Sub-Mariner: Revolution

Sub-Mariner (2007) #1-6

by Matt Cherniss, Philip Briones (Illustrations), Peter Johnson

The King has returned! Fresh off of his key appearances in CIVIL WAR and WOLVERINE, Marvel’s first mutant returns in his own series that will forever change the way we look at Namor and Atlantis. A horrendous terrorist attack has struck the U.S., and all clues point to an Atlantean sleeper cell’s involvement. Now, Namor and Atlantis find themselves in the crosshairs of S.H.I.E.L.D. But is Namor to blame for the attack? Or is this just the first strike in a dark coup orchestrated by those within Atlantis who would see Namor stripped of his title and his kingdom? The half-human, half-Atlantean son of two worlds must now race between the sea and the surface to track down those responsible for the attack before Tony Stark, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. – a.k.a. Iron Man – takes him down! Written by Matt Cherniss and Peter Johnson (POWERLESS) with art by the internationally acclaimed Phil Briones (WHITE TIGER)!

Collects Sub-Mariner (2007) #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Fiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Comic Book

144 pages, Paperback

First published February 27, 2008

Reviews

[Chelsea 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

* Read as single issues on Marvel Unlimited *

This was surprisingly wonderful! I read part of this when I was reading the Civil War event but this was even more insight into what was going on with the Atlanteans at the time. I wasn't expecting Tony to have such a big role and I was pleasantly surprised.

This follows Namor's actions after he took Nitro into custody. Tony is tasked with being the liaison between Namor and the US government. Namor is upset with Tony because he sided with Cap during the war and Tony is upset with Namor because he planted sleeper agents throughout the US. It's interesting to note that the two allies Namor goes to for help in this book, Charles Xavier and Sue Storm, are both distrustful of Namor because of the sleeper agents. It was a little surprising to me, to be honest.

I loved seeing the rift between Namor and Tony because they bonded during the Illuminati days. Namor was prideful as ever in this book and he goes through quite a bit in his quest to figure out ho's behind the terrorist acts in the US. There's a panel in this book that was the coldest I've ever seen from Namor.

So, all in all, this is definitely a recommend. I randomly chose it because I'm trying to read up more on Namor and I was wonderfully surprised.

[Homewood Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I might have mentioned before, Prince Namor the Sub-Mariner is my favorite comic book character, so I was very excited to see this graphic novel on the library’s shelves. For those that aren’t familiar with him, in the fictional Marvel Universe, Namor is the proud ruler of a submerged Atlantis (think Yul Brynner’s Ramses from The Ten Commandments) But he’s also half-air breathing human and half-water breathing Atlantean, and thus an outsider to both cultures. He was created in 1939 by Bill Everett, which makes him the oldest of Marvel Comics’ many characters. And since his first appearance, he’s had an uneasy, and often antagonistic relationship with the surface world, which makes him one of the first anti-heroes in comics.




No where is that clearer than in this book, where a terrorist attack on an American town is blamed on Namor and Atlantis, and he must find the traitor responsible before war erupts between the two nations. It’s a tangled political tale, it’s an action filled adventure, it’s a psychological study, and most importantly, it’s an honest to goodness narrative that moves along at nice clip. There’s no decompressed story telling here. However, I get the feeling that the writers were given an editorial road map of sorts, because in some places the characterization was sacrificed to fit the plotline. In some ways, it reminded me of those old Marvel Team-Up issues, where the anchor character would have an encounter with a different super-hero each issue, usually resulting in a misunderstanding, followed by a fight. Namor’s quest brings him into contact and / or conflict with Iron Man, Wolverine, Professor X, Venom, and the Invisible Woman and each meeting reveals just how bad the situation is for our sea prince.




