Issue(s): Namor annual #1 (All Winners story only)
Cover Date: 1991
Title: "The Potsdam objective"
Credits:
Dana Moreshead - Writer
Michael Thomas & Phil Hester - Penciler
Don Hudson - Inker

Review/plot:
I'm calling this an All Winners story, but that's not quite the case. It's a story that features the Sub-Mariner during the period when Spirit of '76 was acting as Captain America, which was during the All Winners Squad period. But aside from Namor and "Cap", the only other hero in the story is the, or rather, a Red Guardian. This is not the Red Guardian that was married to the Black Widow, but apparently one prior to that. This is actually billed as an Invaders story, but that's even less accurate.

Note that Namor isn't exactly keeping it a secret that this isn't the original Cap.

Anyway, this story is about some weird Nazi scientist whose super-villain name is i think actually the Third Reich.

As with virtually all of the stories in back-ups from the late 80s and early 90s annuals, it's complete garbage, even when it's trying to tackle the more serious issue of the growing schism between the United States and the Soviet Union at the end of the War.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: I've placed this after the death of Captain America, but still during the World War II period (i.e., before All-Winners Comics #19). I would bet that the weird outfit that Namor is wearing was something he actually wore in Golden Age books for a time (e.g.), but i don't know that for sure.

References: N/A

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Coldsteel should be listed as a character appearing.

Terrible. If you are going to go to the bother of a historical story using real history, you better understand the history. While many Americans did not trust the Soviets, there are also many who appreciated the sacrifice of the Red Army during the war, and there was genuine hope the Big Three would cooperate in the postwar period. The true meltdown in Soviet-American relations did not happen until 1947.

Was the Spirit of '76 ever previously written as so anti-communist (granted, he has not had many appearances).

Really disliked the presence of a Red Guardian here. I feel the first published appearance should be the first Red Guardian. If I remember correctly, his "origin" is just saving someone from a burning building so Stalin gave him a costume. It should take a little more to be a superhero.

I do like the idea that Namor is attending the Potsdam Conference in his role as a representative of Atlantis, one of the actual Allied Powers in Marvel's history.

What a goofy font choice for the title

The first line from '76 is rather unfortunate. Almost unbelievable in its naivete.

How is it naive, Luis? This takes place after the atomic bomb was tested. The United States DEFINITELY could have won the war in the Pacific at that point without the Soviets- it would have just taken longer. As for his dislike of the "Communists", keep in mind that the Communists in question were Stalin and Mao.

@Michael, re: Coldsteel -- right! Thanks.

Hey Michael, just to add a slight caveat to your "definitely" statement. Most experts agree that Operation Downfall (the proposed invasion of Japan) would have resulted in millions more deaths, possibly doubling the number of casualties in the war. It shouldn't be just dismissed as "it would take longer".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Downfall

Im sure you know this above info, but I think '76's statement was borne out of anti-communist sentiment, moreso than military knowledge.

It should be noted that Churchill would be accompanied, then replaced, at the Potsdam Conference by Labour leader Clement Atlee, who won the special election and ascended to the PM's office.

@Brian Coffey

Good point. Though it was a (normal) General Election that Attlee won, not a "special election" (a term that is never used in UK politics). The UK only introduced a standard election cycle for Parliament in 2010. Before that, the PM could call one whenever he/she wanted. The 1945 GE was overdue (in normal circumstances an election would happen within five years of the previous one) thanks to the Great Depression and the war.

I may be being a little nitpicky in pointing this out, but hopefully I'm also being educational.

@Stevie G- No offense taken, and thanks for the clarification.

This Captain's anti-communist attitude made me think he was William Burnside when reading this story, but apparently that isn't the case. There were so many Cap replacements between the Golden and Silver Ages, no wonder I sometimes get them mixed up. (okay, just three guys, but that's still a lot)

I actually like Namor's outfit, but it does look strange.