SAILING WITH SUBBY
MARVEL LIFE AQUATIC
Welcome defenders of the deep!
Another of our favorite comic book characters is Marvel's very first super-hero, NAMOR ~ THE SUB-MARINER. First appearing in Motion Picture Funnies Weekly #1 from April 1939 (believed to be less than ten copies in existence), Namor next appeared in Marvel Comics #1 in October of 1939. Created by Bill Everett, Namor was the first Marvel Comics character to embody the Marvel hero archetype as we know it today i.e. the tragic backstory, a multifaceted and layered personality, and the freak mutation resulting in super powers. He's also one of the earliest examples of an anti-hero in comics as well. And, in case it wasn't obvious, he's the first half-human half-Atlantean super-hero in comic books.
Along with the original Human Torch (Jim Hammond) and later Captain America, Namor was one of Marvel Comics' three big breakout characters. Being Marvel's first super-hero, Namor naturally comes with a lot of history. Not only is he important to Marvel's publication history, but Namor and Atlantis figure central to the history of the Marvel Comics' narrative. And that's what we're here to discuss today, a tale from the early years of Namor's story (though published within the last twenty years).
MARVEL TSUNAMI
In 2003 writers Bill Jemas and Andi Watson partnered with artists Salvador Larocca, Pat Olliffe, Manuel Gutierrez, and Joe Bennett for a twelve issue series spotlighting some of the early years of Namor's life. This comic book series, along with several others were a part of a publishing initiative by Marvel labelled: TSUNAMI. This initiative was Marvel attempting to market their universe to manga readers and adapt to the changing market of the time. Targeting a new audience, specifically teenage girls and boys, this initiative saw a host of new titles being published, one of which being the subject of this post.
Namor: Volume 2 #1 through 12 told a fairly decompressed story across two six issue arcs (but really it's one arc as all twelve issues rely heavily upon each other, telling one story). This series reads incredibly fast (I think I finished all twelve issues in around two hours time). This book is a classic "coming of age" story, a teenage drama the likes of Dawson's Creek and similar shows of the time, unconstrained by a television show's budget and effects. Namor Volume 2 feels like a modern fairy tale or Romeo and Juliet, maybe even a little Peter Pan as well.
THE SYNOPSIS
The story begins with an elementary aged Namor (age six or seven, it's unclear) in the 1920s. Swimming to the surface on his own, Namor befriends a human girl named Sandy of the same age along the beach. Playing the day away together, they eventually go their separate ways only to meet each other again nearly a decade later. Namor now a handsome young man and Sandy a beautiful young woman, the two begin a budding romance. Namor and Sandy go on teen mixers together and Namor takes her to Atlantis to meet his mother and grandparents. Namor dating a "dry girl" causes a lot of gossip among the Atlanteans, including some resentment within the royal family.
Sandy's father is an oil tycoon with a drying oil rig. In need of another oil well to tap, Namor offers a partnership between Atlantis and the surface world, allowing Sandy's father access to an undersea oil well. Though the king and queen of Atlantis agree, others in the royal family conspire against them, sabotaging the oil rig and threatening to kill Sandy. The destruction of the rig pollutes the waters with oil, forcing every Atlantean from their home. Sandy blames herself and her father for the disaster. The story concludes with Namor having to decide between what's best for his people and his own love. With the knowledge that one day he'll be king, Namor chooses duty over love and leads his people to a new home. And in an unexpected turn, Sandy leaves the surface world behind and stays with Namor.
Unlike Romeo and Juliet, our young lovers are given a happy (if uncertain) ending.
UNDERWATER ANALYSIS
A Marvel Comics romance?
I'll be the first to admit that this isn't my usual cup of tea for comics, but I did actually enjoy this book. Being a fast read felt appropriate for this story, always moving at a quick pace (much like a manga volume) with more emphasis on the visuals. And speaking of the visuals, the artwork was vibrant and engaging throughout all twelve issues. Aside from these aspects, the core ingredient of this series that really kept me reading was Namor. Or rather, the writing team's attention to detail when it comes to Namor's character and history.
This series is a deep character study of Namor and the writers accomplish much in this endeavor. And perhaps most remarkable of all is how effortless it feels. The writers integrate decades of character building within these issues, yet if you had no prior history of Namor you'd never know. And by the end, as a reader, you have a core understanding of Marvel's first super hero.
Set within continuity (I think), this book reexamines many aspects of Namor's core character and story, recontextualizing these elements, retroactively "setting them in place" for what would become (and has been) Namor's future/history. In other words, it's a prequel that explains a little bit of why Namor is the way he is. If you know your Namor history and lore, this story adds many layers to Namor's past predispositions.
For example we learn why Namor has an incredible infatuation with blonde women. When Namor first burst onto the silver-age comics scene it was within the pages of Fantastic Four #4 from May 1962, he fell instantly in love with Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman. Sandy closely resembles Sue Storm in her physical appearance and her kind personality. With Sandy being Namor's first "real" love, it explains why Namor has an instant infatuation with Sue.
One of Namor's defining personality traits has always been his complex relationship with the surface world and his devotion to his people. This characteristic directly informs Namor's anti-hero status at times, when the surface world endangers the oceans. Yet deep down Namor longs for the two halves of his heritage to come together, just as his mother and father had. The genesis of this complex relationship and his explosive retribution is shown here. Namor's hot-tempered attitude, his iron resolve and unyielding conviction, have long been signature character traits, all of which are explored here and given substance and rationale.
Intimately linked with Namor's antagonism with the surface world, not to mention what the character often symbolizes, is the war on pollution. Namor's first real encounter with pollution is shown in this series and the devastating results of this forced the kingdom of Atlantis to relocate yet again. During this whole affair Namor also experiences the first instances of betrayal in his life, from both the surface humans and Atlanteans, further building upon this complex relationship and outlook on the world at large.
And lastly, a detail that prominently stood out to me was a display of Namor's keen business acumen and understanding of the business world. In this story Namor connects with Sandy's father based on their mutual interest in business and creating partnerships for joint mutually beneficial ventures. Shown sparsely here and there through the sixties, seventies, and eighties were surface world business fronts for Atlantean affairs. This aspect would become a central element in John Byrne's Namor series in the 90s, Namor's influential surface business ORACLE INC. (named after the ship Namor's father was the captain of when he met Namor's mother). I have a strong affinity for John Byrne's Namor series and seeing this book give attention to that aspect of Namor instantly stood out to me.
The story ends a few years prior to the onset of World War II, setting Namor in place for the legendary exploits to come.
AT VOYAGE'S END
This is a very different Namor story, and a very different Marvel comic. Going into it with an open mind is definitely a requirement, but if you can manage that, this twelve issue series offers a nice novel experience. If anything this book demonstrates the versatility and breadth of story one can tell with Namor. The character work outlined above is quite remarkable and the artwork is lovely too.
The story isn't perfect though. I found myself wondering why characters like Namor's cousins, Namora, Prince Byrrah, the Lady Dorma, and Warlord Krang weren't present (these missing characters are what makes me question this book's continuity status), but a clever writer could likely explain this in another comic.
All in all, this was a unique and different tone of Marvel comic story that, in my opinion, worked well. While not for everyone, there is much to be appreciated here. Sadly this series hasn't been collected in a trade paperback nor is it in print at the moment. Fortunately these individual issues aren't that expensive and shouldn't be too hard to track down.
If you're a Namor fan, this is fine story though hardly representative of what the usual Namor story is like. Even so, I found it true to the character.
