Issue(s): Inner Demons
Cover Date: 1995
Title: "Inner Demons"
Credits:
Mariano Nicieza - Writer
Bob Wakelin & Studio Infinity - Art
Anita Sharpe - Assistant Editor
Marc McLaurin - Editor
Carl Potts - Executive Editor
Bob Harras - EIC

Review/plot:
This story takes place during the early days of Marvel, and in fact begins in the background of Fantastic Four #3 with the FF fighting one of the Miracle Man's creations.

What could have been a cheap opportunistic rip-off of Marvels actually turns out to be a very good issue. Told from the perspective of a homeless alcoholic who hangs out with the amnesiac Sub-Mariner, it tells the story of an early Norman Osborn working with the Enforcers to close down a homeless shelter to make room for another OsCorp building.

Namor, although amnesiac and a little crazy, is still portrayed as noble and loyal, attempting to help his friend stop drinking. It's fun to watch him beat up the second-rate super-villains. While the story runs the risk of being a little too sentimental, it manages to pull it off, in part because the way the Sub-Mariner finally convinces the alcoholic to stop drinking was entirely accidental (After recovering his memories, Namor grabs the guy, a former pilot, and roughly flies him to a rooftop to demand that the ring Namor gave away while he was an amnesiac be returned. Being dragged through the air gives the former pilot a new perspective on life, and he thinks that Namor did it on purpose.).

Good characterization, nice painted art (although it kind of falls apart towards the end of the book), and a pretty good story.

Cameo by what i assume is supposed to be Tony Stark, although the MCP doesn't list him (they don't list the Enforcers, either).

Quality Rating: A-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Takes place over a period of time beginning around FF #3 and ending "weeks" after FF #4, with Namor looking to retrieve his Atlantean seal of governorship. Presumably, then, this ends at a time after Namor has found his people, who were first shown in FF annual #1. The end of this story could take place right before that - Namor has found his people but needs to prove his identity so he needs to get his ring back. Spider-Man also is referenced twice in newspapers. The first time as a "Masked Marvel", which could be from his show biz appearance, and the second time, the headline asks "Menace or Hero?", so this story has to take place some time after Spider-Man begins crime-fighting.

References:

• A newspaper headline references the FF's battle with the Mole Man from Fantastic Four #1.
  
• The FF's battle with the Miracle Man in Fantastic Four #3 takes place during the beginning of this issue.
  
• Some parts of this story take place concurrently with Fantastic Four #4.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? Y

My Reprint: N/A