Which comic do you all think is essential for Namor? Or which comic (s) is a must read? Solo or series or even guest starring.
"No one should ever question where my allegiance lies." - Namor of Atlantis
AFAIK, these are highly recommended:
For Timely
- From 1954-1955, the final ten issues (#33-42) of the Bill Everett run on the revived Sub-Mariner Comics.
For Marvel
- The first eight issues of the Thomas/Buscema run on Sub-Mariner (1968 series).
- From 1972-1973, the entire Bill Everett run on Sub-Mariner (1968 series).
Last edited by K7P5V; 09-11-2019 at 11:52 PM. Reason: Made a correction.
For me to NOT treat Namor like a piece of shit you need to retcon his 1930s flooding of new york. He realistically killed thousands. I can accept him being an asshole and attacking heroes and even attacking military targets but killing thousands of innocents is a no go
I think something that should be considered in regards to Namor's aggression to the surface world, is that so many hundreds and even thousands of his people have died in the course of things over time. Namor isn't a hero to the surface world, he is a hero to his people and sometimes helps the surface world, but to other atlanteans its the surface people who were killing them first and there is a reason why Namor's name means "Avenging Son". I don't like him killing innocents either but the thing about Namor's comics is that he is an anti hero and does what he must to protect his people first. He doesn't really consider himself American or a surfacer. People always forget to point out just how many Atlanteans have died whenever they get on Namor for attacking the surface world, either by manipulation (phoenix force) or for vengeance.
"No one should ever question where my allegiance lies." - Namor of Atlantis
I don’t think his people would approve of war being waged on them or something like that if he killed enough innocents to the point that the humans decided to retaliate, regardless of Namor’s intentions. I suppose it just goes back to Marvel’s way of making flawed heroes like the Thing, who ended up fighting to help people even though he didn’t plan to be a superhero at the start and wasn’t sure how to reconcile with himself.
The president warns people who don diving helmets or get into shelters but frankly it's immaterial since no diving helmet will save you from the force he's throwing out. The EMPIRE STATE BUILDINGS KNOCKED OVER.
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Last edited by jetengine; 09-12-2019 at 10:21 AM.
First, if you are looking for realism, don't read comics. Remember, the Hulk supposedly has NEVER killed anyone in all his rampages and property destruction. Supposedly, Hyperion didn't kill anyone either, when he lifted Atlantis off the sea bed and threw it down on a mysterious island that had never been near Atlantis ever before -- because he gave the Atlanteans like a minute to abandon the city, and they could always leap off the city while it was being yanked out of the ocean -- cause apparently moving buildings doesn't cause them to fall down on people, not to mention, leaping from great heights apparently isn't harmful either. Unless Morgan Le Fay does the exact the same thing. Then the Atlanteans lost like half their population.
Second, Namor flooding NYC is something of a retcon itself. It was never part of Marvel continuity until 1990s Marvels. In all the retellings of Namor's history in the Silver Age, and there were many, it is never mentioned. Even during his Bryne trial -- and you'd think it would have been mentioned then, since his attacks on the surface world is what he was on trial for. Frankly, as much as I love Marvels, I think it was mistake to bring in such an over the top Golden Age story. It makes no sense at all if you consider the context, i.e. WWII. "Realistically," Namor basically ended WWII in that story, cause he freaking flooded Italy and Germany entirely! Yes, he didn't just flood NYC. He flooded the entire world.
Third, it's is stated in Marvels that there weren't casualties, or many, because there was plenty of time for evacuation / making the water tight shelters. This is clearly true, if you consider the context of the era. Had Namor actually "killed thousands," as you say, in a sneak attack on a US city, [cough Pearl Harbor cough], do you think all would have been forgiven and he would be back on the side of the Allies the next issue??? No. "Realistically," the US would have declared war on Atlantis, just as they did on the Axis. Yet another reason why I don't think either Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, or John Byrne thought adding that particular Golden Age story to Marvel continuity proper was ideal.
Yes, it is. But that didn't stop Brubaker from ignoring that part of the story in his retelling in Marvels Project. SMH. Like I said, it should have never been added to the MU.
Those are Golden Age panels. They aren't what really / exactly happened in Marvel continuity.
And again, it may not be realistic, but it's stated, there were little to no casualties.
