Sub-Mariner #40 : SuperMegaMonkey : chronocomic

1971-05-01 00:05:37
Previous:
Daredevil #77 Up:
Main
1971 / Box 6 / Silver Age
Next:
Amazing Spider-Man #95

Issue(s): Sub-Mariner #40
Cover Date: Aug 71
Title: "---Under the name of ritual--"
Credits:
Gerry Conway - Writer
Gene Colan - Penciler
Sam Grainger - Inker

Review/plot:
Gerry Conway's first issue of the Sub-Mariner starts with a continuation of a story that began in Daredevil #77. This story is borderline incomprehensible and certainly uninteresting. For a while i didn't have Daredevil #77 and i assumed that i was missing out on some key information that was delivered in that issue, but... no, no i wasn't.

There are characters with names like Tuvia...

...and Turalla...

...and even a Stephan Tuval...

...who remotely shuts down the entire story from afar with a mind bolt...

...so i'm sort of inclined to like him even though we don't learn much about him this issue (unlike the other characters, he'll appear in a few more stories, including one that'll make this one read like the Cliff Notes for One Fish, Two Fish, but as of right now, he's on our side).

I'll dig in a little deeper than i think i'm obligated to and mention that we're in another dimension (i think) populated by the people of the Black Sea, who were once Atlanteans but were exiled long ago for worshiping flying monkey snakes.

Turalla, the "Chosen One", is both a massive fighter and also a mutant telepath.

Stephan Tuval is the long lost brother of the dead king of the Black Sea people.

Finally, "Spider-Man" is an apparently humorless mope whose job is to stand around in the background and gripe about stuff.

If you like wispy backgrounds and inconsequential mystical adventures, this one's for you.

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 1

Chronological Placement Considerations: Directly continues from Daredevil #77. The MCP places Spider-Man here between ASM #94-95.

References:

Namor repeatedly tries to tell Tuvia that as of Sub-Mariner #38 he's no longer prince of Atlantis.
Thinking about the death of Captain Stacy in Amazing Spider-Man #90 inspires Spider-Man to help the Sub-Mariner fight Turalla.

Crossover: N/A

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Inbound References (1): show

Characters Appearing: Mind-Master (Steven Tuval), Spider-Man, Sub-Mariner, Tuvia

Previous:
Daredevil #77 Up:
Main
1971 / Box 6 / Silver Age
Next:
Amazing Spider-Man #95

Comments

You're missing some Daredevil issues? Oh, no, does mean we won't see the awesomeness of the entire Mr. Kline story?

The horror, the horror...

Posted by: Dan Spector | August 1, 2014 5:15 PM

Trippin', but it could use a little more purple here and there.

Posted by: Holt | October 13, 2017 11:44 PM

@Holt- Yeah, seems like the colorist had a purple haze all up in his brain (MUCH love and respect, Jimi, wherever you are!):-)

Posted by: Brian Coffey | October 14, 2017 2:32 AM

Comments are now closed.