Merchandise leaks revealed Namor the Sub-Mariner will appear in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Namor's longtime nemesis from the comics, Attuma, joins him in those leaks. Marvel Comics fans know Attuma plays a major role in storylines involving Atlantis going back to when Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced him early in the Marvel Universe.
Attuma also shares strong connections to other key characters from the comics, including Doctor Doom. Their alliance potentially inspires events in live-action, and could even lead to some major surprises in the upcoming movie. Attuma's comic book history points to his MCU future, which comic book fans expect to be full of war and intrigue.
Rebelling Against Atlantis
Attuma first appeared in Fantastic Four #33, a key issue in which Namor sets aside his differences with the superhero team to gain their help against an uprising. Attuma leads a violent rebellion against Atlantis, trying to usurp Namor's position as king. Attuma believes he alone is entitled to rule the underwater kingdom and virtually all his comic book appearances revolve around this.
Namor and the Fantastic Four hand Attuma a swift defeat but he returns, again and again, to become perhaps Namor's greatest rival in the Marvel Universe.
A Powerful Warrior
Attuma likely plays an antagonistic role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and he has the power to do it. Attuma possesses superhuman strength, speed, and stamina beyond that of most Atlanteans. He rivals Namor in strength, and though Namor can be cruel and cutting, Attuma exceeds him in being a villain in every way.
Attuma also counts among the best martial artists in the Marvel Universe thanks to his exceptional skill with various weapons and fighting styles, including those developed underwater by barbarian tribes like the one he hails from.
Doctor Doom's Ally
Attuma teams with Doctor Doom on several occasions in Marvel Comics, making for some intriguing possibilities in the MCU. Attuma initially serves as an unwitting servant for Doom against the Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four Annual #3 and much later, Doom resurrects Attuma during the Dark Reign era after his grizzly death.
Doom provides Attuma with several power upgrades in the process. Comic book fans know Doctor Doom harbors an intense rivalry with Black Panther and Wakanda and if Attuma appears in the movie as it seems he will, it's possible the two find common ground in live-action very soon.
Fighting The Avengers
Attuma's ambition for power extended to the surface world as well. He attacked the surface many times, including a devastating assault in Avengers #26 and #27. Attuma unleashed a tidal wave against the coast, a go-to move for him in later comics, and also fought the most powerful Avengers like The Scarlet Witch to a standstill.
Attuma captured the Avengers including The Wasp and Captain America, though Captain America ultimately outflanks the villain and succeeds in destroying the flood-tide machine Attuma uses.
Ruler Of Atlantis
Attuma eventually succeeds in capturing the Atlantean throne. Namor abdicates, leading to a civil war Attuma brutally ends with him as king. Attuma lacks any contentment with his long-desired objective and antagonizes Namor by kidnapping his wife. This leads Namor to enlist the Avengers to oust Attuma in an epic battle in Avengers #272.
Comic book fans know Hercules plays a big role in this storyline and with both Hercules and Attuma joining the MCU, the likelihood this story comes to live-action only increases.
The Lost City Of Lemuria
Attuma connects to another piece of Marvel Comics lore with intriguing possibilities for the MCU. During a battle with The High Evolutionary, he joins forces with the Lemurians. The Lemurians descend from The Deviants, the ancient rivals of the Eternals, who once ruled an empire from Lemuria in the past.
Attuma shares several connections with modern Lemurians, who share genetic history with Atlanteans. With the Eternals established in the MCU, the Lemurians also likely emerge along with Atlantis.
Atlantis Attacks
Attuma achieves his greatest prominence in the Marvel Universe in Atlantis Attacks, a massive crossover sprawling through nearly every annual published in 1989. Attuma leads an all-out attack on the surface world alongside the Lemurians, only to discover that he's the victim of a historic bait and switch.
The Lemurian Leader Llyra uses Attuma's focus on the surface to launch an invasion of Atlantis. She murders thousands in a sacrifice to a demon, leaving Attuma with much blood on his hands at the end.
Deep Six
Many supervillain teams exist in Marvel Comics and Attuma formed one called The Deep Six. Attuma assembled Nagala, Orka, Piranha, Sea Urchin, and Tiger Shark to fight alongside him in The Defenders #7 from 2001. This group fought against Namor and the reformed Defenders and potentially appears in some form alongside Attuma in the MCU.
The Deep Six likely appear in live-action eventually as Attuma formed his team after one Namor established in Namor, the Sub-Mariner #58. This team included Stingray, Tiger Shark, Tamara Rahn, Triton, and Andromeda, who Attuma later discovered to be his daughter.
Andromeda
Andromeda plays a sizable role in Atlantean affairs in the Marvel Universe and likely manifests in the MCU in the future. Her story also potentially makes for an intriguing adaptation. She joined the original Defenders in The Defenders #143, after being unable to advance in the Atlantean military due to her being a woman.
She serves as a close ally of Namor's in the comics and fought against her father in direct combat in the Atlantis Attacks crossover, potentially setting up a live-action face-off.
Breaker Of Oceans
Attuma gains his greatest power during the Fear Itself storyline from 2011. Attuma discovers one of the Seven Hammers of the Worthy enchanted by The Serpent and becomes Nekkrod, the Breaker of Oceans. With significantly enhanced mystical power from the hammer, he launches another attack on the surface, this time targeting Vancouver with a massive tidal wave.
He also sets his sights on Atlantis once again, using his improved power to dethrone Namor and take over the Atlantean Empire.