Doctor Doom Isn't The Only MCU Threat For The Fantastic Four
Marvel Studios has slowly been releasing teasers for Avengers: Doomsday (2026). One of the latest teaser trailers shows the return of the Wakandans, offering glimpses of Shuri (Letitia Wright), M’Baku (Winston Duke), and the human-Atlantean hybrid Namor (Tenoch Huerta). Interestingly, the clip is also the first to tease the return of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s newest additions, The Fantastic Four. The Fantastic Four made their MCU debut in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025). However, since the film is pretty self-contained, Avengers: Doomsday will be the first to introduce the team’s members to other MCU characters.
The Fantastic Four are expected to be a vital component of Avengers: Doomsday, as their archenemy, Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), will be the main antagonist. However, the latest teaser reminds us that Doctor Doom isn’t the only MCU threat The Fantastic Four could face. One can’t help but wonder if Marvel’s decision to include Namor and The Fantastic Four in the same teaser is a nod to their contentious Marvel Comics history.
Namor And The Fantastic Four’s Complicated Marvel History, Explained
The Fantastic Four and Namor have a long history in Marvel Comics, dating back to the 1960s. They first crossed paths in Fantastic Four Vol. 14 (1962), where Namor, referred to in the comic as the Sub-Mariner, stumbles onto land with amnesia. Upon returning to his home and remembering his identity, he’s devastated to find nuclear testing has destroyed Atlantis. Namor tries to take his vengeance out on the surface world, using a horn to summon monsters like Giganto to New York. The Fantastic Four swoop in to stop him, completely unaware that their chance meeting with Namor will spark a years-long rivalry.
During the battle, Namor comes into contact with Sue Storm (aka The Invisible Woman) and instantly falls for her. He offers to call off his attack on Earth if she agrees to be his bride. While she considered the proposal to protect Earth, The Fantastic Four defeated Namor before she could accept. The incident, though, sparked a lifelong obsession for Namor, who remained infatuated with Sue.
Namor’s obsession with Sue morphed into villainy as he tried numerous times to force her to be with him, including kidnapping her and threatening Earth and those she loved. The most complicated aspect of the relationship is that Sue occasionally hints at having some attraction to Namor, even once admitting to wanting to kiss him. However, she remains faithful to Reed Richards and repeatedly rebuffs Namor’s advances. Ultimately, Namor and The Fantastic Four’s relationship remained complicated. It was naturally strained due to Namor’s obsession, which created a kind of love triangle with him, Sue, and Reed, though Namor and the team also occasionally worked together to fight bigger threats.
Marvel Comics also explored the idea of Namor and Sue ending up together through alternate universes. The Sue of Earth-6706 was the sole survivor of The Fantastic Four after a rocket launch mishap and landed in the ocean, where Namor saved her. She ultimately married Namor and the two had a child, Remy (aka Gambit).
How Namor And Sue’s History Could Impact The MCU
Avengers: Doomsday marks the first time Namor and Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) will appear in the MCU together, making us curious if their comic book history will come into play. On the one hand, I expect the film to dig a little deeper into Namor’s anti-hero side and potentially even see him unite with the Wakandans or Avengers to fight Doom. However, with the entry of The Fantastic Four, there could also be room to set up a bit of side conflict.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps already gave the team a lot to deal with. In the film, Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal) and Sue are trying to navigate first-time parenthood, only to find their son, Franklin (Ada Scott), is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, attracting the attention of Galactus (Ralph Ineson). In Avengers: Doomsday, the pair will likely have to defend or rescue their son from the new threat, Doom. In fact, Marvel fans who waited for The Fantastic Four: First Steps' post-credit scene will have seen a hooded Dr. Doom ominously holding Franklin in his arms. Given all the stress and trauma Reed and Sue have been through, it’s not hard to see how Namor could easily drive a further wedge between them.
The last time we saw Namor in the MCU, he was defeated by Shuri in a final battle in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Having lost the battle, Namor was forced to acknowledge Wakanda's strength and agree to keep their secrets from the rest of the world. Along with his people, he retreated back to Talokan. While Namor could create some interesting dynamics in Doomsday, the MCU will also have to be careful with his and Sue’s comic book history. His attempts to force Sue to be with him are problematic, and it’s even more troubling that Marvel Comics decided to make her attracted to someone so toxic. If the MCU is careful, though, I think such a storyline could work.
I loved that The Fantastic Four: First Steps got a little raw and honest when exploring the idea of Reed and Sue as, well, humans. They may be heroes, but they’re not immune to the anxieties of parenthood or the regrets of their past. It even touched a bit on Reed’s obsessive tendencies and fears that there’s something wrong with him, which impacts his relationship with Sue. Avengers: Doomsday could continue these deep dives into the realities of parenthood and marriage, perhaps by including a subtle storyline about Namor and Sue. It could be as basic as Namor showing interest in Sue, and her having a relatable “what if” moment before ultimately still choosing Reed, as she always has.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps is, at its heart, a story about the strength of family and the worthiness of fighting for that family. There’s little that could emphasize this same theme more in Avengers: Doomsday than the family facing threats to their child and their relationships, yet still finding the strength to keep fighting for each other and choosing each other again and again.
