Tag: sub-mariner

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Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Volume Two

This is a review of Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Volume Two. You can read my review of the first volume, here. Warlord Krang, Namor’s archnemesis from the previous book, only makes a brief appearance. He’s replaced by Daredevil villain The Plunderer, aka Kazar’s Evil Brother, aka The Bad Seed, who wants to conquer the earth by arming his men with VIBRA-GUNS. Namor has a rock dropped on his head and then is buried in an avalanche, while Atlantis is destroyed for the second or third – or maybe the fourth – time. I lost count.

Prince Namor is as gullible and hot-tempered as ever. He has no control over his emotions, declaring war on the surface world in one panel and saving humans from certain death in the next. The meta-story revolves around his never-ending frustration with the surface world. He’s banned from Atlantis because of a stupid misunderstanding, and then leaves his people to fend for themselves after Atlantis is destroyed – when his subjects need him most. This is Namor’s fatal flaw, much like Magneto’s fatal flaw – his narcissism and anger ensure that it will always be about him. Namor must avenge this and wreak vengeance on that, blah blah blah. It’s a very childlike outlook.

The stories are less disjointed, but still way too reliant on coincidence, misunderstandings, and bad luck. The scene where Atlantis is destroyed is worth mentioning. The underwater city is carpet-bombed by a U.S. submarine; earlier, The Plunderer destroys a domed city full of humans. The visuals are striking, and makes me wonder if the creators were influenced by the footage and imagery of the Vietnam War. I don’t know if this is true, btw.

This volume should appeal to Sub-Mariner fans and lovers of obscure characters. Namor is interesting in that he’s a gray character – he’s fought alongside the Fantastic Four as well as Dr. Doom. Another possible draw is Bill Everett – the creator of The Sub-Mariner – doing the pencils and/or inkwork in a few of these issues. All in all, an interesting read about a flawed – but interesting – antihero.

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Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Volume One

This is a review of Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner Volume One, starring the Sub-Mariner, aka Prince Namor, aka the guy with wings on his ankles. The first storyline spans over twelve issues, so points for ambition. The art is mostly done by Gene Colan, an artist I adore, but I wasn’t crazy about his inker. My main issue is Stan Lee’s script, which repeats itself and is all over the place.

The plot involves Warlord Krang’s attempts to seize the throne of Atlantis. He does this while Namor is off gallivanting on the surface world. Namor must find the Trident of Neptune, aka the MacGuffin, to regain his throne. For some reason Krang – who has Namor in his power – lets him go. Since finding the trident involves punching things, Namor is in his element.

After finding the trident and winning his crown back, the Sub-Mariner banishes Warlord Krang, who simply bides his time and awaits another opportunity. That opportunity comes when Krang tells Dorma, Namor’s beloved, that he’ll kill Namor if she doesn’t marry him, and this evil plan – uh, works. For some reason Dorma believes Warlord Krang. She and Namor are made for each other, in that they are both unbelievably gullible.

At one point Namor even wonders if he’s fit to rule, a rare moment of self-reflection. The answer is no. For all his faults Warlord Krang – Namor’s foe in this volume – would make a much stronger ruler. This is mainly because Namor has no control over his emotions. If the Hulk is a toddler, the Sub-Mariner is a 12-year old going through puberty.

Like many Marvel strongmen, he’s vulnerable to mind control, brainwashing, and amnesia. He doesn’t listen and refuses to admit when he needs help. This gets taken to ridiculous extremes in this volume, as Namor is manipulated by both the Puppet Master and the head of the Secret Empire.

The two people the Sub-Mariner most resembles are Dr. Doom and the Marvel version of Dracula. Namor is better than them in that he’s not as ruthless and doesn’t murder people for fun. He carries a streak of nobility that neither villain possesses. There are several points in this volume where Namor avoids hurting or killing humans. That’s great, but judging by this volume, he’s not an interesting enough character to sustain his own title.

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Marvel Masterworks The Defenders Vol. One

This a review of Marvel Masterworks The Defenders Vol. 1. This graphic novel looks to be an attempt to catch lightning in a bottle with some of Marvel’s offbeat (i.e., less popular) characters. The Defender’s first appearance features The Sub-Mariner, The Silver Surfer, and The Hulk. The Surfer is gone by the second storyline, mainly because Stan Lee didn’t want anyone not named Stan Lee writing the character. He’s replaced by Doctor Strange.

The first stories, written by Roy Thomas, are okay. Very workmanlike. The same plot is recycled – a demon/elder god/whatever tries to sacrifice a Defender – several times. The series finds its legs with the addition of writer Steven Englehart, who pens stories about wizards with rat friends, talkative Doomsday Machines, etc.

Mr. Englehart adds fan favorite The Valkyrie to the team, and she stays until the bitter end (when I started reading The Defenders over a decade later, she was still a member). As an added bonus, Sal Buscema does a few issues of the art. Mr. Buscema draws my favorite version of the Hulk – big, green, and dumb with purple pants.

Fun read.