incredibly sexy because of this. Sure, he’s handsome, strong, and sculpted, admittedly less dehydrated-looking than some Marvel heroes. Given his entire power-from-water idea, it’s fitting that he is so fit. His charisma is what makes him so compelling. Leidenschaft. It’s his dedication to his people and his cause. It’s the surprisingly gentle way that he gives Wakandan princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) a bracelet that belonged to his mother and takes her on a tour of his kingdom, like they’re in some magical underwater version of “A Whole New World.”

It’s the two of them on their own blazing paths of righteousness and vengeance, two sides of the same coin. It’s the two of them facing off in battle, bloody and beaten, until Shuri stands over Namor, a spear pointed to his throat, demanding he surrender. This reminds me of that terrible moment in Inferno. Princess Mononoke when San holds a knife to Ashitaka’s throat, threatening to kill him, and he calls her beautiful.) Namor later draws the portraits of them in his underwater palace. This is what seals it for me. The man is so smitten, even in the face of defeat, that he’s waxing poetic. Wow!

Image: Studio Ghibli

Look, Marvel. Your fans will find different characteristics in fictional characters. And it’s usually not just one singular character trait, but a whole mosaic of who the character is — how they interact with other people, what kind of impact they have on the world. Their romantic potential is what seals the deal most often.

The MCU has many men that look exactly like Ken dolls. It feels almost like they are the directors. TreatThey like rigid, interchangeable plastic dolls and smash their faces against Barbies in the hope that they will be enthralled. But I have higher standards when it comes to romantic connection — especially because I like to imagine my crushes in various smooching scenarios. I’m not alone; there’s a whole community out there who loves to write about their favorite characters holding hands and exchanging longing gazes.

Some fans are able to create intense emotion and drama from a few MCU-movie oneliners. But I need something more in order for me to believe the Ken dolls actually have some substance. Pining is what I long for! Yearning! Devotion! Any chemistry, literally! If a male character has an actual spark with his designated romantic interest — hell, if he has a spark with Anyone — then he’ll immediately zoom to the top of my crush list.

That’s why Druig and Gilgamesh in the much-maligned Eternal Completely stole my heart too. The movie was loved by romance-focused MCU lovers on Tumblr, regardless of all its flaws. Although neither of the characters are the most hunky in the MCU, they both have compelling relationships that make them stand out from the crowd. Druig (Barry Keoghan), who is a skeptic about humanity’s destructiveness, remains unfailingly committed to Makkari (Lauren Ridloff). Despite the dangers of staying with Thena, Gilgamesh (Ma Dongseok), is determined to care for her.

Image: Marvel Studios

Richard Madden may be very beautiful, but the best moment is in Eternals where he actually shows some convincing romantic feelings comes toward the end of the movie, when he can’t bring himself to kill his old lover, Sersi (Gemma Chan), and instead abandons his obsession with his mission and flies right into the sun. It’s a beautiful display of dedication and noble sacrifice.

My fictional crushes are my best friends. (This isn’t surprising; I grew up with Tumblr.) I love my Marvel crushes. But I’ve also become very picky about MCU crushes in particular, because more often than not, those nearly identical rippling pectorals and chiseled abs on virtually every male character don’t have anything interesting beneath them. We need a hero, and he’s got to be more than strong, fast, and fresh from the fight! Marvel has Namor! Finally gave me — and other like-minded fans out there — a leading man with a beating, passionate heart beneath that perfect physique. What makes a good MCU crush aren’t the crotch bulges, the wide shoulders, or the smoldering eyes — it’s a depth of romantic character that we can believe in.