{"id":26937,"date":"2022-11-09T08:00:30","date_gmt":"2022-11-09T08:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/?p=26937"},"modified":"2022-11-08T18:11:10","modified_gmt":"2022-11-08T18:11:10","slug":"sub-mariner-marvel-masterworks-volume-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/2022\/11\/09\/sub-mariner-marvel-masterworks-volume-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Sub-Mariner<\/strong> Marvel Masterworks volume 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" \"\"
\nBy Roy Thomas<\/strong>, Allyn Brodsky, Sal Buscema<\/strong>, Ross Andru<\/strong>, Frank Springer<\/strong> & various (Marvel)
\nISBN: 978-0-7851-6619-1 (HB\/Digital edition)<\/p>\n

Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner<\/strong> is the offspring of a water-breathing Atlantean princess and an American polar explorer; a hybrid being of immense strength, highly resistant to physical harm, able to fly, and thrive above and below the waves. Created by young, talented Bill Everett, Namor technically predates Marvel\/Atlas\/Timely Comics.<\/p>\n

He first caught the public\u2019s avid attention as part of an elementally appealing fire vs. water headlining team-up in the October 1939 Marvel Comics<\/strong> #1 (which renamed itself Marvel Mystery Comics <\/strong>from #2 onwards). The amphibian antihero shared honours and top billing with The Human Torch<\/strong>, but had originally been seen (albeit in a truncated, monochrome version) in Motion Picture Funnies<\/strong>: a promotional booklet handed out to moviegoers earlier in the year. Rapidly emerging as one of the industry\u2019s biggest draws, Namor won his own title at the end of 1940 (cover-dated Spring 1941) and was one of the last super-characters to vanish at the end of the first heroic age.<\/p>\n

In 1954, when Atlas (as the company then was) briefly revived its \u201cBig Three\u201d line-up – the Torch and Captain America<\/strong> being the other two – Everett returned for an extended run of superbly dark, mordantly timely fantasy fables. However, even his input wasn\u2019t sufficient to keep the title afloat and eventually Sub-Mariner sank again.<\/p>\n

In 1961, as Stan Lee & Jack Kirby were reinventing superheroes with the landmark title Fantastic Four<\/strong>, they revived the awesome, all-but-forgotten aquanaut as a troubled, semi-amnesiac antihero. Decidedly more bombastic, regal and grandiose, this returnee despised humanity: embittered and broken by the loss of his sub-sea kingdom which had been (seemingly) destroyed by American atomic testing. His rightful revenge became infinitely complicated after he became utterly besotted with the FF<\/strong>\u2019s Susan Storm<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Namor knocked around the budding Marvel universe for a few years, squabbling with other star turns such as The Hulk<\/strong>, Avengers<\/strong>, X-Men<\/strong> and Daredevil<\/strong> before securing his own series as one half of Tales to Astonish<\/strong>, and from there graduating in 1968 to his own solo title.<\/p>\n

This fifth subsea selection trawls Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner<\/strong> #26-38 and portions of Ka-Zar<\/strong> #1, spanning June 1970 to June 1971, and opens with another heartfelt appreciation and more creative secret-sharing in an Introduction<\/em> from life-long devotee – and primary scribe of this book – Roy Thomas. The drama recommences as recently self-appointed relentless guardian of the safety and ecology of all Earth\u2019s oceans, the Prince of Atlantis furtively returns to the surface world.<\/p>\n

In \u2018\u201cKill!\u201d Cried the Raven!\u2019<\/em> by Thomas, Sal Buscema & Joe Gaudioso (AKA Mike Esposito) the Sub-Mariner has come to investigate reports of comatose superhuman Red Raven. <\/em>He was the human emissary of a legendary race of sky-dwelling Birdmen recently encountered by The Angel<\/em> of the X-Men<\/strong> in their last clash with Magneto<\/em>. With the covert assistance of old friend Diane Arliss<\/em>, Namor seeks to forge an alliance with the Avian race, but shocks, surprises and the Raven\u2019s trauma-induced madness all conspire to sink the plan\u2026<\/p>\n

Back brooding in Atlantis in the wake of another failure, Namor\u2019s mood is further plagued when a human pirate uses his giant monster-vessel to attack shipping with Atlantis bearing the brunt of blame \u2018When Wakes the Kraken!\u2019 <\/em>His hunt for bizarre bandit Commander Kraken<\/em> again involves Diane and ends only when the Sub-Mariner demonstrates what a real sea monster looks like\u2026<\/p>\n

Recuperating with her in New York City, Namor is incensed by the actions of an unrepentant industrial polluter and joins teen protestors fighting developer Sam Westman<\/em>\u2019s thugs and mega machines in \u2018Youthquake!\u2019<\/em> before we pause for a little diversion\u2026<\/p>\n

