Namor, The Sub-Mariner (1990) #60

I just added a label category called "Story Arcs" in the event that someone might be interested in tracking down Namor's appearances in major events throughout the Marvel Universe.

The inspiration for this was the Atlantis Rising multi-title crossover.  I bought the compilation on the cheap on Comixology some time ago. It includes issues of Namor's own series of the time, Fantastic Four, Fantastic Force (*shudder*) and as the cover below will give away, also features The Inhumans.

Marvel showed a little consideration here in that the books provides a few relevant pages from issue #58 and #59 of the Namor series to make things clear as we leap into issue #60 as the first official chapter of Atlantis Rising.

We open with a history lesson as Namor lifts the sword of Kamuu, said to be "The symbol of Atlantis' majesty before the fabled continent sank beneath the waves". It feels a little sudden and random but sure, whatever.

That's Andromeda back there. I'm not very familiar with her but she seems relatively cool.

Triton of the Inhumans is found by this oceanographer lady and some dude and brought back to their crib. Meanwhile, Namor's sword, for some reason, draws him (and Andromeda) to Triton as well.

But it's not the only sword to do that! This guy has the same issue!

Blood Wraith so terribly sounds like a 90s name, doesn't it?

Everyone seeking Triton shows up at the same time which, naturally, means a scrap.

Good reference to Krang there. Even though he ended up being a treasonous bastard, his skill must be acknowledged. Well done.

The battle is fairly even until BW pulls this dirty trick.

Right. See, back in the day, Namor had to kill his second wife, Marrina from Alpha Flight, when she became the creature known as Leviathan and he used the Ebony blade (the one wielded by Wraith here) to do so.

The whole thing is a giant distraction for our favourite prince and he loses his focus, leading to this:

Slutch!

I think at this point it was understood that Namor's series was coming to an end so perhaps this made for a good cliffhanger at the time? Obviously he survived this and we'll find out how when we get around to issue #61 some day.

Pretty cool book though. The series may have been nearing its end but it doesn't feel like anyone mailed it in. Quite the contrary, they were going for "epic" with this one!