Sub-Mariner (1968) #50

The mention of Llyra in the previous post about Spider-Man served up a handy suggestion for a good hopping-on point to the Sub-Mariner series. Let's give a look at the extra special 50th issue of Namor's series. Don't take it from me, though. It says so right on the cover!

We join Namor as he's asking himself the very questions stated on the cover. Reading this out of order, we have no idea what caused his memory loss but that just helps us relate to his condition. His "curtain over clouded memories", if you will.

Namor asks if he's a man like the others while wearing green scale shorts. Maybe he hasn't seen his own pointy ears yet or the wings on his ankles.

But he does take that lady's advice to go jump in the ocean, figuring that either he'll find peace in the ocean or die and be relieved that way. Can't...argue with that logic.

And while he's finding out which one will turn out to be true he also happens upon a breathing corpse. Or something.

Well, obviously you care a little...

He rescues her and this is what he gets for his trouble.

Spak! Save someone from drowning and next thing you know, you get uppercutted and called a perv. Don't do it for the glory, y'all!

Turns out that's Namorita, his second cousin, so yes, that's kind of gross, but at the time no one knew that.

There is a lot flowery language in this book and while it starts out kind of dramatically comical, it gets old fairly fast.

Holy cripes, man...Bring it down a notch...

At this point, he's felt drawn south and when he reaches that spot, he immediately gets attacked by a bunch of crab dudes led by this guy...

I remember this Atlantean Colonel Mustard from some Avengers books. A crossover with Alpha Flight or something. I'll need to dig them up.

Anyway, Byyrah and his crab dudes actually have Namorita hostage and are attempting to use her to make Namor obey them. Namor swears to tear them apart with his bare hands when the REAL leader reveals herself.

Double swerve! There's Llyra, as advertised. And apparently, they read Congreve in Atlantis.

Namor justifiably tosses her in an oil pit in short order and takes off with Namorita to have a chat.

This Shakesperean tale was both written and drawn by Bill Everett which is pretty cool since he invented the character. He created Namorita, for that matter, and this book is notable for featuring her first appearance. It would perhaps not be to everyone's liking, but it is certainly a must for fans of either character and/or their creator.