Review by Win Wiacek
Moreso than other Epic Collections, the first Sub-Mariner colour compendium, naturally enough Enter the Sub-Mariner, concentrated on his 1960s guest appearances. This selection, though, covers the bulk of his 1960s solo appearances, exclusively written by Roy Thomas, with art first from John Buscema. spanning August 1968 to July 1979
Previously, the hero’s recapitulated origins and some plot seeding introduced malign super-telepath Destiny, responsible for Namor’s memory-deficient years. The undersea Prince had begun a search for the villain, which led to his meeting undersea Inhuman courtier Triton. This volume resumes with Namor still hunting Destiny, and falling into the sadistic clutches of subsea barbarian Attuma after the merciless warlord attacks displaced, wandering Atlanteans. Although he triumphs in and liberates his people, the Sub-Mariner swims on alone, believing his beloved Lady Dorma to have perished in the battle.
Twin nemeses debut next, in the forms of deranged bio-engineer Dr. Dorcas and disabled ex-Olympic swimmer Todd Arliss, who is mutated by mad science into a ravening amphibian killer. Destiny’s menace doesn’t prevent Namor regaining his throne, but there’s then an epic clash with the Thing, followed by the reintroduction of a woman from Namor’s past who can reason with him with as no other human can.
Marie Severin joins as artist for a landmark moment as a helmet of power metamorphoses into the Seprent Crown, an arcane artefact recurring throughout later Marvel history. Namor confiscates the corrupting crown and is granted a glimpse of Earth’s secret history as well as a vision of a lost Pacific undersea race – the Lemurians. Severin’s art is at its best when she has the time to ink her own pencils, such as ‘A World Against Me’, with Gene Colan also impressing with modern-day pirate yarn ‘Never Bother a Barracuda!’
An early crossover ties in with Captain Marvel and the Avengers, while even more innovative and shamelessly nostalgic is the revival of the original – android – Human Torch. We also see the introduction of the last of the big star conglomerate super-groups. The Defenders here feature as three linked tales of enigmatic anti-heroes – Prince Namor, Incredible Hulk and Doctor Strange. Frustratingly, only Namor’s segment is included here.
Another landmark is the Sal Buscema illustated ‘A World My Enemy!’ It follows Sub-Mariner’s bellicose confrontation with the UN as he puts humanity on notice: clean up your mess or I will. From this point on Namor would become a minor icon and strident advocate of the issues, even if only to young comics readers.
Concluding this vintage voyage is another buccaneering bonanza as, back brooding in Atlantis in the wake of another failure, Namor’s mood is further poisoned when a surface pirate uses his giant monster-vessel to attack shipping, leaving Atlantis bearing the brunt of blame ‘When Wakes the Kraken!’.
Many early Marvel Comics are more exuberant than qualitative, but this volume – especially from an art-lover’s point of view – is a wonderful exception: a historical treasure trove with narrative bite that fans can delight in forever. The content is also available in the hardcover Marvel Masterworks Sub-Mariner Volumes 3, 4 and just edging into 5.
