Sub-Mariner 1 with art by John Buscema for the blog Bill Everett, Sub-Mariner, and the golden days of youth

Recollecting the golden days of youth, I grow fonder of Bill Everett and Sub-Mariner. Everett guided Namor's emergence in Marvel Comics 1.

I was never a huge fan of Sub-Mariner in my youth, but I find myself growing fonder.  To illustrate my ambivalence, my Dad bought a Marvel comic book collection when we were kids that included high grade copies of Sub-Mariner 1 (1968) and Iron Man and Sub-Mariner 1.  Though I was never in favor of him selling any comics, I understood he could make a nice profit.  I recall he sold Sub-Mariner 1 in VF condition for $6.  He sold the Iron Man and Sub-Mariner 1 for $15 if memory serves.  Now, If I had protested, he never would have sold.  But again, I didn't mind him recouping his money.  And there were still a lot more great comics in the collection that I enjoy to this day.Iron Man and Sub-Mariner 1 with cover art by Gene Colan and Bill Everett

So where do Bill Everett and Sub-Mariner fit into this story from my youth?  What brought about this turnaround that was decades in the making?  And, why am I talking about Everett when the artist for the early issues of Sub-Mariner (1968) was John Buscema?

Note: Gene Colan penciled and Everett inked the classic cover of Iron Man and Sub-Mariner 1.  The cover art for that comic sold through Heritage Auctions in 2018 for $240,000.

 

 

Sub-Mariner Creator Bill Everett

Marvel Comics 1

Before answering these questions, let's time-travel back to the infancy of superheroes.  Way back in Marvel Comics 1, Bill Everett debuted his creation Sub-Mariner.  That 1939 comic book also featured Golden Age versions of the Human Torch and the Angel.  The deep-sea prince is one of the longest enduring superheroes.  Everett's Golden Age Prince Namor stories found publication in Marvel Mystery Comics, All-Winners, Human Torch, Young Men, and his own title series.  Of course, Everett also contributed on Namor's adventures in Tales to Astonish and his second self-titled series in the late sixties, early seventies.

Page 12 of Marvel Comics 1 original art

Marvel Comics 1 makes a short list of books I describe as Golden Iconic.  As a result, any page of original art from Marvel Comics 1 is graded on my CAT scale with the Golden Iconic score.  Amazing but true, Bill Everett Sub-Mariner art from this book exists and sold in 2005 for $86,250.  Likely that art would sell MUCH higher in 2020.  While investigating art sales for Everett, I grew to appreciate the skill of this artist who not only created Sub-Mariner but also penciled Daredevil 1 and inked boatloads of artists in Marvel's early days.  I can truly say that Everett's art adapted to the times and still holds up strongly beside other top artists of his era.

Buying Comics about that Fish-Man the Thing Hates

Sub-Mariner comics

Like the Thing, in the early days I found Prince Namor (or Fish-Man to Ben Grimm) somewhat annoying.  For example, did he really think Sue Storm had a thing for him?  Nonetheless, I was browsing Ebay the other day and saw a Lot of nice condition Sub-Mariner comics for a reasonable price.  I wouldn't call Sub-Mariner comics **hot**, nor do I think his character is in huge demand.  But I do enjoy John Buscema art, and who knows. media types have hinted about the possibility of Sub-Mariner reaching the big screen.  So, maybe it has some growth potential.

With respect to Silver Age art by the creator of that Fish-Man, a very nice page from Tales to Astonish 96 sold in July, 2020 for $7,500.  That Everett page featured a large Sub-Mariner image and is probably representative of a typical price for his Prince Namor works from the period.  A dynamic page from Sub-Mariner 54 (1972) is up for auction as I write this.  It appears that it will sell even higher.  Everett's place in comic book history should help his art to maintain their values.

Finally, I'm curious if anyone else fancies Sub-Mariner comics?  Further, with Bill Everett passing away in 1973, do modern comic book fans remember him?  Personally, I would include Bill Everett on the all-time Marvel Mt. Rushmore.