Marvel Rivals is a sensation. The fighting game has captured the attention of Marvel fans, gaming fans, and even comic book fans thanks to tie-ins from Marvel Comics. And if you’re a fan of Marvel’s King of the Seas, you know you gotta play Namor, voiced by actor Daniel Marin.
“When I first booked the part I got a wave of anxiety because I knew the responsibility of playing an established super hero and what that means to fans,” Marin told Comic Book Club over email, “so I wanted to not just voice him but understand who he was and his lore/background, so I picked up a few comic books at my local store and I was immediately hooked.”
To find out more from Marin about the role, how he records his lines, and whether he plays his own character (he does) read on!
Comic Book Club: This is the most general one to start, but how did you get hooked up with Namor on Marvel Rivals? And what is your take on the character?
Daniel Marin: When we first got the audition, we didn’t know what it was for, everything is under a code name. So I didn’t really know I was auditioning for Namor. But I was literally petting a stingray at an aquarium when I got the call that I booked the part, I guess it was meant to be! I know Namor is seen as a villain to a lot of people, but to me he is just a misunderstood character who wants to rule over Atlantis and its people and have a queen by his side, But humans keep ruining that for him, and he has no choice, but to retaliate. He can be a very powerful ally, though, and if he is on your side, fighting the same battle, you are in luck, but if you oppose him, as he says in the game, you shall drown in his wake.
Did you draw inspiration from the comics? The movies? Neither?
I did! When I first booked the part I got a wave of anxiety because I knew the responsibility of playing an established super hero and what that means to fans, so I wanted to not just voice him but understand who he was and his lore/background, so I picked up a few comic books at my local store and I was immediately hooked. I think I own every issue in the modern era of Namor and a few in the silver/Bronze Age of sub-mariner! As far as the movies, Tenoch Huerta’s portrayal in Wakanda Forever became the template of this generation’s Namor, so there was definitely inspiration there, but the team behind Rivals has been very generous and collaborative and have allowed me to bring my own take on the character which is really cool!
When you’re recording lines for a video game like this, what’s involved? How many grunts did you have to do?
I think the first go around we recorded around 300 lines in one session, and then they leave all the grunts and efforts for the end of the session since those can be brutal on your vocal chords! I was so thrilled in the booth that when it was over I wanted to keep going! But I couldn’t talk for 2 days almost afterwards!
Do you have a fave interaction or line from the game?
There’s honestly a lot of fun ones! Anything between Namor and Jeff is always fun! I was told by the writer of the Rivals comic book that my interactions with Jeff and how I portrayed those lines, shaped the ending of the book’s storyline, that’s such an amazing thing to hear, to know my delivery of lines have in a tiny way shaped pop culture! I also love the interactions with Sue Storm of course, those are fan favorites and have been inspiration for a lot of my social media videos which I enjoy making.
Be honest: when you play Marvel Rivals, do you main Namor, or someone else?
I have been playing Namor since the beta release, and am proud to say I’ve lorded him on both console and PC, I think I currently have over 200 hours on him! That being said, I’ve been on a mission to learn other characters and have been branching out! I have 2 other Lords now (Squirrel Girl and Peni) and am starting to learn some support characters as well!
More seriously, what’s that experience like playing your own character?
It’s pretty surreal truly, between my love of superheroes, comic books and gaming, just being a part of this world is exhilarating! I’d be playing this game if I wasn’t in it, and I’m still blown away that it’s my voice that comes out of him!
Is Marvel Rivals an ongoing job, where you keep having to return to record new interactions? Or was it done in one?
We are very lucky in that we get to go back into the studio as more and more characters get added to the game! The interactions between them is a huge part of the game and the devs are always giving us incredible updates, so I am hopeful we get to do this for many years to come!
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