Obsessively putting our comics in chronological order since 1985.
| 1968-05-01 00:02:10 |
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Sub-Mariner #1
Issue(s): Sub-Mariner #1
Cover Date: May 68
Title: "Years of glory... day of doom!"
Credits:
Roy Thomas - Writer
John Buscema - Penciler
Frank Giacoia - Inker
Review/plot:
The Sub-Mariner is trapped under ice while Paul Destine rants.
Namor has flashbacks conveniently recapping his origin and history for new readers since this is Sub-Mariner #1.
The big news in these flashbacks is that Paul Destine knew Namor's father, and helped him find the cavern where he discovered the Power Helmet that he now wears. Destine was also responsible for the attack that destroyed Atlantis...
...causing the Atlanteans to have to move (as Namor discovered in his first Silver Age appearance). When investigating that attack, Namor encountered Destine and lost a fight with him, which is how Namor got his amnesia.
It's not said in this story, but after Namor's grandfather, the Emperor of Atlantis, and Namor's mother, Fen, were presumed killed in Destine's attack on Atlantis...
...the Emperor's body was never found, and since there's no definitive proof that he's dead, he's still technically the Emperor, and that's why Namor is only a Prince.
The excitement of the flashbacks causes Namor's body heat to rise, melting the ice (!). Namor escapes, vowing to attack Paul Destine and then his accursed air-breathing race.
Paul Destine is actually just referred to as Destiny here, but i'm reserving that name for the precognitive mutant.
Quality Rating: C
Historical Significance Rating: 4 - revelations about Namor and Atlantis
Chronological Placement Considerations: Namor is trapped under ice in the beginning of this issue, and that could have been for an indefinite amount of time after Iron Man & Sub-Mariner #1.
References:
- Namor first appeared in Marvel Comics #1.
- The Human Torch shocked Namor out of his amnesia in Fantastic Four #4. Namor of course responded by attacking New York.
Crossover: N/A
Continuity Insert? N
My Reprint: Tales To Astonish #1 (1979)
Inbound References (5): showCharacters Appearing: Paul Destine, Sub-Mariner 1968 / Box 4 / Silver Age Previous:
Hulk #103Up:
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Fantastic Four #74-77
Comments
FOOM#12 announced a new series by Len Wein/Bob Brown starring a back-from-the-dead Destiny leading a group of 4 new super-heroes, but I'm guessing Brown's illness and death prevented it.
We'll find the fate of Tha-Korr only in Namor: The First Mutant in 2010!
I liked this storyline and the much improved art now that John Buscema was on it.
