Sub-Mariner Comics #35Issue(s): Sub-Mariner Comics #35 Human Torch Review/plot: In the Sub-Mariner story, the Emperor's stepson, Prince Byrrah, starts a war between "a small military-governed country in the South Atlantic" and Namor's people. Byrrah goes further, and frames Namor for the start of the war. Namora is captured in the war, and even though she knows better, she perpetuates Byrrah's story when Betty Dean, currently working for the UN, shows up. Crazy jealous Atlanteans. Namor ends the war by betraying his people to the humans, who then let the Atlanteans go. But Namor is banned from Atlantis for his trouble. At least his girl troubles seem to be settled. I should note that Namor's kingdom is never called "Atlantis" in this or any other Golden Age story, but i mean i have to call it something. My scans here are from a digital copy of the original issue, and you'll note that the Atlanteans are colored green and Namora has pink skin, like Namor. But in the reprint, all of the Atlanteans are blue except Namor. This includes Namora. Call it precedence for her daughter-clone's skin color changes in later years. I'm fairly certain this is Prince Byrrah's first appearance by publication date, although i am missing a lot of Golden Age Sub-Mariners. In the Human Torch story, the Torch and Toro are after some jewel thieves (who are also commies). They're given a real runaround... ...captured for a bit... ...and even framed one of the robberies. In the end, the thieves are burned to death. Not by the Torches, though. Oh no. By the Statue of Liberty. At least, that's what they told the police, i guess. Quality Rating: C- Chronological Placement Considerations: N/A References: N/A Crossover: N/A Continuity Insert? N My Reprint: Hero For Hire #15, Marvel Tales #121 Inbound References (1): showCharacters Appearing: Betty Dean, Byrrah, Human Torch (Golden Age), Namora, Sub-Mariner, Toro Box 1 / Golden Age / Post-WWII CommentsOn a number of the 1950s Torch stories,Dick Ayers was inked by Ernie Bache, but I'm not sure about this one. I'm also not sure that Stan Lee wrote this--Atlas was pumping out comics by the carload in the 1950s in a saturation that wouldn't be seen again until the mid-1980s, and as EIC of a line that size he didn't have much time to do a huge amount of scripting as in the 1960s. John Compton was probably writing some Torch stories at this time. Other editors Marvel had at this time: Carl Burgos(cover editor), Don Rico(traffic editor), Al Sulman(some editorial capacity I don't know specifics of). Posted by: Mark Drummond | July 30, 2011 9:43 PM -poor Toro. they can't get that boy an asbestos shirt? -so, the Human Torch controls his flames with verbal commands? if he wants only half of his body to be on fire, he actually has to say the words "Half-flame on". he didn't specify which half. there was potential for a very horrible accident in that scene. -burned to death by the "Torch of Liberty".....er, um... Posted by: min | August 14, 2011 6:37 PM I read this when I was six, many times, as part of MT #121, one of the very few comics intact in our house. The all-action approach was stimulating, the ending, mystifying. My first Golden Age story. :-D Posted by: Cecil Disharoon | February 8, 2016 8:11 AM Comments are now closed. |
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