The Namor problem

[Mandarin]

So this is something that occurred to me when I read WMW. Tony is using the retro armor and he's going toe to toe with Namor just barely on his level. Then a little bit later on a whim I reread Demon in a bottle. And in the classic red and gold was basicly at the same level against Namor. I assume if Namor fought Tony currently it'd be much the same. Now I haven't read NAmor ( I havte him with a passion) but I'm pretty sure he's never gotten some kind of big power upgrade so this seems to be a huge continuity problem through out Iron Man as I thought about it. I mean Iron Man constantly gets all new all better armors yet his status among other heroes seems to stay the same. I mean if in the Mark II he can fight to Hulk by say the Neo Classic should be be able to beat the Hulk? It seems that no matter how advanced and upgraded and more powerful a suit gets Iron Man seems to be at the same level to all the other characters in the Marvel universe.

[Ironghost]

One problem Marvel has is consistency.  There is zero effort to maintain any.

[Tetragrammaton]

A couple of points in regards to the relative power difference between the classic armor and the modern armors.

1. While about 50 years may have passed since the introduction of Iron Man, within Earth 616 continuity significantly less time has passed. The same plot device that keeps Peter Parker in his perpetually in his 20's is also compressing time when looking at development of the armors. I am guessing there is only about 10 years between the original gray armor and the current bleeding edge model. This may, in part, explain why there isn't a more substantial difference in terms of power level and capabilities between suits.

2. If we accept the corrected Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe entries as accurate, we see that the strength level of classic armor was rated at 50 tons. The current armor at about 100 tons. While a 100% increase, this may be less than expected given the large number of model upgrades.

3. Using Namor, a character whose physical strength is variable depending on time away from water, may not be the best choice for a benchmark. Also, while he may not have had any obvious power upgrades, he is being written as being stronger than in the past. Again, going back to the OHOTMU as a guide, he originally was said to have 75 ton strength and today he is rated at Class 100 (in excess of 100 tons). It is entirely possible that the relative difference in physical strength between him and Iron Man has stayed the same over time.

[Iron YoJimBo]

I'd say it's a better benchmark than the Hulk, who was knocked out by the classic red 'n golds, & by the time WWH rolled around Hulk was able to crack the skulls of just about anyone who looked at him funny.

[Ralph6669]

I looked at him funny and i'm fine

seriously though, Tony should just make the leap to adamantium already

[Roger A Ott II]

I'd say it's a better benchmark than the Hulk, who was knocked out by the classic red 'n golds, & by the time WWH rolled around Hulk was able to crack the skulls of just about anyone who looked at him funny.

I'd say Hulk and Namor are pretty much saddled with the same problem when it comes to benchmarks:  Their strength levels are affected by external factors.  Namor is strongest when he's in the water.  Hulk gets stronger the madder he gets, with a theoretical incalculable limit.

[Iron Guy]

That's the thing that always got me about the Hulk. The writers say he has no upper limit because he can just keep getting madder & madder. But that's a load of B.S. No one & no thing has an unlimited capacity to get angry. Eventually you reach a point where you just CAN'T get any madder. So the Hulk can't get any stronger. You know, 1 of these days' Banners' going to Hulk-out & suffer a massive stroke. You heard it here 1st.

[Ironghost]

You know 1 of these days' Banners' going to Hulk-out & suffer a massive stroke. You heard it here 1st.

That's worth a 3.99 cover price.  "The Hulk... in Rehab!"

[Iron Kaiser]

That's the thing that always got me about the Hulk. The writers say he has no upper limit because he can just keep getting madder & madder. But that's a load of B.S. No one & no thing has an unlimited capacity to get angry. Eventually you reach a point where you just CAN'T get any madder. So the Hulk can't get any stronger. You know, 1 of these days' Banners' going to Hulk-out & suffer a massive stroke. You heard it here 1st.

The prospect of Hulk suffering a stroke just made my day.

[Iron YoJimBo]

I gotta admit ti's about the funniest thing I've heard in a while, & probably the one thing the Hulk can't stop.   

[Majestic]

I remember in one recent comic Namor handing Iron Man his ass during an Illuminati meeting, forcing Dr. Strange to step in to save IM from being killed by Namor, and Tony was wearing the Extremis i think.

One thing i used to like about the Classic Armor was that he was able to increase the power for a very short period raising the strength level to 100+ tons, it would normally burn out the armor but it was a nice ace card Tony could play if he needed to.

[Ironghost]

I remember in one recent comic Namor handing Iron Man his ass during an Illuminati meeting, forcing Dr. Strange to step in to save IM from being killed by Namor, and Tony was wearing the Extremis i think.

One thing i used to like about the Classic Armor was that he was able to increase the power for a very short period raising the strength level to 100+ tons, it would normally burn out the armor but it was a nice ace card Tony could play if he needed to.

It's things like that that give the rest of us Aneurisms.  When writers either don't research or done care about the suit, just the plot.

[Tetragrammaton]

There was a while there with the Extremis armor, that just about anyone who fought Iron Man, for dramatic effect was ripping off the face plate or helmet. I have less of a problem with Thor or Namor accomplishing this, than say Spider-Man or Bucky!

http://www.advancediron.org/forums/index.php/topic,722.0.html

[Typhon]

I have the easiest and most effective way of solving the Namor problem: Kill the useless, ocean living, arrogant, jackhole, jerkface sonofasithlord off.  Just kill him off. 

Simple. 

[Iron Guy]

WHAT! And pi$$ off the 10's of fans he has?