French artist Phil Briones brings a certain dynamism to the art reminiscent of Gene Colan’s classic work on the Sub-Mariner. Both artists like to capture that slightly off balance moment of action that lends itself particularly well to scenes that take place in the water or in the air. And there are plenty of those with a water breathing prince who can also fly. The underwater battle between Iron Man and the Sub-Mariner is amazing, and the best of book. Briones’ style is a bit loosely drawn, which some people enjoy, but which can lead to distortions of proportion. In other words, new readers, Namor’s ears normally are drawn like Tolkein elves, rather than Anime elves.




Sub-Mariner: Revolution is an entertaining read. But I must admit, for characterization and continuity reasons, I did not like the concept of Namor’s foe or how Namor dealt with him. But I loved the last chapter and the ending. Wow! You know how comic books and TV shows advertise episodes where “everything changes” and “nothing will ever be the same”? Well, this graphic novel delivers. Now, if only Marvel will capitalize on the fantastic cliff hanger, and the really intriguing opportunities left by the events of this book. Yes, I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel

[Oscar Torrado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Namor es un ser prepotente con una forma de ser que puede ser desagradable pero esto a su vez hace que este personaje sea mucho más interesante ya que a pesar de las muchas similitudes (en cuanto a algunos de sus poderes, su reino y su raza) con Aquaman, su forma de ser, que lo aleja mucho de ser el típico superhéroe, es lo que lo hace muy diferente al nadador de DC Comics, y no es más que uno lea Namor, Sub-Mariner: Revolución para darse cuenta, no sólo de lo poderoso, sino también de las cosas que lo hacen diferenciar de su homologo de la casa comiquiera de al lado.

Sub-Mariner: Revolución es una saga que abarca seis tomos que se sitúa después del evento de Civil Wars (ojo para los que no han leído porque, como yo, se pueden spoilear uno que otro acontecimiento) y sigue la cacería de Namor por parte de S.H.I.E.L.D después que unos atlantes detonaran una bomba en Kansas, Namor no solamente debe enfrentarse a la persecución de los de la superficie sino también a un golpe de estado por parte de los suyos que planean no sólo quitarle el reino sino una guerra con los terrestres.

Un cómic lleno de escenas de mucha acción donde vemos a Namor humillar a Tony Stark/Iron Man, derrotar a Wolverine y un par de centinelas y finalmente arrancarle la lengua al peligroso Venom, en una historia que muestra todo el poder del rey de Atlantis y todo lo que puede llegar a hacer y sacrificar con tal de preservar su raza.

[Devero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Durante l'Iniziativa Namor subisce un tentato colpo di stato.
Namor si scontra per questo con Tony Stark e deve disperdere la sua gente per salvarla. Il rifugio del suo esercito sarà Latveria, alleandosi quindi a Destino.
Di interessante in questa mini non c'è molto, se non la motivazione per una rinnovata alleanza tra Namor e Doom. Disegni buoni, ma non basta per andare oltre le 2 stelle, 2 stelle e mezza al massimo.

[Johnnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Cool setup - I’ll be interested to see what becomes of the Atlantan sleeper cells.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Namor-comic and I really liked it.
It takes place shortly after Civil War and tells the story of Namor trying to prevent a war between Atlantis and the surface world, after a group of rogue Atlanteans killed 900 people. In order to find them, Namor seeks help from his former allies, but both Xavier and Susan Richards refuse to help him. So disappointed he decides that it is time for Atlantis to disappear again.
It was a really good story, but I hated that no one was willing to help Namor. After all he was trying to prevent a war. Also it does not really seem like Xavier to say something like "You brought this on yourself, therefore we're not going to help you." And why didn't Sue help him? When she called for him during Civil War, he came. No wonder Namor starts reconsidering who his true allies are.

[Jacob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saw the ending coming a mile away and while there was a plot to get from A to B it sure seemed padded along the way.
Has the Submariner even been interesting aside from his ruthless Golden Age era?

[SH · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pretty decent story, and Namor is a pretty fun character, but this is pretty workmanlike stuff. Entertaining, but only just. A low-ish three.

[Matt Piechocinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a Marvel throw away limited series, I thought this was really well done. In fact, I thought it was better than Civil War, Secret Invasion, etc.