Featuring: Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Release: January 10, 1967
Cover: April 1967
12 cents
Produced with pageantry– presented with pride– by: Stan Lee and Bill Everett
Lettered by: Sherigail
Water ballets staged by: Irving Forbush
12 pages
| Previous | #656 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Mariner #35, Story B | PRELUDE | |
| Tales of Suspense #88 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #90, Story B |
| Tales to Astonish #89, Story B | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #90, Story B |
For years, Prince Namor has kept Atlantis on the brink of war! His reign has been a series of endless battles– battles against the surface men– against the savage hordes of Attuma, the barbarian– even against Warlord Krang, who had once been our Prince’s most trusted military leader! I say the time is come to put an end to the tyranny of this war monger– this power-mad despot who wears the glorious crown of Atlantis! The reign of Namor has been one of danger– disaster– and never ending despair! We, the free citizens of Atlantis, are weary of Namor, the war-monger!
The rare lettering not from Sam or Artie. We’ve seen the lettering of Sherigail a couple times before, an alias for Morrie Kuramoto, the alias being a concatenation of his wife and daughter’s names.
We had just read the 1950s stories that introduced Byrrah. Now we see his return.
Here, he’s described as Namor’s cousin, and later his “blood-cousin”. Hmm… Byrrah is the Emperor’s stepson and Namor is his grandson, son to the Emperor’s daughter Fen. So maybe Byrrah is Namor’s… step-uncle?
He also gets referred to as Lord Byrrah this issue, when he had been Prince Byrrah before.
It’s honestly never made sense to me that Namor is still Prince Namor. It made sense in the 1950s when the Emperor was still around, but now that he’s the monarch, is “Prince” still the right title?
Also odd that Byrrah calls him the Sub-Mariner, when that’s what they all are.
Though the 1960s comics have often taken to calling their people “Atlanteans” when referred to. But since 1939, the’ve been known as the Sub-Mariners. Namor is one of the Sub-Mariners.
As previously mentioned, I’m still unclear how lines of succession work here. Byrrah had in the past challenged Namor’s succession through combat, but always lost.
The people are ready to follow Byrrah, but he shows only contempt for his followers.
Byrrah unites the Council by pointing out how often Namor has led them to war. Ironic because Byrrah was the warmongering one before. Would a leader have the gall to accuse his opponents of starting too many wars, run on a platform of starting no new wars, and then start or almost start like four wars?
Byrrah says he will make peace with Krang and Attuma. I’m not sure being an ally to your country’s greatest enemies is a good thing. Was there collusion with Krang in his attempts to gain the throne?
There will be trial by combat for the throne. The rules call for the combatants to be weaponless. But Byrrah found a loophole. He had to start the contest weaponless, but could take some weapons he had previously hidden nearby.
Through treachery, Byrrah wins the day.
We’ll read this issue’s Hulk story and then see what happens when Byrrah becomes ruler of Atlantis.
Rating: ★★★☆☆, 53/100
Significance: ★★★☆☆
Byrrah is a relatively significant Sub-Mariner foe, but this isn’t really his introduction, just his return.
I read this story in Marvel Masterworks: The Sub-Mariner vol. 2.
Characters:
- Lord Byrrah
- Lord Vashti
- Namor
- Lady Dorma
Story notes:
- Byrrah described as 1940s villain, but he was introduced in the 1950s.
- Byrrah thinks Namor should not rule because he is only half-Atlantean.
- Byrrah and Namor were children togther.
- Byrrah challenged Namor’s right to rank him in combat in their youth, but always lost.
- Byrrah has been biding his time, gaining Namor’s trust and posing as an ally.
- Byrrah observed the defeats of Krang and Attuma and learned from their mistakes.
- Byrrah has been in charge of supervising weapons factories.
- Byrrah addresses Royal Council at council meeting at Capitol Ampitheatre.
- Byrrah gives the same speech to many crowds.
- The council and crowds call for a plebescite.
- Byrrah feigns disinterest in rule so that the people will insist he do so.
- Namor sends a video response insisting he desires peace.
- Namor calls Byrrah a coward, giving Byrrah the right to challenge him to combat.
- Dorma and Vashti warn Namor to decline the challenge, but he refuses.
- The rules call for them to be weaponless, but Byrrah found a loophole and planted weapons nearby.
- Namor uses an eel to attack.
- Byrrah attacks with a saw-fish he had treated with a secret chemical to make Namor’s strength fade.
- Thus Byrrah beats a depowered Namor with a squid.
- The people cheer on Byrrah and intend to crown him Prince.
| Previous | #656 | Next |
|---|---|---|
| Sub-Mariner #35, Story B | PRELUDE | |
| Tales of Suspense #88 | Reading order | Tales to Astonish #90, Story B |
| Tales to Astonish #89, Story B | Tales to Astonish | Tales to Astonish #90, Story B |
