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Tales to Astonish #83

The Sub-Mariner Strikes!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner!
Release: June 2, 1966
Cover: September 1966
12 cents
Script: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Pencilling: Jolly Jack Kirby
Inking: Darlin’ Dick Ayers
Lettering: Adorable Artie Simek
And, in the unlikely words of Irving Forbush: Imperius Rex!
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #82, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #83, Story B
Tales to Astonish #82, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #83, Story B

…My Secret Empire may yet rise again!

Jack Kirby takes on another issue of the Sub-Mariner. Perhaps Gene Colan remains out sick.

I had a choice here. I’ve got this comic, Tales to Astonish #83 in my hand. I could read it in order, as any normal person would. Starting at the first page, and then turning the pages in order until I reach the end.

Or I could realize that the story makes no sense if I do that, so instead turn to halfway through this comic to the Hulk story, read that, and then flip back to the beginning to read the Namor story.

The story makes slightly more sense to do it that way, but it doesn’t really make sense no matter how I read it. And certainly no kid picking this up in 1966 would have known to jump to the middle. Maybe some did anyway because they are big Hulk fans.

So I’m going to start this comic from the beginning, get very confused, then eventually get to the end of the comic, and resolve some, but not all, of that confusion.

Namor just had his big brawl with Iron Man, and then left to continue to pursue Krang and Dorma. As far as I know, the last thing Hulk did was rescue Betty Ross from Boomerang, who escaped with some goons from the Secret Empire, who as far as I know remain an active threat. As are Them/AIM.

Dorma is with Krang because he agreed to spare Namor’s life. But now he’s trying to kill Namor. So maybe that’s grounds for an annulment?

But Dorma hadn’t read the fine print. Krang agreed to spare Namor from the Behemoth, not to spare him generally. Again, I would just leave him now and find a lawyer to discuss the contract with.

Tales to Astonish #82

The Power of Iron Man!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: May 3, 1966
Cover: August 1966
12 cents
Plotted by Smilin’ Stan (who then went on vacation!)
Scripted by Rascally Roy (who wishes he had!)
Begun by Gallant Gene (who caught the flu after finishing the first two pages!)
Finished by King Kirby (who drew the last ten pages, then asked who Sub-Mariner was!)
Inked by Darlin’ Dick (who else?)
12 pages

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Tales of Suspense #81, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #82, Story B
Tales to Astonish #81, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #82, Story B

Never will Prince Namor surrender! Never shall your eyes view the true Sovereign of Atlantis humbled! Not all your vaunted power will give you the final triumph!

Yesterday was Mother’s Day, and my mother, this blog’s most loyal reader, always liked Namor in her youth. So this is for her.

The digital reprints leave off the letterer credit, and I don’t own the original of this comic. And my reprint in Marvel Masterworks has the same misprint as the digital version. But the GCD tells me there should be one more line in the credits, which reads:

Adorable Arthur (Who??)

Where were we? Red Skull is alive and has been working with Them, and AIM and Them may be the same organization. AIM/Them had created the Cosmic Cube, which Red Skull used to make himself a god, but was still defeated by Captain America. AIM is a defense contractor trying to worm its way into SHIELD and convince the government to remove Col. Fury. But Fury suspects what they are up to.

The Secret Empire is after the Orion Missile, and has hired Boomerang to the task. He has kidnapped the General’s daughter, Betty Ross, as the first step in his plan.

To save Namor from the Behemoth, Dorma agreed to marry Krang, and they ran off together. Unaware of her noble intentions, a furious Namor pursued them to the surface.

Returning to America from a battle with Ultimo, Iron Man found that his factories had been closed, and that he was running low on power and friends. Happy, Pepper, the Avengers… none were home when he desperately needed them. Happy and Pepper may have been on a date. The Avengers may have been in a hidden kingdom in South America.

Krang attacked Iron Man, then escaped. Namor blamed Iron Man for the escape, and decided to stop pursuing Krang and battle Iron Man instead.

This is the direct continuation of the story from Tales of Suspense #80.

Tales to Astonish #81

When a Monarch Goes Mad!

When a Monarch Goes Mad!
Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: April 5, 1966
Cover: July 1966
12 cents
Amazing story: Stan Lee
Astonishing art: Gene Colan
Astounding inking: Dick Ayers
Agonizing lettering: Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #80, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #81, Story B
Tales to Astonish #80, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #81, Story B

The color of one’s skin is but a chance accident of fate! It alters nothing else about the person!

