Issue(s): Sub-Mariner #41, Sub-Mariner #42
Cover Date: Sep-Oct 71
Title: "Whom the sky would destroy!" / "And a house whose name is death!"
Credits:
Gerry Conway - Writer
George Tuska - Penciler
Jim Mooney / Sam Grainger - Inker

Review/plot:
I'll be honest; i have no idea what's going on in this issue. The concept of "every issue is someone's first" wasn't in mind when this was written. It doesn't help that a good portion of the beginning, where there is normally some sort of recap, instead features characters from the ongoing Mr. Kline plot from Daredevil and Iron Man.

The younger robot scans the Sub-Mariner's mind and discovers his loneliness. They then say that the Sub-Mariner is "each of us" and that the people of this world "must never know". They then teleport away to find Mr. Kline.

The rest of the issue is the Sub-Mariner teaming up with a bunch of freaks to fight an evil witch.

Maybe if i had the surrounding issues this would have made more sense and been enjoyable, but as a random comic that happened to fall into my collection, it's pretty painful.

Looking at this just for the Mr. Kline storyline, it's pretty unfulfilling. There's no explanation as to why the robots would appear here to observe the Sub-Mariner, and then they make some cryptic comments and then leave, so we learn nothing. Even as a gratuitous plug for the ongoing plot in Daredevil and Iron Man it barely works; the footnote just says "Those of you quick on the uptake will know that Kline is a continuing threat these days to two Marvel Heroes -- Daredevil and Iron Man! Look into it, frantic ones!"

Update: Ok, i've ignored Kasper's advice in the Comments and picked up the first part of this story. Aaaaand, yeah. I don't know, guys. Something with a crazy aunt and a guy made of stone ("the rock that walks like a man" according to the cover).

I agree with Namor in that last panel.

Since i'm baffled by all of that, i've latched on to the dynamic between Diane Arliss and Walter Newell. They eventually get married, so it's interesting to Walter here making Diane admit that she's helping Namor because she's in love with him.

Diane and Walter meet with a Senator Craig Winters, known as a strong advocate for environmentalism. They beg him to consider pushing for amnesty for Namor, since Namor has recently been acting as a symbol for environmentalism.

Winters says it would be "political suicide" to pursue amnesty for the Sub-Mariner, but he says he'll help.

Stephan Tuval, first seen in the previous issue, is shown in these issues, lashing out with his magic powers. He doesn't have anything to do with the main plot in this story, though.

Issue #42 also prints a letter from Mark Gruenwald praising Roy Thomas' inspired story telling and complaining that most of the fan mail that is published is unintelligent drivel, especially when juxtaposed against a "sophisticated, mature story".

Quality Rating: D

Historical Significance Rating: 2 - Mr. Kline plot

Chronological Placement Considerations: This takes place fairly late in the Mr. Kline story; the two robots here will soon arrive in Daredevil #84 for the final confrontation with Mr. Kline. Therefore i've pushed this issue forward in publication time.

References:

• Namor thinks back to the death of Lady Dorma in Sub-Mariner #37.

Crossover: Mr. Kline

Continuity Insert? N

My Reprint: N/A

Speaking as someone who has read the other two issues of the story, believe me you are better off having not read them. Just awful.