Unca Cheeks the Toy Wonder's Silver Age Comics Web Site!

(Part Two)

Once Namor finally graduated from having to "share" a title with the Incredible Hulk -- which (let's face it) would probably be enough to make anybody cranky, really; torn purple pants scattered about all over the place... brrrrrrrrr.) -- and into his own regular monthly solo comic... he actually did calm down, somewhat.

A bit.

Look: at least he wasn't picking on a poor, defenseless Daredevil anymore, all right...? ) Actually -- looking back on these issues -- one is struck by just how lackluster the actual writing was, by and large. Even though handled (at various stops along the way) by the undeniably talented likes of Roy Thomas (who has oft referenced Namor as his all-time favorite comics character, incidentally); Gerry Conway; and a fresh-off-the-bus Steve Gerber... it is clear that the title was "carried" -- for the most part -- by its succession of vastly superior artists.

Chiefest among these, I think, was Marvel Bullpen stalwart John Buscema [see covers, above and below], who established a baseline approach to the visuals for the title as stylistically compelling as it was commercially successful.

Sadly, however: the notion of a "good Namor" never really seemed to assist any of the diverse creative teams involved with the title towards storytelling artistry of a comparable stature. Hence -- inevitably -- the slow but certain morphing of the character back towards his you-talkin'-to-me? roots [see cover, below], by gradually divesting Namor of all those elements which served to anchor our sympathies to him. The first of these to go was the undersea city/state of Atlantis, itself... ... followed, in short order, by the love of Namor's life (no, no; not Sue Richards! Stop obsessing -- !): the gracious and gentle Lady Dorma. [SEE: The Classic Silver Age Comics Covers:Page Three, for an accompanying image]

Thus unencumbered (as it were), Namor was therefore at liberty to return to what he really did always do best, anyway: team up with super-villains.
This newly-minted freedom, however, was to cost Namor dear within the pages of the aptly (if somewhat uncreatively) named SUPER-VILLAIN TEAM-UP.

Having allied himself with FANTASTIC FOUR nemesis-in-chief Doctor Doom, Namor found himself in the wholly unenviable position of being betrayed by his erstwhile cohort (Jeepers! Doom... finking out on a PARTNER? What were the odds of something like that happening...?), and -- as an indirect result of same -- watching, helplessly, as his "Golden Age" girlfriend (Betty Dean Prentiss) was butchered right before his very eyes, in a terrifically-written tale by the underrated Tony Isabella.

Since then, the character has wandered all over the Marvel Universe map, interpretation-wise... with storytelling attempts on his behalf ranging from mediocre (a brief stint as one of the AVENGERS, during the Roger Stern "run" on that title) to the... ummmmm... less than mediocre (an ill-conceived shot at a solo series once more, a few years back, courtesy of writer/artist John Byrne).

If the character is ever to command a significant portion of the comics readership on his own behalf, once again... I think it necessary to return him to his "roots," as it were. Namor -- as originally conceived, at least, by his Golden Age "daddy," writer/artist Bill Everett -- is irascible, and shamelessly self-adulating. And whereas these would -- most assuredly -- be counted as fatal "charms" if appended, willy-nilly, to the noble and rock-jawed likes of a Superman, or a Captain America... in Namor's case, they are as thoroughly part and parcel of the character's allure as are the pointed ears, or the dopey li'l wings at the ankles.

Too: "heroic," yes, by all means... but not a "super-hero," please. The dark, brooding anti-hero (NOT the same thing as "villain," mind) has a long and noble history, in adventure fiction...

... and -- all apologies to the Incredible Hulk notwithstanding -- no one in the Marvel Universe fills that role so admirably and well as does Namor, the Avenging Son.

I mean... heck. He whupped up on a blind guy, maaaaaannnnnn... ! )

Namor, the Sub-Mariner: PAGE ONE

OTHER SIGNIFICANT MARVEL TITLES of the Silver Age
PAGE ONE: The Defenders
PAGE SEVEN: The Hulk

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