New Avengers (2013) #7, "Thrones"

Early into the creation of this little blog, I decided that I would follow Namor's adventure from the point that he was brought back into continuity in Fantastic Four #4 in 1962. The material prior to that is often brutally drawn racist nonsense.  Yes, different times and such, but I found it impossible to enjoy.

I might do something similar and block out the last decade or so. It seems that whatever I read in the 2010s is dreadfully dull, especially when it involves around events such as Secret Empire, Dark Reign and Avengers vs. X-Men. I'm going to get into Namor's recent "heel turn", to use a wrestling term, in Avengers then Invaders soon so hopefully those stories are more entertaining.

This one, as is often the case, seemed to have some promise based on its cover, but that's misleading. It's just another gab-fest.

Tony "Iron Man" Stark and Reed "Mr. Fantastic" Richards are discussing the state of affairs and the subject turns to Atlantis. Richards explains that the Wakandas have captured some Atlanteans and plan to try them for war crimes against the Wakandan capital. And so...

"Something went wrong" seems like an understatement based on the image above. Something goes wrong when you clog your toilet. The massacre above looks like more than just something going wrong.

Be that as it may, we cut to another conversation (because that's all this book is) between Namor and T'Challa, the Black Panther. Going contrary to nature, Namor actually offers peace.

The "she" that Panther refers to is his sister Shuri who appears to be in charge at this point.

T'Challa turns out to be quite correct. The next day, as Wakanda's leaders meet. T'Challa recommends a peaceful course of action but Shuri decides against this and declares war on Atlantis.

A war between Atlantis and Wakanda sounds like it could be entertaining as hell. In this book it'll probably be equivalent to watching two dudes play Battleship.

The Invaders (1975) #16: "The Short, Happy Life of Major Victory"

It's been almost a year since I had a look at one of the original Invaders books and being that they've become my favourite Marvel team, I shall check out another one now.

Captain America and Bucky are incognito in a movie theater in London England, watching highlights of their own adventures. Evidently Namor is not the only character on this team with an ego.

As the pair leaves the theater, there's a blackout in the city. In the time it takes for them to suit up, a scream for help caches their attention. It leads them to the scene below.

The heroes make short work of the Nazis but are taken by surprise by a sudden heel turn.

Ah, she was with Ze Germans all along! She, and the hooded Nazis in the preceding image, escapes her hostage. Captain America and Bucky let them go to ensure that the Germans do not harm the young soldier.
 
Instead, they head to their headquarters to meet with the rest of the team. When Cap tells everyone what just occurred, Bucky and Toro recognize the name of the private who was snatched (as they should, since his first name is Biljo"). They remember him as a comic book writer/artist so they check his material for a clue.

Fearing that Hitler may be attempting to use "Biljo" to duplicate the super soldier formula which created Captain America, the team heads off in Namor's Atlantean airship to Fortress Europe, apparently the fuhrer's hiding spot, to rescue the young man. As they near the castle, a projectile knocks out one of the wings on the ship.

The projectile was actually an old foe named Master Man. Namor's pissed that his ship was wrecked so he wants the get the first shot in.

Namor is stunned by Master Man's super bosom. MM wrecks the rest of the team single-handedly. They are restrained in the fortress and get a visit from the boss.

Meh. I love Nazi villains but I hate when Hitler shows up. Mind you, the next issue will introduce a character named Warrior Woman, so we get to look forward to that and hopefully a decent scrap between Namor and Master Man.

Sub-Mariner: The Depths (2008) #3

My complaint in the previous post about Namor's lack of involvement could technically apply here, but it doesn't.

In The Depths, Namor's presence is felt rather than seen, by design. He is considered an urban legend by the public at this point and a researcher named Randolph Stein is tasked with disproving his existence. As Stein encounters increasing evidence of the Sub-Mariner's existence, however, it becomes more difficult for him to deny that the legends just might be true.

Though Stein recognizes that he might be becoming a little loopy as a result of his environment, he has little choice but to forge on. They arrive at the Mariana's Trench station, referred to as the last outpost on their journey.

As they approach it, they are concerned about a lack of communication from the station. They go in regardless, but armed as best as they can. You know, just in case.

This is where this book does what it does best. It builds a creepy tension. They are drawn to a noise...

...and eventually come to find that all seven members of threw crew have been slaughtered. As the fear builds the men start to turn on one another and question Stein's leadership.

Of course the assumption is that Namor slaughtered everyone.

One the station's workers (McKeogh) filmed the operations. The "klakk" noise was caused by his camera still rolling on the floor.

Stein locates McKeogh's developing room and intently watches the man's last recordings. McKeogh is talking into the camera but something draws his attention while he is recording.

And with that glimpse of what appears to be an ankle with wings, Stein is that much closer to becoming a believer.

Of course, we can safely assume that Namor didn't butcher seven men. So while we get the story gradually builds Stein's fear while reducing his skepticism, the reader can't help but wonder what did cause the slaughter?

The pace can be slow but each issue reinforces that this is among the highest quality material ever produced for Namor, even if Namor's presence consists of glimpses and shadows. I'll be sad to reach its end.