Beginning as a Tarzan<\/strong> tribute act relocated to a lost world in a sub-polar realm of swamp-men and dinosaurs, Ka-Zar<\/strong> eventually evolved into one of Marvel\u2019s more complex and mercurial characters. Wealthy heir to one of Britain\u2019s oldest noble families, his best friend is Zabu<\/em> the sabretooth tiger, his wife is feisty environmental-crusader Shanna the She-Devil<\/strong> and his brother is a homicidal super-scientific bandit. Kevin Reginald, Lord Plunder<\/em> is perpetually torn between the clean life-or-death simplicity of the jungle and the bewildering constant compromises of modern civilisation.<\/p>\n

The primordial paragon even outranks Namor in terms of longevity, having begun as a prose pulp star, boasting three issues of his own magazine between October 1936 and June 1937. They were authored by Bob Byrd – a pseudonym for publisher Martin Goodman or one of a fleet of writers on his staff – and he was latterly shoehorned into a speculative new-fangled comic book venture Marvel Comics<\/strong> #1. There he roamed alongside another pulp mag graduate: The Angel<\/strong>,<\/em> plus Masked Raider<\/em>, the Human Torch<\/strong> and Sub-Mariner<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n

When Ka-Zar reappeared all rowdy and renovated in 1965\u2019s X-Men<\/strong> #10, it was clear the Sovereign of the Savage Land was destined for bigger things. However, for years all he got was guest shots as misunderstood foe du jour for Daredevil<\/strong>, Sub-Mariner<\/strong>, Spider-Man<\/strong>, and the Hulk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In 1969, he took his shot with a solo saga in Marvel Super-Heroes<\/strong> and later that year – after Roy Thomas & Neal Adams used him so effectively in their X-Men<\/strong> run (issues #62-63) – was awarded a giant-sized solo title reprinting many previous appearances. The title also incongruously offered all-new stories of Hercules<\/strong><\/em> and the second, mutant X-Man Angel<\/em>. That same month, Ka-Zar\u2019s first regular series began in Astonishing Tales<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n

That Hercules back up from Ka-Zar<\/strong> #1 (August 1970 by Allyn Brodsky, Frank Springer & Dick Ayers) is reprinted here as it impacts Namor\u2019s exploits…<\/p>\n

\u2018In his Footsteps\u2026 The Huntsman of Zeus!\u2019<\/em> sees the potent Prince of Power on the run from an Olympian agent despatched by the King of the Gods. Following another bitter dispute with his sire Hercules returns to Earth, leaving Ares to foment trouble and prompt Zeus to set his terror-inducing Huntsman on the godling\u2019s trail\u2026<\/p>\n

After seeking sanctuary with the Avengers, Hercules sees his mortal friends brutally beaten and flees once again\u2026<\/p>\n

The panicked rush takes him to Sub-Mariner<\/strong> #29 and the distant Mediterranean where the Huntsman ensorcells Namor and pits him against the fugitive. Although Hercules soon breaks the hypnotic spell, \u2018Fear is the Hunter!\u2019<\/em> reveals why the pursuer is so dreaded as he sends mythical terrors Scylla<\/em>, Charybdis<\/em> and Polyphemus<\/em> against the heroes and the pitiful mortals of the region, until a valiant breakthrough ends the threat and forces a paternal reconciliation\u2026<\/p>\n

Another guest star treat materialises in #30 as \u2018Calling Captain Marvel!\u2019 <\/em>sees Namor again reduced to a mesmerised puppet and attacking the Kree warrior and his human host Rick Jones<\/em>. This time the condition is due to the amphibian\u2019s falling in battle against toxic terrorist Mr. Markham<\/em> who attempts to blackmail Earth by threatening to poison the seas with his molecular polluter. Once Captain<\/em> Marvel<\/em> batters Namor back to his right mind, they make quick work of the maniac in a concerted twin assault\u2026<\/p>\n

The fallout from his recent actions have unsettled Namor\u2019s old friend Triton<\/em>, and the Inhuman goes looking for the prince in #31 just as apparent Atlantean attacks on surface shipping mounts. Meeting equally concerned human Walt Newell<\/em> (who operates as undersea Avenger Stingray<\/em>) they finally find – and fight – the Sub-Mariner, only to learn the crisis has been manufactured by his old enemy who is now \u2018Attuma Triumphant!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

The barbarian\u2019s plans include destroying human civilisation, but he still has time to pit his captives against each other in a gladiatorial battle to the death; which of course is Attuma\u2019s undoing\u2026<\/p>\n

