Tales to Astonish #87

Featuring: Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner
Release: October 11, 1966
Cover: January 1967
12 cents
Story: Stan (The Man) Lee
Illustration: Wild Bill Everett
Lettering: Adorable Artie Simek
12 pages

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Rise, my lady! Let your head be lifted– avert not your eyes! From this moment forth–by imperial decree– the Lady Dorma may never again kneel in the presence of her liege! She stall stand at my side–with all due honor– as one who shall someday be princess of the realm! –As one who is truly a peer! And, know you, my lady– whatever befalls– the gratitude– the trust– and the heart of your prince shall be yours– while Atlantis endures!

Big day for Bill Everett, creator of the Sub-Mariner. He had half-returned to his creation, supplying finishes to other artists’ pencils. But starting this issue, he becomes the regular artist on the character who in any world with sensible laws would have belonged to him all along.

We’ve been following not quite a story, but let’s call it a sequence of events that has propelled us from issue 77 to here. Across 11 issues, Namor has had a lot of misadventures unified by the scheming of Krang, and his kidnapping of Dorma, which Namor mistook for Dorma’s betrayal. It finally comes to and end, and we can put Namor’s arc down for a while.

Krang and Dorma have been captured by the military. Krang’s serum has worn off, revealing their blue skin, and leaving them unable to breathe on land. Namor comes to them, but the military has a trap for him. Because they blame Namor for Krang’s flooding of Manhattan.

There is an editor’s note credited to Stan, but my reprint of this issue in the Marvel Masterworks credits the note to Roy. Is that a mistake in the Masterworks? Or do the Masterworks editors think Roy was really behind that note? And they were correcting the record?

Namor rescues Krang and Dorma, and is wounded in the process. Krang shows his gratitude in the expected way.

Krang suggests he be executed for his crimes. But Namor prefers trial by combat. And he allows Krang a weapon, while he will fight with hands.

Namor wins and Everett gives us a triumphant splash page where Namor shouts his catch phrase.

Namor notes the war Krang tried to start with the surface was a war neither would win, that would decimate both civilizations. Hopefully Namor remembers his own words and never again tries to declare war on the surface himself.

Namor and Dorma reconcile, and Namor affirms they will one day wed.

Even though she’s his cousin.

It’s been a long road to reach this point.

Rating: ★★★☆☆, 51/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆

Characters:

• Namor
• Krang
• Dorma
• Vashti

Story notes:

• Dorma warns Namor to fly.
• Namor is hit by a shell.
• Namor brings Dorma and Krang to sea.
• Krang attacks the wounded Namor. Dorma goes to find Vashti.
• From the Sanctum of Science, Vashti actives a teleportation beam.
• Vashti orders the wounded Namor to the Medi-Ray Chamber.
• Krang asks for death, but Namor insists on trial by combat, with the throne to the winner. To even the odds, he allows Krang to be armed.
• Krang wears suit of magnesium chain mail armor over a protective electro-repellent chest shield, with an indestructible command helmet and steel gauntlets with electronic knuckles.
• Namor wins the combat.
• Krang sentenced to the Deeps for nearly causing war with the surface world.
• Namor notes a war with the surface is one nobody can win, one which would decimate both civilizations.
• Namor reaffirms Dorma will one day be a princess of the realm.

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