Namor was fighting a Behemoth last issue, and Krang convinced Lady Dorma that Namor’s only chance for survival was for him to relinquish his control on the Behemoth, which he would only do if Dorma agreed to wed him.

This issue picks up right where that left off. Dorma had told Vashti she was to wed Krang, but not why. And Vashti has just delivered the news to Namor.

Namor declares the mention of Dorma’s to name to be treason. Rational. Namor claims he has the fury of youth. He had been a youth 25 years earlier when introduced in 1939. Not sure how long he can use that excuse. Vashti notes Namor had been the gentlest and noblest of monarchs. I am not sure that is true.

Tales to Astonish #80

To the Death!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner!
Release: March 3, 1966
Cover: June 1966
12 cents
Story by Smilin’ Stan Lee
Pencils by Grinnin’ Gene Colan
Inks by Dazzlin’ Dick Ayers
Lettering by Snarlin’ Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #79, Story B	Reading order	Avengers #26
Tales to Astonish #79, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #80, Story B

I am still the Lord of the Seven Seas!

Where were we. Krang and Puppet Master have teamed up to control the Behemoth. Hank Pym and Janet were around at some point. We’ll catch up with them next time in the pages of Avengers.

We’re supposed to believe that because Krang is controlling the Behemoth through the clay puppet, the creature has better reflexes than it would otherwise. That makes little sense to me.

Tales to Astonish #79

When Rises the Behemoth

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: February 3, 1966
Cover: May 1966
12 cents
Now this is a story! By: Stan Lee
Now this is pencilling! By: Adam Austin
Now this is delineation! By: Bill Everett
Now this is lettering! By: Artie Simek
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #78, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #79, Story B
Tales to Astonish #78, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #79, Story B

Back, you mortal rabble– back!!

Without much fanfare, we have Bill Everett inking Gene Colan. Bill Everett is the creator of the Sub-Mariner. Of course, for whatever reason, it’s the publisher and not he that controls the character. So Marvel gets to publish and profit off Sub-Mariner stories, and he only gets paid if he does more work. So here he is inking Colan’s pencils with Stan adding dialogue. Once Everett wrote and drew Namor’s adventures entirely on his own.

He’s slowly coming back to do more work for Marvel. The last thing he did for them was create Daredevil. But his Daredevil comic was drawn with immaculate detail and unfortunately not within deadline. So he got immediately removed from his own character, and only now 2 years later is starting to get regular work with Marvel again.

As of last issue, he’s the regular finisher on the Hulk stories within this title. He’s just filling in on this Namor story, but will be returning to Namor regularly soon.

I was down to two choices for the pull quote at the top of this quote. I went with one that best exhibited Namor’s personality. I could have gone with the more standard Stan Lee heroic purple prose: There is a time to flee– and a time to fight! While life endures–I shall ever choose the latter course!

I’m never quite clear on what the powers of all these characters are. Namor sometimes seems like Superman. But we see here he’s not bulletproof. He gets shot in the shoulder, and is wounded and losing blood.

Tales to Astonish #76

Uneasy Hangs the Head…

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: November 4, 1965
Cover: February 1966
12 cents
Story: Stan Lee
Pencilling: Adam Austin
Delineation: Vince Colletta
Lettering: Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #75	Reading order	Sgt. Fury Annual 1
Tales to Astonish #75, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #76, Story B

Where Namor was Prince of the Blood, Krang would have been tyrant! Where Namor ruled by divine right, Krang would have ruled by terror!

The ruler of Atlantis by birthright is again on the throne. Yay for monarchy.

The story was almost over as this issue began. Dorma saved. Krang defeated. It’s been a 7-part arc, but it’s over by page 5 of this issue.

Tales to Astonish #75

The End of the Quest!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: October 5, 1965
Cover: January 1866
12 cents
Story by: Smilin’ Stan Lee
Pencilling by: Admirable Adam Austin
Delineation by : Valorous Vince Colletta
Lettering by: Sagacious Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #74, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #76
Tales to Astonish #74, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #75, Story B

Though I hold life most dear to me, I shall show how a Prince faces death!

It turns out abandoning the quest was the way to complete the quest.

Per Neptune: Every attribute of a Prince is yours… courage, strength, honest… and, most important of all… a heart which can love… a soul which can sacrifice!

Tales to Astonish #74

When Fails the Quest!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: September 2, 1965
Cover: December 1965
12 cents
Devastating drama by: Stan Lee
Shattering spectacle by: Adam Austin
Explosive embellishment by: Vince Colletta
Cataclysmic Calligraphy by: Sam Rosen
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #73, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #74, Story B
Tales to Astonish #73, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #74, Story B

Though I am an Ancient of Atlantis, this one last deed can I do for the land we hold so dear!

