Avengers #9
Recap
Namor interrupts a fight between Stingray and Tiger Shark. He offers them a place in his new war against the surface world and kills Stingray when he doesn’t immediately accept. Days earlier, the Avengers are seeking an audience with Namor when they are attacked by Atlanteans. Dispatching them, they continue on and confront Namor. His strength and power increased, Namor bats down each Avenger until Cap appears and is able to talk to him.
Apparently a dead Celestial fell and crushed much of the main city of Atlantis, and the gruesome deaths of his people aboard the Roxxon ship in issue #8 were the last straw for Namor. He allows the Avengers to take his hostages but warns them never to return. Days later Namor finds out some Atlantean children died searching for food on the surface, and in his rage, drowns his former prisoners with seawater from their cell toilet. He has also formed an underwater analog of the Avengers, his “Defenders of the Deep”, and he declares jihad on the surface world.
Review
Art: Instead of a dreamscape teeming with the myriad rainbow of oceanic life, the watery landscape of this issue is full of bleak and muted blues, greens. Save for a mostly destroyed city and the bones of a long-dead whale, Atlantis is a battered ruin; a metaphor for Namor’s heart. Beautiful work.
Writing: Namor’s inner monologue is heavy with remorse, rage, and purpose. The dialogue is tonally appropriate and heartfelt, again, typical of Aaron’s work. Namor is incredibly OP, but apparently, that is his deal while submerged. The story of the starving Atlantean children was heart wrenching enough to make it clear that Namor is hiding behind his arrogance to shield himself from grief. I really liked that Cap could tap into Namor’s more heroic and reasonable side, but I also liked that Namor’s sense of justice ultimately won out. I really enjoy that the Avengers have a formidable challenge AND that it has a face!
Final Thoughts
Namor has MUCH more to be angry about than climate change and the Avengers are finally punching enemies with faces! What’s not to love?
Avengers #9: “It is not the broken heart that kills, but broken pride” -Gilbert Parker
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Storyline - 8/108/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9/109/10