Fantastic Four - Atlantis Rising #2: "Assault on Atlantis"

After yesterday's post about an Avengers book in which Namor is prominently featured on the cover but not in the interior, I thought I'd move on to a book in which he should be far more involved. This seemed like a safe bet.

But I was wrong.

The book is exactly as the title suggests. The heroes who have gathered (Namor, Thor and The Fantastic Four minus Reed Richards but plus Ant-Man) take the battle to Morgan Le Fey and Atlantis. Sue Richards uses her force field abilities to crack open Le Fey's defenses and the heroes throw down against a number of Inhumans.

Therein lies the problem. Between the Inhumans who are not members of the royal family and the Fantastic Force group, there is an army of little-known and uninteresting characters in this book. It become difficult to keep track of everyone's abilities, affiliation and motivations.

At least in Namor's case, he scraps against the better-known royals. In the previous installment of this story, he tossed Black Bolt around. This time, he tangles (pun intended) with Medusa.

Wow! Somebody has NOT been missing leg day!

Namor compares her hair to tangling with the tentacles of a giant squid. One of my favourite aspects of his character is his uncanny ability to sweet talk women. Go on, you old honey dripper!

Gorgon gets into the scrap as well but Namor continues to hold is own.

He's not much involved going forward. Long story short, the risen Atlantis is basically destroyed but most of the heroes get out with the help of Sue Richards' force field though some are unaccounted for. The gang regroups on a nearby beach but Namor has no time for hugs and handshakes.

Thus ends Atlantis Rising, for all intents and purposes.

An issue of Fantastic Four Unlimited followed which served as an epilogue anthology. We'll get at that down the road sometime but at this point all we know is that Namor's supposed son, Llyron, intended to find a new location for Atlantis that Namor would never find. I think we know how that worked out.

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.

Fear Itself: The Deep (2011) #2

This spin-off mini-series brought together yet another version of the Defenders in its first issue, reviewed here.

After New Atlantis was taken over by several of Namor's enemies, led by Attuma, Namor asked for help from Dr. Strange who, in turn, sent out additional calls for assistance. As a result, Loa from the X-Men, Lyra as a Hulk replacement and the Silver Surfer also provided an assist as the seaside meeting point for Namor and Strange was attacked by a number of aquatic creatures.

Issue 2 opens with the gathering of villains watching the battle from afar.

Namor is gripped with fear and therefore largely useless. Dr. Strange eventually casts a spell to be rid of the sea beasts.

The team regroups to exchange notes. The Surfer tells us what he knows...

Strange then explains that these hammers are creating panic across the globe. The emotions are so strong that they've weakened the veil between dimensions (Yeah, that makes sense...).

From all that, he assumes that Atlantis' attackers and the Undying Ones have formed an alliance.

I don't know. There seems to be a lot of guesswork here. But before we can take too long to ponder it all, they are attacked again.

They defeat those creatures as well with Namor again contributing...nothing. It's not so much that he's paralyzed with fear because he does fly around and gets people out of harm's way and such but he is not involved in the fighting.

Then as they discuss taking the battle straight to New Atlantis' invaders, Lyra gets yanked underwater by yet another sea creature. To be continued!

The previous issue, when the basic premise was set and the team was gathered, was a fun read. This one felt like filler which is pretty bad for 4-issue series. And this deal about emotions breaking down the veil between dimensions? What the hell is that?

Namor was useless and hopefully redeems himself in the back half of the series.

Namor The First Mutant (2010) #3: "Royal Blood: Part Three"

Halloween's a comin' so I'm going to catch up on a couple of books with more of a horror feel, starting with the 3rd issue of Namor The First Mutant.

Issue 1 was read here and #2 was read here.

Atlantis is in mid-rebuild (again) and her forces are depleted so this is a terrible time for underwater vampires (Aqueos) to attack, but sure enough they have.

Namor and the rather fine Abira are chatting with an ancient wizard known only as the Logomancer about how to destroy these creatures. The Logomancer recommends a spell but as they start looking into its requirements a little deeper, Namor dismisses Abira as he would a child.

In order for it to work, the spell needs the blood of a king. ALL of the king's blood. Namor doesn't want Abira to know that he plans to sacrifice himself for his people.

The spell is incomplete. The Logomancer believes that its final part is hidden in a tomb in the Aqueos' hidden city.

So armed with some sort of Atlantean triple lightsaber, and given better directions as to how to find the city and the tomb within it, Namor and his few troops take the battle to the aqua-vampires.

Namor asks Abira along. When they reach the tomb and complete the preparations for the spell that will banish the Aqueos, he levels with her about her role in all this.

As they debate procedure, they are interrupted by the Aqueos leader.

Grandfather, eh? Always good to bump into family.