After five pretty repetitive issues, finally we’re getting somewhere. Still two more issues after this one to resolve Namor’s dust-up with Krang, but at least the structure is starting to change.

Namor has abandoned his quest to save Dorma from the Faceless Ones. Since he had no idea where to go next in his quest anyway, why not.

Tales to Astonish #71

Escape… To Nowhere!

Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: June 1, 1965
Cover: September 1965
12 cents
Superlative story by: Stan Lee!
Sensational art by: Adam Austin!
Spectacular inking by: Vince Colletta!
Sufficient lettering by: Artie Simek!
12 pages

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Tales to Astonish #70, Story B	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #71, Story B
Tales to Astonish #70, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #71, Story B

For, no matter how long the quest shall be–no matter how deadly the dangers I face–naught but victory can be mine! I was born to rule!! I was born Namor, the Sub-Mariner!

His second issue and Namor gets the entire cover. Take that, Hulk.

Expected structure continues. Last issue, Namor found the first clue, met a threat, and it was to be continued. This issue, he resolved that threat, found the second clue, met a new threat, and now it’s to be continued.

Let’s see where next issue goes.

Tales to Astonish #70

The Start of the Quest!

Featuring: Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner
Release: May 4, 1965
Cover: August 1965
12 cents
Story by Stan Lee, unchallenged king of the spoken word!
Art by Adam Austin, Marvel’s newest prince of pageantry!
Inking by Vince Colletta, lordly emperor of embellishment!
Lettering by Artie Simek (someone’s gotta carry the spear!)
12 pages

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Strange Tales #136	Reading order	Tales to Astonish #70, Story B
Tales to Astonish #69, Story B	Tales to Astonish	Tales to Astonish #70, Story B

Imperius Rex!

And… we’re back. Happy Labor Day!

Namor has been flittering through the Marvel Universe as a villain or anti-hero, fighting enough different heroes to help serve as the glue binding the universe together. It has been a decade since his last ongoing series was cancelled. He now makes his triumphant return and will again star in his own title for the next decade before again facing the ignominy of cancellation.

Giant-Man and Wasp just had their regular adventures cancelled. Giant-Man in various guises had been the star of this title since issue 35, sharing it with the Hulk for the last 10 issues. Now the title will be shared by Hulk and Namor. A fitting combo. Neither a hero per se, both acting primarily as villains across different titles for the last couple years, even teaming up once against the Avengers.

A bit of a pattern is taking hold. Tales of Suspense features two of Marvel’s more traditional superheroes, Iron Man and Captain America, the former having long shed any initial horror roots. Journey Into Mystery is entirely Thor’s title now, with the backup features telling stories of Asgard’s past. This series will feature Marvel’s anti-hero characters, Namor and Hulk. Leaving Strange Tales for the not-quite-superhero characters, Marvel’s resident spy and sorcerer, respectively. The combined titles remain a necessity of longstanding distribution difficulties on Marvel’s part, but now there at least seems to be some thematic consistency amongst the titles.

Adam Austin is Gene Colan. He’s learning. Colletta’s inking perhaps doesn’t show Colan at his best. You have to squint or know what you’re looking for to see hints of someone who will soon become one of Marvel’s greatest artists.

The style of layouts will already be different, and reflects a move these comics are slowly making, away from very even grids of pages with 6-9 panels to larger panels of varying shapes and layouts.

Interesting to have a new artist without Kirby to assist. Who is plotting the story? Lee? Colan?

Here’s the plan. They’ve set up a pretty standard adventure here. Namor has lost his crown and needs to go on this quest. There will be various clues. The issue takes him to the first clue.

I guess that seems like a plot Lee could maybe have come up with without Kirby.

We’ll keep reading Namor’s story while this quest is going on. Meanwhile, Hulk is embroiled in the “Leader Saga”. So we’ll read both stories from the next several issues of this title. As will happen often, Hulk’s story will reach a natural breaking point sooner than Namor’s, so we’ll break the comics up and read a little ahead in Namor’s story, and then try to get them back in sync later.

The story opens with the phrase “Imperius Rex!”. What does that mean? Sounds almost Latin. Something like “Imperial King”. I don’t know. I don’t speak Latin. I suspect Stan doesn’t either. Whatever it means, it is now Namor’s official catchphrase and will be for decades to come.