Namor is totally the definition of an anti-hero, but I wouldn't have so much of an issue with Namor being a villain if writers actually committed to it. So many writers want to use the "crazy angry sea king" trope when it comes to Namor or they use his mental health issues (I think Namor does not have Bipolar Disorder but rather has Borderline Personality Disorder*) or possession, or mental control etc. to explain why Namor went to the "Dark Side" they do this so they can use him and then say "OH but Namor wasn't really evil/bad! He was just *insert whatever excuse they want here*.

But if a writer went and wrote out why Namor is doing these things, like Hickman did with the New Avengers, and show that Namor isn't a bad guy but he does whatever his internal moral compass decides must be done in order to save or protect those under his charge then that makes for a much more interesting read. Aaron almost had it with him introducing Namor as someone who is fed up and done with the human justice system but he botched it so badly and shows that he doesn't even want to take the time to show things from Namor's POV. Instead he condemns Namor for daring to go against the Avengers or the humans even though Namor is RIGHT. Namor has a personal reason why he is so angry and why he "tore a trench in the oceans floor due to his rage" but rather than letting Namor go and deliver his justice he has Namor beating up his friend, aligning himself with villains, and the Avengers "winning" in their confrontation with him. This is what I mean when I say "If you want Namor to be a villain to the surface people then you have to commit to it" you have to show why he is doing these things, you have to let him go as far as his character can go, you have to show him realizing the mistakes he made along the way instead of (as Zdarsky did in Invaders) preaching to Namor why he is wrong, and you have to give Namor his agency let him make the choices, not react to the choices others make, let him find the solution and follow through with the ending.

I'm going to say that while Zdarsky had a good concept he did not deliver on the ending at all, the last few issues have Namor acting erratically, he first says "it's Machan's fault but I will take the responsibility for it/we are the same person it was my plan too" then "Why should I stop Machan? I wash my hands of this" with Steve then preaching why Namor needs to get his ass in gear and then in the last issue Namor is blaming everyone instead of himself? Which prompts Jim to tell Namor to shut up. So this is what I really disliked because anything I've ever read about Namor I always see him on the front lines, I see him taking the guilt upon his own shoulders, I see him taking action. Namor would not let someone else fight his battles for him. (Another thing I feel Hickman got wrong was Namor telling the Black Order to attack Wakanda rather than him doing it himself to avenge his people, but then Namor was about to lose what was left of his people as well if he didn't lie)

As others have said Namor is a flawed character but that's just what makes him so relatable because humans are flawed and we make mistakes too.

* I really think that Bipolar Disorder was a way for Bryne to just wipe the slate clean and blame any past misdeeds/villainy on that, but I personally feel that if we were to diagnose Namor with something then Namor has Borderline Personality Disorder. Namor’s characters shares alot of traits with BPD, but also factoring in his war flashbacks/PTSD effects him as well, some traits of BPD are:

- A pattern of unstable intense relationships, such as idealizing someone one moment and then suddenly believing the person doesn’t care enough or is cruel (see: namor hounding susan storm for years, idolizing her, but it wasn’t actually a relationship)
- Rapid changes in self-identity and self-image that include shifting goals and values
- Periods of stress-related paranoia and loss of contact with reality, lasting from a few minutes to a few hours
- Impulsive and risky behavior
- Wide mood swings lasting from a few hours to a few days, which can include intense happiness, irritability, shame or anxiety
- Ongoing feelings of emptiness
- Inappropriate, intense anger, such as frequently losing your temper, being sarcastic or bitter, or having physical fights