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1968-05-01 00:02:10
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Hulk #103
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1968/Box 4/Silver Age
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Sub-Mariner #1

Issue(s): Sub-Mariner #1
Published 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: If i had the Sub-Mariner half of Iron Man & Sub-Mariner #1, i might have placed this issue along with that and Tales Of Suspense #101 all together. But 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:

Cross-over: N/A

Continuity Implant? N

Reprinted In: Tales To Astonish #1 (1979)

Inbound References (2): show

Characters Appearing: Paul Destine, Sub-Mariner

Previous:
Hulk #103
Up:
Main
1968/Box 4/Silver Age
Next:
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.


 
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