The New Avengers: Illuminati #1

I've loved the concept of a secret union between the top dogs of the Marvel universe from the moment I first laid eyes on the cover below. I'm glad to finally get around to reading it, regardless of the various criticisms I've come across about the Civil War story.

We begin with the first meeting of the various men above and...one more. They are gathered in Wakanda years ago and naturally, T'Challa, the Black Panther, is also in attendance. It is shortly after the Kree/Skrull War that took place, in real time, in the early 70s, I believe.

Iron Man makes his pitch. He suggests that the various teams should unite under one banner to take on the world's problems. Namor is something other than impressed.

Namor argues that the public perception Iron Man expects, and cooperation between factions, would not happen because of some of the "questionable characters" among them.

And yet...He votes in favour of it on the condition that the entire operation be done with secrecy. This little program even includes a little mental monitoring by Professor Charles Xavier, something that I would think he would reject immediately but apparently not.

Black Panther does reject the proposal and warns that the whole thing will end badly.

And so we jump to the near present. The Hulk has devastated Las Vegas, killing several people in the process. Iron Man is being taken to task on the SHIELD helicarrier by some lady named (commander) Hill. I'm sure she's a big deal but I don't really know her.

They go over the old argument; If Spider-Man had simply killed the Green Goblin at some point, he'd have saved countless lives (the example works far better with Batman and the Joker...). Instead, the Goblin just goes back out there and kills a few more people. When is Spider-Man at fault for this? How often should the Hulk get away with this?

(Never. That's a stupid argument. No one can have the burden of murder thrust upon them)

With that in mind, the Illuminati meet. They plan to launch the Hulk into space where he can do no harm (in theory). I mean, they won't kill him, just...launch him into an endless void. You don't want to be cruel or anything.

But Hulk has a defender in Namor (see what I did there?), of all people. Those two have fought and argued numerous times but Hulk was a teammate and Namor's opposition feel quite appropriate. He will not tolerate the mere thought of this plan and makes his stance quite clear.

Namor and Iron Man battle underwater and Namor comes quite close to murdering his opponent here. He rips off his helmet and leaves him to sink like stone. Dr. Strange fishes them both out with some levitation type of spell before that happens.

Namor, then, is quite capable of committing murder to prevent murder. One to file away.

A disgusted Avenging Son beats it in a huff but shows up when invited at the next meeting. In that meeting, Iron Man previews Civil War for those in attendance (Namor, Strange, Reed Richards and Black Bolt). He explains that the government will expect all vigilantes (and mutants, Inhumans, etc.) to reveal themselves and to continue their activities only under SHIELD's oversight. He recommends that everyone sign up voluntarily.

The notion goes over like a fart in an elevator for most of the people in the room, including Namor who basically gives him in the finger.

And so a large crack begins to form in the Marvel universe.

I don't know how much of a factor Namor is in the actual Civil War mini series. It doesn't appear as though he's involved all that much, but he did show up in issues of Black Panther and Wolverine at the time. Click on the "Civil War" tag on the right to have a peek at those.

He is a far bigger part of this book than I thought, being that he is only half visible on its cover. His trademark arrogance and temper are both on display prominently and, as usual, he swims against the current, so to speak.

In typical Brian Michael Bendis fashion, the sitting-around-the-table debates are a little long but that aside, as a fan of Namor, I don't have much cause to complain here. An Iron Man fan might, but that's not my problem. ;-)

Wolverine (2003) #45

I am starting to understand why Marvel's recent output has faced so much criticism. I have read material from several decades now and it seems that anything I read that was published in the current millennium is largely crap. That applies to Wolverine #45 though it does have one redeeming quality.

Humberto Ramos' art is not it. I'm sure he has his fans, and he's certainly built a solid career for himself, but his exaggerated facial expressions and physiques is not to my personal taste.

Let's catch up here.

It bears pointing out that Namorita, Namor's cousin, is believed to be among the dead. Otherwise, while the hell would anyone in Atlantis care? I spent half the issue asking myself that very question until Namor blurted it out.

We go through Wolverine's tedious "I'm the best at what I do" routine just in time for him to get punched in the face.

Is he naked again? Why is he naked so damn often? Is that what he does best?

Wolverine takes the first round by sticking all six of his claws through Namor's chest. If Logan weren't so clueless about Atlantean anatomy, Namor would be dead because apparently Wolverine managed to miss all major organs. Six times. The best at what he does. We'll just assume he knew that and that it was NOT attempted homicide then. Or regicide, for that matter.

While Wolverine is dispatching the Atlantean sleeper agents, Namor recovers and ends the fight with a well-placed punch. Nitro is taken to Atlantis. Wolverine still feels responsible for protecting him though so he calls in some help and follows.

That is Wolverine is an one-size-fits-all borrowed Iron Man armour. He's able to pop his claws from that thing and everything.

And here we have the shining moment in this book. When Iron-Wolverine threatens to kill an Atlantean woman to recover Nitro and stay true to his word to protect that villain, Namor pretty much spells out his idiocy to him.

Wolverine actually concedes to this reasoning and leaves the Atlanteans to deal with Nitro. Namor catches up with Logan later in some pub to share the results of their interrogation of Nitro.

There are so many nonsensical decisions made here that it's difficult to get into the book. Each side should easily be able to grasp why the other has an interest in Nitro. Neither guy is known for level-headedness, granted, but the whole thing could, and should, have been talked out. This book feels like editorially-forced filler.

Black Panther (2005) #21

It is the second of three weekends during which the book being read/reviewed will be a Black Panther book as something of a countdown to the movie. Comixology and Marvel made it nice and easy for me by having a sale on Black Panther material so I've bought a couple of $1 each.

Coincidentally, they are also having an X-Men Red (whatever that means) sale for a while which includes several Namor titles so I'm spending more than I should but I'll be stocked up for quite a while.

And with that, let's look at Black Panther #21 and its rather striking cover by Gary Frank.

CIVIL WAR: BLACK PANTHER PART 3 King T'Challa and Queen Ororo continue their diplomatic tour. They've been to Latveria and the Moon. Next stop: Atlantis, for a meeting with Namor. Will T'Challa's comrade receive the royal couple with open arms?

Yes, actually, despite what the cover might suggest. The point of the meeting is for Namor to suggest to his Wakandan counterpart that the Panther should lead the resistance against Iron Man and Reed Richards and the superhero Registration Act (or whatever the hell it's called). Much of the book is Namor making his case and Panther debating the merits of this course of action until he (Panther, that is) eventually agrees.

A Sub-Mariner fan, however, will enjoy a flashback to the character's days as an Invader and meeting Black Panthers' grandfather. Its relevance is somewhat questionable but Namor's trademark arrogance is on full display in a comical way, as is his power as he fights a Nazi dick named Master Man.

Meanwhile, in the present, it is his sexism that is on display as Storm questions his motives. She believes Namor is sending Black Panther against Reed Richards in order to remove Richards from the playing and making Susan Storm/Richards that much more accessible.

A miracle to behold. Oh my. Try that line on Twitter, Avenging Son, I dare you.

A pleasant read, brought to us by Reg Hudlin and artists Manuel Garcia and Jay Leisten. Namor doesn't respect many people (he takes a shot at Doctor Doom at some point) but Black Panther is one of few people he holds in high regard, as he should. As entertaining as it can be to watch him tell everyone off, his relationship with Panther makes for a nice change.