One of Marvel’s Oldest Heroes Just Got the Most Insane Version Yet (and He’s Totally Evil)

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In the latest version of Marvel’s *New Avengers*, a team of popular heroes – including Carnage, Hulk, Namor, Clea, Wolverine, Bucky Barnes, and Black Widow – are facing a dangerous new threat: the Killuminati. These are twisted, cloned versions of the original Illuminati, and they pose a serious risk to the world. Some of these clones are more powerful and dangerous than others, and one in particular is proving to be a uniquely terrifying challenge for a long-standing Marvel hero.

Readers first got a glimpse of Imperius Rex, a clone of Namor, in *New Avengers* #3. This week’s *New Avengers* #4 ramps things up significantly, as Imperius Rex has become a massive, city-threatening monster. However, there’s more to the situation than just a giant battle. The clone actually has a key advantage over Namor, creating major difficulties for the heroes, but ultimately teaching Namor a valuable lesson.

Godzilla Ain’t Got Nothing on Imperius Rex — and Neither Does Namor

In *New Avengers* #4, Namor finds himself in an unusual and difficult situation. The Atlantean king is violently attacking his fellow heroes, but he isn’t acting of his own free will. Normally, Namor controls sea creatures with his mind, but this time, he’s the one being controlled. A villain named Imperius Rex has turned Namor’s own powers against him, turning him into a puppet to harm his teammates. Imperius Rex reveals that he has much larger and more dangerous plans for this double agent.

Things take a turn for the worse when Namor discovers Imperius Rex has transformed into a giant, destructive monster, fueled by an evil personality. This is a shocking change, as Imperius Rex wasn’t previously monstrous – he’s grown significantly in both size and power. Combined with his intelligence and the ongoing mind control issues, Imperius Rex presents a huge challenge for the team, leaving Namor feeling powerless to stop him.

Heroes Prevail But It’s a Turning Point For The Team (And Namor)

Despite being incredibly strong and dangerous, the New Avengers manage to defeat Imperius Rex. While his overconfidence played a role, the combined efforts of Carnage and Namor – who successfully breaks the villain’s telepathic control – ultimately lead to his downfall, with Namor physically ripping him apart. This battle is particularly impactful for Namor, revealing a new vulnerability. He’s faced telepathic attacks before, as seen with Emma Frost, but this time, his own powers were used against him for mind control. This is a uniquely humbling experience for the usually arrogant Namor, especially since he needed his teammates’ help to free himself.

Wolverine plays a crucial role in Namor regaining control of himself. During the toughest part of the fight against Imperius Rex, Wolverine is battling a mind-controlled Namor, desperately trying to free him. Namor even tries to provoke Wolverine into killing him as a way to end things, but she refuses. Ultimately, it’s Wolverine’s words – telling him they don’t need a ‘heroic’ Namor – that break through and allow him to reclaim his power and embrace his more fearsome nature. This moment isn’t lost on Namor, and he finally addresses Laura as ‘Wolverine’ – a significant gesture considering his proud and often difficult personality. This shows the team is truly uniting, which will be vital in the ongoing fight. More importantly, it’s a moment of understanding for Namor, revealing a depth of character and his acceptance that even he sometimes needs assistance. While Namor will likely never be truly humble, this experience demonstrates the complexity of his character.

New Avengers #4 is available now.

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2025-09-20 17:17