Jim Mooney comes aboard as inker with #32 as a new and deadly enemy debuts in \u2018Call Her Llyra\u2026 Call Her Legend!\u2019<\/em> when fresh human atomic tests prompt Namor to voyage to the Pacific and renew political alliance with the undersea state of Lemuria. However, on arrival he finds noble Karthon<\/em> replaced by a sinister seductress who lusts for war and harbours a tragic Jekyll & Hyde secret\u2026<\/p>\n

By the time he reaches Atlantis again the Sunken City is being ravaged by seaquakes and old political enemy Prince Byrrah<\/em> is seizing control from Namor\u2019s deputies and devoted paramour Lady Dorma<\/em>. \u2018Come the Cataclysm\u2019<\/em> sees him first accuse surface-worlders before locating and defeating the true culprits – an alliance of Byrrah with failed usurper Warlord Krang<\/em> and human mad genius Dr. Dorcas<\/em>. In the throes of triumph, Prince Namor announces his imminent marriage to Dorma\u2026<\/p>\n

Antihero superteam The Defenders<\/strong> officially begin with Sub-Mariner<\/strong> #34-35 (cover-dated February & March 1971). As previously stated, the Prince of Atlantis had become an early and ardent activist and advocate of the ecology movement, and here he takes radical steps to save the planet by fractiously recruiting The<\/strong> Hulk<\/strong> and Silver Surfer<\/strong> to help him destroy an American Nuclear Weather-Control station.<\/p>\n

In \u2018Titans Three!\u2019 <\/em>and concluding chapter \u2018Confrontation!\u2019 <\/em>(by Thomas, Sal Buscema & Jim Mooney) the always-misunderstood outcasts unite to battle a despotic dictator\u2019s legions, the US Army, UN defence forces and the mighty Avengers<\/strong> to prevent the malfunctioning station from vaporising half the planet\u2026<\/p>\n

Inked by Berni Wrightson, Sub-Mariner<\/strong> #36 augurs a huge sea change in Namor\u2019s fortunes that begins with time-honoured holy preparations for a happy event as \u2018What Gods Have Joined Together!\u2019<\/em> Elsewhere, arcane enemy Llyra is resuurected and seeks to steal the throne by abducting and replacing the bride-to-be whilst Namor is distracted by an invasion of Attuma\u2019s hordes.<\/p>\n

Ross Andru & Esposito take over illustration duties with #37 as an era ends and tragedy triumphs, leading to a catastrophic battle on \u2018The Way to Dusty Death!\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n

Betrayed by one of his closest friends and ultimately unable to save his beloved, the heartbroken prince thinks long and hard before abdicating in #38 \u2018Namor Agonistes!\u2019<\/em>: reprising his origins and life choices before choosing to henceforth pursue the human half of his hybrid heritage as a surface dweller\u2026<\/p>\n

To Be Continued\u2026<\/p>\n

More sunken treasures salvaged here include the cover to all-reprint Sub-Mariner Annual<\/strong> #1 (January 1971, and reprising the underwater portions of Tales to Astonish<\/strong> #70-73) plus Bill Everett\u2019s pin-up of young Namor, contemporary House Ads and Marie Severin\u2019s glorious cover sketch for #33, plus a huge Biographies<\/em> section.<\/p>\n

Many early Marvel Comics are more exuberant than qualitative, but this volume, especially from an art-lover\u2019s point of view, is a wonderful exception: a historical treasure with narrative bite that fans will delight in forever. Moreover, with the Prince of Atlantis now a bona fide big screen sensation that no one\u2019s ever heard of, now might be the time to get wise and impress your friends with a little insider knowledge\u2026
\n\u00a9 2018 Marvel Characters, Inc. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Roy Thomas, Allyn Brodsky, Sal Buscema, Ross Andru, Frank Springer & various (Marvel) ISBN: 978-0-7851-6619-1 (HB\/Digital edition) Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner is the offspring of a water-breathing Atlantean princess and an American polar explorer; a hybrid being of immense strength, highly resistant to physical harm, able to fly, and thrive above and below the … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Sub-Mariner<\/strong> Marvel Masterworks volume 5″<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[94,18,175,255,54,98,189,120,72,79,157,155,100],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-avengers","category-captain-marvel","category-defenders","category-environmentalism","category-fantastic-four","category-hulk","category-inhumans","category-iron-man","category-marvel-masters-masterworks","category-marvel-superheroes","category-silver-surfer","category-sub-mariner","category-thor"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4AFj-70t","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26937"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26941,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26937\/revisions\/26941"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26937"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.comicsreview.co.uk\/nowreadthis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}