Sub-Mariner Comics Primer
Series Overview
After making his return in Young Men #24, Namor the Sub-Mariner had his series revived as part of Atlas Comics attempt to revive their superhero properties. Sub-Mariner Comics returned in 1954 continuing the original series numbering just like the Human Torch and Captain America. However, while the Torch and Cap’s titles were cancelled after only three issues, the Sub-Mariner managed to survive the axe a lot longer with his title running for 10 full issues before it too was cancelled.
Issue #33 retold Namor’s origins, expanding upon what was previously established in Marvel Comics #1. The origin told in this story is the version most commonly referred back to when the Sub-Mariner’s origins are revisited. From issue #33 to 35, the series featured backup stories starring the Human Torch. These were eventually dropped in favor of stories about Namor’s youth and unrelated one-off stories taking place at sea.
As for Namor himself, other than the series visiting his past and explaining how his powers work, the series also introduced two new characters that would play a vital part in Namor’s rogues gallery. Sub-Mariner Comics #35 introduced Namor’s cousin Byrrah, who would later frequently attempt to usurp the Atlantean throne from Namor. That same issue also featured a young Namor story where Byrrah was playing with an unnamed Atlantean child. Through the magic of convoluted story telling Saga of the Sub-Mariner would retroactively identify this child as Merano, the Atlatnean who would become U-Man in Invaders #3.
After the series was cancelled, Namor would not be seen again until Fantastic Four #3, which showed Namor recovering his memory after being stricken with amnesia for years (the number of years has ever expanded thanks to Marvel’s handy-dandy Sliding Timescale and his youthful appearance after all that time because Atlanteans can live to be fucking ancient) It was later explained in Sub-Mariner #1 that Namor was forced into this state of amnesia by a man named Destiny near the end of the 1950s.
