Who Is Kukulkan? Namor Connection & Deity Explained

Namor is called the Feathered Serpent God in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, connecting the Marvel Cinematic Universe anti-hero to the deity Kukulkan. The Phase 4 movie introduces Namor and his race of underwater people to the MCU, but Marvel has made some notable changes to the mythology. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever trailer confirms another big change for Namor in that he is believed to have connections to a powerful deity, Kukulkan. M'Baku notes that the people of Talocan do not refer to Namor as a general or king but instead call him the same name as the Feathered Serpent God.

Kukulkan is the name of a serpent deity in several Mesoamerican religions. The Feather Serpent God was worshiped by the Yucatec Maya people before 1500, but it also had many other names besides Kukulkan in other Mesoamerican cultures. As indicated by the name, the Kukulkan deity is believed to be a giant feathered serpent. According to various religions, the Feathered Serpent God is the god of rain, wind, storms, and life. Namor is not a god and does not have any connections to Kukulkan in the comics, but Black Panther: Wakanda Forever links him and his kingdom to Mesoamerican cultures. It is through this connection that Namor gaining the title of a prominent god is possible and could be a sign of just how long the Sub-Mariner has been around.

Why Namor's People Call Him Kukulkan In Black Panther 2

Namor sits on his throne in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The reason that Namor's people call him Kukulkan in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is likely the result of the Sub-Mariner's legendary origin, life, and powers. Namor is unique among the other people of Talocan due to his birth and physical attributes. One of his most defining physical traits is his ankle wings, which could be one of the reasons why Namor is linked to Kukulkan now. Although Namor's ankle wings are not a gift from Kukulkan or a direct reference to the Feathered Serpent God's look, the appearance of small feathered wings on Namor's ankles as a baby could have been taken as a sign that he was sent from the gods or an Avatar of Kukulkan.

It is quite clear that Namor embraces the links to Kukulkan or helped inspire the modern legend of the deity. Namor's headpiece in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a direct match for Quetzalcoatl, the name of the Feathered Serpent God in Aztec culture. While he has the Kukulkan name in the movie, it appears that the legend of his name and any appearance with this headpiece could have helped create various Mesoamerican religions as a result of changing Namor's origin to add Aztec ties. If that is the case, then Namor's people calling him by this title is either a sign that they too view Talocan's ruler as a type of god himself.

Namor's Kukulkan Connection Parallels Black Panther's God Powers

Marvel making Namor the MCU's Kukulkan and connecting him to the Feathered Serpent God deity could be a chance to draw more similarities between the Black Panther 2 villain and the Wakandan culture and heroes he fights. The MCU has established that Bast the Panther God helped create the first Black Panther and is an integral part of the Wakandan afterlife. With Black Panther's powers being even more directly tied to Bast in the comics, the MCU could reveal that Namor's powers are also partially derived from the gods. This could even be a workaround to explain Namor being a mutant in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Next: Namor's Origin Change Is A Very Smart Decision For Black Panther 2