I haven't come across Thakorr much to this point, from memory, but it's rather clear he hasn't aged well. This story will conclude as of the next issue so I would expect a solid family scrap though it appears by looking at its credits ahead of time, Ariel Olivetti did not pencil and ink that one. Too bad, I've enjoyed his art a great deal.

Super-Villain Team-Up (1975) #3: "If Vengeance Fails!"

The introduction to Orka in the previous post, and his similar origin to that of Tiger Shark put me in a villainous mood so we'll move ahead today in the Super-Villain Team-Up series.

The ending to the previous issue had suggested that an enraged Namor would be kicking a lot of ass at the beginning of this one following the death of his close friend Betty Dean at the hands of...*ugh*...Dr. Dorcas. So let's get right into the thick of things!

Well, that's disappointing.

There was a writer switch between these two issues, from Tony Isabella to Jim Shooter. I can't imagine that this is what Isabella had in mind in continuation of his cliffhanger from issue #2.

Doctor Doom, who had sought to assist Namor in the previous issue in order to make him an ally in the future, eventually steps in to interrupt the beating and takes the Sub-Mariner to (relative) safety.

Namor takes some time to recover and once he has, Doom explains that he plans to help the prince get revenge for the death of Betty Dean.

This is not entirely altruistic, of course. Doom knows that Namor will not partner with him towards world domination if Dean's death is not avenged.

Doom attacks the villain army at Hydrobase by air, in his ship, causing a distraction that allows Namor to release the hostages held there. Namor is particularly interested in one hostage named Tamara for reasons that totally escape me at this point. He is incensed to find out that she has been taken away for "questioning" so he crashes that party.

That done, Namor rushes back to fight the villains alongside Doom. But even though Doom gave him a weapon that could immobilize Tiger Shark, Attuma and yes, even Dr. Dorcas, Namor smashes it against the rocks and starts swinging instead.

I don't know how he managed that move combination.

For that matter, I don't know why he chose to take a shot at Dorcas at all when Attuma is standing right there. Who do you think is the bigger threat?? I suppose since Dorcas was the one to pull the trigger on Betty Dean, Namor's temper overrode his strategic sense.

Attuma actually kind of disappears from this whole skirmish. It ends up being Namor against Tiger Shark and Dorcas.

By Poseidon's beard, I hope Dorcas is dead...

So in the end, Namor and Doctor Doom make a pretty good team, right?

Or perhaps not...

I've looked ahead and the next issue will be written by Bill Mantlo and the one after that by Steve Englehart who would carry it from there for a while. Some stability might have made this book a little better but as it is, it's still kind of fun.

Prince Namor, The Sub-Mariner (1968) #23: "The Coming of...Orka!"

Ah! Orka! Not a character I'm terribly familiar with but he does appear to be a challenging foe for our favourite prince. Bring it on, whale man!

Namor is on his way home when he happens across a horde of killer whales. He fears that they might pose a threat to Atlantis and especially so when he notices a giant dude riding one of them.

That escalated quickly.

Namor understimates his new foe's strength and speed. Orka pounds on him a couple of times and Namor finds himself trapped on the side of a collapsed mountain.

He frees himself from the rubble and tracks Orka to "some awesome undersea fortress". He sneaks his way in and comes across Orka again but this time is better prepared for him.

Orka is sent flying during the battle and when Namor chases after him, he comes upon another old foe.

Nooo! Come on, man! How often am I going to stumble into this loser??

Dorcas, in an attempt to avoid a severe beating, shows Namor that there are several Atlanteans trapped in a bubble outside and surrounded by hunger-crazed sharks.

Dorcas, of course, has the ways and means to dissolve said bubble if Namor doesn't cool his gills. And also of course, there is one prisoner in the bubble that is of particular interest to the prince.

Again, Dorma is in the shit. At some point Namor has to ask himself if she's worth the trouble, honestly.

Orka's cobwebs are starting to clear and he prepares to start round three with the sub-mariner but he is stopped in his tracks by the real boss.

Sure, since we're all here.

It's origin time! Krang was exiled but Orka, while a simpleton, was a one of his most loyal subjects. As he sought to generate wealth to plan to retake Atlantis, Krang stumbled into Dorcas' underwater lab. There, he and Dorcas subjected Orka to an experiment similar to what Tiger Shark went through and voila! Instant whale dude!

He's far less intimidating in his underwear though.

When Namor tires of the stories and makes a move towards Krang, Orka has his excuse to drop the gloves again.

This time, he's boosted though. Dorcas designed the belt around Orka's waist so that it saps the strength of the whales nearby and directs it to increase Orka's. So Namor is at a distinct disadvantage.

The prisoners manage to escape, dumbass Dorma included, but Namor is captured and shackled as the book ends.

Orka is established as a credible threat immediately in this one, on par with Tiger Shark, Attuma and the like. I'm only disappointed that his origin so closely resembles that of Tiger Shark but I look forward to witnessing his other throw downs with Namor soon.