Issue(s): Marvel Comics Presents #77 (Sub-Mariner story only)
Cover Date: 1991
Title: "The tides that bind"
Credits:
Robert Campanella - Writer
Grant Miehm - Penciler
Robert Campanella - Inker
Kelly Corvese - Assistant Editor
Terry Kavanagh - Editor

Review/plot:
Sub-Mariner seems to have an inordinate amount of Marvel Comics Presents stories. I mean, he's no Wolverine, but then again, he's not the sales booster that Wolverine is either. In fact, his own book wasn't doing that great at this time. I guess the appeal of using the character is that he has a rich history and a lot of themes to work with. You can do environmental stories, you can do Golden Age stories, and he's got plenty of super-villains to choose from.

This one uses Tiger Shark, who is being pursued by a Dr. Barnabus Lucian Cross. Cross is working on a cure for cancer, and he's focused on the fact that sharks don't get cancer. So maybe Tiger Shark can be the missing link in his research. So he has Tiger Shark captured.

The battle attracts the attention of Namor. Heh, and that's basically it. Because Namor just plows through Cross' men and destroys Cross' sub, and then he has to let Tiger Shark go so he can get the sub to safety.

There's meant to be something more about how Tiger Shark is the dark side of the Sub-Mariner and how Namor is struggling with his dark side or whatever, but the only message i take from this is that the Sub-Mariner is unstoppable.

The length of these stories often gives them unintended meanings. I am sure that the point of this story wasn't "Sub-Mariner is a badass", but when you only have 8 pages and the first five are devoted to set up, it's inevitable that by the time Sub-Mariner gets involved it's all going to be over very quickly.

Quality Rating: C-

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Namor has wings on his feet in this story, placing this prior to Namor #6-9.

References:

• There's a quick flashback to Tiger Shark's origin from Sub-Mariner #5-6.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A