Did Invisible Woman Cheat on Reed Richards with Namor? Not Even Marvel Knows
As beloved as the marriage between the Fantastic Four‘s Invisible Woman and Mister Fantastic is, there’s one character who consistently threatens to come between them: Namor. The Sub-Mariner’s feelings for Sue Storm are no secret, and his persistent interest in this Fantastic Four hero begs the question of whether they’ve actually had an affair.
Invisible Woman may be happily married to Reed Richards, but Namor the Sub-Mariner has long competed for her affections – albeit to little avail, though that hasn’t convinced him to give up thus far. Still, many fans have wondered if Invisible Woman has ever actually cheated on Mister Fantastic with the King of Atlantis, since her potential reciprocation can seem unclear.
Some stories imply that Sue feels the same way about Namor, while others in more recent memory firmly shut Namor’s advances down. Invisible Woman certainly has a connection with Namor, but it’s worth investigating how far that connection has gone in the Fantastic Four’s history.
Invisible Woman and Namor Haven’t Had an Affair…In Marvel’s Main Continuity
In Earth-616, Sue and Namor’s Relationship Never Goes Too Far
Right off the bat, it should be established that Invisible Woman has not cheated on Reed Richards with Namor – at least, not in Marvel’s Earth-616 continuity. The two first encountered each other in 1962’s Fantastic Four #4 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and though Namor immediately developed a crush on Sue, he went about expressing those feelings in the wrong way by kidnapping her. He insisted that she become his queen in exchange for him sparing humanity. While Sue was able to empathize with Namor upon learning of the Atlanteans’ struggles, she remained loyal to Reed.
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Since then, Invisible Woman has admitted that any potential feelings she may have had for Namor were settled when she realized that she didn’t see herself as a queen. Thus, she’s chosen to be with Reed because he is the only man she truly loves and envisions a future with. Her admission shuts down rumors of a cheating scandal between Sue and Namor, though Marvel has teased the idea. In Namor, the Sub-Mariner #50, Namor is shown sleeping with Sue, but it’s later revealed that he’d actually hooked up with shape-shifter Lyja. Invisible Woman hasn’t actually crossed that line with Namor – in Earth-616, that is.
Namor Has Better Luck With Invisible Woman in Other Timelines
Sue Storm and Namor Have Kissed in Different Marvel Universes
Beyond Marvel’s primary continuity, things get a bit more complex for this controversial Fantastic Four pairing. In the Ultimate Universe, while Invisible Woman is dating Mister Fantastic, Namor attacks the city and says that he will only stop if she kisses him. He clarifies that he must feel that she means it, or else he will rescind the offer and resume his rampage. Despite Reed’s protests, Sue obliges for the greater good and kisses Namor, and the Sub-Mariner announces that she means it. Although Sue isn’t necessarily to blame for this kiss, it’s nonetheless a devastating blow to her and Reed’s relationship.
The kiss between Earth-1610’s Sue and Namor takes place in Ultimate Fantastic Four #26 by Mark Millar and Greg Land, available now in the Ultimate Fantastic Four Omnibus Vol. 1!
Even that Earth-1610 example can be disputed, since Invisible Woman didn’t intentionally cheat on Reed. That said, Fantastic Four: 1234 by Grant Morrison and Jae Lee features one of the few instances where Sue gets intimate with Namor on purpose behind Reed’s back. Namor is sent by Doom to exploit her weakness for him in this warped reality, and her attraction to him is evident as she questions her loyalty to her husband. Despite reminding herself repeatedly that she married Reed, Sue ends up kissing Namor before he leaves. Thankfully, none of this is canon, so Invisible Woman and Namor’s passionate kiss is best forgotten.
Sorry, Namor: Invisible Woman Isn’t Cheating on Reed Richards Any Time Soon
Invisible Woman’s Heart Belongs to Mister Fantastic, Not Namor
Marvel has entertained the possibility of Invisible Woman falling for Namor’s charms in other universes, but as far as the core continuity is concerned, her heart lies with Reed Richards alone. Fantastic Four #412 by Tom DeFalco and Paul Ryan solidifies this, as Reed’s insecurities about Namor get the better of him and drive him to attack the Atlantean king. As they fight, Sue tries to stop them, and she says, “Oh, Reed…it’s you I love! Only you!” Namor’s romantic efforts are therefore in vain, because the Fantastic Four‘s Invisible Woman has no intention of cheating with him in Marvel’s main timeline.
Summary
The Fantastic Four is a superhero franchise centered on Marvel Comics’ first family of superheroes. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the team made its comic book debut in 1961 and quickly became a cornerstone of Marvel’s success. The franchise follows four astronauts—Reed Richards, Susan Storm, Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm—who gain superpowers after being exposed to cosmic radiation. Over the years, Fantastic Four has been adapted into several live-action films, animated series, and video games. The films have seen multiple reboots, with varying levels of success, and are now set to be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), with a new film slated for release in 2025.
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