From the August 1954 issue of Sub-Mariner #35
Thanks again to John for the scans! And sorry it took me so damn long to finally post them!
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Vengeance!!!
Some of you will surely groan about today’s superhero post as we wrap up my week-long Bill Everett Tribute, but truth be told I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Everett’s greatest creation--- Prince Namor: The Sub-Mariner! Add the fact that my all-time favorite Universal horror is an obvious influence in this selection makes it all the more essential here. An interesting side note, this story came out a mere 5 months after The Creature from the Black Lagoon movie hit the silver screen in the same year of 1954.
From the August 1954 issue of Sub-Mariner #35
From the August 1954 issue of Sub-Mariner #35
This looks older than it is. Creepiest hero in recent memory.
ReplyDeleteSUFFERIN' SHAD!
ReplyDeleteWow, I had no idea the old Sub-Mariner was such a lingo-slingin' cat(fish)! I love his "film noir" style banter with the baddies...
"Is this a YMCA, or a prison?"
"Someone's coming...and I DO believe it's a girl!"
"Get your claws off me, you tin-can nursemaids!"
"Take it easy, Sugar!...It's your turn now, baby!"
Seriously, he sounds like a water-breathing Ash!
And say what you will about Aquaman's lameness, at least his all-purpose catchphrase wasn't "YIPE!!!" ;)
Elmer looks a lot like the Creature we all know and love...and ironically, Professor Zunbar looks a lot like Elmer Fudd! "I'm the gweatest suwgeon the wold has evew SEEN!" Oh yeah? Then why did you program your robots to relax their grip when easily distracted?
This one was a whole lot of fun...a Gillman with hydrophobia, a gangly-looking and taxonomically interjecting Sub-Mariner, and wonderfully sexy and evil Femme Fatale, nitro out of nowhere...what's not to love?
And on a personal note, thanks for the get-well wishes, everyone...reports of my death were slightly exaggerated. Dr. Elmer says that within a week I should have the hang of this radium-powered mechanical robot voicebox, and I should be good as new!
Now, if I can just find Crazy Peg and get her to call off her goons...
IT'S THE CREATURE FROM THE FAT LAGOON! I LIKE THE SUBMARINER ALOT TOO,ONE OF THE FEW HERO COMICS THAT I STILL READ. IT IS ODD THOUGH TO SEE HOW COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NAMOR WAS IN THE GOLDEN AGE THAN NOW.
ReplyDeleteick........less hero more horror please!!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW! What a CFTBL swipe, I am really happy you posted this, subby vs. The Creature. Lovely!
ReplyDelete>ick........less hero more horror please!!!!
ReplyDeleteI figured I get a couple of these moanie groanies today.
But yes, as The Vicar and someone else pointed out, Namor is not at all like this anymore, while he's still currently the coolest underwater cat in comics he's much more deadly serious and hardcore... if he cracked a noir one-liner these days people would mistakenly accuse him of ripping off Spiderman.
>ick........less hero more horror please!!!!
ReplyDeleteLess peanut butter, more chocolate!
But if you've got a few more Reese's Cups in your fridge, Karswell, I say bring 'em on! ;)
Anesthetic was strictly rationed out in the Fifties, but apparently any little kid could just skip into a Piggly Wiggly and buy nitroglycerin...
ReplyDeleteI have always thought that the Sub-Mariner was what would happen if you put Aquaman and Freddie Mercury in that telepod chamber in The Fly.
Namor may be my favorite super-hero of all next to the Spirit actually.say what you will about Supes & Bats ruthlessness in their early incarnations,Namor was almost a genuine VILLAIN in earlier stories,even Everett said "evil is his intent" in the 3rd story,he's like how they make Chuck Norris out to be on that website,only real.I don't know about you,but nothing says badass to me like a guy who gloats over horiffic deaths,rips up national monuments and beats up the mayor of New York,and floods cities just to piss off the Human Torch. can threatening crooked weapons-manufacturers by making them enlist and throwing thugs off roofs REALLY top that?.i say no.
ReplyDeleteI had never seen this one, Karswell, so thanks a bunch for running it as part of the Everett tribute.
ReplyDeleteHis Namor really is awesome!
Anyone could have come up with the idea of pitting Namor against the Creature from the Black Lagoon. Only Bill Everett could have had the genius to name the monster Elmer.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff! Now if this was only printed in 3-D!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting this!! I love Everett's Subby work from the 50s! More please!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the great Everett art!
ReplyDeleteSay, how about posting that great Everett eyeball story from Strange Tales #4? You posted a couple of other stories from that issue, but not the Everettt standout.
That would tickle some eyeballs!
And if you do, I'll be glad to email you what IMHO is the best Russ Heath horror story EVER!
Thanks again for all the great comics!
I've always felt that the biggest difference between Namor and Aquaman is that Namor's weirdly hot.
ReplyDeleteIt *is* weird hearing him sling the slang around.