Oldest Surviving Piece of Marvel Comics Original Art Stars Namor
Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort revealed the oldest documented piece of Marvel art, featuring Namor the Sub-Mariner in Marvel Comics #1. Marvel SVP and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort shared a strange find: the firstborn familiar piece of Marvel comic art. The piece is a black-and-white type of the last page of the original Sub-Mariner story from Marvel Comics #1, which was published on Aug. 31, 1939.
THE FACTORS OF PUBLISHING
Aside from the lack of color, it’s relatively unaffected from its published complement and even features writer/artist Bill Everett’s signature. On the page, Prince Namor and his cousin Dorma are bounded by sailors on a lighthouse and, as a means of escape, they jump to a nearby plane. Namor then knocks out the pilot and instructs Dorma to wreck the plane before diving back into the water, a behavior pattern that would help define the character as an early example of the comic book antihero.
THE COMIC OUTBREAK
This piece is between a number of rare comic images Brevoort has posted on social media to help entertain comic fans during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Nevertheless, Brevoort’s unveiling of this post coincides quite well with the March 11 release of Sub-Mariner: Marvels Snapshot, the first in a series of specials about Marvel’s Golden Age heroes from its Timely Comics days.
THE ETERNALS
That said, a rumor about Marvel Studios’ upcoming film The Eternals depicting the sinking of Atlantis could hint at Namor’s live-action debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. These rumors have yet to be confirmed, though fans are still hoping the mutant King will make an appearance soon.
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