Talokan is an underwater kingdom ruled by Namor in the Atlantic Ocean and is home to the Talokanil.
History[]
Foundation[]
- "My mother and her village were driven from their farms by Spanish Conquistadores who brought the smallpox, a hateful language, and dogma from another world. Facing starvation, war, and disease, my people turned to Chaac. Our God of Rain and Abundance. Chaac gave our shaman a vision. A way to save his people."
- ―Namor[src]
Millennia ago, a meteor from outer space, containing vibranium, crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near the Yucatán. While the vibranium sank to the sea floor, it also affected some of the underwater plant life closer to the surface. In 1571, a Yucatán-Mayan tribe found themselves dying due to smallpox introduced by Spanish colonizers. Praying to a Mayan deity, one of the tribesmen was guided towards a vibranium enriched plant, which the tribe ingested. Waking up with blue skin and gills, they went into the sea to breathe, where their skin colors were restored.[2]
Although the entrance to the Kingdom of Talokan is located in Yucatán, Mexico, their capital city is located in the Puerto Rico Trench, approximately twelve thousand feet deep.[3] Inspired by his mother's stories passed on from his Aztec father, Ch'ah Toh Almehen took the name of the Aztec underworld paradise Tlālōcān and translated it from Nahuatl into their tongue of Yucatec Mayan as "Talokan", establishing this as the name of their new underwater nation.[4] The people called themselves Talokanil and established Talokan on the sea floor where the raw vibranium deposits remained.[2]
Shortly after, a small group returned to the surface, only to see a plantation run by a slave master. Setting fire to the property and killing the colonizers, Talokan harbored a resentment towards surface dwellers and elected to keep their existence hidden from humanity.[2]
Monitored by S.H.I.E.L.D.[]
Talokanil activity was marked as a "hot-spot" monitored by S.H.I.E.L.D. By 2010, their activity in the Atlantic Ocean was displayed in the holographic maps used by the organization to oversee those activities.[1][5]
Namor's Rule[]
Visited By Surface Dwellers[]
In 2025, Namor sent his subordinates to capture Riri Williams. They captured her and brought Shuri with them, after she had asked so, to Talokan. They took them to a cenote in Yucatán, where they could breathe oxygen. In an attempt to demonstrate his point and perspective to Shuri, Namor decided to bring her to Talokan's capital, deep down below. He then proceeded to give her a tour of the city, showcasing its people and technology to her. Awed and moved by the sight, Shuri came to understand Namor's deep desire to keep his kingdom safe.[2]
Capital Meeting[]
Nakia eventually rescued Shuri and Riri Williams while Ramonda was speaking with Namor. Outraged by this act of deception, and concluding that Wakanda was just the same as the other surface nations, Namor returned to his capital. He then declared war on Wakanda, calling for his entire kingdom to rise.[2]
Return Home[]
- "Talokanile'ex! Tun ko'ox otoch. Holto'b ba'ate'lo' waye'.[7]"
- ―Namor to the Talokanil Armed Forces[src]
After Black Panther and Namor called a truce with each other, Namor and his people returned to Talokan where they would live with peace and protection.[2]
Trivia[]
- In the comics, Atlantis is the underwater kingdom inhabited by the Atlanteans and ruled by Namor.
- The change was made to avoid comparisons to Aquaman, which although created later, was presented earlier on the silver screen with the DC Extended Universe film Aquaman in 2018, four years before Black Panther: Wakanda Forever released in 2022.[8]
- Talokan is based on Tlālōcān, one of the underworld realms in the Aztec codices ruled by the Rain God Tlāloc. It is a paradise for the souls of those who died of a water or a storm-related death. In the comics, Tláloc is the Storm God of the Tēteoh.
- The association between the legendary Atlantis and Mesoamerica originates from the book Atlantis: The Antediluvian World (1882) by Ignatius L. Donnelly, in the book, Donnelly says that Aztlán, the ancestral land of the Aztecs was actually another name for Atlantis.[9][10]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast: Chapter 2: Kevin Feige, Nate Moore, Ryan Coogler, Joe Robert Cole on Apple Podcasts
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
- ↑ Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast: Chapter 3: Angela Bassett, Hannah Beachler, Autumn Durald Arkapaw
- ↑ Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast: Chapter 5: Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta, Dr. Gerardo Aldana
- ↑ Iron Man 2
- ↑ Translates from Yucatec Maya to: "I was blinded by hope of partnership. And... I have compromised all of us. Talokan will not move again. Namora. Attuma. When we are done with them, they will never think of approaching Talokan! Rise Talokan!"
- ↑ Translates from Yucatec Maya to: "Talokanile'ex! Let us return home. Our fight here is done."
- ↑ Does Namor's Talokan Exist In Marvel Comics?
- ↑ Atlantis: The Antediluvian World - Part 2: Chapter 5
- ↑ The Mesoamerican Influences Behind Namor From ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’