Last edited by Reviresco; 09-14-2019 at 12:21 PM.
Namor the Sub-Mariner, Marvel's oldest character, will have been published for 85 years in 2024. So where's my GOOD Namor anniversary ongoing, Marvel?
OMG. How can I pick???
Will think on it.
This is MY opinion, right? Not recommendations for someone wanting to learn about Namor?
Those first two are MUST reading, for me too. The Atlas stuff is simply gorgeous Bill Everett work.
His last work on Subby was technically better, but the stories didn't work that well for the time. The Venus and Ares story is one of my favs, though. Plus, he did create Namorita then!
Namor the Sub-Mariner, Marvel's oldest character, will have been published for 85 years in 2024. So where's my GOOD Namor anniversary ongoing, Marvel?
I am creating a comic reading guide, something that can be passed around, screenshotted and saved for people who dont want to copy whole lists. I do have an essential comics, recommended comics, and solo comics sections as well as sections for each major team namor has been on, avengers, invaders, defenders, cabal, illuminati, xmen, and the fantastic four (i really dislike namor/sue but feel that i should include the time namor joined the FF) however whatever comics you think people would enjoy, its not a full extensive list but more of an easy jumping off point, its 2 pages long, unfinished example below:
comic guide 1.jpg
Thank you so much! I do have these already on my reading guide, but its good to know that its a stable that fans all agree on.
"No one should ever question where my allegiance lies." - Namor of Atlantis
Man. This is hard.
I'm going to start with the Silver Age and not worry about the Golden Age right now. Here's the start ... a working a list, I'll have to go back and edit. Many times.
Fantastic Four #4, 6, 9
Fantastic Four Annual #1
Avengers #3, 4 - brings Cap into the Silver Age
X-Men #6
Fantastic Four #33 - First Attuma
Daredevil #7
Tales to Astonish #70 thru 100
Avengers #40 - gets the Cosmic Cube and takes on Herc
Sub-Mariner #1-72
Sub-Mariner #5 Tiger Shark, Diane Arliss, Dr. Dorcas
Sub-Mariner #8 vs Thing, plus ... Betty Dean!
Hulk #118 - Awesome slugfest in Atlantis!
Sub-Mariner #19 Stingray
Sub-Mariner #20 DOOOOOM
Avengers #71 First Invaders
Fantastic Four 102 - 104 Invasion of NYC, Nixon, and Magneto!
Sub-Mariner #32 First Llyra
Sub-Mariner #34 Titans Three, precursor to the Defenders
Sub-Mariner #37 Death of Dorma
Marvel Feature #1 First Defenders
Sub-Mariner #67 New costume
Marvel Two In One 2 -- Gil Kane interiors!
Fantastic Four #147 and 149 saves Sue marriage
Super Villain Team Up
Marvel Fanfare #16 - first Marvel art by Mignola
Alpha Flight 3, 4,13, 14 - meets Marrina
Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner #1-4
Avengers #262 - the Gift! Cap invites Namor into the Avengers
Saga of Sub-Mariner #1 - 12 - Best retelling of Namor's history in his own words!
Marvel Fanfare 43 - Mignola does Pirate Namor!
Marvel Presents 33 - Dying in Paradise - Jim Lee
Namor the Sub-Mariner #10 - 12 Invaders arc
Namor the Sub-Mariner #19 and 20 Atlantean clones
Namor the Sub-Mariner #29 - 40 Harras and Jae Lee run with Suma Ket and Artys Gran
FF 412 - Saves Sue's marriage ... again.
Man-Thing 7 and 8 - interesting insight into Atlantis' history
Fantastic Four 1234 - Gorgeous Jim Lee Namor
Defenders Indefensible - hilarious take on Defenders by the Justice League International team
Sub-Mariner Revolution - don't entirely agree with this take on Namor, but for modern readers, this is probably essential
New Avengers Illuminati -- neccessary for Hickman's New Avengers, but one huge retcon
Namor the First Mutant - Series, but especially #5
Last edited by Reviresco; 09-12-2019 at 07:27 PM.
Namor the Sub-Mariner, Marvel's oldest character, will have been published for 85 years in 2024. So where's my GOOD Namor anniversary ongoing, Marvel?