Avengers #9 Review

Writer: Jason Aaron / Artist: David Marquez / Marvel Comics Sub-Mariner is not having it today. Avengers #9 showcases King Namor as the Avenger’s antagonist in the book’s second arc. What works for this book are the socio-political parallels and the morally complex drivings of our “villain”. A Roxxon ship kills two of Sub-Mariner’s Atlantean subjects and hangs the bodies over the side of the hull. Atlantean children try to find refuge from their destitute homes on the surface only to suffer neglectful deaths. The King decides to declare war on the surface. Same ‘ol song and dance, right? Not quite. Instead of taking the classic Fantastic Four story route of tidal waves and sea monsters attacking the mainland, Namor deems the oceans off-limits to the terrestrial world.

The Avengers confront the angry monarch, finding him stronger than ever. He easily repels attacks from the team’s heavy hitters She-Hulk, Thor, and Captain Marvel. Captain America finally negotiates an end to the immediate fight but Namor’s resolve is not quelled and they are warned to stay away (I bet they don’t). Jason Aaron and David Marquez tell this story well. It starts incredibly light-hearted. A couple C-list characters have a squabble. We learn that Stingray is married to Tiger Shark’s sister. Humor is quickly vacated from the plot as Namor enters the stage. The backdrop is an inner monologue through Namor’s perspective along the themes tragedy and cataclysm as they relate to his own history and that o…